By the time it leaves the condenser, the refrigerant has lost a lot of its heat and is now a liquid. This component works due to the interaction between pressure and temperature. For example, in a chef's pressure cooker, the pressure increases as the temperature of the food inside does.
As the refrigerant leaves the condenser, it is cooler, but still under pressure provided by the compressor. It then reaches the expansion valve. The expansion valve allows the high-pressure refrigerant to "flash" through becoming a lower pressure, cooled liquid.
Inside the condenser, the refrigerant vapor condenses into a liquid and is subcooled. This liquid refrigerant (D) then flows from the condenser to the expansion device. This device creates a pressure drop that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant to that of the evaporator.
The refrigerant enters the condenser as superheated gas, i.e. at a temperature higher than the saturation temperature (point a in Figure 7.2). The heat rejection can be followed in a log P/h diagram. The first part of the condenser cools (desuperheats) the gas to the saturation temperature (a-b).
Inside the condenser the gas begins to cool and change state in to a vapour. Additional cooling inside the condenser causes the refrigerant vapour to condense in to a high pressure subcooled liquid.
The refrigerant leaves the condenser as a warm gas in a vapor state. The condensing process releases heat to the environment from the air-conditioner and the refrigerant changes from its gas phase to a liquid phase due to the pressure increase.
At a high level, superheat occurs when you heat vapor above its boiling point. Subcooling occurs when you cool a vapor below the temperature at which it turns into a liquid.
In summary, the refrigerant enters the condenser as a superheated vapor and exits as a sub-cooled liquid, ready to absorb heat from the indoor air when it reaches the evaporator coils. The refrigerant condition and state entering the condenser of an air conditioner is liquid.
Question #2:When the refrigerant exits the evaporator, what state is it in? In the evaporator, refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air to change state from liquid to vapor. This means that when the refrigerant leaves the evaporator, it is fully in the vapor state.
Refrigerant is a chemical cooling compound that absorbs and releases heat at different points in the heat exchange cycle as it runs throughout an HVAC system.
The refrigerant normally leaves the condenser at a temperature slightly lower than the saturation temperature. This subcooling represents approximately 2-5% of the total heat rejection and is necessary to avoid flash gas before the expansion valve.
Refrigerant can shift easily between liquid and gas states, which makes it ideal for ACs since it doesn't take significant amounts of energy to cause the phase shift. Refrigerant starts inside the compressor, where the reduction of volume turns it into a high pressure gas about 150°F.
What is the condition of the refrigerant as it enters the condenser of a vapor-cycle cooling system? High-pressure vapor.
As the refrigerant leaves the condenser of a vapor-cycle cooling system, it is a high-pressure, high-temperature, subcooled liquid.
If the condenser unit of your AC starts to malfunction, it can severely limit your air conditioner's ability to cool down your home and even cause it to break down completely. Failing to address this issue in a timely and effective manner can lead to component failure and even force you to replace the entire condenser.
Refrigerant enters as a low-pressure (LP), low-temperature (LT) superheated vapor and exits the compressor as a high-pressure (HP), high-temperature (HT) vapor. The compressor mechanically compresses the refrigerant gas. Under pressure, the refrigerant volume is reduced and the temperature is raised.
The vapor pressure is 118 PSIG and because it is 85°F outside, the R-410A bottle pressure is 254 PSIG. The pressure in the bottle is much higher than the pressure on the low side of the system so if they are connected, refrigerant will exit the bottle and enter the system.
Superheat is determined by: Taking the low side pressure gauge reading (in the suction line service valve), converting that pressure to temperature using a PT chart (This is TEMP p) Measure the temperature at the suction line in the point of the thermostatic expansion valve remote bulb location (TEMP t) close to the ...
After leaving the evaporator, the vaporized refrigerant flows through the compressor. In the compressor, the pressure of the vaporized refrigerant is raised to a point at which it can be condensed by some relatively warm fluid, e.g. water. The compressor removes the refrigerant vapor.
In the evaporator, refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air to change state from liquid to vapor. So, when the refrigerant leaves the evaporator, it is fully in vapor state (low pressure).
The condenser removes heat from the hot refrigerant vapor gas vapor until it condenses into a saturated liquid state, a.k.a. condensation. After condensing, the refrigerant is a high-pressure, low-temperature liquid, at which point it's routed to the loop's expansion device.
Refrigerant enters the condenser as high pressure, high temperature vapor. It cools as it the coils come in contact with outside air, cooling into a liquid. So in the condenser, there is both vapor and liquid. In the metering device, refrigerant is fully liquid as it changes from high to low pressure liquid.
Remember, too low superheat can lead to compressor damage, and too high superheat might indicate an undercharged system or a blocked expansion valve. Regular monitoring and adjustment of superheat can keep your refrigeration system running smoothly, ensuring it performs effectively and efficiently.
There are different types of superheat, and each of them is equally important for understanding the actual conditions of a refrigeration system. These include evaporator superheat, compressor superheat, and discharge superheat. In this article, we will talk about Evaporator Superheat.
For a 410a refrigerant, the recommended superheat value is typically between 10°F and 12°F, while the ideal subcooling value ranges from 8°F to 12°F. However, these values can vary depending on the specific HVAC system and its requirements.