Kondensor

Kondensor is the Dutch term for condenser and can refer to several devices that have the common purpose of controlling condensed material or focused illumination, depending on the field of use. In general, a kondensor is a device designed to convert vapor to liquid or to shape and concentrate light for illumination.

In thermodynamics and process engineering, a kondensor is a heat exchanger that condenses vapor by removing latent heat. It is used to turn steam or other vapors back into liquid, which can then be recirculated or collected for disposal. Kondensors are common in power plants, chemical and petrochemical plants, and distillation setups. They are typically cooled by water or air and come in designs such as shell-and-tube or plate condensers. Performance depends on cooling medium temperature, flow, and the ability to maintain a low vapor pressure to drive condensation.

In optics and illumination, a kondensor refers to an optical assembly that concentrates and shapes light from a lamp onto a specimen, film, or other target. In microscopy, the condenser lens and associated diaphragms form a bright, even illumination field and control contrast. Köhler illumination is a widely used method that uses a condenser with field and aperture diaphragms to optimize brightness and resolution. Kondensors are also used in camera enlargers and projection systems to achieve uniform illumination of the image plane.

Etymology traces kondensor to the concept of condensation. In Dutch technical literature, the term may refer to either the thermodynamic condenser or the optical condenser, depending on context. See also condenser.