Überhitzter

Überhitzter is a German adjective meaning overheated. It describes something that has been heated beyond its normal operating temperature and can apply to solids, liquids, or gases. In technical contexts the term is frequently linked with processes that intentionally raise temperature, such as the production of steam, or with devices that produce such temperatures, known as Überhitzer.

In thermodynamics and engineering, the term most commonly occurs in connection with superheated steam (überhitzter Dampf). After generation in a boiler, steam can be further heated by a separate heater, the Überhitzer, to temperatures above the saturation point at the boiler pressure. This increases its energy content and reduces condensation in turbines, improving efficiency, but requires materials that withstand higher temperatures and more demanding operating conditions.

Stability considerations differ for liquids. While steam is typically described as überhitzter Dampf when heated beyond its boiling point, liquids are prone to rapid vaporization if disturbed when superheated, making such states less stable in practice. Overheating also occurs in machinery and electronics, where excessive temperatures can cause component degradation, reduced performance, or safety hazards. Effective cooling, monitoring, and automatic shutoff mechanisms are used to manage overheating risks.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from the prefix über- (over) and hitzen (to heat). In German, überhitzter can function as an adjective, and in compounds it appears in terms such as Überhitzer (superheater) or überhitzte Zustände to describe overheated states.