In a refrigeration cycle, what happens at the evaporator?

At the evaporator in a refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant undergoes a critical process where it absorbs heat from the surrounding environment. This is achieved as the refrigerant enters the evaporator in a low-pressure, low-temperature state and evaporates into a gas as it absorbs heat from the area being cooled. This absorption of heat causes the temperature of the refrigerant to rise, transitioning it from a liquid to a gas.

The primary function of the evaporator is to remove heat from the space or medium that it is cooling, which is essential for maintaining lower temperatures. In this phase, the refrigerant is effectively acting as a heat transfer fluid, allowing for the desired cooling effect to take place. The efficient heat absorption is vital for the overall operation of the refrigeration cycle, leading to the subsequent compression and condensation processes that follow.