What happens to the refrigerant after leaving the condenser?

What happens to the refrigerant after leaving the condenser?

• A. It is vented to the atmosphere.
• B. It expands to reduce its pressure and cool down before returning to the evaporator.
• C. It is compressed further.
• D. It is stored as a liquid in a reservoir.

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is that the condenser’s job is to reject heat and turn the refrigerant into a high‑pressure liquid. After it leaves the condenser, the refrigerant is routed through the expansion device, where its pressure drops. That pressure drop causes the liquid to cool and begin to vaporize as it enters the evaporator, where it then absorbs heat and returns to the compressor as a low‑pressure vapor. So expanding to reduce pressure and temperature before returning to the evaporator is the correct sequence. It isn’t vented, it isn’t compressed further at this stage, and it isn’t stored in a reservoir.

The essential idea is that the condenser’s job is to reject heat and turn the refrigerant into a high‑pressure liquid. After it leaves the condenser, the refrigerant is routed through the expansion device, where its pressure drops. That pressure drop causes the liquid to cool and begin to vaporize as it enters the evaporator, where it then absorbs heat and returns to the compressor as a low‑pressure vapor. So expanding to reduce pressure and temperature before returning to the evaporator is the correct sequence. It isn’t vented, it isn’t compressed further at this stage, and it isn’t stored in a reservoir.