This document provides an overview of steam condensers as part of a steam power plant. It defines a steam condenser as a device that condenses steam using cooling water at a constant pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. Steam condensers are classified as either jet (mixing) condensers or surface (non-mixing) condensers. Jet condensers allow direct contact between steam and water while surface condensers separate the steam and water with tubes. The document discusses the various types and functions of steam condensers.

1. Steam condensers - Part 1
Presentation by:
Avdhesh Tyagi
Asst. Prof.
Department of Mechanical Engineering
G. L. Bajaj Institute of Technology & Management, Greater Noida
Disclaimer: The materials provided in this presentation and any comments or information
provided by the presenter are for educational purposes only. Nothing conveyed or provided
should be considered legal, accounting or tax advice.

2. Name of Subject: Applied Thermodynamics
Subject Code: KME401
Department of Mechanical Engineering
G. L. Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management,
Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
College code: 192
Affiliated to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (Formerly UPTU Lucknow).
Unit 3
Topic covered: Steam condensers –
Introduction & Classification

3. Rankine cycle
Following 4 are the basic components of a
steam power plant working on Rankine cycle:
1. Feed Pump (For isentropic compression)
2. Boiler (For isobaric heat addition)
3. Steam Turbine (For isentropic expansion)
4. Steam condenser (For isobaric heat
rejection)

4. P-V diagram of Rankine cycle
Image courtesy: Applied Thermodynamics by R. K. Rajput, 2nd edition, Laxmi
publications (P) Ltd.

5. Elements of Steam condensing plant
• Condenser
• Air extraction pump
• Condensate extraction pump
• Cooling water circulating pump
• Hot well
• Cooling tower
• Make up water pump
• Boiler feed pump

6. Steam condensing plant
Image courtesy: Applied Thermodynamics by Onkar Singh, Third edition, New Age
International (P) Limited Publishers

7. Steam condenser
“A steam condenser is a device in which steam is
condensed by cooling it at a constant pressure and
this pressure is less than atmospheric pressure.”
• Water is used as cooling agent.
• An air extraction pump is used to create vacuum
(or sub-atmospheric pressure) in steam
condenser.
• The output of a steam condenser is saturated
water.

8. Functions of Steam condenser
• To reduce the turbine exhaust pressure so as to
increase the specific output and hence increase
the plant efficiency and decrease the specific
steam consumption.
• To condense the exhaust steam from the turbine
and reuse it as pure feed water in the boiler. Thus
only make up water is required to compensate
loss of water.
• To improve heat transfer by removing the air and
other non condensable gases from steam.

9. Classification of Steam condensers
Generally, steam condensers are classified
into following 2 categories:
1. Jet condenser or Mixing type condenser
2. Surface condenser or Non-mixing type
condenser

10. Jet condenser
In Jet Condensers or mixing type condensers,
the exhaust steam and water come into direct
contact with each other.
The temperature of the condensate is the same
as that of cooling water leaving the condenser.

11. Types of Jet condenser
Jet Condensers are classified as given below:
1. Low Level Parallel Flow Jet Condenser
2. Low Level Counter Flow Jet Condenser
3. High Level Parallel Flow Jet Condenser
4. High Level Counter Flow Jet Condenser
5. Ejector Condenser

12. Surface condenser
In surface condensers, the exhaust steam and water
do not come into direct contact.
• The steam passes over the outer surface of tubes
through which a supply of cooling water is
maintained. There may be single-pass or double-
pass.
• In single-pass condensers, the water flows in one
direction only through all the tubes, while in two-
pass condenser the water flows in one direction
through the tubes and returns through the
remainder.

13. Types of Surface condenser
Surface condensers are classified as given
below:
1. Down flow type
2. Central flow type
3. Inverted flow type
4. Regenerative type
5. Evaporative type

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