Condensers for heating and/or cooling systems

A system, comprising:

• a condenser comprising a condenser shell that contains a condenser chamber, a condensing conduit, and a cooling conduit, wherein the condenser is configured to condense a refrigerant within the condenser chamber from a vapour phase to a liquid phase by exchanging heat from the refrigerant in the condenser chamber to a fluid in the condensing conduit;
• and
• a first expansion valve arranged between an outlet of the condenser chamber and the cooling conduit, the system being configured such that in use a first portion of the condensed refrigerant is supplied from the outlet of the condenser chamber to the cooling conduit via the first expansion valve such that the first portion of the refrigerant decreases in pressure and temperature before entering the cooling conduit;
• wherein the condenser is configured for refrigerant in the condenser chamber to be cooled by exchanging heat from the refrigerant in the condenser chamber to the first portion of the refrigerant in the cooling conduit.