🔍 Key Concepts

• Difference between direct-contact and surface condensers in marine steam plants • Typical cooling medium for main steam turbine condensers on seagoing vessels • Where sea water is normally brought into the system versus where fresh water or steam is used

💭 Think About

• For each condenser type, ask yourself: is it usually part of the main steam cycle heat rejection to the ocean, or is it a small auxiliary used to handle vapors or non‑condensable gases? • Think about which component needs the largest heat removal capacity and therefore is most likely to use an abundant, continuously available cooling source like sea water. • Consider which of these condensers would most likely be connected to the sea chests and main circulating pumps on a ship.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which piece of equipment is associated with the main turbine exhaust steam in a traditional steam plant layout. • Check which condenser must reject the greatest quantity of latent heat to maintain vacuum in the system. • Verify which system on real ships is typically supplied by main circulating (circ) pumps that take suction directly from the sea.