How a refrigerator works

In short: A refrigerator does not produce cold but transports heat from the interior to the outside. This is done with a refrigerant that evaporates and is liquefied again.

In more detail: When a liquid evaporates it absorbs heat. The refrigeration cycle uses this principle.

In detail

• Evaporator: In the interior the refrigerant evaporates and removes heat from the surroundings.
• Compressor: Compresses the vapour, raising pressure and temperature.
• Condenser: The back releases the heat to the room air; the refrigerant becomes liquid.
• Expansion valve: Lowers the pressure; the cycle starts anew.
• Thermostat: Switches the compressor on and off according to temperature.
• Refrigerant: Today mostly isobutane (R600a), more climate-friendly than earlier substances.
• Efficiency: Heat pumps work on the same principle (waermepumpe).
• Practice: Set correctly and defrost (kuehlschrank-richtig-einstellen); basics of heat (waerme-und-temperatur).