Refrigerant Pressures, States, And

Conditions

Refrigerant Pressures
The typical vapor compression refrigeration system (as shown in Figure 1) can be divided into
two pressures. They are condensing and evaporating - or high- and low-side - pressures. These
pressures are divided or separated in the system by the compressor's discharge valve and the
metering device.

Listed below are field service terms or trade jargon often used to describe these pressures.

Condensing pressure: High-side pressure, head pressure, discharge pressure.

Evaporating pressure: Low-side pressure, suction pressure, back pressure.

Figure 1. A basic refrigeration system showing refrigerant pressures, states, and
conditions. (Courtesy of ESCO Press.)

Condensing Pressure
The condensing pressure is the pressure at which the refrigerant is phase changing from a vapor
to a liquid. This phase change is referred to as condensation. Thus the term condensing pressure.
This pressure can be read directly from a pressure gauge connected anywhere between the
compressor's discharge valve and the entrance to the metering device, assuming that there is
negligible pressure drop.

In reality, line and valve friction and the weight of the liquid itself cause pressure drops from the
discharge of the compressor to the metering device. If a true condensing pressure is needed, the
technician must measure the pressure as close to the condenser as possible to avoid these
pressure drops.
This pressure is usually measured on smaller systems near the compressor's valves. On these
small systems, it is not critical where a technician places the pressure gauge as long as it is on the
high side of the system because pressure drops are negligible.

The pressure gauge will read the same no matter where it is on the high side of the system if line
and valve losses are negligible.

Evaporating Pressure
The evaporating pressure is the pressure at which the refrigerant is phase changing from a liquid
to a vapor. This phase change is referred to as evaporation or vaporizing, thus the term
evaporating pressure. A pressure gauge placed anywhere between the metering device outlet and
the compressor will read the evaporating pressure. Again, negligible pressure drops are assumed.

In reality, there will be line and valve pressure drops as the refrigerant travels through the
evaporator and suction line. So, the technician must measure the pressure as close to the
evaporator as possible to get a true evaporating pressure.

On small systems where pressure drops are negligible, this pressure is usually measured near the
compressor. Again, on small systems, gauge placement is not critical as long as it is placed on
the low side of the refrigeration system. This is because the refrigerant vapor pressure acts in all
directions equally.

However, line and valve pressure drops are assumed to be negligible in this simple system. If
line and valve pressure becomes substantial, gauge placement becomes critical. The larger and
more sophisticated the system, the more critical gauge placement becomes because of associated
line and valve pressure losses.

If the system has significant line and valve pressure losses, the technician must place the gauge
as close as possible to the component that he wishes to read the pressure from.

Refrigerant States
Modern refrigerants exist in either the vapor or liquid states. Refrigerants have such a low
freezing point that they are rarely in the frozen or solid state. Refrigerants can coexist as a vapor
and liquid as long as conditions are right.

Both the evaporator and condenser house liquid and vapor refrigerant simultaneously if the
system is operating properly. So, refrigerant liquid and vapor can exist in either high- or low-
pressure sides on the refrigeration system.

Refrigerant Conditions
Along with refrigerant pressures and states, there are refrigerant conditions. Refrigerant
conditions can be saturated, superheated, or subcooled.

Saturated condition: Saturation is usually talked about in reference to a temperature. The

saturation temperature is the temperature that a fluid will phase change from liquid to vapor or
vapor to liquid. Both the liquid and vapor at their saturation temperatures are called saturated
liquid and saturated vapor respectively.

Saturation occurs in both the evaporator and condenser since phase changes experiencing both
liquid and vapor are present here. At saturation, the liquid is experiencing its maximum
temperature for that pressure, and the vapor is experiencing its minimum temperature for that
pressure. However, both liquid and vapor are at the same temperature for a given pressure when
saturation occurs.

An exception to this would be some refrigerant blends. (As a reminder, this column is addressing
refrigerants that exist as pure compounds, such as R-134a.) Saturation temperatures vary with
different refrigerants and rely on the pressure that the refrigerant is exposed to.

All refrigerants have different vapor pressures. It is vapor pressure that is measured with the
technician's gauges.

Vapor pressure is pressure exerted on a saturated liquid. Any time there is saturated liquid and
vapor together, as in the condenser and evaporator, there will be vapor pressure present. Vapor
pressure acts equally in all directions and affects the entire low or high side of a refrigeration
system. As pressure increases, saturation temperature increases. As pressure decreases, so does
saturation temperature.

In fact, only at saturation are there pressure-temperature relationships for refrigerants.

Temperature-pressure charts (such as the one shown in Figure 2) show pressure and temperature
relationships at saturation.

In fact, if one attempts to raise the temperature of a saturated liquid above its saturation
temperature, vaporization of the liquid will occur. If one attempts to lower the temperature of a
saturated vapor below its saturation temperature, condensation will occur. Both vaporization and
condensation occur in the evaporator and condenser respectively.

The heat energy that causes a liquid refrigerant to change to a vapor at a constant saturation
temperature for a given pressure is referred to as a latent heat process. Latent heat is heat energy
that causes a change in phase of a substance without a change in the temperature of the
substance. Phase changes go from liquid to vapor, or from vapor to liquid.

Vaporization and condensation are examples of a latent heat process. Both vaporization and
condensation occur in the evaporator and condenser respectively.
Superheated condition: Superheat always refers to a vapor. A superheated vapor is any vapor
above its saturation temperature for a given pressure. In order for vapor to be superheated, it
must have reached its 100 percent saturated vapor point.

In other words, all of the liquid has to be vaporized for superheating to occur. The vapor must be
removed from contact with the vaporizing liquid. Once all of the liquid has been vaporized at its
saturation temperature, any addition of heat will cause the 100 percent saturated vapor to start
superheating.

This addition of heat will cause the vapor to increase in temperature and gain sensible heat.
Sensible heat is heat energy that causes a change in the temperature of a substance.

However, before a vapor can reach the superheat state, it must be physically removed from the
vaporized liquid. Superheat vapor occurs in the evaporator's outlet, suction line, and compressor.

The heat energy that superheats vapor and increases its temperature is referred to as sensible heat
energy. Superheating is a sensible heat process.

Subcooled condition: Subcooling always refers to a liquid at a temperature below its saturation
temperature for a given pressure. Once the entire vapor has phase changed to 100 percent
saturated liquid during saturation, the further removal of heat will cause the 100 percent liquid to
drop in temperature or lose sensible heat. Subcooled liquid is now formed. Subcooling can occur
in both the condenser and liquid line and is a sensible heat process.

Sidebar: What's In A Word?

Here is a summary of some of the definitions used in this column.

Condensing pressure: The pressure at which the refrigerant is phase changing from a vapor to a
liquid.

Evaporating pressure: The pressure at which the refrigerant is phase changing from a liquid to
a vapor.

Latent heat: Heat energy that causes a change in phase of a substance without a change in
temperature of the substance.

Saturated temperature: The temperature that a fluid will phase change from liquid to vapor or
vapor to liquid.

Sensible heat: Heat energy that causes a change in the temperature of a substance.

Subcooling: A liquid at a temperature below its saturation temperature for a given pressure.

Superheated vapor: Any vapor above its saturation temperature for a given pressure.
Vapor pressure: Pressure exerted on a saturated liquid.