What role do refrigerants play in cooling systems?

Refrigerants are essential components of cooling systems, primarily because they absorb and release heat as they circulate through the system. The refrigeration cycle involves a refrigerant that evaporates in the evaporator coil, absorbing heat from the surroundings, which cools the air or fluid being processed. As the refrigerant vaporizes due to the heat absorption, it continues to move to the compressor, where it is compressed, raising its pressure and temperature. When the high-pressure refrigerant gas enters the condenser, it releases the absorbed heat to the environment, condensing back into a liquid form. This cycle of heat absorption and release is what enables the cooling systems to lower temperatures effectively.

This dynamic process highlights the unique properties of refrigerants, such as their ability to change states from liquid to gas and vice versa at relatively low temperature and pressure ranges. The refrigerants selected for cooling systems are designed to operate efficiently while minimizing environmental impact, as seen with modern refrigerants that are eco-friendlier.

While refrigerants may increase pressure within the cooling unit during their phase changes, their primary role is not about pressure increase per se but rather about heat transfer. Additionally, the function of storing energy for future use or acting as lubricants for mechanical components does not reflect the main