In a refrigeration cycle, what happens in the compressor?

In the refrigeration cycle, the compressor plays a crucial role in the overall functionality of the system. Its primary task is to compress the refrigerant gas, which raises both its pressure and temperature.

When the refrigerant enters the compressor, it is in a low-pressure gaseous state and needs to be transformed to enable the cycle to continue efficiently. By compressing the refrigerant, the compressor effectively increases its energy, allowing it to circulate through the system and facilitate heat exchange processes in the evaporator and condenser.

This process is essential because it prepares the refrigerant to release heat in the condenser after absorbing heat in the evaporator. The high-pressure refrigerant can then move to the condenser, where it loses the heat and transforms back into a liquid state, thus continuing the cycle. Understanding the function of the compressor is vital for grasping how refrigeration mechanisms operate, as it's the heart of the cycle that drives the movement and transformation of the refrigerant.