An evaporative condenser cools and condenses hot gas by using a system of pipes exposed to water flow. It is more efficient than air-cooled systems, especially in high temperatures. It is used in large commercial air conditioning systems and is increasingly being used in smaller residential systems.
An evaporative condenser is a device that facilitates the condensation, or return to a liquid state, of a hot gas or vapor in a system of pipes by exploiting the evaporation of the water flowing over the pipes. Simply put, an evaporative condenser uses a system of pipes exposed to a constant flow of water to cool and condense a hot gas. The cooling and subsequent condensation of the gas is caused by a heat exchange process which occurs when the water flowing over the gas-filled pipes evaporates. This process is widely used in the air conditioning industry as a means of condensing refrigerant gas.
All refrigeration and air conditioning processes use a gas to facilitate the transfer of heat between the conditioned environment and the external atmosphere. This process relies on the use of a compressor to raise the pressure in the evaporator section, or climate zone, of the system which in turn allows heat to be absorbed from that zone. This absorbed heat and any heat generated by the compression process must be quickly removed by the refrigerant in the external, or condenser, part of the system so that the heat transfer cycle can be repeated. This is typically done by allowing the hot coolant to circulate through a series of tubes exposed to fan-induced airflow.
While effective, this method of cooling or condensing coolant is not particularly efficient, particularly in large commercial systems. This lack of efficiency becomes pronounced when the ambient, or outside, temperature exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). Under these conditions, a conventional air-cooled system can lose up to 25% of its operating efficiency. The evaporative condenser is a much more efficient condensing mechanism in larger systems, losing only a fraction of its effective capacity under all ambient conditions.
The evaporative condenser system typically consists of a series of tubes or pipes that carry the hot refrigerant gas. These tubes are simultaneously exposed to a spray of water and the fan-facilitated airflow. Some of the water flowing over the gas-filled pipes evaporates due to a combination of heating of the pipes and the airflow. This evaporation is the mechanism that allows the rapid cooling of the refrigerant gas which is then reintroduced into the building to resume the conditioning process. The remaining water is then collected and recirculated over the condenser coils.
While a common feature in large commercial air conditioning systems, the evaporative condenser is seeing increased use in smaller home air conditioners. These systems use approximately 5-8 gallons (19-30 liters) of water which is circulated over the condenser for eight hours before being completely purged from the system and replaced with fresh water. The excellent efficiency characteristics of an evaporative condenser system translate into significant cost savings and this type of system will certainly see increased use in residential air conditioning applications.
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