Basic Refrigeration

Superheated Vapor

A vapor above its saturation point

Conduction

Heat transfer by contact from molecule to molecule

Convection

Heat transfer through a fluid

Radiation

Heat transfer through the air, heating the first object it makes contact with

1st Law of Thermodynamics

Energy can neither be created or destroyed, but converted from one form to another

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Heat travels from hot to cold

Btu

The amount of heat required to raise 1lb of water 1°F

Absolute 0, Rankine

Temperature at which molecular motion stops, -460°F

Absolute 0, Kelvin

The temperature at which molecular motion stops, -273°C

Sensible Heat

Heat that can be measured

Ton of Refrigerant

288,000 btu/hr

Latent Heat

Energy absorbed or given off to change state

Charles’ Law

Constant pressure, temperature and volume are directly proportional

Boyle’s Law

Constant temperature, pressure and volume are inversely proportional

Guy Lussac’s Law

Constant volume, temperature and pressure are inversely proportional

Dalton’s Law

Law of partial pressures, the total pressure of a mixture is equal to the sum of each individual gas’s pressures

Condenser

Device in a system that rejects heat, subcooling refrigerant

Compressor

Heart of the system, compresses a low temp, low pressure, superheated vapor, releasing a high temp, high pressure, superheated vapor

Evaporator

Device in a system that absorbs heat, superheating refrigerant. Delivers a low temp, low pressure, superheated vapor to the compressor

Metering Device

Device on a system that meters flow of refrigerant to an evaporator, flashing 75% liquid 25% vapor

Subcooled Vapor

A vapor cooled below its saturation temperature

Fahrenheit to Celsius Formula

C = (F-32) / 1.8

Celsius to Fahrenheit Formula

F = (C x 1.8) + 32

Cold

Absence of heat

Saturation

When an object or substance cannot absorb any more heat

Refrigeration

The process of removing heat from where it is unwanted and placing it where it does not matter

Reclaim

To process refrigerant to new product specifications

Recover

The process of removing refrigerant to be stored in an external container

Recycle

The process of cleaning refrigerant by oil separation through the use of filter dryers