🔍 Key Concepts

• Condensate depression as the difference between saturation temperature at condenser pressure and actual condensate temperature • How condensate temperature affects feedwater heating and boiler/plant efficiency • Relationship between over‑cooling condensate and overall steam cycle performance

💭 Think About

• If condensate is cooled far below its saturation temperature, what must the boiler or feedwater heaters do to bring it back up to operating temperature? • Which choice best reflects a system‑wide consequence, rather than a very localized temperature or component condition? • Think about how using more energy than necessary to re‑heat water would show up in plant performance measures.

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definition of condensate depression (temperature difference, not pressure difference). • Check which options describe a condition that would logically follow from over‑cooling the condensate leaving the condenser. • Ask: which consequence would most directly affect overall cycle/plant efficiency, not just a single part’s temperature reading.