Waste heat utilization system

Abstract

Power generating plants discharge steam or hot water typically from a steam turbine to a condenser system for the purpose of cooling the discharged fluid prior to its being recirculated. The condenser system receives water from an ambient source pumped using a circulating water pump, said water being elevated to a temperature on the order of 115.degree. F. to 125.degree. F. upon passing through the condenser system. The condenser system can operate in basically two different states to provide either single pressure, single pass condenser operation when the waste hot water is discharged to the source and not used, or multi-pressure, multi-pass condenser operation to maintain an elevated hot water supply that is fed to a load (utilization equipment). Valve controls are provided for enabling serial-to-parallel and, vice versa, switching between modes of operation without difficulties and with only a slight drop in load during the transition. The heated water is temperature controlled to the above mentioned range. The system is particularly adaptable to use with a plurality of power plants by combining the discharges of several plants as needed, or by removing plants from the waste heat system when not needed. A special pressure control is provided at all plants to compensate for variations in water flow occasioned by changes in electric generation.