Engineering · Steam — Condensate
The main condenser in a steam plant is maintained under vacuum primarily to:
- AReduce feedwater oxygen
- BLower the turbine exhaust pressure and increase plant efficiency✓ Correct
- CHeat the condensate
- DIncrease boiler pressure
Explanation
A condenser vacuum drops the turbine's back-pressure, increasing the pressure drop across the turbine and recovering more work from each pound of steam, raising overall cycle efficiency.
Authority: Steam Plants (USCG engineering topic)
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