Structural Analysis and Optimization of a Shell and Tube Condenser Employed in the Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) Process

Though India is surrounded by water from three sides, potable water is scarce. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has been actively utilising ocean water to generate drinking quality water for island communities in India. This technology, called low-temperature thermal desalination (LTTD), is an offshoot of the ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) cycle based on the Rankine cycle. The condenser is one of the key components in the LTTD plant which is responsible to produce drinking quality water. While the condenser should be capable of condensing the incoming vapour efficiently, the structural integrity of the component also needs to be looked at, owing to the huge pressure difference on both sides of the shell, weight of the component plus water weight acting on the supports, and the buckling strength. For this, the condenser was modelled in ANSYS Design Modeller and AUTODESK Inventor. Subsequently, the condenser was analysed in ANSYS Workbench for its structural and buckling strength, corresponding to various load cases. The design was modified accordingly and was optimised.