Steam condensers are broadly classified into two categories: jet condensers and surface condensers. Surface condensers are those in which the cooling water and exhaust steam do not come into direct contact with each other, but are separated by metal tube walls.
1. Examining Surface Condenser Types:
Surface condensers are further classified based on the direction of steam flow and the arrangement of tubes.
• Evaporative type: These condensers use the evaporation of cooling water sprayed over the outside of the tubes to extract heat from the steam inside.
• Regenerative type: This design allows the condensate to be heated by coming into contact with some of the exhaust steam, improving overall thermal efficiency.
• Inverted-flow type: In this configuration, the steam enters at the bottom and flows upwards through the tube bank.
2. Identifying the Ejector Type:
An
Ejector type condenser is actually a category of
jet condenser. In these devices, the exhaust steam and cooling water are mixed directly. The kinetic energy of the water is used to eject the mixture against atmospheric pressure, which often eliminates the need for a separate air pump.
3. Conclusion:
Because the ejector condenser involves the direct mixing of steam and water, it does not meet the definition of a surface condenser. Therefore, it is the correct choice for the type that is NOT a surface steam condenser.