Patent Publication Number: US-2021180868-A1

Title: Apparatus for extracting water from plant condenser to the outside for water quality analysis

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0168252, filed on Dec. 16, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The disclosure relates to an apparatus for extracting water from a condenser to the outside for water quality analysis, and more particularly, to an apparatus for extracting water from a condenser to the outside for water quality analysis, in which water from a condenser is extracted to the outside by using the thrust of a screw so that equipment is miniaturized and installation and removal of the apparatus become easy. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A plant condenser contains feedwater. Feedwater is heated by a heater and then finally passes through a boiler and a turbine. Accordingly, it is very important to maintain the quality of feedwater at a certain level. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as a seawater pipe  2  for cooling steam is installed in a condenser  1 , when seawater leaks, immediate action is necessary to detect leakage quickly and to prevent feedwater from flowing into boilers, turbines, and the like. The quality of water in the condenser  1  may be analyzed by analyzing the conductivity of water. According to the related art, the conductivity of water in the condenser  1  is analyzed by extracting feedwater from a hotwell shell  3  of the condenser  1  by using a pump  4  and transferring the extracted feedwater to water quality analysis equipment. However, as the inside of the condenser  1  is maintained in a vacuum state during a normal operation, when the pump  4  is operated after the inside of the condenser  1  was in a vacuum state, it is not easy to suck water from the condenser  1  to the outside due to insufficient pump pressure. 
     Furthermore, when seawater leaks, an operator locates the position of leakage by sequentially opening/closing sampling valves  5  installed at different positions in the condenser  1 . The positon of leakage is located based on information such as an opening/closing state of a valve, capacity of a pump, a distance between a pump and an analyzer, and the like. However, as the storage capacity of a tray is limited to be within a few minutes, the arrival time of the feedwater to the analyzer according to the capacity of the pump  5  and the like are difficult to be accurately calculated and locating the position of leakage takes a lot of time and is difficult. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided is an apparatus for extracting water from a condenser to the outside for water quality analysis, in which water in a condenser is extracted to the outside by using the thrust of a screw so that equipment may be miniaturized and installation and removal of the apparatus become easy. 
     Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure. 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus for extracting water from a condenser to the outside for water quality analysis includes an insertion pipe inserted into a condenser, a screw thrust portion including a rotating shaft inserted into the insertion pipe, a screw coupled to one end of the rotating shaft, and a power providing portion configured to transmit power to the rotating shaft, and an exhaust pipe provided in the insertion pipe to introduce the water to flow to the outside of the condenser when the water contained in the condenser flows toward a rear side of the screw according to a rotation of the screw. 
     Furthermore, the apparatus may further include a water quality analyzer into which the water discharged from the exhaust pipe is introduced and which is configured to analyze quality of the water. 
     Furthermore, the apparatus may further include a return pipe through which the water passed through the water quality analyzer passes to return to the condenser and which is provided in the insertion pipe. 
     Furthermore, the apparatus may further include a guide pipe coupled to an outer wall of the condenser and guiding the insertion pipe inserted into the guide pipe; and a rotation valve detachably coupled to the guide pipe and comprising a through-hole through which the insertion pipe passes, wherein, when the insertion pipe is removed from the guide pipe, the rotation valve is rotatable to close the guide pipe. 
     Furthermore, the guide pipe may include a first guide pipe having one end portion coupled to the outer wall of the condenser and a second guide pipe detachably coupled to the other end portion of the first guide pipe. 
     Furthermore, a connection pipe portion may branch and protrude in a direction crossing a direction in which the guide pipe extends, the connection pipe being provided in the guide pipe, the rotation valve may include an insertion portion elongated in one direction to be inserted into the connection pipe portion and a grip portion provided on an upper portion of the insertion portion for a rotation of the insertion portion, and the through-hole may penetrate the insertion portion. 
     Furthermore, the insertion pipe may obliquely penetrate an outer wall of the condenser to be submerged in the water contained in the condenser. 
     Furthermore, a return pump may be provided between the water quality analyzer and the return pipe to supply the water that passed through the water quality analyzer to the return pipe. 
     Furthermore, the water quality analyzer may include a transmission portion configured to transmit, to the outside, data obtained from a measurement sensor configured to measure the quality of the introduced water. 
     Furthermore, an inlet nozzle may be coupled to a front end of the exhaust pipe and may include an entrance portion having a funnel shape that deceases in a direction in which the water is introduced and flows so that the pressure of the introduced water is increased 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a condenser according to the related art. 
