How must a commercial water cooled condenser system be designed to sub-cool refrigerant?

To sub-cool refrigerant effectively in a commercial water-cooled condenser system, it is most beneficial to design the system with the water flowing counter to the direction of the refrigerant circuit. This arrangement enhances the efficiency of heat transfer, allowing for better cooling of the refrigerant as it passes through the condenser.

When the water and refrigerant flow in opposite directions, a process known as counterflow, the refrigerant entering the condenser is at a warmer temperature compared to the water that is entering for cooling. As the refrigerant flows through the condenser, it is in contact with progressively colder water, which allows the refrigerant to release heat more effectively, facilitating a greater degree of sub-cooling by the time it exits the condenser.

This design is critical in optimizing the performance of the cooling cycle, yielding lower refrigerant temperatures before entering the expansion device, which aids in improving the overall efficiency of the system and ensures that the refrigerant is fully condensed before it moves on in the cycle.