Evaporative Condensers

An evaporative condenser rejects refrigerant heat directly to a spray-wetted coil rather than through an intermediate water circuit. Removing that middle loop removes its approach temperature, so the plant condenses lower and the compressor works less for the same duty.

On a Saudi summer day the difference is not marginal. A condenser sized against wet bulb rather than dry bulb sees a design temperature perhaps fifteen degrees lower, and compressor power follows condensing temperature closely.

Water consumption is a fraction of a once-through arrangement because the same water is recirculated; what is lost is what evaporates, plus a controlled bleed to hold the dissolved solids down.