In a building heating system, where does the condensate in the condensate receiver tank come from?

The condensate in the condensate receiver tank primarily comes from the heating system. In a heating system, especially those utilizing steam or hot water, condensation occurs as the steam or heated water releases its heat to the surrounding environment, which is typically the space being heated. As the steam cools, it turns back into water (condensate) and gathers in the condensate receiver tank.

This tank is specifically designed to collect and store this condensate, which can then be pumped back into the boiler or heating system to be reused, promoting energy efficiency and effective system operation. By understanding this process, it becomes clear how integral the heating system is to the generation of condensate in this context.

Other options such as external sources, cooling systems, or rainwater collection do not contribute to the condensate in a typical heating system. External sources may include water from outside but are not directly connected to the operation of the heating system's condensate functioning, while cooling systems operate on entirely different principles, often involving refrigeration cycles. Rainwater collection also does not relate to the processes within a heating system and is unrelated to the generation of condensate in this context.