In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant must undergo a change

in state in order for the heat to be absorbed from the environment.

The refrigerant has the property of changing its state from liquid

to vapor at normal room temperatures.

Have you ever felt your skin becoming cool whenever you put alcohol

on it? Or even when a bit of petrol spilled onto your hands? It's

because, the alcohol or petrol has evaporated when it comes in contact

with your skin.

The result - heat is removed from your skin, and it feels cool!

In a closed-loop refrigeration circuit, the change of state from

liquid to vapor is achieved mechanically by pressurizing the liquid

at one end and forcing it through a small opening at another end.

Once the liquid comes out from the small opening, it expands into

vapor. The effect is similar to the spray you get when you restrict

the outlet of your garden hose. But water is not a refrigerant. It

does not feel cold because it does not change to a vapor.

Bad example. But you get the idea? Pressurized restriction causes

spray at the other end.

In many refrigeration circuits, the small opening is made in the

form of a thermostatic expansion valve. Many other designs make

use of small capillary tubes. In big chillers, orifice plates are

common.

All of them achieve the same purpose - to expand the liquid to

become vapor and to cause the evaporator tubes to become cold.

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Thomas Yoon is a successful entrepreneur that combines

engineering knowledge with business. With many years of working

experience in Marine, Facilities, Construction he invites

you to stop at http://facworld.tripod.com and subscribe

to his facworld ezine at mailto:facworld-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

where you can find a ton of information.

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