What supplies the condensate pump on a surface condenser?

In the context of a surface condenser, the condensate pump is primarily supplied by the hot well. The hot well is a reservoir that collects condensate from the condenser, which is produced when steam cools and condenses on the surface of the condenser tubes. The purpose of the condensate pump is to transport this collected condensate back into the boiler feed system, where it can be reused as feedwater.

The process typically involves steam entering the condenser, where it releases its heat to the cooling water circulating through the tubes, causing the steam to condense into liquid water. This liquid water, or condensate, collects in the hot well, and the condensate pump draws from this source. Thus, the correct answer highlights the role of the hot well as the supply point for the condensate pump in the system's overall operation.