Open English Wordnet
(n)surface condensera heat exchanger which converts steam from its gaseous to its liquid state at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.“In thermal power plants, the purpose of a surface condenser is to condense the exhaust steam from a steam turbine to obtain maximum efficiency, and also to convert the turbine exhaust steam into pure water (referred to as steam condensate) so that it may be reused in the steam generator or boiler as boiler feed water.”