Approximately how much air flow is required per ton for an air cooled condenser?

For an air-cooled condenser, the typical airflow requirement is around 400 to 450 cubic feet per minute (cfm) per ton of cooling capacity. However, it’s common in the industry to round this figure up to approximately 1000 cfm per ton for standard practice, especially considering variations in system designs, efficiency standards, and to account for additional heat exchange considerations.

Using 1000 cfm allows for adequate heat transfer in a variety of operational conditions, ensuring that the condenser can effectively reject the heat absorbed by the refrigerant. This flow rate provides a balance that maintains optimal system performance across different ambient temperatures and loading conditions.

Thus, the choice of 1000 cfm aligns with industry norms, ensuring that these systems operate efficiently while avoiding potential issues such as reduced performance or overheating due to inadequate airflow over the condenser coil.