         FIG. 2  is a conceptual diagram of an extraction apparatus according to the related art; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an extraction apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the extraction apparatus being installed in a condenser; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the extraction apparatus of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the extraction apparatus of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a major portion of the extraction apparatus of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an extraction apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
     An embodiment according to the disclosure is described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an extraction apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the extraction apparatus being installed in a condenser.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the extraction apparatus of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the extraction apparatus of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a major portion of the extraction apparatus of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an extraction apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an apparatus  200  for extracting water from a condenser to the outside for water quality analysis according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include an insertion pipe  10 , a screw thrust portion  20 , and an exhaust pipe  30 . 
     The insertion pipe  10  is a tubular member to be inserted into the condenser  1 . The insertion pipe  10  obliquely penetrates an outer wall of the condenser  1 . The insertion pipe  10  is installed such that an end portion of the insertion pipe  10  is submerged in water contained in the condenser  1 . 
     The screw thrust portion  20  provides power to extract the water contained in the condenser  1  to the outside by using thrust of a screw  22 . The screw thrust portion  20  may include a rotating shaft  21 , the screw  22 , and a power supply portion  23 . 
     The rotating shaft  21  is inserted in the insertion pipe  10 . The length of the rotating shaft  21  is formed to be longer than the length of the insertion pipe  10 , and one end portion of the rotating shaft  21  protrudes from one end portion of the insertion pipe  10 , and the other end portion thereof protrudes from the other end portion of the insertion pipe  10 . 
     The screw  22  is coupled to the one end portion of the rotating shaft  21 . The screw  22  may include a body portion  221  and a blade  222 . A plurality of coupling recesses  223  are formed in one end portion of the body portion  221  to be separated from each other at certain intervals. An adaptor  24  that is coupled to the rotating shaft  21  is inserted into the coupling recess  223  and coupled to the coupling recess  223 . 
     The adaptor  24  may include a fixed portion  241  fixed on the rotating shaft  21  and a protruding portion  242  protruding from the fixed portion  241  to be inserted into the coupling recess  223 . A nut  25  is screw-coupled to an end portion of the rotating shaft  21  to prevent escape of the screw  22 . 
     The power supply portion  23  is provided to supply power to the rotating shaft  21 . The power supply portion  23  is provided at the other end portion of the rotating shaft  21 . According to the present embodiment, the power supply portion  23  may include a motor  231 , a motor fixing portion  232 , and a gear portion  233 . 
     The motor  231  generates power to rotate the rotating shaft  21 . The motor  231  is fixed to the motor fixing portion  232 . The gear portion  233 , as a configuration to connect a motor shaft  234  of the motor  231  to the rotating shaft  21  with gears, may include a first gear  235  coupled to the motor shaft  234  and a second gear  236  coupled to the rotating shaft  21 , which are engaged with each other. 
     According to the present embodiment, a first finish member  40  and a second finish member  50  are coupled to both end portions of the insertion pipe  10 . 
     The first finish member  40  is coupled to one end portion of the insertion pipe  10 . The screw thrust portion  20  is disposed outside the first finish member  40 . A first insertion hole  41 , into which the rotating shaft  21  is inserted and coupled thereto, is provided in the first finish member  40 . 
     According to the present embodiment, the first insertion hole  41  is formed to be eccentric from the center of the first finish member  40 . As the first insertion hole  41  support one end portion of the rotating shaft  21  as much as the length thereof, the rotating shaft  21  may be prevented from sagging. 
     The second finish member  50  is coupled to the other end portion of the insertion pipe  10 . The screw thrust portion  20  is disposed outside the second finish member  50 . A second insertion hole  51 , into which the rotating shaft  21  is inserted, is provided in the second finish member  50 . 
     According to the present embodiment, like the first insertion hole  41  of the first finish member  40 , the second insertion hole  51  is formed to be eccentric from the center of the second finish member  50 . The second insertion hole  51  supports the other end portion of the rotating shaft  21  as much as the length thereof. The second insertion hole  51  with the first insertion hole  41  may prevent the rotating shaft  21  from sagging. 
     The exhaust pipe  30  is provided in the insertion pipe  10  to move water in the condenser  1 . The exhaust pipe  30  with the rotating shaft  21  is inserted in the insertion pipe  10 . The exhaust pipe  30  introduces the water to flow to the outside of the condenser  1  when the water contained in the condenser  1  flows to the back of the screw  22  due to the rotation of the screw  22 . 
