What is the first process in a properly functioning condenser?

In a properly functioning condenser, the first process involves removing the superheat from the refrigerant vapor before it undergoes phase change into a liquid. This process is known as de-superheating. At this stage, the refrigerant is at a temperature above its saturation point, and the condenser must first cool it down to the saturation temperature. Once the refrigerant is de-superheated, it can then transition to a liquid state through condensation.

Following de-superheating, the refrigerant continues through the process of subcooling. Subcooling involves further reducing the temperature of the refrigerant liquid below its saturation point, which increases the efficiency of the system by ensuring that only liquid refrigerant enters the expansion device.

This sequence of cooling—first de-superheating and then subcooling—is crucial for the efficient operation of a refrigeration system, ensuring that the refrigerant is in optimal condition before proceeding through the refrigeration cycle.