Which device in a Rankine cycle is used to raise condensate back to high pressure?

• A. A turbine.
• B. A burner.
• C. A condenser.
• D. A pump.

Answer: (C)

In the Rankine cycle, condensate comes back from the condenser at low pressure and must be pushed back up to boiler pressure to reenter the heating loop. That pressurizing job is done by the feedwater pump. The pump adds the necessary pressure with relatively small energy input so the water can flow into the boiler and be turned into high-pressure steam again.

The other components have different roles: the turbine uses high-pressure steam to produce work and lowers the steam pressure; the condenser removes heat and turns steam into liquid at low pressure; the burner (or furnace) provides heat to generate steam in the boiler, not to pressurize condensate.