The condenser is one of the main heat exchange devices of the refrigeration unit. Its mission is to discharge the high pressure superheated refrigerant vapor from the compressor, which is cooled by the heat released to the ambient medium, condensed into a saturated liquid, Air-Cooled Condensers or even a supercooled liquid.

There are three types of water-cooled, air-cooled, and water-air cooled depending on the condenser's cooling medium and cooling method.

This type of condenser uses water as a cooling medium to remove the heat released by the refrigerant condensation. The cooling water can be used once or recycled. When circulating water is used, it must be equipped with a cooling tower or a cold water tank to ensure that the water is continuously cooled. Depending on the structure, there are mainly shell-and-tube type and plate-type heat exchangers that are now widely used.

Horizontal shell and tube condenser

Shell-and-tube condenser: The refrigerant used in the refrigeration unit is different, and its structural characteristics are also different. General vertical shell and tube condensers are suitable for large ammonia refrigeration units, while horizontal shell and tube condensers are commonly used in large and medium ammonia or Freon refrigeration units. The tube plate and the heat transfer tube are generally fixed by a expansion method to facilitate repair and replacement of the heat transfer tube.

Horizontal shell-and-tube condenser features: high heat transfer coefficient, low cooling water consumption, convenient operation and management; but high requirements for cooling water quality. At present, large and medium-sized refrigeration devices are commonly used.

Vertical shell and tube condenser

1—exit pipe; 2—pressure gauge joint; 3—intake pipe; 4—water distribution tank; 5—safety valve joint; 6—pressure equalizing pipe; 7—venting pipe; 8—oil drain pipe

Casing condenser: It is a water-cooled condenser that is sleeved together with tubes of different diameters and bent into a spiral or serpentine shape. As shown in the figure, the refrigerant vapor condenses between the casings, and the condensate is drawn from below. The cooling water flows from the bottom to the top in the smaller diameter pipe, and is countercurrent to the refrigerant, so the heat transfer effect is good.