What happens to the refrigerant in the condenser during operation?

During operation, the refrigerant in the condenser undergoes a phase change from gas to liquid, which is referred to as condensation. When the refrigerant enters the condenser, it is at a high-pressure and high-temperature gaseous state. As it flows through the condenser coils, it releases heat to the surrounding environment, typically through air or water that circulates around the condenser.

This heat release is crucial because it causes the refrigerant to lose energy and transition to a liquid state. The efficient removal of heat in the condenser is essential for maintaining the refrigeration cycle. By condensing into a liquid, the refrigerant is then ready to be used again in the system, returning to the expansion valve or evaporator to continue the cycle of absorbing heat from the space being cooled.

The other options do not describe what occurs in the condenser during operation. The refrigerant does not evaporate, as that process occurs in the evaporator. Absorbing heat happens in the evaporator, not in the condenser, where the refrigerant is losing heat. Lastly, while expansion of refrigerant occurs at the expansion valve, it is not the process that takes place in the condenser. Thus, condensing into a liquid perfectly captures the function of the refrigerant in the