Types of Condensers and Their Functions

Coil manufacturing companies in India produce condenser coils for condensing units. A condenser is primarily a device that is used to liquefy gas by cooling it. In the Central Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, the hot discharged gas called refrigerant vapour from the compressor enters into the condensing coils and performs the basic cooling function. The condenser coils in refrigerator and AC are placed along with the compressors of the condensing units. Condensers are primarily available in a plethora of shapes, sizes and designs including plain tube, finned tube, plate type, parallel pass units, etc.

Classification of condensers

The condensers are categorized by their method of cooling. The three major types are-

• Air cooled condensers
• Combined air/Evaporative Condensers
• Water-cooled Condensers

Air cooled condensers

An air cooled condenser consists of a type of condensing coil of ample surface in which the air is blown by a fan or induced by a natural draft. This type of condenser is majorly used in small capacity refrigerating units. It is mostly designed for residential or small office air conditioners.

 Air cooled condenser should be kept free from dirt and other foreign materials. This is because, the accumulation of dust and lint inside the condenser coils reduce the airflow around the tubes and fins.

Combined Air or Evaporator condensers

These types of condensers are also known as Evaporator condensers. They primarily consist of coils that are cooled with the help of water sprayed from the above .The cold air enters from the bottom and is blown across the coils. The evaporation of the water from the coils immediately creates a cooling effect. The hot refrigerant gas condenses and changed into a liquid state. The water that does not evaporate is re -circulated with the help of a pump. Evaporator condensers also help in eliminating water disposal problems and provide the most economical means of cooling the refrigerant gases.

Water –Cooled Condensers

These types of condenserare similar to steam surface condensers, where the cooling is accomplished by water that circulates through the tubes or condensing coils enclosed in a shell. The major four types of Water–Cooled Condensers are –

-          Double pipe condenser

-          Double tube condenser

-          Shell and coil Condenser

-          Shell and tube Condenser

To conclude, HVAC condensers are vital for all types of air conditioning and refrigeration systems in our homes and are expensive in nature. Therefore, proper maintenance of them are highly beneficial in saving money in the long run!