According to the condensing medium used, the condensers are classified into the following three groups:
1. Air cooled condensers: use air as condensing medium.
(a) Natural convection type
Examples: Finned type, plate type, finned and plate type.
(b) Forced convection type.
2. Water cooled condensers: Use water as condensing medium.
(a) Shell and tube type.
(b) Shell and coil type.
(c) Double pipe type.
3. Evaporative condensers: use both air and water as condensing medium.
(a) Induced type.
(b) Forced type.
Factors affecting the selection of a Condenser
- Capacity of the refrigeration system.
- The type of cooling medium available.
- Mass flow rate of refrigerant.
- The type of refrigerant used.
- Corrosion