How Important Are Compressors in Refrigerators?
Refrigerators are one of the most popular home appliances worldwide. According to the data published by the U.S Energy Information Administration around 99.9% of households in the US own a refrigerator[1]. However, what’s more appalling is the fact that refrigerators are also one of the most energy-hungry machines in our households.
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Even as a high-energy consumption appliance, the energy efficiency of a refrigerator can greatly vary depending on the brand and the compressor in use. Yes, a refrigerator’s energy ratings considerably depend on the compressor it uses, which means a compressor is a crucial component in a refrigerator.
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This newsletter aims to provide you with a deeper understanding of the role of compressors in refrigerators. If you are a business owner, then keep reading.
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Q. What is a refrigerator?
A refrigerator is a cooling device that is used to preserve food and prevent it from decaying by keeping it fresh and elongating its shelf life. A refrigerator is a widely used machine in the retail sector, where temperature-sensitive products are stored.
The cold environment of a refrigerator hampers the growth of bacteria, viruses and other microbes slowing down the process of decomposition of food and maintaining its quality over long periods.
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However, the retail sector is not the only industry that uses refrigerators. Refrigerators also find uses in the medical and scientific sectors for providing a safe storage environment for medical supplies and chemicals. The use of refrigerators has become so widespread in medical and scientific research that the net worth of the global medical refrigerators market is projected to be valued at USD 5.0 billion by 2026[2].
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Q. What are the sub-components of a refrigerator?
Broadly speaking, a refrigerator consists of four main components; a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve that work together to complete the refrigeration cycle. Evaporator: An evaporator is responsible for converting liquid refrigerant into vapor state.
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Compressor: A compressor is responsible for circulating refrigerant inside the refrigerator and increasing its temperature and pressure. The compressor receives the low-pressure, temperature refrigerant from the evaporator in gaseous form, which it then converts to high-temperature, pressure refrigerant. Some of the most commonly used compressors for refrigeration are rotary, screw, centrifugal, screw and scroll compressors.
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Condenser: A condenser decreases the temperature and pressure of the hot refrigerant.
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Expansion valve: An expansion valve facilitates the flow of refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator.
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Q. How does a refrigerator operate?
In summer, we shower more often than usual because it cools us down. But do you know why? It is because the water on our body absorbs some heat when it evaporates from the surface. A refrigerator works on the same principle. The refrigerant inside the refrigerator absorbs the heat from the objects inside the refrigerator to keep the insides cool.
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The refrigerant goes through four stages to keep the contents of a refrigerator cool. The four major processes involved in a refrigeration cycle are compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation.
At the core of any refrigeration cycle is the process of compression. Compression is the first step in a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant enters the compressor in vapor form, where the compressor compresses it into a high-temperature, pressure refrigerant.
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The hot refrigerant passes through condenser coils. The refrigerant is cooled as the heat from the refrigerant is transferred to the outside air that comes in contact with it. This turns the gaseous refrigerant into a liquid state.
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The liquid refrigerant then passes through the refrigerator’s expansion valve, expanding the liquid and reducing its temperature. The cool refrigerant absorbs the heat inside the refrigerator and turns back into a low-temperature vapor. This process causes cooling inside the refrigerator.
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The refrigerant then passes to the evaporator, where the evaporator converts the liquid into vapor. The vapor refrigerant enters the compressor and the cycle repeats itself.
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This is how a refrigerator keeps its contents cool so that our groceries stay fresh for longer.
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Q. Why are compressors important in refrigerators?
A compressor acts as a pump and a motor for a fridge, so it is at the heart of the operation of a refrigerator. If you are a refrigerator manufacturer, you need to understand how important a compressor is for refrigeration and how it impacts the performance of the system. A compressor’s speed, size, and mechanism are all important aspects to be mindful of when choosing one for your business.
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Compressors play a central role in deciding the cooling efficiency and energy efficiency of a refrigerator. A low-efficiency compressor can negatively impact the performance of your refrigeration system, whereas a high-efficiency compressor will positively affect the performance of your system.
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Also, choosing a compressor that matches the capacity of the system is equally important. A compressor that is too big or too small for your system will overwork the system causing damage to it. For more information on the importance of compressors in a refrigerator, visit our blog at this link https://www.lg.com/global/business/compressor-motor/blog/refrigerator-compressors.
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Reciprocating compressors are one of the best-performing compressors when it comes to refrigerator compressors. LG provides a wide range of reciprocating compressors, from fixed-speed compressors (non-inverter compressors) to variable-speed compressors (inverter compressors).?
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LG Reciprocating Compressor is well known for low noise levels, high efficiency and reliability. LG Reciprocating Compressor is widely used in household refrigerators, portable refrigerators, walk-in refrigerators and transportation refrigerators. Furthermore, LG Reciprocating Compressor comes with low GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants like R600a and R290. To know more about LG Reciprocating Compressor, click here. (https://www.lg.com/global/business/compressor-reciprocating)
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Conclusion
In today’s newsletter, we learned the significance of a compressor in a refrigerator and how it plays an important role in the refrigeration cycle.?
We hope that this newsletter was of help to manufacturers and business owners exploring new compressors for refrigeration. For more information on HVAC and compressors, subscribe to our newsletter and stay tuned to our blog!