How does ambient temperature affect the amount of heat an air-cooled condenser can reject?

An air-cooled condenser operates by transferring heat from the refrigerant to the ambient air. When the ambient temperature increases, the temperature difference between the refrigerant and the surrounding air decreases. This reduced temperature gradient diminishes the efficiency of heat transfer. As a result, the condenser struggles to reject heat effectively, leading to lower performance in terms of heat rejection.

In contrast, at lower ambient temperatures, the temperature difference is greater, allowing the air-cooled condenser to reject heat more efficiently. It's important to optimize system design and operational efficiency by considering ambient conditions and understanding their impact on heat rejection capabilities of air-cooled condensers.