How many Main Condensers are in the condensate system?

• A. 1
• B. 2
• C. 3
• D. 4

Answer: (B)

In a typical naval steam plant, the condensate system uses two main condensers. Each main condenser is paired with a main propulsion turbine train, condensing the exhaust steam from that train and returning the condensate to the feedwater system. This setup provides enough surface area to handle the exhaust from both turbines and maintain the vacuum needed in the condenser, which is important for efficient condensation and smooth feedwater flow. It also offers redundancy: if one condenser is down, the other can continue to condense steam and supply condensate, though at reduced capacity. Having only one condenser would limit capacity and redundancy for a two-turbine setup, while more than two is not typical for standard configurations.