Some reliability considerations for large-surface condensers

Three areas of condenser design are covered; they are all things that have been around for a long time but are receiving renewed attention as the demands on condenser reliability are increasing. The first area is tube vibration. This was discussed in this same Conference about nine years ago, and that presentation is reviewed and experience since then discussed. The second topic relates to the analysis of the tubesheet and tube-to-tubesheet joints when subjected to the high pressures associated with a cooling tower system. The third is a discussion of condenser leak integrity, its increased importance in nuclear systems, and what can be done to increase leak integrity.