CSE60
June 2001
Page 10
HOW IT WORKS:
REFRIGERATION
FREEZE CYCLE
The ice cubes are formed in an inverted mold
that is refrigerated.
The refrigeration process begins at the
compressor
. There, refrigerant vapor is
compressed and flows from the compressor
through the
discharge line
as a high
temperature, high pressure gas. In the discharge
line there is a
strainer
with two outlets, one
leads to the
condenser
, and one to a solenoid
valve. Because the solenoid valve is closed, the
gas flows to the condenser, where heat is
transferred from the refrigerant to the air passing
through the condenser. The refrigerant then
condenses into a high pressure liquid.
From the condenser, the liquid refrigerant flows
through the
liquid line
, and the liquid line
f
ilter-drier
. After the filter drier, the liquid
refrigerant enters the metering device, a
capillary tube
. After passing the restriction of
the capillary tube, the refrigerant enters an area
of relative low pressure, the
evaporator
. In the
tubing of the evaporator, the liquid refrigerant
expands and evaporates, absorbing heat from
the evaporator tubing and anything in contact
with it such as water sprayed against it.
The refrigerant, now a low pressure, low
temperature vapor, flows into the
accumulator
,
which traps excess liquid refrigerant. The vapor,
now primarily a gas, goes through the
suction
line
tube to the compressor where the cycle is
repeated.
EVAPORATOR
ACCUMULATOR
CAPILLARY TUBE
COMPRESSOR
STRAINER
CONDENSER
FILTER-DRIER
DISCHARG
E LINE
LIQUID
LINE
SUCTION
LINE
Refrigeration System Schematic
