What device is employed to convert steam energy into mechanical energy?

A turbine is the device that converts steam energy into mechanical energy. In a steam turbine, high-pressure steam is directed onto blades that spin the turbine, transforming the thermal energy from the steam into kinetic energy. This mechanical energy can then be used to perform work, such as driving a generator to produce electricity or rotating machinery within an industrial process.

The efficiency of a steam turbine is highly dependent on the temperature and pressure of the steam, as well as the design of the blades and the turbine itself, which together maximize the energy extraction from the steam flowing through it. This makes turbines a critical component in power generation systems, especially in thermal power plants where steam produced from boiling water is the driving force behind electricity generation.

In contrast, devices such as condensers and heat exchangers serve different purposes within a power plant's thermal cycle, typically focusing on heat transfer and steam condensation rather than directly converting steam energy into mechanical energy. A generator, while integral to producing electricity from mechanical energy, does not itself convert steam energy, but rather relies on a turbine or other mechanical system to generate the rotational energy required for electricity generation.