What is Noncondensible? Definition and Examples

Noncondensible refers to a substance that does not condense or change state when it comes into contact with another substance. In other words, it does not undergo a phase transition or change its physical state when exposed to a certain condition, such as temperature or pressure.

For example, water vapor is a condensible substance because it will condense and turn into liquid water when it comes into contact with a cool surface. On the other hand, carbon dioxide is a noncondensible substance because it will not condense and change state even when exposed to very low temperatures.

In the context of steam turbines, noncondensible gases are gases that do not condense and change state when they pass through the turbine blades. These gases can include air, nitrogen, and other non-water vapor components of the steam. Because these gases do not condense, they cannot be used to produce power in the same way that water vapor can. Instead, they must be separated from the steam and removed from the system to prevent them from interfering with the operation of the turbine.