In a refrigeration cycle, what happens to refrigerant in the condenser?

In the refrigeration cycle, the condenser plays a crucial role in rejecting heat from the refrigerant. As the refrigerant flows through the condenser, it transitions from a vapor to a liquid state. This process is known as condensation, during which the refrigerant releases the heat it absorbed from the evaporator, where it had evaporated and absorbed heat from the surrounding environment.

The refrigerant, when it enters the condenser in vapor form, is under high pressure and temperature. As it passes through the condenser coils, it is exposed to a cooler environment (typically air or water), allowing it to lose heat. This heat release causes the vapor to cool down and condense into a liquid state. By the time the refrigerant exits the condenser, it is in a high-pressure liquid form, ready to enter the expansion valve and continue the refrigeration cycle.

Understanding this process is essential, as it highlights the function of the condenser in managing the heat exchange necessary for effective refrigeration. The other options do not accurately describe the processes occurring in the condenser.