What is the primary function of a condenser in a steam power cycle?

What is the primary function of a condenser in a steam power cycle?

• A. Condense exhaust steam to liquid and return to boiler as feedwater
• B. Increase steam pressure for better expansion
• C. Decrease the temperature of the boiler water
• D. Filter impurities from the steam

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the condenser turns the turbine exhaust steam back into liquid water to be reused as feedwater. By condensing the exhaust, it creates a low-pressure, low-temperature sink for the steam, allowing it to return to the boiler as liquid water and close the cycle. This helps improve overall efficiency because pumping and heating feedwater requires less energy, and it reduces makeup water needs by recovering most of the water from the exhaust. The other options don’t fit because increasing steam pressure happens earlier in the cycle, not in the condenser; the boiler water is heated in the boiler, not cooled by the condenser; and filtering impurities is not the condenser’s function.

The main idea is that the condenser turns the turbine exhaust steam back into liquid water to be reused as feedwater. By condensing the exhaust, it creates a low-pressure, low-temperature sink for the steam, allowing it to return to the boiler as liquid water and close the cycle. This helps improve overall efficiency because pumping and heating feedwater requires less energy, and it reduces makeup water needs by recovering most of the water from the exhaust. The other options don’t fit because increasing steam pressure happens earlier in the cycle, not in the condenser; the boiler water is heated in the boiler, not cooled by the condenser; and filtering impurities is not the condenser’s function.