Condensate should be recovered. It contains 20% of the energy of steam and is formed at the same pressure and temperature as saturated steam.

Steam condenses by giving away its latent heat. Latent heat is the energy required for change of state from water to steam or vice versa. The addition or removal of latent heat does not alter the temperature.

Thus when steam condenses the resulting water (condensate) is still at the same temperature as steam. The heat present in condensate is termed sensible heat. Since steam and condensate are in the same pressure system they are also at the same pressure.

As seen, latent heat of steam forms the major portion of the heat content of steam and is primarily utilized during indirect heat transfer. Of the total heat content of steam, condensate contains 20% of the energy and which can be recovered.