What issue can arise from elevated water temperatures in the feedwater?

Elevated water temperatures in the feedwater can lead to steam binding in the feedwater pump. When the temperature of the feedwater is high, it increases the risk of vaporization within the pump, which can create pockets of steam. These pockets can disrupt the normal flow of water, causing inefficiencies and hindering the pump's ability to circulate liquid effectively. This phenomenon not only affects the operational efficiency of the feedwater pump but can also potentially lead to cavitation, which may damage the pump over time.

In contrast, while elevated temperatures can contribute to corrosion processes due to changes in chemistry, typically it is lower temperatures that are more directly associated with increased corrosion rates, particularly in certain types of materials. Increased fuel consumption and reduced steam pressure are not directly related to the immediate impacts of high feedwater temperatures but rather to other operational factors or system inefficiencies. Therefore, the relationship between elevated feedwater temperatures and steam binding is the main concern in this context.