Condenser for steam turbine

[mielke]

Are steam condensers only used for vaccuum steam turbines?

 

[racookpe1978]

No.

(Well, that's a short answer and very useless answer, but you need to describe or amplify your question better, in order for us to know what kind of answer you actually need.)

 

[mielke]

Well im not to informed on steam turbines but I have found that there are two main types (actually more but for sake of my question im only considering two). One that has steam exhaust above atmosphere and one that has steam exhaust below atmosphere.

When it is operating with exhaust below atmosphere it needs to be condensed back to liquid and then reboiled and put back into turbine.

When it is operating with exhaust above atmosphere it can just be reheated a little, without condensing, and then recirculated.

Is my understanding correct and that below atmosphere a steam condenser is generally needed and that above atmosphere a steam condenser is not used?

 

[rmw]

Condensers are used with steam turbines in order to get more work out of the steam. By expanding it into a deep vacuum, more work can by extracted from the expansion process. When steam is needed for other process applications, it is extracted or exhausted from the steam turbine at pressures above atmospheric.

But, the "reuse" or "recirculation" of steam for reuse is not commonly done, but when it is, it is called vapor compression. That takes a lot of horsepower, usually more than is economically feasable.

rmw

 

[abcmex]

Condenser are usually used. The water quality used in steam turbines is very high (=expensive).

rgs