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What happens to the refrigerant in the condenser?
Refrigerant flows through the compressor, which raises the pressure of the refrigerant. Next the refrigerant flows through the condenser, where it condenses from vapor form to liquid form, giving off heat in the process. The vaporized refrigerant goes back to the compressor to restart the cycle.
What does the refrigerant do when it first enters the condenser?
The refrigerant enters the condenser as a superheated (hot) high pressure gas, it dumps its heat into the air being blown across by the fan, this drop in temperature condenses the refrigerant. The refrigerant leaves the condenser as a regular temperature, saturated high pressure liquid.
What happens to the refrigerant as it enters the condenser after it leaves the compressor?
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.
How does a refrigeration condenser work?
The condenser works by condensing the refrigerant. The refrigerant entering the condenser is hot and pressurised. The condenser then cools the refrigerant by converting it into a liquid state.
How hot should a condenser get?
Safe Temperature Range It’s normal for this temperature to be as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit, but it should never be higher. If the temperature rises to 320 degrees, the refrigerant will start to break down. If it gets hotter than 350 degrees, the lubricating oil inside the compressor will start degrading.
Is a condenser a heat exchanger?
A condenser can be considered a form of heat exchanger as it is similar to a chiller heat exchanger in function.
How does the condenser work in the refrigeration cycle?
The condenser is a network of pipes that a hot, gas refrigerant passes through. 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.
What happens when the refrigerant in an air conditioner gets colder?
And a refrigerant getting colder means that the air around will be getting warmer. In an air conditioner, the condenser expels hot air — air that has stolen its energy from the refrigerant.
How is the evaporator different from the condenser?
The evaporator does the exact opposite of the condenser. Instead of turning the refrigerant from gas to liquid, it turns the refrigerant from liquid to gas (thus the name “evaporator”). Instead of expelling heat, it absorbs heat and turns the air cold around it. This is where the “conditioning” of the air occurs.
Why are refrigerants important to the heat transfer cycle?
Refrigerants are the modern “bucket” because refrigerants can continually absorb and release energy without escaping the system. Refrigerants change state between a liquid to a gas. Refrigerants must be able to boil at low pressures and low temperatures to be efficient. High-glide refrigerants have a unique effect on a refrigeration system.