Refrigeration Cycle

The compressor (1) discharges high-temperature, high-pressure vapor that contains heat absorbed in the evaporator (3) and heat from the compressor. This vapor flows through the tubes in the condenser (2) where the vapor releases heat to the air flow and changes to a medium-temperature, high-pressure liquid. This liquid flows through the liquid line to the orifice tube (5) where the liquid undergoes rapid expansion and changes from a medium-temperature, high-pressure liquid to a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid/vapor mixture. This cold, foamy refrigerant mixture enters the evaporator core at the bottom and flows through the parallel tubes upward through the U-flow core. Heat from the warm air flow passing through the core is transferred to the refrigerant, vaporizing the liquid and cooling the air. Under high-load conditions all of the liquid is vaporized in the evaporator (3). Only heat-laden vapor flows to the accumulator (4) and through the suction line to the compressor (1), where the cycle is repeated. Under lighter load conditions, the liquid and the vapor are separated in the accumulator (4) so that only the vapor is drawn into the compressor (1).