Before gas can be converted to liquid in a condenser, what must occur?

To convert a gas to a liquid in a condenser, the gas must first be de-superheated. This process involves reducing the temperature of the gas without allowing it to condense yet, ensuring it reaches its saturation point. When a refrigerant vapor passes through the condenser, it is typically in a superheated state, meaning it's at a temperature higher than its boiling point at that pressure. By de-superheating the gas, it can then transition from a vapor to a liquid state more efficiently as it cools further in the condenser.

The de-superheating step is crucial because if the gas remains in its superheated state, it cannot condense effectively, leading to reduced efficiency in the refrigeration cycle. Once the vapor is de-superheated and reaches the saturation point, it will then condense into a liquid; thus, this step is essential prior to the condensation process in the condenser.