The operation of many large-scale ventilation, heating, and air conditioning equipment depends almost entirely on its water consumption. Today, the supply of this vital liquid is a problem, due to its availability, transportation, and processing for industrial use. The price of this resource is constantly increasing and the regulations inherent to its final disposal are demanding. Consequently, companies in the industrial sector require options that maintain the efficiency of these systems, reducing the need to use water. Among the most sustainable alternatives are adiabatic condensers, since they offer a more efficient design for centralized refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Adiabatic condensers in context
Condensers used in large-scale industrial refrigeration and HVAC systems typically exhaust heat absorbed by the system from refrigerated spaces, as well as heat injected by the compression system. So, at a lower ambient temperature, the condenser needed for the same rejection capacity will require less exchange surface for its purpose. On the contrary, in a place with a higher ambient temperature, the exchange area demanded by the condenser will be greater.
In summary, there are several types of condensers:
Evaporative
For its operation, it requires a constant spray of water on the heat exchanger coil and on the air that enters the equipment. During all the time of operation, the water must flow from a lower tank toward the sprinklers located in the upper part of the unit. This characteristic means that this equipment consumes considerable amounts of quality water in industrial plants.
Air-cooled
These systems feature a finned coil and variable-speed fans and use only air as the cooling medium for the condenser coil. That is, it completely eliminates the use of water. Therefore, it does not require the treatment of this liquid and the maintenance is minimal. However, it only operates with dry bulb temperature (TBS), which generates temperature differences between design and condensing environments. And even if these are minimal, they tend to affect large areas of required exchange.
Hybrids
As their name indicates, these systems combine the advantages of the technologies already described. In other words, they can function as an air-cooled condenser for as long as possible. Thus, when the ambient temperature reaches a specific value (switch temperature), or when the thermal load of the system requires it, it begins to operate in humid mode. For this reason, it is possible to design hybrid condensers with ambient temperatures lower than TBS.
There are two kinds of hybrid condensers: those with direct contact with water and those with indirect contact. To the latter belong the adiabatic condensers.
How do adiabatic capacitors work?
Specifically, an adiabatic system does not produce direct contact between the air-cooling water entering the exchanger and the metal surface of the condenser coil. Therefore, there will be no evaporation by direct contact between the water and the metal, that is, by heat exchange. There will be evaporation by adiabatic saturation.
Precisely, adiabatic evaporation is a thermodynamic process during which no heat is removed or added to the system. Put another way, adiabatic saturation is the evaporation of water to air in which the system neither gains nor loses heat. Thus, sensible heat in both water and air is transformed into latent heat in the vaporized state. This is how the air reaches low temperatures and humidity.
In more detail, adiabatic cooling systems work in a similar way to dry cooling, but with the inclusion of pre-cooling plates. Hence, the water flowing through said plates and the air suction through them reduce the dry bulb temperature of the incoming air. In itself, these units use the evaporation of water to pre-cool ambient air to a few degrees TBH. This results in much cooler temperatures and more efficient operation.
Finally, when the ambient air gets hot enough to require evaporative cooling, the adiabatic system changes, effectively meeting cooling needs throughout the year. The rest of the time, the system provides cooling to the equipment without using water, operating as a simple air cooling system.
Characteristics of Intersam adiabatic condensers
Using an evaporator panel, the NH3 IDW and ICWH adiabatic condensers with the Intersam iDrop system cool the ambient air to 95% relative humidity. Therefore, the measured temperature is similar to that of a wet thermometer. When the circulating air cools and becomes saturated, it passes through the coils of the condenser or aero-cooler. The airflow then passes through the cellulose panels, thereby lowering the temperature of the circulating air.
Apart from this, with the Intersam iDrop system, it is possible to obtain a relative humidity of 80%, because it uses an evaporative humidifier with continuous control. As a result, this component allows for reaching an efficiency between 75 and 95%. In addition to achieving cold water temperatures similar to those of evaporative condensation towers, but consuming 90% less energy than these.
It does not require any water treatment, it does not produce aerosols, it does not use water recirculation pumps and it evaporates all the supplied water into the air without any surplus.
Components and uses of our adiabatic condensers
Intersam’s high-efficiency condensing coils can be built with 5/8″ 0.4 mm thick copper tubes, or with 5/8″ 0.8 mm thick stainless steel tubes.
The fins are made of corrugated aluminum with a separation of 2.1mm, while the frame is made of riveted galvanized sheet metal. Likewise, it is provided with a floating system to avoid the possible breakage of the tubes due to vibrations or expansions. Furthermore, thanks to a system of load caps, the installation is free of leaks.
On the other hand, each fan is equipped with a three-phase motor that is 400V / 50Hz, with a diameter of 910mm. Its external rotor has a degree of protection IP-54 with double speed and low consumption, to comply with ErP regulations.
As if that were not enough, the evaporative panels of our condensers, supplied by the renowned Munters brand, are characterized by their long life, simple cleaning, and easy maintenance.
Finally, the adiabatic refrigeration systems developed by INTERSAM S.L. They have many industrial uses. Among them, are condensation refrigeration, plastic injection, hydraulic presses, etc. And they are capable of replacing conventional cooling towers with great energy savings and reduced water consumption.
Refrigeration is our business
For 27 years, at Intersam we have been manufacturing heat exchangers, dry coolers, adiabatic condensers, and other customized refrigeration systems for industry and commerce. Thanks to this experience we can supply high-quality products that guarantee the best treatment of air flows.
We are qualified to develop all kinds of refrigeration and air conditioning systems: water-air, air-water, and air-refrigerants. All of them with the technology and materials necessary to obtain maximum energy efficiency. It does not matter where in Spain or in the world your business is. We can go as far as to provide you with our solutions.
If you need adiabatic condensers or other industrial or commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems, contact us now!