A performance test system for an evaporative condenser was developed in this study. The effects of different parameters on the heat transfer performance of an annular elliptic finned tube evaporative condenser were studied using a control variable method

including the face velocity

spray density

wet-bulb temperature

circulating water temperature

and flow rate of the cooling water. The experimental results showed that the optimal face velocity and spray density of the condenser was 3.1 m/s and 0.0056 kg/(m/s)

respectively. The air pressure drop increased rapidly with an increase in the face velocity. With an increase in the wet-bulb temperature

the heat flux of the external heat transfer (that is

external heat flux) decreased by 67.5%

while that of the internal heat transfer (that is

internal heat flux) increased by 47.5%. The performance of the condenser was good because the internal heat-transfer process was enhanced. With an increase in the circulating water temperature

the internal heat flux of the condenser decreased by 64.6%

while the heat-transfer performance of the condenser decreased sharply. With an increase in the cooling water flow rate

the internal heat flux of the condenser increased greatly by 2.92 times

while the total heat flux increased by 21.1%. Consequently

the heat-transfer performance of the condenser was enhanced considerably. The condenser exhibited excellent heat transfer performance at low wet-bulb temperatures

low circulating water temperatures

and large cooling water flow rates.