Chapter 6 Basic Refrigeration Systems 95 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 2 the condenser. Exiting the condenser, the liquid refriger- ant travels through the liquid line to the metering device. 6.4.1 Condenser In the refrigeration cycle, a condenser removes the latent heat from the refrigerant vapor. By releasing the latent heat, the vapor condenses back to a liquid. Pro Tip Latent Heat Terms A tool, part, component, or process in a refrigeration system may have numerous names. This can be confus- ing, but it is important for HVACR professionals to be aware of these different names. For example, in the paragraph above, the term latent heat can also be written as conden- sation heat, heat of evaporation, evaporation heat, heat of vaporization, enthalpy of vaporization, and enthalpy of condensation. These all refer to the heat necessary for a change of phase. In the case of a condenser, it is the heat for changing a vapor into a liquid.. for changing a vapor into a liquid Latent Heat Terms A tool, part, component, or process in a refrigeration system may have numerous names. This can be confus - ing, but it is important for HVACR professionals to be aware of these different names. For example, in the paragraph above, t h e term latent heat ca n als o be written as t conden- sation h eat , heat o f evaporatio n , evaporation h ea t , h ea t o f vaporization , enthalp y o f vaporizatio n , an d enthalp y o f condensation . These all refer to the heat necessary for a c hange o f phase. In the case o f a condenser, it is the heat Condensers frequently transfer heat into one of two substances: air or water. Air-cooled condensers are cooled by the flow of air. As hot, high-pressure refrigerant vapor flows through the condenser tubes, air around the condenser accepts the heat given up by the condensing refrigerant. Often, air-cooled condens- ers have fans that blow air over the tubes to remove heat more quickly. A condenser with a fan is a forced- air condenser. Condensers without fans are natural- convection condensers. These are also called static condensers, Figure 6-7. Water-cooled condensers are mainly manufac- tured in three different designs: shell-and-tube, shell- and-coil, and tube-within-a-tube. In a shell-and-tube condenser, cooling water flows through long, straight copper pipes that run along the inside of a long cyl- inder filled with hot refrigerant. In a shell-and-coil condenser, water flows through a coil of copper tub- ing that winds around the walls of a shell filled with refrigerant. A tube-within-a-tube condenser consists of two tubes. One tube is located inside the other. Water Whirlpool Corporation Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 6-7. A—This static condenser relies on natural convection to carry away the heat released by vapor refrigerant as it condenses. B—A forced-air condenser uses one or more fans to disperse heat more quickly than a static condenser. Fans Condenser coil Cool air flows up from below to carry heat away Hot air rises naturally A B