1. Condenser issues

1.1 Role of the condenser

In power generation units using a water-steam cycle, the condenser is the device designed to constitute the cold source of the thermodynamic cycle. The steam that has worked in the turbine is condensed by exchange in contact with a bundle of tubes through which cooling water circulates (surface condenser [B 1 540] ). The cooling water is taken from a river or the sea (open circuit), or is itself cooled by atmospheric air in an air cooler before being reused (closed circuit).

To ensure the production unit's efficiency, the temperature of the condensed water (and consequently its saturated steam pressure) is kept as low as possible, taking into account...