     According to the present embodiment, an inlet nozzle  31 , through which the water in the condenser  1  is introduced, is coupled to a front end of the exhaust pipe  30 . The inlet nozzle  31  is inserted into the first finish member  40 , and a rear end side of the inlet nozzle  31  and the front end of the exhaust pipe  30  are connected to a first connection end pipe  32  to be connected each other. 
     The exhaust pipe  30  may include a silicon or plastic material. The inlet nozzle  31  has an entrance portion having a funnel shape that deceases in a direction in which the water is introduced and flows so that the pressure of the introduced water is increased. 
     An extraction apparatus  200  according to the present embodiment may include a water quality analyzer  60 , a return pipe  70 , a guide pipe  80 , a rotation valve  90 , and a return pump  100 . 
     The water quality analyzer  60  is provided to receive the water of the condenser  1  discharged from the exhaust pipe  30  and analyze the quality of the water. The water discharged from the exhaust pipe  30  passes through an extraction tube  64  and flows into the water quality analyzer  60 . According to the present embodiment, the end portion of the exhaust pipe  30  and the extraction tube  64  are hermetically connected to each other by a second connection end pipe  65 . 
     The water quality analyzer  60  may include a chamber  61  into which the water of the condenser  1  flows and a measurement sensor  62  provided in the chamber  61 . 
     To quickly check the state of the quality of the water in the condenser  1 , the water quality analyzer  60  may be disposed at a position relatively close to a position where the water of the condenser  1  is discharged through the exhaust pipe  30 . 
     A specific conductivity (SC) measurement sensor may be used as the measurement sensor  62 . As necessary, the SC measurement sensor and a cation conductivity (CC) measurement sensor may be simultaneously provided as the measurement sensor  62 . 
     The water quality analyzer  60  may include a transmission portion  63  for transmitting, to the outside, data obtained from the measurement sensor  62  where the quality of the introduced water. The data is provided to a power plant control equipment  300  through a cable to be used for operating a power plant. The method of transmitting the data by the transmission portion  63  is not limited to a wired method. 
     The return pipe  70  is provided to return the water passed through the water quality analyzer  60  back to the condenser  1 . The return pipe  70  is installed inside the insertion pipe  10 . An end portion of the return pipe  70  is inserted into the first finish member  40 , and an outlet hole  42  is formed in the first finish member  40  so that the water returned through the return pipe  70  flows back to the inside of the condenser  1 . According to the present embodiment, a fourth connection end pipe  72  is connected to an end portion of the return pipe  70  and connected to the first finish member  50 . As the water extracted from the condenser  1  by the return pipe  70  is returned back to the condenser  1 , damage of water in the condenser  1  may be prevented. 
     The guide pipe  80  is coupled to an outer wall of the condenser  1  so that the insertion pipe  10  is inserted therein and guided thereby. The guide pipe  80  facilitates the installation and removal of the insertion pipe  10 . 
     In detail, the guide pipe  80  may include a first guide pipe  81  having one end portion coupled to the outer wall of the condenser  1 , and a second guide pipe  82  detachably coupled to the other end portion of the first guide pipe  81 . The first and second guide pipes  81  and  82  may be coupled to a flange in a screw method. 
     For example, the first guide pipe  81  may be previously manufactured to the outer wall of the condenser  1  by a method such as welding, and the like, and the second guide pipe  82  is manufactured in different lengths suitable for environment considering the arrangement of surrounding structures and possibility of interference and detachably coupled to the first guide pipe  81 . 
     A through-hole  911  through which the insertion pipe  10  passes is formed in the rotation valve  90 , and thus the rotation value  90  is detachably coupled to the guide pipe  80 . In detail, the rotation valve  90  may include an insertion portion  91  and a grip portion  92 . 
     The insertion portion  91  is a portion that is inserted into the guide pipe  80  and coupled thereto. According to the present embodiment, a connection pipe portion  110  that is branched to protrude in a direction crossing a direction in which the guide pipe  80  extends is provided on the guide pipe  80 . 
     According to the present embodiment, the connection pipe portion  110  is formed by extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the guide pipe  80  extends. The insertion portion  91  is elongated in one direction to be inserted into the connection pipe portion  110 . 
     The through-hole  911  is provided in the insertion portion  91 . The through-hole  911  is provided to introduce the end portion of the insertion pipe  10  to be inserted into the guide pipe  80  and to be introduced into the inside of the condenser  1 , while the insertion portion  91  is inserted into the guide pipe  80 . In other words, the insertion pipe  10  is inserted through the through-hole  911  formed in the insertion portion  91 . 
