Understanding Condensation in a Rankine Cycle

AI Thread Summary
In a Rankine cycle, the condenser operates at constant pressure and temperature, where steam from the turbine condenses into water. The formation of a partial vacuum occurs due to the significant difference in specific volumes between steam and liquid water, which creates a low-pressure environment. While the pressure remains constant during the condensation process, the reduction in specific volume of the steam leads to a vacuum effect. This phenomenon is essential for efficient heat transfer and maintaining the cycle's thermodynamic efficiency. Understanding this concept is crucial for mechanical engineering students studying thermodynamics.
ashutoshd
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I am a 2nd year mech engg student. I have a basic doubt in condensers. The steam from turbine exhaust enters the condenser & gets condensed during which its specific volume decreases resulting in formation of partial vacuum. Now according to rankine cycle the process in a condenser is a isobaric & isothermal one(shown by a horizontal straight line coinciding with lower isobar in T-S diag) so if pressure remains constant how is vacuum formed during condensation? I mean shouldn't the pressure decrease too?
This could be a silly question but i have scouted the web but couldn't find any page dealing with this in detail apart from cursory explanation. Any urls explaining this in detail are welcome.
 
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I read it in some books and many places on the net that a partial vacuum is created by virtue of great difference in specific volumes of steam & the condensed water. Is it wrong?
 
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