What term is used to describe steam that has lost its heat and has turned back into water?

The term used to describe steam that has lost its heat and has turned back into water is condensate. When steam rises and transfers its thermal energy, it eventually cools to a point where it can no longer remain in its gaseous state and condenses back into liquid form. This process is fundamental in various heat exchange systems, including boilers, where the recovery and reuse of condensate is important for overall system efficiency.

Condensate is typically collected and returned to the boiler to be reused, thus conserving water and enhancing efficiency. It is a key part of steam systems, illustrating the cyclical nature of steam production and use in heating applications.

The other terms listed do not accurately describe this phenomenon. Distillate refers to the purified components obtained through distillation, which is different from the process of condensation from vapor to liquid. Effluent typically denotes waste liquid discharged from a system, while boiler water refers specifically to the water within the boiler that may not necessarily have come from steam condensation. These distinctions highlight why condensate is the correct term for steam that has cooled and reverted to water.