What is an evaporator coil, and how does it work?
There's a reason that the market for industrial refrigeration systems continues to grow. The growth of the industrial refrigeration market can be attributed to the increase in the demand for frozen food and beverages and the development of the cold chain logistics market.
Evaporator coils are a significant part of most industrial cooling systems and integral to any industrial air conditioning system. They cool the air and help remove heat as it passes through the system, which keeps food, beverages, and other products at the required temperature. Without evaporator coils, the system would overheat and could cause severe damage.
The evaporator coil is responsible for absorbing heat and transferring it to the ammonia or freon refrigerant inside the coil. Coils are usually made of steel tubing and are located inside an evaporator coil. Galvanized and stainless steel tubing has good heat-transferring properties, allowing them to absorb more heat. When the evaporator coil is turned on, the refrigerant inside the coil begins to circulate. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the air, and cool air is pumped out of the unit.
Evaporator coils are also necessary for producing chilled water. Chilled water is used in many industrial processes, such as producing food and beverages and manufacturing pharmaceuticals. The evaporator coil comprises a series of metal tubes coiled around each other. When the system is turned on, the compressor starts to pump refrigerant gas through the tubes and maintains a steady refrigerant flow. This gas is then compressed, which causes it to heat. The heat from the gas causes the liquid refrigerant to evaporate, which cools the gas. This cooled gas is pumped into the system, absorbing heat inside the appliance. This process helps to keep it cool.
What are the main components of an evaporator?
There are three main components in any industrial refrigeration system: the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator. The compressor is typically located inside an ammonia engine room and is responsible for compressing the ammonia refrigerant gas and pumping it into the system. The evaporative condenser is typically located outside on the roof or a tall platform, and its job is to decrease the superheated temperature of the refrigerant after it leaves the compressor. When the refrigerant goes from high to low pressure, the temperature drops, and it's sent to the evaporator inside the building.
The evaporator coil is a series of metal tubes that the refrigerant passes through. The coil is located in the coldest part of the equipment, absorbing the heat from the air. The refrigerant absorbs the heat and turns from a liquid to a gas. The gas is then compressed and turned back into a liquid, which flows through the coil and absorbs more heat. This process continues until the entire space reaches the desired temperature. Evaporator coils come in a variety of sizes and are used in a variety of different types of equipment.
Which businesses need ammonia evaporator coils?
There are several reasons why businesses need industrial refrigeration evaporator coils. For one, evaporator coils help remove heat, increasing the efficiency of the entire cooling system. By making a few simple changes, you can increase efficiency, reduce energy usage, save money, increase your operation's sustainability, and improve your bottom line. One of the best ways to reduce energy consumption is to upgrade your equipment. Since the equipment is made from galvanized or stainless steel, you can save money by purchasing used equipment. Used evaporator coils offer businesses an opportunity to reduce their expenses while still ensuring that they have the industrial heat transfer equipment and the type of evaporator that their business needs. The equipment you use will be able to cool production areas used for food and beverage manufacturing.
Evaporator coils are used in a variety of industrial and commercial settings to remove heat and moisture from the air. This can be critical for several purposes, including improving the comfort of employees or customers, preventing the growth of mold and bacteria, and protecting equipment from damage. There are several reasons why your business may need an industrial evaporator coil. Perhaps you need to cool a large area or multiple rooms. Maybe you need to condense a large volume of steam. Whatever the case, an industrial refrigeration evaporator coil can help get the job done. They are often used in factories, warehouses, and other large spaces. They also condense steam effectively, which is helpful in many industries, such as food processing, brewing, and more.
Remember, your evaporator coil is one of the integral parts of your cooling system. It's responsible for transferring heat from the refrigerant to the air, which is then blown through the space, so it must regularly receive service. If you don't have your evaporator coil regularly serviced by an industrial refrigeration technician, it may start to leak refrigerant, which can lead to even more significant problems. You may also need the refrigerant replaced due to low refrigerant levels. When you have low refrigerant, your evaporator will begin to provide poor cooling performance, and you may notice debris.
