What is a condenser ?
A condenser works like a heat exchanger in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Refrigerant from compressor is discharged at a high temperature and high temperature. The condenser condensate the refrigerant to bring its temperature down. A condenser may be of static type which is used in refrigerator and it may be of forced type which is used in air conditioner. A condenser is built from tubes of copper or any other material of high conductivity passing through a set of fins as shown in figure. These fins increase the performance of condenser by increasing the surface contact area with air. Number of fins in a condenser depends upon the usage if its used for air conditioning the number of fins will be more than that we use for a refrigerator. The reason is that refrigerator is used to create cooling for a tiny space and an air conditioner is used to produce cooling effect for a large area.
Types of condenser :- There are basically two types of condensers used in refrigeration and air conditioners.
1. Air cooled Condenser :- An air cooled condenser uses only air as a medium to exchage heat in the atmosphere and it has further two types. The warm air tends to rise as the air in contact with fins and coil becomes heated and it rises the temperature of cool air which comes in contact with these sets of fins and coil.
1.1. Static type:- Static condenser means to fan is provided for circulation of air through fins of condenser, only natural air circulation makes the condensation. A condenser in a common refrigerator is an example of static type condenser. A plate type condenser is also a type of static type condenser. In modern refrigerators plate type condenser is provided on the sides of the refrigerator body. You can feel the heat released by it with a touch to body of refrigerator.
Following image will guide you about recommended wall distances for a refrigerator.
1.2. Forced convection type :- A fan is provided to circulate the air through the fins and coil to produce condensation. An air conditioner out door is an example of this type of condenser.
2. Water cooled condenser or Evaporative condensers :- A water cooled condenser uses water as a medium to exchange heat of condenser into atmosphere by the means of a cooling tower. These types of condensers works on the principle of evaporation. The heat of refrigerant in condenser is absorbed by the water and this water releases its heat to atmosphere using a cooling tower. Water cooled condensers are further classified in three following types :-
2.1. Shell and tube type :- In this type of condenser copper tubes with fins are coverd with a cylinder which is made of steel. The water with low temperature is passed through the copper tubes and refrigerant which is in vapor form is converted into liquid form when comes in contact with these cooper tubes. The cool water exchange its cooling effect with hot refrigerant and becomes hot. This hot water is cooled down with the use of cooling tower. The advantage of this condenser is that its compact, need no fan and combines the condenser and reciever in one body. This type of condensers are easy to clean because manifolds are provided at both ends of water coils. By removing these manifolds cleaning is simple.
2.2. Shell and coil condenser :- The shell and coil condenser is very much like a shell and tube type condenser. There is only one difference, instead of straight tube it has coil of water tube inside the shell. Cleaning of this type of condenser is done by only chemical dosing system.
2.3. Tube-within-a-tube Condenser or Counter flow condenser :- These type of condenser are very popular as these are very easy to manufacture. Water tubes are passed through the refrigerant tubes to produce condensation as shown in figure.The water and refrigerant are made to flow in the opposite directions to increase efficiency of condenser. As the refrigerant pass through the outer tube, the outside cool air which comes in contact doubles the cooling effect and increases the efficiency of condenser.
A condenser works like a heat exchanger in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Refrigerant from compressor is discharged at a high temperature and high temperature. The condenser condensate the refrigerant to bring its temperature down. A condenser may be of static type which is used in refrigerator and it may be of forced type which is used in air conditioner. A condenser is built from tubes of copper or any other material of high conductivity passing through a set of fins as shown in figure. These fins increase the performance of condenser by increasing the surface contact area with air. Number of fins in a condenser depends upon the usage if its used for air conditioning the number of fins will be more than that we use for a refrigerator. The reason is that refrigerator is used to create cooling for a tiny space and an air conditioner is used to produce cooling effect for a large area.
Types of condenser :- There are basically two types of condensers used in refrigeration and air conditioners.
1. Air cooled Condenser :- An air cooled condenser uses only air as a medium to exchage heat in the atmosphere and it has further two types. The warm air tends to rise as the air in contact with fins and coil becomes heated and it rises the temperature of cool air which comes in contact with these sets of fins and coil.
1.1. Static type:- Static condenser means to fan is provided for circulation of air through fins of condenser, only natural air circulation makes the condensation. A condenser in a common refrigerator is an example of static type condenser. A plate type condenser is also a type of static type condenser. In modern refrigerators plate type condenser is provided on the sides of the refrigerator body. You can feel the heat released by it with a touch to body of refrigerator.
Following image will guide you about recommended wall distances for a refrigerator.
1.2. Forced convection type :- A fan is provided to circulate the air through the fins and coil to produce condensation. An air conditioner out door is an example of this type of condenser.
2. Water cooled condenser or Evaporative condensers :- A water cooled condenser uses water as a medium to exchange heat of condenser into atmosphere by the means of a cooling tower. These types of condensers works on the principle of evaporation. The heat of refrigerant in condenser is absorbed by the water and this water releases its heat to atmosphere using a cooling tower. Water cooled condensers are further classified in three following types :-
2.1. Shell and tube type :- In this type of condenser copper tubes with fins are coverd with a cylinder which is made of steel. The water with low temperature is passed through the copper tubes and refrigerant which is in vapor form is converted into liquid form when comes in contact with these cooper tubes. The cool water exchange its cooling effect with hot refrigerant and becomes hot. This hot water is cooled down with the use of cooling tower. The advantage of this condenser is that its compact, need no fan and combines the condenser and reciever in one body. This type of condensers are easy to clean because manifolds are provided at both ends of water coils. By removing these manifolds cleaning is simple.
2.2. Shell and coil condenser :- The shell and coil condenser is very much like a shell and tube type condenser. There is only one difference, instead of straight tube it has coil of water tube inside the shell. Cleaning of this type of condenser is done by only chemical dosing system.
2.3. Tube-within-a-tube Condenser or Counter flow condenser :- These type of condenser are very popular as these are very easy to manufacture. Water tubes are passed through the refrigerant tubes to produce condensation as shown in figure.The water and refrigerant are made to flow in the opposite directions to increase efficiency of condenser. As the refrigerant pass through the outer tube, the outside cool air which comes in contact doubles the cooling effect and increases the efficiency of condenser.
