Condensate Return

Definition

The practice of collecting condensed steam and returning it to the feedwater system. It determines the baseline quality of everything downstream and is called liquid gold.

Condensate return typically arrives hot and clean with low dissolved solids and high heat content, so a high condensate fraction keeps feedwater warm and low in conductivity and oxygen. When condensate return collapses, the makeup fraction rises and feedwater conditions worsen across temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen at once. Loss of condensate quantity is distinct from loss of condensate quality, where contamination introduces hardness into the boiler.

Related concepts

Mass Balance · Makeup Water · Weighted Average

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🛠️ operations