ESCO Air Conditioning Practice Exam 2026 - Free AC Certification Practice Questions and Study Guide

The functions of a condenser in a refrigeration or air conditioning system are crucial for the heat exchange process. The correct order of functions is pivotal for understanding how the system efficiently removes heat from the refrigerant.

When refrigerant gas enters the condenser, it first undergoes de-superheating. This process involves cooling the gas from a temperature above its saturation point to the saturation temperature corresponding to its pressure. This is essential because it prepares the refrigerant to change phase effectively from gas to liquid.

After de-superheating, the refrigerant starts the condensation process. In this stage, the refrigerant vapor loses its latent heat to the surrounding environment (usually air or water) and transitions from the gas phase to the liquid phase. This is where the major part of heat removal occurs.

Once the refrigerant has fully condensed into a liquid, it undergoes subcooling. This phase occurs as the liquid refrigerant continues to lose additional heat even after it has fully condensed. Subcooling is critical because it ensures that the refrigerant is in a liquid state before it enters the expansion valve; this maximizes the efficiency of the system and prevents vaporization in the suction line.

Thus, the order is de-superheat, condense, and then subcool