Now, if we didn't want to use the water again, that would be the end of the cycle. However, it would also be very wasteful of water. The steam leaving the turbine is converted back to water by the condenser. It works like a giant car radiator, cooling the steam until it liquefies. The cooling medium is environmental air or sea-water.
Pressure rises with no change in volume, as the water is pumped to boiler pressure.
2 - 3 Pressure remains constant but volume increases as the water turns to steam and is further heated. 3 - 4 Volume increases dramatically and pressure drops as the steam expands through the turbine. 4 - 1 Volume reduces dramatically as the steam turns back into the water. The enclosed area on the PV diagram represents the work output achieved from the cycle. Droplets of water can cause erosion of turbine blades.