🔍 Key Concepts

• function of a condensate pump in a steam cycle • purpose of packing glands and stuffing boxes • how air leakage affects condensate pump performance and vacuum

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens if air gets into the suction side of a condensate pump connected to a condenser under vacuum. Which option would most reliably block that air? • Among the options, which method is commonly used around rotating shafts to seal and lubricate the packing? • Consider which choice would actually prevent air from entering, rather than just relying on conditions already present in the system.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify what medium is usually supplied to a packing gland on a condensate or centrifugal pump (water, air, or special packing?). • Ask yourself if a vacuum alone can stop air from leaking past packing, or if it would tend to draw air in instead. • Consider practical marine engineering practice: which of these is routinely piped to pump stuffing boxes as a seal and cooling medium?