Mark H. GarciaBSABEn - IVThe Components of Refrigeration Cycle
Condenser
The condenser is one of the easiest components to spot on a
refrigerator. It is a large grid of coils often on the back or
underneath the refrigerator accompanied by a cooling fan that draws
air over the coils to help them dissipate heat, according to the
Repair Clinic website. The condenser's job is to act as a vessel
for the refrigerant to travel through, transforming the
high-pressure gas into a liquid.
Compressor
The compressor is the cooling engine of the refrigerator. This
device is located either at the bottom of the refrigerator at the
back of the unit or on top of the refrigerator. The compressor
compresses the refrigerant to make it a high-pressure gas whenever
the thermostat calls for cooling in the system. It runs quietly and
sends the refrigerant into the condenser.
Evaporator
After the refrigerant passes through the condenser and
transforms into liquid it passes through a metering device and into
the condenser. The condenser provides more space for the
refrigerant, which allows it to return to a gaseous state. This
causes rapid cooling and causes moisture to freeze on the
evaporator. A fan circulates the resulting cold air throughout the
refrigerator. The evaporator on most refrigerators is located
inside the freezer compartment if it is a combination unit.
Otherwise, it is located inside the main refrigerator
compartment.
Ice Maker
Most of today's refrigerators have a built-in ice maker. This
component means no more ice trays in the freezer. A constant water
supply fills cube molds and then the ice maker ejects the frozen
cubes and refills periodically.
Thermostat
The refrigerator's thermostat is a simple device that senses the
internal temperature of the main compartment. Owners set a dial on
the thermostat to indicate the cooling level they desire. This is
usually somewhere between 32 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit in the main
compartment. The thermostat stops power to the compressor when the
temperature drops below the desired setting.
Defrost System
The frost build up on the evaporator would get excessive if not
for the automatic defrost system. Icing could result and cause
other problems. But the defrost system keeps frost and ice from
getting out of hand by regularly melting it. The defrost system is
made up of three main parts. A timer signals the heating coil in
regular intervals to begin heating, which melts off the frost. Once
the temperature rises above freezing, a temperature sensor signals
the heater to shut down, which allows the system to cool normally
again.
