Refrigerants: The Science, Types & Their Role in Cooling Technology
A refrigerant is a specialized working fluid central to the operation of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems. Its primary function is to absorb heat from a low-temperature environment and release it to a higher-temperature area through a continuous cycle of phase changes between liquid and vapor states. This process, governed by the principles of thermodynamics, begins in the evaporator, where the cold, low-pressure liquid refrigerant absorbs ambient heat, causing it to boil and turn into a gas. This gas is then compressed, which dramatically increases its temperature and pressure. The hot, high-pressure gas then travels to the condenser, where it releases its absorbed heat to the outside environment, cooling down and condensing back into a liquid. Finally, an expansion valve reduces its pressure and temperature, returning it to the evaporator to repeat the cycle.
The evolution of refrigerants has been marked by significant environmental and safety concerns. Early…
You should worry. Apparently my system has made me £76,000 in 16 months!