Refrigeration

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What is Refrigeration?

Refrigeration is the removal of heat from a material or a space so that its temperature is lower than its surroundings.

There are five (5) basic components that makes up the refrigeration system, in order for the system to work successfully, they are:
  1. Evaporator
  2. Compressor
  3. Condenser
  4. Expansion Valve
  5. Refrigerant

Below is an illustration displaying the Basic Refrigeration System







How the Refrigeration System Works

        As specified above, each component above contributes in assisting the refrigeration system to operate efficiently.   The refrigeration cycle begins with the refrigerant in the evaporator, the refrigerant is in a liquid format and used to absorb heat from the product, however when the refrigerant is leaving the evaporator the absorbed heat from the product becomes low pressure and low temperature vapor.   The low pressure, low temperature vapor is drawn from the evaporator by the compressor, after being compressed the temperature rises. The compressor transforms the vapor from a low temperature vapor to a high temperature vapor which increases the pressure, the high temperature; high pressure vapor is then pumped from the compressor to the condenser; the surrounding air then cools it or in some cases a fan assists.   The vapor in the condenser is cooled and becomes a liquid format again, the heat which was absorbed is conducted to the outside air and the liquid refrigerant passes through the expansion valve, the expansion valve reduces the pressure of the liquid refrigerant and reduces the temperature.   The cycle is complete when the refrigerant flows into the evaporator from the expansion valve as a low pressure low temperature liquid.
   





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