Refrigerator works on which cycle? Understanding the cooling process

The refrigerator is the most important home appliance, but have you ever wondered how it works: a vapour compression refrigerator. Also known as the refrigeration cycle, it simply means removing heat from inside the appliance and releasing it to the surrounding environment. This thermodynamic process relies on a refrigerant that continuously changes between liquid and gaseous states to absorb and emit heat.

Refrigerator works on which cycle

While the refrigerator works on the principles of evaporation and condensation, four main stages make the cooling effect possible:

1. Compression

The compressor pressurises low-pressure refrigerant vapour, where the refrigerant becomes hot and turns into high-pressure gas.

ALSO READ: Top 10 best refrigerator brands in India

2. Condensation

During this stage, the hot refrigerant flows through the condenser coils, releasing the heat to the room air and cooling the refrigerant. The gas condenses into high-pressure liquid.

3. Expansion

The liquid refrigerant passes through the expansion valve, where the pressure drops, the temperature decreases, and the refrigerant turns into cold, low-pressure liquid.

4. Evaporation

This stage sees the cold refrigerant enter the evaporator coils inside the fridge and absorb heat from food and air inside the compartment. The liquid evaporates back to low-pressure vapour.

This continuous cycle repeats automatically based on the temperature settings, and the compressor starts and stops to maintain the desired temperature.

FAQs

Q1: Which thermodynamic cycle is used in refrigeration?

A: Cooling appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners use the vapour-compression cycle.

Q2: Which law of thermodynamics is used in refrigerators?

A: The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system can only increase or remain constant in a reversible process. The refrigerant returns to its original state, cycling between gas and liquid.

ALSO READ: Evolution of refrigerators: From western imports to modern smart refrigerators

The refrigerator works on a vapour compression cycle, which effectively removes heat from inside the refrigerator through compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. These stages create the cold environment needed to preserve food inside your fridge.