What is the purpose of condensate in a steam system?

Prepare for the Engineman EN A School Test 1. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed explanations to boost confidence and readiness for the test.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of condensate in a steam system?

Recovering condensate in a steam system is about using the hot condensate as feedwater to the boiler. When steam cools and condenses, the resulting condensate still contains useful heat. Returning that water to the boiler lets that heat be reused instead of being lost, so the boiler doesn’t have to burn as much fuel to reheat fresh water. This also reduces the amount of makeup water needed, which saves water, lowers treatment costs, and decreases pump energy. In addition, returning condensate helps prevent thermal shock to the boiler by reusing relatively warm water. Discharging condensate to drain wastes the energy and water you’ve already paid to produce. Spraying condensate outside to cool the system is not how condensate is handled, and using condensate as fuel isn’t feasible since it’s water, not a combustible heat source.

Recovering condensate in a steam system is about using the hot condensate as feedwater to the boiler. When steam cools and condenses, the resulting condensate still contains useful heat. Returning that water to the boiler lets that heat be reused instead of being lost, so the boiler doesn’t have to burn as much fuel to reheat fresh water. This also reduces the amount of makeup water needed, which saves water, lowers treatment costs, and decreases pump energy. In addition, returning condensate helps prevent thermal shock to the boiler by reusing relatively warm water.

Discharging condensate to drain wastes the energy and water you’ve already paid to produce. Spraying condensate outside to cool the system is not how condensate is handled, and using condensate as fuel isn’t feasible since it’s water, not a combustible heat source.

More practice questions