ESCO Air Conditioning Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The process of heat removal from refrigerant as it changes from vapor to liquid is best described by the term condensation. During this phase change, the refrigerant releases heat to the surrounding environment as it transforms from a gaseous state to a liquid state. This is a crucial part of the refrigeration cycle, where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the space to be cooled and then releases it as it condenses, allowing for efficient cooling.

Subcooling, the term that was selected as the answer, refers specifically to the cooling of refrigerant below its saturation temperature after it has already condensed into a liquid. While subcooling is an important concept in enhancing the efficiency of a refrigeration system by ensuring that the refrigerant is fully condensed before it enters the expansion valve, it does not describe the initial heat removal that occurs during the phase change process from vapor to liquid. As a result, condensation is the term that accurately defines this specific aspect of the refrigeration cycle.