Frigorantë

Frigorantë is a term used in certain contexts, particularly in Albanian, to refer to refrigerants or cooling substances. These are materials that are used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems to absorb heat from a space and release it elsewhere. The term literally translates to "cold-making" or "that which makes cold."

The primary function of frigorantë is to undergo phase changes within a closed-loop system. Typically, a refrigerant is a substance that can easily transition between a liquid and a gas state. In a refrigeration cycle, it is compressed into a high-pressure liquid, then allowed to expand and evaporate at low pressure. This evaporation process absorbs heat from the surrounding environment, thus producing a cooling effect. The gaseous refrigerant then flows to a compressor, where its pressure and temperature are increased, before being condensed back into a liquid, releasing the absorbed heat.

Historically, various substances have been used as frigorantë, including ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). However, due to environmental concerns, such as ozone depletion and global warming, many of these older refrigerants have been phased out and replaced with more environmentally friendly alternatives like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and newer, lower global warming potential (GWP) options. The selection of a specific frigorantë depends on factors like the application, desired temperature range, safety considerations, and environmental regulations.