In the refrigeration cycle, there are five basic components: fluid refrigerant; a compressor, which controls the flow of refrigerant; the condenser coils (on the outside of the fridge); the evaporator coils (on the inside of the fridge); and something called an expansion device. Here’s how they interact to cool your food.
- The compressor constricts the refrigerant vapor, raising its pressure, and pushes it into the coils on the outside of the refrigerator.
- When the hot gas in the coils meets the cooler air temperature of the kitchen, it becomes a liquid.
- Now in liquid form at high pressure, the refrigerant cools down as it flows into the coils inside the freezer and the fridge.
- The refrigerant absorbs the heat inside the fridge, cooling down the air.
- Last, the refrigerant evaporates to a gas, then flows back to the compressor, where the cycle starts all over.
