Question

The practice to use steam on the shell side and water on the tube side in condensers of steam power plant is because

• A. to increase overall HT coefficient, water side velocity can be increased if water is on the tube side
• B. condenser can act as a storage unit for condensed steam
• C. rate of condensation of steam is invariably smaller than the mass flow rate of cooling water
• D. it is easier to maintain vacuum on the shell side than on the tube side

Answer 1

The correct option is D it is easier to maintain vacuum on the shell side than on the tube side

If the steam is maintained on the shell side whatever the vacuum obtained due to condensation of steam are rather because of change in specific volume of steam due to condensation can be easily maintained i.e. air leaked into the condenser can be easily extracted.