What is the state of refrigerant entering the condenser?

• A. Low pressure vapor
• B. High pressure/ highly superheated vapor
• C. Liquid
• D. Low pressure liquid

Answer: (B)

In a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure and temperature, so the substance entering the condenser is high-pressure vapor, typically to a superheated state. The condenser’s job is to reject heat and condense this hot vapor into a high-pressure liquid, so the input must be vapor, not liquid. If it were liquid or low-pressure vapor, the condenser wouldn’t be doing its actual function. Subcooling occurs after condensation, not before the condenser, so the best description of the entering state is high-pressure, highly superheated vapor.