Refrigeration can be described as

• A. The process of removing heat from a space
• B. The process of condensing gas
• C. The process of adding heat to a space
• D. The process of filtering air

Answer: (A)

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from a space to lower its temperature. In a refrigeration system, the evaporator inside the refrigerated space absorbs heat from the space into the refrigerant, causing the refrigerant to boil and carry that heat away. The refrigerant then moves through the system to the condenser, where its heat is released to the surrounding air. This overall transfer of heat from the cooler space to the warmer surroundings is what produces cooling. The other choices aren’t descriptions of refrigeration: condensing gas is just one part of the cycle, not the definition; adding heat to a space describes heating, not cooling; and filtering air relates to air cleanliness, not cooling.