höyrystymislauhdutussykliin

Höyrystymislauhdutussykliin, often translated as vaporative condensation cycle or simply evaporative condenser cycle, describes a thermodynamic process used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. It combines aspects of both evaporation and condensation to achieve cooling. The core principle involves using the evaporation of water to absorb heat from a refrigerant.

In a typical cycle, a hot refrigerant vapor enters an evaporative condenser. Water is sprayed over a coil containing the hot refrigerant. As the water evaporates from the surface of the coil, it absorbs heat from the refrigerant. This heat absorption causes the refrigerant to condense into a liquid state. The now cooler liquid refrigerant is then sent to an expansion valve, where its pressure is reduced, and it enters the evaporator, ready to absorb heat from the space being cooled.

The evaporated water is typically replenished, and the warmed water can be recirculated or discharged. This method offers advantages in terms of energy efficiency compared to some other condensation methods, especially in climates with low humidity, as the latent heat of vaporization of water is significant. However, it requires a water supply and can be less effective in very humid environments. The process is a closed loop for the refrigerant, but an open loop for the water.