[Calvin Locke]

the steam,...needs to be condensed back into water...

Had a boss years ago the did a stint with The Foxboro Company. He explained that it was all but water coming out
of a turbine, since the condesation reduced the gas volume, and thereby created a vacuum effect also contributing to
mechanical energy transfer, hence, high efficiency.

Or that's the way I remember it, some 20-odd years ago.

Generally 50 cycle AC...

Ah yes, the adjustment label on belt drive turntables if in Canada...(IIRC - also 20+ years)

[meyer]

Had a boss years ago the did a stint with The Foxboro Company. He explained that it was all but water coming out of a turbine, since the condesation reduced the gas volume, and thereby created a vacuum effect also contributing to mechanical energy transfer, hence, high efficiency.

He was correct, pretty much. Its still steam at the end of the turbine though barely, but the condensor cools it back into water. Pumping the water, along with the condensing effect creates the vacuum that aids effeciency. It also serves to get the water back to the boiler to cycle through again. There's a lot more to it, of course, but I'm not expert enough to give great detail - I work on the electrical side of things.