In systems involving
heat transfer, a
condenser is a device or unit used to
condense a substance from its
gaseous to its
liquid state, by cooling it. In so doing, the
latent heat is given up by the substance, and will transfer to the condenser coolant. Condensers are typically
heat exchangers which have various designs and come in many sizes ranging from rather small (hand-held) to very large industrial-scale units used in plant processes. For example, a
refrigerator uses a condenser to get rid of
heat extracted from the interior of the unit to the outside air. Condensers are used in
air conditioning, industrial
chemical processes such as
distillation, steam
power plants and other heat-exchange systems. Use of cooling water or surrounding air as the coolant is common in many condensers.