What is an adiabatic condenser? | Inditer

An Adiabatic Condenser is a specific type of air-cooled condenser.

The condenser is where the gas releases or loses the necessary energy to achieve its change of state to a liquid phase. When this energy is transferred to the air in the form of heat, we refer to them as Air-cooled Condensers.

Occasionally, the generally warm outdoor air is conditioned using an adiabatic cooling system to lower its temperature, improving heat transfer performance and thus favoring gas condensation.

The equipment that combines both concepts is called an Adiabatic Air-cooled Condenser.

How do adiabatic cooling systems work?

Thermodynamically, an adiabatic system is an isolated system; that is, one without heat transfer outside of said system.

From a HVAC and air conditioning perspective, evaporative humidification processes themselves are isenthalpic or adiabatic, as there is no heat transfer outside the process, even though the air temperature is lowered.

The evaporative side of adiabatic condensers uses this same technology but from a different perspective; they do not aim to increase air humidity—which is more of a consequence—as their purpose is simply to lower the temperature of the air finally used in the condenser, thereby allowing condensation at a lower pressure.

In short, it takes advantage of the air’s wet-bulb temperature property.

In other words, a cooler air stream is achieved from dry, warm air by passing it through a wet pad, simply through the effect of water evaporation taking place within that pad.

Another similar system is based on replacing the pad with a spray system; both cases can be considered Adiabatic Air-cooled Condensers.

This includes the subdivision based on the technology used: pad-type adiabatic condenser or spray-type adiabatic condenser.

 

Factors to consider when selecting an adiabatic cooler

To correctly select an Adiabatic air-cooled condenser, or any type of air-cooled unit in general, and to choose the most suitable system, it is advisable to consider the following factors: :

Environmental factors

Namely, the temperature and humidity conditions of the installation’s geographical location. Consequently, the wet-bulb temperature is the fundamental aspect to take into consideration.

Deriving this parameter from dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity can lead to certain inaccuracies if not given the attention it deserves, as it is common to define the relative humidity value based on an approximate subjective perception.

To be technically precise, we always recommend positioning ourselves using the wet-bulb temperature parameter of the site.

In hot seasons, the wet-bulb temperature of the air is always lower than the ambient temperature. This is the fundamental quality that makes Adiabatic Air-cooled Condensers so advantageous.

Therefore, as with air-cooled heat exchangers or dry coolers, the analysis of environmental conditions is of utmost importance for correct equipment sizing.

Installation-specific factors

Evaluate the admissible parameters allowed by the installation components—compressor, expansion valve—down to which it might be possible and reasonable to reduce the design condensation pressure.

A decrease in the system’s condensation pressure will reduce the required compression work and, consequently, the electricity consumption, improving the efficiency of the installation.

This is provided that the expenditure of additional operating resources for the Adiabatic air-cooled condenser does not exceed the advantage of the work reduction achieved.

Other additional factors involved when choosing the most suitable adiabatic condenser:

• • Access to and availability of water for use
  • Whether it prevents or favors the formation of aerosols.
  • Whether the system requires water impoundment and recirculation.
  • Need for water treatment systems required for its use.

What are the advantages of using this type of cooling system?

The use of an Adiabatic air-cooled condenser will allow operation at lower pressures compared to other systems throughout the entire operating cycle, consequently reducing the compression ratio and therefore consumption, which in turn will increase the EER of the installation.

The adiabatic condenser is a very good alternative to consider in any potential project, as they offer the possibility of creating more efficient industrial refrigeration installations and systems with lower energy costs, with all the advantages this entails for the user.

 

Adiabatic condenser and water consumption

In addition to electrical energy to move air using fans, adiabatic condensers use water as a fundamental resource for conditioning that outdoor air, as previously mentioned.

Through the use of a complete precision control developed entirely at Inditer, our adiabatic condenser solutions feature a water supply system controlled by an enthalpy algorithm, which allows the water consumption to be adjusted both to the performance needs of the installation and to the ambient evaporative capacity at any given moment.

Offering a solution that minimizes the consumption of a natural resource as precious today as water.

The fundamental characteristic of our pad-type adiabatic condensers is that they eliminate the recirculation system and therefore do not require the use of chemical agents, bacteria control treatments, or periodic emptying cycles as occurs in cooling towers.

Indirectly, therefore, all emptying and drainage of discharges from those chemical treatments and biocidal agents that eventually end up in our waters are being eliminated.

And we say indirectly because their environmental cost often goes largely unnoticed, focusing only on the water savings themselves, which is no small feat.

 

Advantages of our systems at Inditer

At Inditer, we believe it is our obligation as manufacturers to promote and develop solutions for our customers and, by extension, for the users of our equipment, that improve the use of energy resources and industrial competitiveness while simultaneously looking after our environment.

We offer solutions:

• Adapted to customer needs
• Commitment to the environment
• Flexibility and versatility of the equipment
• Quality and Competitiveness