How does a centrifugal compressor mainly refrigerate?

A centrifugal compressor mainly refrigerates through centrifugal force. In this type of compressor, the refrigeration process begins when low-pressure gas enters the compressor inlet. As the gas enters, it is drawn into a rotating impeller, which is designed to spin at high speeds. This rapid rotation generates centrifugal force that effectively flings the gas outward towards the edges of the impeller.

As the gas is propelled outward, its velocity increases, which results in an increase in kinetic energy. At the same time, the design of the centrifugal compressor includes a diffuser, which converts the high-velocity gas into high pressure by slowing it down. This increase in pressure is critical for the refrigeration cycle, as it prepares the refrigerant gas for condensing in the condenser coil, where it will release heat and transform into a liquid.

The refrigeration effect is fundamentally reliant on the mechanics of centrifugal force acting on the refrigerant gas, highlighting the operational principle of this compressor type in the refrigeration cycle. The focus on centrifugal force differentiates it from other mechanisms, such as mechanical compression, heat exchange, or electrical resistance, which do not utilize the same principles of physical motion and pressure change to achieve the refrigeration effect.