Condenser

Apparatus in which the steam exhausted from the cylinder of a condensing engine is converted into water. Four types are used. 1. Jet condensers, where the water condenses the steam by direct contact with it, entering either in a plain jet or through a scattering plate which breaks the water into fine streams. 2. Surface condensers, where the water cools a large number of small tubes against whose cooled surface the steam impinges (the steam may be either outside or inside of the tubes). 3. Siphon condensers, in which the condensing box is put more than 32 ft. ab. the surface of the water in the hot well below which the pipe from the bottom of the condenser pa es so as to be air-sealed. A Torr i cell i an vacuum is theoretically to be realized, as water will not rise more than 32 ft. in the tube, but air must be drawn out by the principle of induced currents. 4. The ejector condensers, where the velocity of the exhaust steam induces a flow of the condensing water in the tube of the condenser, and the velocity of flow of the denser water prevents it from backing up into the engine and overcomes the pre ure of the atmosphere, while direct condensation maintains the vacuum.