What problem does drift present in an evaporative condenser?

Drift in an evaporative condenser refers to the phenomenon where small droplets of water are carried away from the cooling tower with the exhaust air. This can negatively impact the system's efficiency because it results in a loss of water that is used for cooling, which must be replaced by additional water supply. This loss disrupts the heat exchange process, as the evaporative cooling system relies on a consistent water supply to effectively transfer heat away from the refrigerant. As a result, the system works harder to maintain the desired temperature, leading to decreased overall efficiency.

While there are other implications of drift, such as potential noise generation, increased water consumption due to the need for additional supply, and complications during maintenance, those are secondary to the direct impact on the efficiency of the condenser itself, making the effect on efficiency the most significant issue presented by drift.