Condensate partially leaves the piping via steam traps ... Steam should ideally reach the heat exchanger as 100 percent dry saturated steam for optimal heat transfer to the process. But in practice, ...

Another issue in food and beverage applications is the steam trap and condensate return system, which should remove condensate quickly to allow heat transfer to occur and eliminate the stall point.

Heat exchangers are used to transfer thermal energy from one type of liquid ... are looking to capture all the heat out of that steam, then return the steam that turns into condensate to the boiler.