During thermal expansion, what happens to the energy of the refrigerant?

When a refrigerant undergoes thermal expansion, it absorbs heat and its energy increases as the volume expands. This process involves the refrigerant moving from a high-pressure state to a low-pressure state, which causes the refrigerant to evaporate and change phase from liquid to gas. As the refrigerant expands, the kinetic energy of its molecules increases due to the absorption of heat energy from the surrounding environment, resulting in a rise in temperature.

This principle is central to the refrigeration cycle, where the expansion of refrigerant is crucial for the absorption of heat in order to cool the surrounding area. Understanding this relationship between thermal expansion and energy is essential in effectively managing refrigeration systems and ensuring their efficiency.