What type of refrigeration cycle is most commonly used in household refrigerators?

The compression cycle is the most commonly used refrigeration cycle in household refrigerators because it is efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. This cycle operates by compressing refrigerant gas in a compressor, which raises its temperature and pressure. The hot, high-pressure gas then passes through condenser coils where it releases heat to the surroundings and condenses into a liquid. This liquid refrigerant then flows through an expansion valve, reducing its pressure and temperature as it enters the evaporator coils inside the refrigerator. Here, it absorbs heat from the interior, thus cooling the space before returning to the compressor to repeat the cycle.

This cycle’s efficiency in removing heat from the inside of the refrigerator and releasing it outside makes it ideal for maintaining the desired temperature. The design simplicity and the wide availability of components also contribute to its prevalence in household appliances. Other refrigeration methods, like the absorption cycle and the thermoelectric cycle, are not as commonly employed in typical home refrigerators due to various limitations, such as lower efficiency or higher costs.