Refrigeration

Question 1

What is refrigerant?

Answer 1

Refrigerant is a very cold substance, it extracts heat from a compartment as heat travels from hot to cold, usually R134A with a boiling point of -26.5c

Question 2

Describe the compressor in the refrigeration cycle

Answer 2

The compressor acts like a dynamic pump, it compresses the refrigerant in a hot, hp gas state and pumps it round the system.

Question 3

Describe the condenser in the refrigeration cycle

Answer 3

The condenser takes the hot, hp gas and cools it down using sea water, it leaves the condenser a warm, hp liquid as the gas cools down it forms to a liquid.

Question 4

Describe the TEV in the refrigerant cycle

Answer 4

The thermal expansion valve controls the flow of the refrigerant via a bulb and tube, the warm HP liquid enters the TEV where a diaphragm controls the flow rate, it leaves the TEV as a very cold, LP liquid as the flow rate decreases the molecules have more room to move decreasing the heat.

Question 5

Describe the evaporator in the refrigeration cycle

Answer 5

The very cold, lp liquid enters coils within the evaporator, a fan blows warm air through the coils and the heat from the air is removed, this changes the state of the liquid to a cool, LP gas as it returns to the compressor