Where does latent heat transfer occur in an evaporator?

Latent heat transfer in an evaporator is a critical process that involves the transfer of heat from the refrigerated space to the refrigerant. When the refrigerant enters the evaporator, it is typically in a low-pressure, low-temperature state. As it flows through the evaporator coils, it absorbs heat from the surrounding environment, which in this case is the refrigerated space. This heat absorption causes the refrigerant to change state from a liquid to a vapor, a process known as evaporation.

The significance of this process is that it effectively removes heat from the refrigerated space, helping to maintain the desired temperature. The absorbed heat is called latent heat because it occurs without a change in temperature of the refrigerant until it fully evaporates. This transfer of energy is essential for the cooling effect that the evaporator is designed to achieve.

Other options, while related to the HVAC system, do not represent the primary function of the evaporator in terms of latent heat transfer. The evaporator's primary role is to absorb heat from the refrigerated space via latent heat, making this option the correct choice.