Calculate condenser heat rejection, cooling-water requirements, terminal temperature difference and heat-exchanger effectiveness for generic industrial and process condensers.
Generic condenser model. This calculator performs a water-side heat balance and evaluates terminal temperature difference and heat-exchanger effectiveness. Power-plant condenser pressure, vacuum, auxiliary loads and cooling-system performance are addressed in the related advanced calculator.
Inputs
Select the flow time basis independently of the main SI/US unit system.
Used only when solving for condensing temperature: Tsat = Tout + approach.
Qload = ṁ · cp · (Tout − Tin), where ṁ = ρ·Qv. The selected volumetric-flow unit is converted internally to m³/s before the energy balance. Terminal difference = Tsat − Tout Effectiveness = (Tout − Tin) / (Tsat − Tin) × 100%
Valid for the temperature order Tsat > Tout > Tin.
Steady-state water-side energy balance.
Single condensing temperature on the hot side.
Constant water density and specific heat.
No heat loss, desuperheating zone, condensate subcooling, fouling, or non-condensable-gas effects.
Thermal effectiveness is a heat-exchanger measure, not power-cycle efficiency.
All results are preliminary and must be checked against equipment data and applicable engineering standards.
EngineerHub.org