What are some of the most common types of evaporator coils?
You should be aware of the most popular brands of evaporator coils if you're looking for refrigeration equipment for your business. Some of the top brands on the market that you should be aware of include:
- Evapco: Evapco is an employee-owned company that specializes in products utilized for heat transfer. At Genemco, you can find used Evapco products like ammonia evaporator coils, fluid coolers, evaporative condensers, cooling towers, and more.
- Frick: Frick is well-known in the industrial refrigeration field. Our line of pre-owned Frick products includes ammonia screw compressors, rotary screw compressors, and booster compressors.
- Vilter: Vilter's line of industrial refrigeration products is common in the refrigeration, oil, and gas industries. You can find used versions of their ammonia reciprocating compressors, rotary screw compressors, and booster compressors on our website.
- Imeco: Imeco was established as an electro-mechanical company in the '70s and has remained an industry leader. Our store contains a selection of their equipment, including surplus and used ammonia evaporative condensers.
To determine which refrigeration equipment and brands are best for you, you can begin by identifying your target room temperature and refrigerant suction temperature. Then you should calculate the required tons of refrigeration (TR) required to cool the room, accounting for the amount of product you intend to store in it. A professional refrigeration engineer can assist you. If you want to do a calculation on your own, the target room temperature minus the evaporator coil suction temperature should be within the range of 10 to 15 degrees temperature difference (TD). Then, take the total TR required and divide it by your TD. The result is the British thermal units per degree Fahrenheit temperature difference (BTUH/F TD), which you can use to find an evaporator coil that meets your requirements.
For room temperatures that are above 34 degrees Fahrenheit or 1 degrees Celsius, you'll want a wetted evaporator coil. This coil is intended to be operated at above-freezing temperatures, in medium-temperature environments. If the room will be kept below 34 degrees (1 °C), then you need a frosted coil. This coil is used in low-temperature environments and includes defrost features for both the pan and coil. It's a good idea to get a quote with data sheets for the new version of the product you're hoping to buy. That way, you'll understand the specifications and the cost so that you can compare and contrast prices on pre-owned equipment.
The three most widely used types of evaporator coils are recirculated, flooded, and direct expansion. Recirculating coils recirculate the refrigerant through the coil multiple times to increase the rate of heat transfer, while a flooded evaporator regulates the flow of refrigerant by means of a float valve. A direct expansion system cools the space by absorbing heat as the refrigerant expands. You'll need to find an evaporator coil that will fit in the amount of space you have available and be able to handle your business's cooling load.
What should you look for when shopping for an evaporator coil for your business?
When shopping for an evaporator coil, quality is key. You'll want to find a supplier that can provide a coil that meets your specific requirements and is built to last. Here are a few additional considerations when choosing an evaporator coil:
- How large is the room you need to cool?
- How many evaporator coils do you require?
- Do you prefer ammonia, freon, or glycol refrigerant?
- Do you have a preference for defrost type?
- What dimensions can your space accommodate?
- Do you have the other equipment needed to use your evaporator coil or will you need to purchase it?
You may also have other technical specifications or needs, which you can keep in mind when shopping, like the coil type, feed type, airflow, number of fans, sound level, coil volume, face velocity, and fins per inch. You need to find equipment made by a reputable manufacturer so you can ensure that you get a quality product that will last for years. You should find a supplier with a good reputation. If you're unsure where to start, Genemco can help get you started and provide a high-end pre-owned evaporator coil for your business. At Genemco, we have the largest inventory of high-quality preowned refrigeration equipment worldwide.
When you are shopping for industrial coils for your business, there is a lot to consider. They are a key component of any air conditioner or refrigeration system. When choosing an evaporator coil, you must consider your business's needs and how you intend to use it. An experienced technician can provide advice if you need to know more about a specific coil's capabilities. With so many options available, finding the right evaporator coil will help your system run smoothly and efficiently. If you follow the advice in this article, you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect evaporator coil for your operation.
