Steam condenser shell-and-tube unit
Steam condenser installed in power plant

Steam Condenser

Surface-type shell-and-tube condensers for condensing steam turbines. Convert exhaust steam to water, creating vacuum for maximum turbine efficiency. Air-cooled or water-cooled options.

ASMECEISO 9001:2015HEI
Steam condenser shell-and-tube unitSteam condenser installed in power plant
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Overview

Steam condensers are critical to condensing-type turbine operation — they convert the turbine's exhaust steam back into water, creating the vacuum that allows the turbine to extract maximum energy from the steam cycle. Surface condensers use cooling water flowing through tube bundles to condense steam on the shell side, maintaining vacuum pressures as low as 0.08 bar absolute. Lower back-pressure means more power from the same steam — a well-maintained condenser can improve turbine output by 10-15%. Available as water-cooled (shell-and-tube) or air-cooled (ACC, fin-fan) configurations depending on water availability. Common applications: condensing steam turbines in power generation, geothermal plants, waste-heat recovery, and any facility where maximum electrical output from steam is the goal.

Key Features

Shell-and-tube surface condenser design
Cupronickel (90/10 or 70/30) or titanium tubes available
Carbon steel or stainless steel shell construction
Single-pass or two-pass water circuit configurations
Integrated hotwell for condensate collection
Vacuum pump or steam ejector air removal system
Tube sheets with expansion joints for thermal cycling
Support for vacuum operation down to 0.08 bar absolute
Air-cooled (ACC) variants available for water-scarce sites
ASME Section VIII pressure vessel compliance

Technical Specifications

TypeSurface (shell-and-tube) / Air-cooled (ACC)
Heat Duty1 MW to 100+ MW thermal
Vacuum Range0.08 - 0.2 bar absolute
Tube MaterialCupronickel 90/10, 70/30, Titanium, SS316
Shell MaterialCarbon steel / Stainless steel
Cooling Water FlowCustom sized per duty
Cooling Water Inlet Temp28-32°C typical
Tube ConfigurationSingle-pass or two-pass
Air RemovalLiquid ring vacuum pump or steam ejector
StandardsASME Section VIII / HEI 11th Edition / TEMA

Applications

Condensing steam turbine power generation
Cogeneration plants with condensing-extraction turbines
Geothermal power plants
Waste-heat recovery systems
Industrial captive power plants
Retrofit to improve existing turbine efficiency