Based on the type of cooling medium, condensers can be categorized into four main types, with the following functions:

⑴ Water-cooled condensers: In this type of condenser, the heat released by the refrigerant is carried away by cooling water. The cooling water can be used once or recycled. Water-cooled condensers can be further divided into vertical shell-and-tube, horizontal shell-and-tube, and coaxial types, among others, according to their different structural forms.

⑵ Air-cooled condensers (also called air-cooled condensers): In this type of condenser, the heat released by the refrigerant is carried away by air. The air can be naturally circulated or forced to flow using a fan. This type of condenser is used in Freon refrigeration systems in locations where water supply is inconvenient or difficult.

⑶ Water-air-cooled condensers: In this type of condenser, the refrigerant is cooled by both water and air, but primarily by the evaporation of cooling water on the surface of the heat transfer tubes, absorbing a large amount of heat from the refrigerant side as the latent heat of vaporization of the water. The role of the air is mainly to accelerate the evaporation of water and carry away the water vapor. Therefore, this type of condenser consumes very little water, making it the preferred choice for areas with dry air, low water quality, low water temperature, and limited water supply. These condensers can be further divided into evaporative and condensation types based on their structural design.

(4) Evaporative-Condensing Type: In this type of condenser, the cooling effect generated by the evaporation of refrigerant in another refrigeration system is used to cool the refrigerant vapor on the other side of the heat transfer wall, causing it to condense and liquefy. An example is the evaporator-condenser in a cascade refrigeration unit.

The air conditioning condenser plays a crucial role in the entire air conditioning cooling process. In the entire refrigeration system, the refrigerant inside the condenser tubes directly and forcibly exchanges heat with the outside air to achieve the effect of cooling the air.