What Is a CORTEC Water-Cooled Evaporative Air Conditioner and How Does It Work?
JIANGSU CORTEC MACHINERY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD presents an air conditioning system with a built-in heat-absorbing medium—refrigerant. The system operates through a continuous cycle designed for rapid cooling.
The refrigerant generates pressure through compressor operation, then passes through the expansion valve and the evaporator inside the indoor unit. The indoor fan blows cooled air into the room and draws in warm indoor air. The heat absorbed by the refrigerant returns to the compressor suction end via the pipeline. Through compression, the refrigerant temperature increases. After passing through the outdoor unit's wet curtain radiator, the refrigerant condenses from a vapor to a liquid state, releasing a large amount of heat which is expelled by the outdoor fan. This cycle repeats continuously to quickly cool the indoor environment.
Water-cooled condensation reduces both the system's evaporation pressure and the compressor's exhaust pressure, enabling a higher energy efficiency ratio while minimizing compressor input power.
Traditional air conditioners typically have a water-cooled condensing temperature of 56°C. CORTEC evaporative air conditioning units can lower this temperature to below 35°C even in harsh environments. Cooling is obtained close to the wet curtain temperature, improving the energy efficiency ratio and achieving significant energy savings. The unit discharges no heat source to the outside and causes no environmental pollution.
Through years of research and testing, CORTEC energy-saving air conditioners incorporate Swedish CEID evaporative cooling technology and multiple proprietary technology patents. These combined technologies accelerate heat dissipation, resulting in a cooling energy efficiency COP as high as 5.1 and overall energy consumption savings of 40%-50%.
What Product Configurations Are Available?
CORTEC water-cooled evaporative air conditioners come in several installation types to suit different building requirements. All models use R410A refrigerant and feature a temperature control range of 13-30°C, with certain models extending to 13-20°C.
Vertical Blinds Type units offer compressor power options from 3.75 kW to 9 kW, delivering cooling capacities from 18 kW to 43 kW. Indoor motor power ranges from 0.09 kW to 0.18 kW. Outdoor units feature motor power from 0.5 kW to 1 kW with air volumes reaching 10,300 m³/h. Cooling coverage areas extend from 150-200 m² up to approximately 600 m².
Ceiling-Mounted Cassette Type models cover compressor powers from 3.75 kW to 10.5 kW, with cooling capacities from 18 kW to 54 kW. Indoor motor power ranges from 0.52 kW to 1.04 kW, and air volumes extend from 3,350 m³/h to 8,400 m³/h. This series serves areas from 150-200 m² up to 650-700 m². Outdoor units deliver air volumes of 10,300 m³/h or 20,600 m³/h depending on the model.
Cabinet Type units provide cooling capacities from 18 kW to 25 kW, rated power from 5.1 kW to 8.5 kW, and indoor motor power from 0.52 kW to 1.04 kW. Air volumes range from 3,350 m³/h to 6,700 m³/h, covering areas between 150-200 m² and 400-450 m². Outdoor unit air volumes are 10,300 m³/h or 20,600 m³/h.
All outdoor units across all series are rated for a heat dissipation ambient temperature of 40°C.
How Are These Air Conditioners Installed?
Proper installation requires sufficient space around the unit, particularly outside the access door and on the side of external piping, to allow for repair and maintenance.
Small-type industrial air conditioners can be installed by hanging. Large-type units should be placed on a cement base 150-200mm high, with 2 cm thick shock-absorbing rubber underneath, and fixed with expansion bolts. Alternatively, a 14 channel steel base equal in length to the machine base section can be prepared by the user.
Before connection, all external water lines must be cleaned. After pressure testing, pipes should be wrapped with insulation material. The heat exchanger uses cold or hot water as the medium, with the water outlet located at the lower part. The water pipe at the bottom of the box serves as the condensed water discharge pipe, which must have an appropriate slope and a water seal elbow with a height of at least 100mm to ensure smooth drainage.
The power supply required is 380V/3PH/50Hz AC, which must be reliably grounded. Voltage must be checked before connecting the motor. After connection, the fan direction should be verified; if rotation is reversed, the power sequence must be corrected before formal connection. The unit must be equipped with a corresponding starter and overload protection device. Motors below 11KW can be started directly, while those above 11KW require a step-down starting device.
How to Operate and Maintain the Unit Correctly?
Industrial air conditioners must be managed by dedicated professionals. During operation, the unit's status should be checked frequently. Any abnormality must be promptly investigated and resolved; the unit must not be restarted until the fault is fully cleared. Forced operation will cause damage.
The heat exchanger medium should be clean softened water, and the working pressure of the heat exchanger must not exceed 1.6MPa. Under normal operation, the fan bearing temperature should not exceed 40°C, and the air inlet temperature should not exceed 80°C. During winter operation, if a short-term shutdown is required, the exchanged hot water must be kept flowing and the fresh air valve closed to prevent freezing. For long-term shutdowns, all water in the heat exchanger must be drained.
Routine maintenance begins after one month of operation: check the circulating water system and bolts for looseness and retighten if necessary. The air filter should be cleaned regularly according to environmental conditions—remove it, beat it, back-flush with compressed air, wash with soapy water, rinse with clean water, and air-dry before reuse. The filter must be replaced when it reaches its final resistance.
Every one to two years, depending on the installation environment, complete maintenance should be performed. This includes chemically removing scale from heat exchanger water pipes and flushing heat exchange fins with compressed air or water. Bearings should be lubricated with an appropriate amount of grease every quarter. Motor and wind wheel bearings must be cleaned annually and replaced if needed. Regularly remove dust, dirt, water, and other debris from inside the fan and gas delivery pipes to prevent corrosion.
How Does CORTEC Compare to Other Cooling Methods for a 1000m² Factory?
When evaluating ventilation options for a 1000m² factory at an outdoor temperature of 36°C, significant differences emerge.
Traditional separate air conditioners consume 48 KWH of electricity and achieve an indoor temperature of 26°C, with an investment cost of nearly 20,000 USD. However, they cover only small areas individually and have low overall cooling efficiency.
Central air conditioner systems consume 45 KWH, also reaching 26°C indoors, at a cost of nearly 40,000 USD. While cooling efficiency is good, they cannot be controlled separately for different zones.
Air coolers consume 16 KWH but only bring the indoor temperature down to 32°C. They cool quickly with relatively low energy use, but their cooling effect is limited by outdoor temperature and humidity, performing poorly in hot humid weather. Installation cost is relatively expensive at nearly 85,000 USD.
CORTEC water-cooled evaporative air conditioners consume 20 KWH and achieve a 26°C indoor temperature, with an investment cost of nearly 13,000 USD. They offer good cooling efficiency, large coverage area, and the ability to control zones separately at a comparatively low investment cost. The only noted requirement is attention to water quality.
Application Value
CORTEC water-cooled evaporative air conditioners combine Swedish CEID evaporative cooling technology with proprietary innovations to deliver a high-efficiency, environmentally sound cooling solution. With a COP of 5.1 and energy savings of 40%-50%, the system provides rapid, large-coverage cooling without emitting heat to the environment.
Multiple configuration types—Vertical Blinds, Ceiling-Mounted Cassette, and Cabinet—allow the system to adapt to diverse installation conditions and space requirements. Following correct installation, operation, and maintenance procedures ensures long-term reliability, making CORTEC water-cooled evaporative air conditioners a cost-effective and sustainable choice for industrial and commercial facilities.