🔍 Key Concepts

• Main condenser and vacuum: How vacuum is created and maintained in a steam turbine system • Gland sealing steam: Purpose of steam to turbine glands and its effect on air leakage and vacuum • Hot well level and lube oil system: What they affect versus what directly affects condenser vacuum

💭 Think About

• Which action would most directly reduce air leakage into the turbine/condenser system and help build vacuum, rather than just support lubrication or warm-up? • Think about how vacuum is actually formed in a condenser—what role does steam flow and sealing of shaft glands play in removing air and allowing the condenser to pull a vacuum? • Which option, if done incorrectly, could actually harm the ability to maintain vacuum instead of improving it?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which system has the primary role in preventing air ingress at the turbine casing and shaft penetrations • Confirm which action would assist the air ejectors or vacuum pumps in establishing vacuum instead of defeating their purpose • Check which choice, if taken to the extreme (e.g., pumping something dry), would clearly be unsafe or operationally incorrect for normal vacuum-raising procedures