More surface area to dissipate heat, the more exposed surface of a material the more place to 'let out' the heat
It's transferred to the air which passes through the condenser fins.
Assuming you mean condenser, in an automobile ac system the condenser is used to condense vapor into liquid.
cooling
Condenser
Refrigerant enters the condenser as a high pressure vapor. In the condenser, the heated refrigerant is cooled by transferring its heat to the air which passes through the condenser fins, and it changes state to a liquid during this time.
It's transferred to the air which passes through the condenser fins.
The condenser receives hot high pressure gas refrigerant from the air conditioning compressor.It cools this gas (it looks like a radiator) turning the gas into a cooler liquid. (condensing it)
Remove any leaves or debris from the condenser fins, you can go over it lightly with a soft brush if you wish. Don't use high pressure air or water, as condenser fins bend easily. Use a fin comb to straighten any bent fins.
Couple things I can think of off the top of my head.. if it does provide cooling when the vehicle is moving, your refrigerant level is probably the issue - perhaps too much of it or too much PAG oil. This causes a low superheat and makes it more difficult for the heat exchange to occur. Bent fins on the condenser which are prohibitive to the passage of air through the fins is another possibility. When you get your car washed, do you put high pressure water directly to the grille? If so, there's a good chance its caused bent fins on your condenser (as well as on the radiator). The main cause I see is an inoperative radiator/condenser fan.
In front of the radiator.
In front of the radiator.
Unscrew radiator, should be two attachments connected to condenser. Unscrew them from the condenser and it should slide right out from in front of the radiator.