Laboratories are notoriously water-intensive environments, consuming 4x times more water than equivalent office spaces. From condensers used in chemical reactions to aspirators, cleaning and autoclaves, routine laboratory operations can place a substantial demand on water resources. These challenges are prompting labs to rethink how they use water, including the equipment they rely on for everyday experimental work.
One innovation leading this shift is the Findenser™ air condenser, a water-free condenser that offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional water-cooled condensers.
The Role of Condensers in Water Waste
In many chemistry labs, condensers are crucial for cooling and condensing vapours during reactions, particularly in reflux and distillation.
Traditionally, laboratories have used:
- Water-cooled condensers: These devices rely on a constant flow of water to absorb heat. They are effective but require a steady supply and disposal of water, meaning significant ongoing water use and associated costs. Challenges with water-cooled systems include: water waste and high utility costs, risk of flooding from disconnected hoses or leaks, and use of laboratory space constrained by proximity to water outlets.
- Standard air condensers: Air condensers don’t require water but are generally less efficient at cooling, especially with low-boiling solvents or larger reaction volumes. Their limited heat transfer surface restricts their use to smaller, less demanding reactions.
Introducing the Findenser™
The Findenser™ is a new kind of condenser designed to combine the efficiency of water-cooled systems with the sustainability of air cooling. Developed by chemists and engineers, it features:
- A glass condenser core with a finned aluminium jacket that dramatically increases heat-transfer surface area compared to traditional air condensers.
- A small, sealed volume of water between the glass and jacket — not from an external supply — meaning it doesn’t need running water at all.
These features make the Findenser™ an effective “super air condenser,” eliminating the water use and waste associated with traditional condensers without compromising cooling performance. Radleys recommends it as a versatile solution that requires no running water and can replace water-cooled condensers in over 95% of common chemistry applications.
Benefits of Findenser™ Over Traditional Condensers
1. Major Water Savings
By replacing water-cooled condensers, Findenser™ significantly reduces laboratory water use. Institutions that have adopted it report impressive savings. At the University of Cardiff water condensers on the exhaust of rotary evaporator pumps were replaced with Findenser™ units, reducing water usage by over 3000L per day.
2. Lower Risk of Flooding and Leaks
Water pipes and connectors in traditional condensers are failure points, and leaks can flood benches and hoods. Findenser™ removes this vulnerability, improving lab safety and cleanliness. When implemented at University of Bath, researchers were able to safely conduct overnight experiments without the risk of flooding from loose water piping and without continuous water use.
3. Ease of Use and Flexibility
Findensers™ require no running water, tubing, or external hookups. This frees up bench space and simplifies setup.
4. Aligning with Sustainable Practices
Switching to Findenser™ supports laboratory sustainability frameworks such as LEAF and My Green Lab, as well as broader environmental goals, by helping labs reduce water use, lower carbon emissions from water production and transport, and cut operational costs.
Next Steps
Water use in laboratories doesn’t have to be wasteful or costly. Innovative tools like the Findenser™ prove that efficiency and sustainability can go hand in hand — providing high-performance cooling while dramatically reducing resource consumption. To learn more, get in touch today!