<![CDATA[The condenser plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil distillation by facilitating heat transfer and vapor condensation. This study analyzes the effect of varying operating conditions on the heat transfer rate, Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD), condenser effectiveness, and citronella oil production. The evaluation involved three test variations, comparing heat transfer parameters and condenser performance. The results indicate that the heat transfer rate increased from 152,438.27 W in Variation I to 170,963.54 W in Variation II, reaching 186,544.68 W in Variation III. This increase was accompanied by a rise in the LMTD value from 25.18°C to 29.74°C, an improvement in condenser effectiveness from 81% to 89%, and an increase in the conversion of condensate vapor mass into citronella oil from 28% to 36%. These results demonstrate that the increase in heat transfer rate is directly proportional to condenser effectiveness and the success of the condensation process. Variation III represents the optimum operating condition, as it yielded the most efficient heat transfer and the best condenser performance during the citronella leaf distillation process.]]>
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