Ammonia Air Cooler Used in Refrigeration Systems

An ammonia air cooler is a piece of equipment used in refrigeration systems, typically in cold storage, refrigerated warehouses, food processing and other locations that require a low-temperature environment. The principle of operation of an ammonia air cooler involves the circulation of ammonia refrigerant and the process of heat exchange. 

The following are the basic operating principles of an ammonia air cooler:

Compression:

The first step in the refrigeration cycle is to compress the ammonia gas into a high temperature, high pressure gas. This is usually done by using a compressor. The compression process increases the temperature and pressure of the ammonia gas.

Condensation:

The high temperature and pressure of the ammonia gas enters a condenser, which is a heat exchanger. In the condenser, the ammonia gas is cooled and condenses into a liquid by dissipating heat and releasing it. This process causes the ammonia to change from a gas to a liquid.

Expansion:

The condensed liquid ammonia enters the evaporator through an expansion valve (throttle). During expansion, the ammonia liquid relaxes through the valve, reducing its temperature and pressure.

Evaporation:

In the evaporator, liquid ammonia absorbs external heat and evaporates into a gaseous state. This process causes the temperature inside the evaporator to decrease as the ammonia absorbs heat from the liquid state and converts to the gaseous state.

The cycle repeats:

The gaseous ammonia re-enters the compressor to begin a new refrigeration cycle. This process is repeated over and over again to maintain the cooling effect.

Fan Circulation (Air Circulation):

Ammonia air coolers are often used in conjunction with air circulation systems. In a cold storage or refrigerated warehouse, fans distribute cool air evenly to the area to be cooled by blowing cold air.

In general, the principle of operation of an ammonia air cooler follows the basic refrigeration cycle process of evaporation-compression-condensation-expansion. Through this cycle, the ammonia refrigerant is able to absorb heat and transfer it from the area to be cooled to the outside. Ammonia is widely used in industrial refrigeration systems because of its high refrigeration efficiency. However, it is important to note that since ammonia is a toxic gas, it needs to be used and handled with care to ensure safety.