water cooled condenser

1. Once-through water cooled condensing gives the lowest condensing pressure and hence least compressor horsepower.

2. Evaporative condensing of the type where refrigerant goes through the condenser requires somewhat more compressor horsepower, and would entail some repiping of the refrigerant circuit.

3. Combined condensing, which retains the existing condenser but then recirculates the water through an evaporative cooling tower, is higher yet in HP consumption. But the refrigerant circuit remanis unchanged.

Methods (2) and (3) continue to use the amount of water that is evaporated, plus a similar amount that is bled off to prevent concentration of minerals. But the amount of water needed is much less.

4. Air cooled condensing, like (2), also requires repiping and results in the greatest HP usage of all these methods. But it eliminates the water usage, unless the higher condensing temperature then requires oil or head cooling for the compressor.

so it is absolutely necessary in order to get maximum efficiency you must have a cooling tower to complete the system. Why would some one install this unit without a cooling tower and just have water running to the drain?

As mentioned in (1) in post 1, this is the most energy efficient choice because the condensing temperature/pressure is lowest. At one time, water costs may have been low enough to make this unequivocally the best option. However, if water costs go high, then a review is indicated--as an economic efficiency issue.

Hershey Chocolate is located on a creek in Pennsylvania. Originally their water usage from the creek was free, but it warmed up the creek water. When this became understood as an environmental problem, they were obliged to switch to another type of condensing. I think this entailed the upsizing of a number of large motors.

Thanks!!