C6 Mitsubishi Air Conditioning Repair Theory; Classification of Condensers w1

The condenser is a device in the refrigeration system that releases heat to the surrounding environment, and it is one of the four major components of the refrigeration system. Condensers can be classified into three categories based on the type of cooling medium used: air-cooled (also known as wind-cooled), water-cooled, and water-air mixed cooling. An air-cooled condenser refers to a condenser that uses air from the surrounding environment to condense refrigerant vapor into liquid. Due to the good mobility of air, which is inexhaustible and unlimited, the air-cooled condenser is the most convenient and simple condenser. However, due to the poor thermal conductivity and small specific heat capacity of air, the condensation capacity of air-cooled condensers is relatively small, so they are generally used in small refrigeration systems such as refrigerators and home air conditioners. According to the different ways air flows, air-cooled condensers can be divided into natural convection and forced convection types.

Water-cooled condensers use water for cooling. Since water has much better thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity than air, water-cooled condensers have a large condensation capacity, making them suitable for systems with larger refrigeration capacities. The cooling water for water-cooled condensers can be tap water or river, lake, or seawater (seawater has strong corrosiveness). However, the quality of the cooling water should be good, with low corrosivity and hardness (not easily forming scale).

Cooling water can be used once or recycled. Recycled cooling water requires equipment such as cooling towers or cold water pools to reduce the temperature of the recycled cooling water before reuse.

Based on structural differences, water-cooled condensers can be divided into three types: horizontal shell-tube, vertical shell-tube, and double-pipe.

Water-air mixed condensers use both water and air as cooling media, combining the functions of water-cooled condensers and cooling towers. They save water and are economical, making them very suitable for use in suburban and rural areas. This type of condenser is divided into evaporative condensers and water-spray condensers.

In fact, the choice of which condenser to use depends on the size of the heat release, the application scenario, and the actual availability of water sources.

Source of information: Beijing Mitsubishi Air Conditioning Repair Center http://blog.tianya.cn/blogger/blog_main.asp?BlogID=3760866.

Mitsubishi Air Conditioning Repair Theory: Classification of Condensers.