A Study on the Development of a Ball Sorter to Sort Sponge Balls for Condenser Tube Cleaning System Scale Deposit Removal

Abstract

This study has been conducted to develop a device that automatically removes foreign bodies and tube scale deposits by evaluating the effect on a sponge ball in a condenser tube. The device was used to increase thermal efficiency and involves the condensation of steam on a heat exchanger and condenser during turbine operation in nuclear and thermal power plants. In all experimental cases, the ball sorter satisfied all target achievement evaluation indicators of the ball sorter certification test, with sorting accuracy exceeding 95%, at a speed of 500 sponge balls per 15 min, and a noise of less than 85dB.