The steam power plant 1. the function of a steam power plant is to convert the energy in nuclear reac-tions or in coal, oil or gas into mechanical or electric energy through the expansion of steam from a high pressure to a low pressure in a suitable prime mover such as a turbine or engine. a noncondensing plant discharges the steam from the prime mover at an exhaust pressure equal or greater than atmospheric pressure. a con-densing plant exhausts the steam from the prime mover into a condenser at a pres-sure less than atmospheric pressure. the general central station plants are condens-ing plants because their sole output is electric energy. industrial plants are frequent-ly noncondensing plants because large quantities of low-pressure steam are required for manufacturing operations. 2. the steam-generating unit consists of a furnace in which the fuel is burned, a boiler, superheater and economizer, in which high pressure steam is generated, and an air heater in which the loss of energy due to combustion of the fuel is reduced to a minimum. просьба перевести текст!