Surface condenser operation — do condensate and cooling water mix? Choose the correct statement regarding a surface condenser used with a steam engine or turbine.

Introduction / Context:
Condensers remove latent heat from exhaust steam so it can be condensed to water, lowering the back pressure and increasing cycle efficiency. Two common types are surface condensers and jet (mixing) condensers. Knowing which type mixes the fluids determines whether condensate can be reused as boiler feed without extensive treatment.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Surface condenser uses a tube bundle and shell arrangement.
• Cooling water flows in tubes; steam condenses on the shell side (or vice versa in some designs).
• Condensate is recovered without contamination.

Concept / Approach:
In a surface condenser, steam and cooling water do not mix; heat transfer occurs across a solid tube wall. This preserves condensate purity for return to the boiler. In jet condensers, by contrast, steam and cooling water mix directly, producing a single water stream at an intermediate temperature that cannot be returned to the boiler without treatment.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify condenser type: “surface” implies a heat-exchange surface separates the fluids.Therefore, mixing does not occur; condensate remains separate.Answer: False — they are kept separate.

Verification / Alternative check:
Plant P&IDs show separate condensate extraction pumps and cooling-water circuits for surface condensers, confirming no mixing.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Statements claiming “True” describe jet condensers, not surface condensers.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing the two condenser types or assuming “surface” simply means “exposed surface” rather than “separated by a heat-transfer surface.”

Final Answer:
False — they are kept separate across tube walls