In refrigeration, what is meant by "subcooling"?

Subcooling refers to the process of cooling liquid refrigerant below its saturation temperature, which is the temperature at which refrigerant changes from liquid to vapor at a given pressure. When refrigerant is subcooled, it remains in a liquid state as it moves through the refrigeration system, which enhances the overall efficiency of the system.

By keeping the refrigerant in a subcooled state, it increases the thermal efficiency because the refrigerant can absorb more heat during the evaporation process. This leads to more effective heat exchange and better performance of the cooling system. Subcooling is crucial in ensuring that the refrigerant fully transitions into a vapor phase in the evaporator before returning to the compressor, thereby preventing potential issues like compressor damage caused by liquid refrigerant.

Understanding subcooling is vital for technicians as it affects system performance, efficiency, and reliability in light commercial refrigeration applications.