In a refrigerator, the hot refrigerant does not simply go out of the fridge through its coils and get wasted. The refrigeration process is a closed-loop system that allows the refrigerant to circulate and perform its cooling cycle efficiently.
Here's a simplified explanation of how a refrigerator works:
Compression: The refrigeration cycle starts with the compressor, which compresses the low-pressure, low-temperature gaseous refrigerant to increase its temperature and pressure.
Condensation: The hot, high-pressure refrigerant then flows through the condenser coils located at the back or bottom of the refrigerator. These coils dissipate heat, causing the refrigerant to condense and turn into a high-pressure liquid.
Expansion: The high-pressure liquid refrigerant moves through the expansion valve (or capillary tube), where its pressure drops rapidly. As a result, the refrigerant becomes a low-pressure, low-temperature mixture of liquid and vapor.
Evaporation: The low-pressure refrigerant enters the evaporator coils inside the refrigerator's main compartment. As it absorbs heat from the surrounding air and food, it evaporates into a low-pressure vapor. This process cools down the interior of the refrigerator.
Return to the compressor: The low-pressure vapor returns to the compressor, and the cycle repeats.
The heat released during the condensation process in the condenser coils is necessary to remove heat from the refrigerator's interior and maintain a cool temperature. This heat exchange is an integral part of the refrigeration process and is not wasted; it's used to dissipate the heat from the refrigerator's interior to the external environment.
While the back of a refrigerator may feel warm to the touch, it is a sign that the refrigeration system is effectively removing heat from the inside of the refrigerator and releasing it outside through the condenser coils. This process is crucial for keeping the refrigerator cold and preserving the freshness of the food stored inside.