Refrigeration & Equipment Engineering

Unit 3 - Parts of refrigeration systems

3.3.3.4.Comparison between Air cooled and water cooled condensers

s.l no	Air cooled condenser	Water cooled condenser
1	Construction of air cooled condenser is very simple. Therefore the initial cost is low. The maintenance cost is also low	Construction of water cooled condenser is complicated therefore the initial cost is high. The maintenance cost is also high.
2	There is no handling problem with air cooled condenser	The water cooled condenser are difficult to handle
3	The air cooled condenser do not require piping arrangement for carrying the air	The pipes are required to take water to and from the condenser
4	There is no problem in disposing of used air	There is a problem of disposing the used water unless recirculation system is provided.
5	There is no corrosion therefore fouling effect is low	There is a corrosion occurs inside water tubes therefore the fouling effects is high
6	The air cooled condenser have low heat transfer capacity due to low thermal conductivity of air	The water cooled condenser have high heat transfer capacity due to high thermal conductivity of water
7	These condenser are used for low capacity plans ( less than STR)	These condenser are used for large capacity plants
8	The distribution of air on condenser surface is not uniform	There is even distribution of water on the condensing surface.