In the vapor compression cycle, the compressor squeezes low-pressure refrigerant vapor into hot, high-pressure gas; the condenser rejects that heat and turns it to liquid; the metering device drops its pressure; and the evaporator lets it boil, absorbing heat from the air or water being cooled. Every air conditioner, heat pump, refrigerator and chiller is a version of this loop, and every service diagnosis follows it.
Walk the refrigeration cycle with the new guy: start at the compressor, go to the condenser, the TXV, the evaporator and back.
Also heard as
- vapor compression cycle
- refrigerant cycle
Related terms
Compressor
The pump that raises refrigerant vapor from evaporator pressure to condenser pressure and keeps it circulating.
Condenser
The heat exchanger where hot, high-pressure refrigerant gives up heat and condenses back to a liquid.
Metering device
The restriction that drops refrigerant from high side to low side pressure and controls how much enters the evaporator.
Evaporator
The coil or heat exchanger where low-pressure liquid refrigerant boils off, absorbing heat from air or water.