The four main components of a refrigeration circuit are the evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve, according to the CDCP Preparation Guide1 and various web sources234. A refrigeration circuit is a system that transfers heat from a low-temperature region to a high-temperature region, using a working fluid called refrigerant. The refrigeration circuit operates in a closed loop, where the refrigerant changes its state from liquid to vapor and back to liquid, while absorbing and releasing heat. The four main components of the refrigeration circuit perform the following functions:
•The evaporator is a heat exchanger that absorbs heat from the low-temperature region, such as the data centre room, and transfers it to the refrigerant. The refrigerant enters the evaporator as a low-pressure, low-temperature liquid, and leaves the evaporator as a low-pressure, low-temperature vapor.
•The compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant vapor. The refrigerant enters the compressor as a low-pressure, low-temperature vapor, and leaves the compressor as a high-pressure, high-temperature vapor.
•The condenser is another heat exchanger that releases heat from the refrigerant to the high-temperature region, such as the outside air or water. The refrigerant enters the condenser as a high-pressure, high-temperature vapor, and leaves the condenser as a high-pressure, low-temperature liquid.
•The expansion valve is a device that reduces the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant liquid. The refrigerant enters the expansion valve as a high-pressure, low-temperature liquid, and leaves the expansion valve as a low-pressure, low-temperature liquid. The expansion valve also controls the flow of the refrigerant into the evaporator, depending on the cooling load.
References:
1: CDCP Preparation Guide, page 19, section 2.3.3 2: The Refrigeration Cycle5, page 1, section 1 3: Fundamentals of Cooling in Data Center6, page 1, section 1 4: The Refrigeration System, Its Four Main Components, And Their Functions7, page 1, section 1
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