65
Technical terminology
• Refrigerant
• Refrigerant
Circuit
• Evaporator
• Compressor
• Condenser
Liquids that can be used to a generate a cooling effect are known as refrigerants. They
have a relatively low boiling-point, indeed so low, that the warmth from the food sto-
red in the fridge or freezer can cause the refrigerant to boil and vaporise.
Closed circulation system that contains the refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit compri-
ses primarily of an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and pipe work.
The refrigerant is evaporated in the evaporator. Similar to all other liquids, refrigerant
requires heat to evaporate. This heat is removed from the interior of the appliance, as
a result the interior is cooled. The evaporator is therefore located inside the appliance
or placed in foam immediately behind the inner wall and thus not visible.
The compressor looks like a small drum. It is driven by a built-in electric motor and is
mounted on the base of the appliance at the rear. The task of the compressor is to
draw in vaporised refrigerant from the evaporator, to compress it, and to pass it on to
the condenser.
The condenser normally has the form of a grid. The refrigerant compressed in the com-
pressor is liquefied in the condenser. During this process, heat is released to the surro-
unding air at the surface of the condenser. The condenser is mounted on the base of
the appliance.
