What happens to the refrigerant in an evaporator?

In the evaporator, the refrigerant undergoes a crucial phase change where it absorbs heat from its surroundings, which typically is the air or fluid that needs to be cooled. This process occurs at low pressure, allowing the refrigerant to boil and transform from a liquid to a gas. As it absorbs heat, the refrigerant effectively cools the area around the evaporator, thereby providing the desired cooling effect in a refrigeration system.

This phase change is essential to the refrigeration cycle, which relies on the absorption of heat to maintain lower temperatures in the refrigerated space. By absorbing heat, the refrigerant gains energy and evaporates, allowing it to continue cycling through the system and facilitating continuous temperature control.