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Examoogle • User • info@examoogle.com • EE-2024-8821
Chapter 1 of 12 • Page 1 of 248🔒 Protected PDF • Watermarked
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A condenser in a thermal power plant condenses steam combing out of
Boiler
Super-heater
Economizer
Turbine
Turbine
In a Rankine cycle-based thermal power plant, the condenser is situated immediately after the steam turbine exhaust. It serves to convert low-pressure exhaust steam into liquid condensate, which is then pumped back to the boiler.
In a Rankine cycle-based thermal power plant, the condenser is situated immediately after the steam turbine exhaust. It serves to convert low-pressure exhaust steam into liquid condensate, which is then pumped back to the boiler.
Wnet=Wturbine−Wpump — Net work output of the cycle
ηthermal=QinWnet — Thermal efficiency of the power plant
The turbine extracts work from high-pressure steam, causing a pressure and temperature drop. The exhaust enters the condenser where it loses latent heat to a cooling medium (usually water), causing a phase change to liquid. This process creates a vacuum at the turbine exhaust, increasing the turbine expansion ratio and overall plant efficiency.
Condensers operate at sub-atmospheric pressure to maximize enthalpy extraction.
Heat rejected in the condenser represents the largest energy loss in a thermal cycle.
The vacuum in the condenser is maintained by vacuum pumps or steam jet ejectors.
Increases the total work output of the turbine by expanding steam to lower pressures.
Recovers high-quality treated feed water for the boiler.
Requires a large supply of cooling water or massive cooling towers.
Susceptible to biofouling and corrosion in heat exchanger tubes.
Steam Power Plants (Coal/Nuclear/Gas)
Marine steam propulsion systems
Boiler (Option A) produces steam; Super-heater (Option B) increases steam temperature; Economizer (Option C) preheats feedwater using flue gases.
A surface condenser is the most common type used in large utility-scale power plants.
D is correct — The condenser is connected to the turbine exhaust to condense the low-pressure exhaust steam back into water.
Always remember that the condenser is the site of 'Heat Rejection' (Qout) in the Rankine cycle, and its efficiency directly impacts the vacuum pressure and cycle efficiency.