     The grip portion  92  is provided above the insertion portion  91  for the rotation of the insertion portion  91 . According to the present embodiment, the insertion pipe  10  may be separated from the guide pipe  80 . When the insertion pipe  10  is removed from the guide pipe  80 , the rotation valve  90  closes the guide pipe  80  to maintain a vacuum state in the condenser  1 . 
     As such, the grip portion  92  is provided to rotate the insertion portion  91  when the insertion pipe  10  is separated from the guide pipe  80 . The grip portion  92  may have a shape corresponding to the shape of a tool suitable for rotation so that the tool may be coupled to the grip portion  92 . 
     The return pump  100  is provided to supply the water passed through the water quality analyzer  60  to the side of the return pipe  70 . The return pump  100  is provided between the water quality analyzer  60  and the return pipe  70 . The return pump  100  is connected to the water quality analyzer  60  and a first return tube  101 , and the return pump  100  and the return pipe  70  are connected to a second return tube  102 . The second return tube  102  and the return pipe  70  are connected to each other by a third connection end pipe  71  so that easy coupling and water tightness are secured. 
     The operation and effect of the extraction apparatus  200  for extracting the water from the condenser  1  for analysis of the quality of the water configured as above are described below in detail. 
     The first guide pipe  81  is coupled to the outer wall of the condenser  1 , and the second guide pipe  82  is coupled to the first guide pipe  81  by the flange. The rotation valve  90  is inserted into the connection pipe portion  110  provided in the guide pipe  80 . In this state, in order for the through-hole  911  of the rotation valve  90  to open the guide pipe  80 , the through-hole  911  is inserted to communicate with the guide pipe  80 . 
     The insertion pipe  10  is inserted into the guide pipe  80  with the rotating shaft  21  and the screw  22  are provisionally assembled in the insertion pipe  10 . The provisional assembly is performed according to the following process. 
     The rotating shaft  21  is inserted into the insertion pipe  10 . The one end portion of the rotating shaft  21  is exposed through the first insertion hole  41  of the first finish member  40 . The screw  22  and the adaptor  24  are coupled to the rotating shaft  21  that is exposed. 
     The exhaust pipe  30  and the return pipe  70  are also inserted into the insertion pipe  10  and installed therein. The exhaust pipe  30  being inserted in the insertion pipe  10  connects one end portion thereof to the inlet nozzle  31  via the first connection end pipe  32 . The return pipe  70  being inserted in the insertion pipe  10  connects one end portion thereof to the first finish member  40 . Next, the first finish member  40  is coupled to the end portion of the insertion pipe  10  by a screw method. In such a process, the provisional assembly of one end portion of the insertion pipe  10  is completed. 
     The second finish member  50  is coupled to the other end portion of the insertion pipe  10 . The rotating shaft  21  is exposed through the second insertion hole  51  of the second finish member  50 . The exhaust pipe  30  is inserted into the second finish member  50  and coupled thereto, and the exhaust pipe  30  is coupled to the extraction tube  64  by the second connection end pipe  65 . The other end portion of the return pipe  70  is connected to the second return tube  102  by the third connection end pipe  71 . The second finish member  50  is coupled to the other end portion of the insertion pipe  10  by a bolt  120 . To use the bolt  120  for fastening, a first fastening portion  121  and a second fastening portion  122  are formed on the outer sides of the insertion pipe  10  and the second finish member  50 . The bolt  120  is coupled to the first fastening portion  121  and the second fastening portion  122  by penetrating the same. 
     The insertion pipe  10  that is provisionally assembled is inserted into the guide pipe  80 . The insertion pipe  10  passes through the through-hole  911  of the rotation valve  90  that is already coupled to the guide pipe  80 , and the screw  22  is inserted to a position to be submerged in the water in the condenser  1 . 
     Next, the power supply portion  23  is coupled to one end portion of the second finish member  50 . The motor  231  and the gear portion  233  are coupled to the motor fixing portion  232 , and a coupling portion  2321  coupled to the second finish member  50  is formed to protrude. The motor fixing portion  232  is coupled to the second finish member  50  by the coupling portion  2321 . 
