Which method of cooling is typically used when removing heat from steam?

When removing heat from steam, the method of cooling that is typically employed is latent heat transfer. This process involves the transition of steam to water, which occurs as the steam loses heat and undergoes condensation. During condensation, the steam releases a significant amount of energy in the form of latent heat, which is the heat energy associated with a phase change without a change in temperature. This is crucial in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, as it allows for effective heat removal at a relatively constant temperature.

The other methods listed, such as conduction, radiative cooling, and convective cooling, are not primarily effective for this specific cooling process involving steam. Conductive cooling involves the transfer of heat through direct contact between substances, which is less applicable when dealing with the phase change from steam to water. Radiative cooling refers to the emission of thermal radiation and is generally not effective for removing heat from steam. Convective cooling involves transferring heat via a fluid medium; while useful in some contexts, it does not specifically address the efficient removal of heat during the condensation of steam like latent heat transfer does.