Condensation Condensation refers to the transformation of gaseous refrigerant back to its liquid state. The mechanics of condensation are the same as de-superheating. The refrigerant is circulated through the condenser multiple times to effectively condense it.
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.
The condenser provides heat transfer thanks to the interaction of the refrigerant inside it with the environment. The gaseous refrigerant inside the condenser turns into a liquid by absorbing heat from the environmental environment (air or water).
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.
Principles of Refrigeration
For this reason, all air conditioners use the same cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation in a closed circuit. The same refrigerant is used to move the heat from one area, to cool this area, and to expel this heat in another area.
As the name suggests, the refrigeration process is a cycle. We start at the compressor, go through the condenser, then through the restriction, then through the evaporator and finally back to the compressor where the cycle starts all over again.
Three important things happen to the refrigerant in the condenser: The hot gas from the compressor is desuperheated. The refrigerant is condensed from a vapor to a liquid. The liquid refrigerant is subcooled.
The refrigerator's compressor increases the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant, then circulates it through condenser and evaporator coils as it transitions from a gas to a liquid, then back to a gas. Refrigerant absorbs heat as it undergoes chemical changes, cooling the freezer compartment as it circulates.
Before the compressor, the refrigerant is a gas at low pressure. Because of the compressor, the gas becomes high pressure, gets heated and flows towards the condenser. 2 At the condenser, the high temperature, high pressure gas releases its heat to the outdoor air and becomes subcooled high pressure liquid.
A condenser is designed to transfer heat from a working fluid (e.g. water in a steam power plant) to a secondary fluid or the surrounding air. The condenser relies on the efficient heat transfer that occurs during phase changes, in this case during the condensation of a vapor into a liquid.
Refrigerators are machines that work on the principle of removing heat from a cooler environment and transferring it to a warmer environment. To do this, electrical energy is required to operate a compressor, which pushes refrigerant through the refrigerator. Electrical energy is converted into kinetic energy.
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.
However, a condenser does three things: desuperheating, condensing (changing state), and subcooling. Desuperheating occurs early on in the condenser, at the top. Refrigerant enters the condenser as a highly superheated vapor.
After picking up heat indoors, the hot, low pressure refrigerant gas leaves the evaporator coil and travels via copper pipes to the outdoor unit's compressor, which raises the refrigerant's pressure and temperature. Now a high pressure gas, the refrigerant enters the condenser coil.
The Compressor Pulls Up the Gas and the Cycle Starts Again
However, your refrigerator does not—and should not—run constantly. Every 12 to 15 hours, the refrigeration defrost cycle should begin, which uses a defrost heater to melt any frost that has accumulated on the evaporator coils.
What is a refrigeration cycle and how does it work? The simple refrigeration cycle consists of four main processes: compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. These processes take place respectively in the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator.
A condenser is an essential component within any HVAC system. Its purpose is to take in high-pressure refrigerant gas, emitted by the compressor, and convert it into liquid state. The refrigerant is cooled and then condenses at a virtually constant temperature and pressure.
Final answer: Refrigerant enters the compressor as a low pressure low temperature super-heated vapor and exits as a high pressure high temperature super-heated vapor.
The refrigerant changes from a liquid to a vapor in the evaporator, absorbing heat, and then changes back to a liquid in the condenser as it releases heat. These phase changes are essential for the cooling effect in the system.
The heat of compression raises the temperature of the refrigerant vapor causing it to be a high pressure superheated vapor. As this refrigerant moves into the condenser (2), the condenser rejects the heat in the refrigerant, causing it to change state and condense into a high pressure, high temp liquid.
The superheat must be removed first before the refrigerant can condense. This occurs in the first portion of the condenser known as the desuperheating section. Approximately 15% of the heat is removed here. Then the vapor is condensed throughout most of the condenser.
They work by absorbing heat and transferring it in a cycle to achieve cooling of air or objects. Refrigerants typically have low boiling points, allowing them to evaporate and cool the surrounding environment at relatively low temperatures. When in liquid state, the refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates into a gas.
Compressor -> Discharge line -> Condenser -> Liquid Line -> Metering Device -> Expansion Line -> Evaporator -> Suction line -> and then back to the Compressor. The refrigeration cycle described works for all air conditioning units and chillers.
Refrigerators vent heat out of the appliance in order to keep your food fresh. Refrigerators use a closed system that relies on refrigerant traveling in coils throughout the fridge. Refrigerant separates hot and cold air by absorbing the heat and carrying it away from the refrigerator's contents.