     Next, the exhaust pipe  30  is connected to the water quality analyzer  60  by the extraction tube  64 . In order to introduce the water passed through the water quality analyzer  60  via the return pipe  70 , the first and second return tubes  101  and  102  and the return pump  100  are connected to each other so that the installation of the extraction apparatus  200  according to the disclosure is completed. 
     As such, in the extraction apparatus  200  according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the screw  22  is rotated by a rotation force of the motor  231 , water flowing to the rear side of the screw  22  flows to the water quality analyzer  60  via the exhaust pipe  30 , and after analysis of the quality of water is performed, the water flows back to the inside of the condenser  1  via the return pipe  70 , thereby forming a circulation process. 
     The water of the condenser  1  flows to the water quality analyzer  60  by the rotation force of the screw  22 , and a pressure relationship below is established in connection with the movement of the water of the condenser  1 . 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, assuming that the pressure at the rear end of the screw  22  when the screw  22  is rotated is P1, the pressure when the water of the condenser  1  is introduced into the exhaust pipe  30  is P2, the pressure needed to deliver water from the rear end of the screw  22  to the water quality analyzer  60  via the exhaust pipe  30  is P3, and the pressure lost in the exhaust pipe  30  when water is moved through the exhaust pipe  30  is P4, a condition that P1+P2&gt;P3+P4 is satisfied. Under the above condition, the water in the condenser  1  is moved from the inside of the condenser  1  to the water quality analyzer  60  without additional configuration to absorb the water into the water quality analyzer  60 . 
     As such, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the extraction apparatus  200  for extracting water from a condenser to analyze the quality of the water extracts the water from the condenser  1  to the outside by using the rotation force of the screw  22  so that there is no need to consider a degree of vacuum in the condenser  1  during an operation of the condenser  1 . In other words, the disclosure solves problems of the related-art method of extracting water by using a pump for analysis of the quality of water from a condenser that is kept in a vacuum state during an operation of a power plant, which causes an overload to the pump so that the pump may be damages, and in which lot of cost is incurred in the replacement and maintenance of a pump. 
     Furthermore, the extraction apparatus  200  according to the disclosure provides an effect of saving costs by omitting piping construction for connecting a pump to multiple positions in a lower portion of a condenser according to the related art. 
     Furthermore, as the length of the insertion pipe  10  installed in the condenser  1  is manufactured in various way and thus the insertion pipe  10  may be installed at a desired position of the condenser  1 , the installation and removal thereof is easy, and equipment may be simplified by reducing the length of the insertion pipe  10 . 
     Furthermore, when the extraction apparatus  200  according to the disclosure is installed at multiple positions in the condenser  1 , the quality of water may be analyzed at each position where the extraction apparatus  200  is installed, so that a seawater leak point may be quickly and easily located. In other words, according to the related art, when a plurality of pipes are connected to a pump for analyzing the quality of water, a leak point is located by checking valves connected to the respective pipes by sequentially closing the valves to check a damaged pipe. However, the disclosure provide an effect of quickly and conveniently checking a leak point. 
     Furthermore, as the insertion pipe  10  employed in the disclosure may be separated from the guide pipe  80 , maintenance or repair is convenient, and as the guide pipe  80  may be closed by rotating the rotation valve  90  when the insertion pipe  10  is separated from the guide pipe  80 , loss of vacuum of the condenser  1  may be prevented in advance. 
     The disclosure may be used to extract a liquid in various containers used in a power plant, and also may be applied in replacement of various underwater pumps used at industrial sites. 
     As the apparatus for extracting water from a condenser to the outside for water quality analysis according to the disclosure extracts water from a condenser to the outside by using the rotation force of a screw, there is no need to consider a degree of vacuum in the condenser during an operation of the condenser, and there is no possibility of damage of a motor for transmitting a rotation force to the screw by the vacuum in the condenser. 
     Furthermore, as an insertion pipe to be installed on the condenser is manufactured with various lengths and installed at a desired portion of the condenser, the installation and removal thereof is easy, and equipment may be simplified by reducing the length of the insertion pipe. 
     Furthermore, when the extraction apparatus according to the disclosure is installed at multiple positions in the condenser, the quality of water may be analyzed at each individual position where the extraction apparatus is installed, and thus a seawater leak point may be quickly and easily located. 
     Furthermore, as the insertion pipe employed in the disclosure may be separated from the guide pipe, maintenance or repair is convenient, and furthermore when the insertion pipe is separated from the guide pipe, a rotation valve provided in the guide pipe closes the guide pipe, a vacuum state of the condenser may be maintained. 
     It should be understood that embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.