Condenser

A heat exchanger that removes heat from vapor until it becomes liquid. Condensers are used in power cycles, refrigeration, distillation, and air conditioning.

Condensation: The phase change in which a gas or vapor becomes a liquid. The condenser performs this phase change by removing heat from the vapor.
Vapor: A gas phase of a substance that can also exist as a liquid or solid. The condenser's incoming stream is vapor that can liquefy under suitable conditions.
Surface condenser: A condenser in which vapor and cooling water remain separated by heat-transfer walls. Steam power stations use this design to condense turbine exhaust without mixing it with cooling water.
Boiler: A vessel or heat exchanger that heats water to produce steam or hot water. A boiler adds heat to create vapor, whereas a condenser removes heat to liquefy it.
Latent heat: Energy absorbed or released during a phase change without changing temperature. Condensing vapor releases latent heat that the exchanger must carry away.
Saturation temperature: The temperature at which a substance changes phase at a specified pressure. It identifies the temperature at which the vapor can begin condensing at its pressure.
Jet condenser: A condenser in which vapor mixes directly with cooling water. This direct-contact design condenses steam by bringing it into contact with water.
Reboiler: A heat exchanger that vaporizes liquid from the bottom of a distillation column. It supplies vapor to a separation column rather than condensing its overhead vapor.
Heat transfer: The movement of thermal energy between objects or regions at different temperatures. A temperature difference drives heat from the vapor through the condenser to its coolant.
Cooling water: Water circulated to absorb heat from industrial or building systems. It commonly carries the heat removed from vapor away from the condenser.

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