How to Select Condensers

Condensers are refrigeration devices that accept vaporized refrigerant from an evaporator and then compress and liquefy it for use within a system. They are used in steam turbines and nuclear power plants, as well as with buildings and automobiles.

How Condensers Work

Condensers consist of a condenser coil, compressor, fan, tubes, and other components. A refrigerant is compressed, run through a series of tubes to remove as much heat as possible, and then piped to an evaporator coil as a warm liquid. Expansion of the compressed liquid causes it to cool; as the air passes over the coil, heat is extracted.  By gathering heat from the air, the cool liquid becomes a cool gas and is drawn back to the compressor to re-start the procedure.

Types of Condensers

The GlobalSpec SpecSearch database contains information about direct contact (barometric) and surface condensers, as well as HVAC condensing units.

• Direct contact condensers are devices in which the gas contacts the liquid directly. Both the liquid and the gas must be of the same material.
• Surface condensers are large, shell-in-tube heat exchangers that attach to the bottom of a steam turbine. Typically, these devices have a large well to collect the condensed steam. Surface condensers also have connection for air ejectors or other vacuum equipment to remove air and other substances that will not condense. Connections for piping and condensate pumps remove the condensate from the well, which is typically at the bottom of the device.
• HVAC condensing units are used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Typically, HVAC systems are equipped with a compressor.

Other types of condenser are available for specialized applications.

Specifications and Applications

There are three main performance specifications for condensers:  cumulative surface area, turbine power output, and refrigerant capacity. Condenser size, compliance with quality and/or regulatory standards, and materials of construction are also important to consider during product selection.

In addition to steam turbines, condensers are used in automotive, building, process, and refrigeration applications. In cars, a condenser is used within the vehicle’s air conditioning system. In buildings, a condenser is part of a larger HVAC system for central air.

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