How does heat transfer occur in the evaporator?

In the evaporator, heat transfer occurs primarily through latent heat change, which is a critical process in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

During the operation of the evaporator, refrigerant enters in a low-pressure state and absorbs heat from the surrounding environment as it evaporates. This process involves a change of state from liquid to gas, which requires the absorption of energy without a change in temperature. This is what is referred to as latent heat – it's the energy absorbed during the phase change. As the refrigerant absorbs this latent heat, it effectively removes energy from the air or fluid it is contacting, leading to a cooling effect.

This mechanism is essential for the refrigeration cycle to function effectively. By focusing on latent heat change, the evaporator can efficiently transfer heat from the air to the refrigerant, facilitating the continuous circulation necessary for temperature management in HVAC systems.