How does household refrigeration work? 4 different processes involved in it. 1. Evaporation Process (Heat Absorption from refrigerating space) 2.Compression Process 3.Condensation Process (Heat Rejection Process) 4. Throttling Process #refrigeration #refrigerationprocess #refrigerationanimation #fridge In the refrigerator, where we store food items, that place is called refrigerating space. In refrigerating space, evaporator tubes are coiled around it. A very low-temperature fluid called refrigerant flows through this evaporator coils. This refrigerant absorbs heat from food items. In a household refrigerator, the tubes in the freezer compartment where heat is absorbed by the refrigerant serve as the evaporator. Here, we need to know how this refrigerant is at a very low temperature. A device called throttling device; here cold fluid is produced using throttling phenomena. The capillary tube of a diameter of 0.6 millimeters and length of 2metre is used as a throttling device. For effective throttling, at the inlet, the refrigerant should be at liquid state under high pressure. A severe pressure drops along the length of the capillary tube. The average temperature drops from 55°C to -20°C. Thus, a very low refrigerant flows from the capillary tube to an evaporator. In the evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat from refrigerating space and it turns into vapors. Since the refrigerant changes its phase from liquid to vapor, so temperature and pressure didn’t rise. To repeat this process, capillary tubes require refrigerant at high pressure and liquid state. So, here comes the role of compressor and condenser. The compressor compresses the vapor refrigerant that comes from evaporator to very high pressure and high-temperature superheated state. The Temperature of the refrigerant at this is well above the temperature of the surroundings. The refrigerant then enters the condenser as a superheated vapor and leaves as saturated liquid as a result of heat rejection to the surroundings. The coils behind the refrigerator, where heat is dissipated to the kitchen air, serve as the condenser. The refrigerant leaves the condenser as saturated liquid and renters the capillary tube completing the cycle. In this refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant is in 4 different states. At state 1, that is after evaporation, the refrigerant is in low temperature and low pressure, saturated vapor state. At state 2, that is after compression, the refrigerant is in high temperature and high pressure, superheated vapor state. At state 3, that is after the condensation process, the refrigerant is in high temperature and high pressure, saturated liquid state. And finally, At state 4, that is after the throttling process, the refrigerant is in low temperature and low pressure, and low quality saturated mixture. This is how food items get cooled in the refrigerator.