Condenser units, commonly called hotwells, have been used for decades to cool steam generated by power plants. Essentially a steel box roughly the height of a two-story building with hundreds of copper tubes running throughout, a hotwell usually sits on four concrete pedestals buffered by steel shear plates. These plates allow the unit to slide back and forth as it vibrates, expands and contracts. Over time, the steel shear plates may rust and corrode. What's more, the concrete pedestals are stressed, resulting in cracking and spalling.
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