https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_tube_mat said:A room whose temperature is controlled by the use of capillary tube mats as a surface heat-exchanger requires flow temperatures for heating or cooling which need only be a few degrees away from the desired room temperature. At the same time, due to the large number of parallel capillary tubes, the drive energy required to maintain the flow is comparatively low in relation to “single tube systems”, which are laid in the form of a meander (typical installation of underfloor heating pipes). Due to the small distance of the capillary tubes to the surface of the room area, the system reacts very quickly. The temperature of the heating or cooling medium is given off very evenly and quickly to the environment due to the large number of capillary tubes. These two properties – very good heat transmission and low pressure loss – provide an advantage in terms of energy saving. In the broad definition of the terms of the technology, the capillary tube mat is a surface heat exchanger, and can be used for the transfer of heat between two media.
anorlunda said:Do you mean capillary tube mat for cooling?
It's an obstruction, like a valve, so there is an energy loss associated with it. It is basically friction/drag.Karagoz said:How does the capillary tube decrease the pressure on the liquid when its diameter is smaller?
Depends on the specifics of the scenario but in general the smaller the tube the larger the pressure drop.How small diameter of capillary tube is helpful in causing more pressure drop?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule–Thomson_effectAnd how, when pressure drops, the liquid instantly cools down?
We want the pressure inside the evaporator to be quite low. To achieve that we do two things:Karagoz said:How does the capillary tube decrease the pressure on the liquid when its diameter is smaller?
How small diameter of capillary tube is helpful in causing more pressure drop?
And how, when pressure drops, the liquid instantly cools down?
russ_watters said:
Do you have access to a split system AC unit where you can identify the expansion valve? Touch the refrigerant line.jartsa said:I disagree. The cooling effect does not occur in the capillary tube. It occurs there were the phase change occurs. The phase change occurs in the evaporator.
I think you are missing the function of the capillary tube: It's to make the refrigerant lose pressure.If the refrigerant cooled while going through the capillary tube, it lost heat energy:
mass * specific heat capacity * temperature change
That is a quite small number, not as large as heat of phase changes.
There are two fridge parts where refrigerant temperature drops: the expansion valve and those warm tubes at the back of the fridge.russ_watters said:Do you have access to a split system AC unit where you can identify the expansion valve? Touch the refrigerant line.
Evaporation(boiling) occurs at constant temperature.
Or maybe more to the point, in the evaporator you are cooling air by passing it over cold coils to transfer heat to the refrigerant. It has to already be cold to do that and it can't get colder by heating it!
russ_watters said:
Well, at least in part your disagreement is correct. I had the Joule-Thomson effect in my head due to a recent thread on air-only refrigeration and failed to switch gears. Here's the wiki on vapor compression refrigeration:jartsa said:I disagree.
What does "cooling effect" mean? To me, the verb "cool" can mean both "to lose thermal energy" and "to make colder". Since those definitions do not overlap completely, some clarification is in order. So here is what happens in the capillary tube:The cooling effect does not occur in the capillary tube. It occurs there were the phase change occurs. [snip]
If the refrigerant cooled while going through the capillary tube, it lost heat energy:
mass * specific heat capacity * temperature change
That is a quite small number, not as large as heat of phase changes.
Since the refrigerant is neither losing thermal energy nor getting colder in the evaporator, I can't see how you can say it is "cooling" in the evaporator. Indeed, the only one of the two definitions that applies is applied backwards: the refrigerant is gaining thermal energy in the evaporator, which means it is being heated. Just like a boiling pot on a stove is at constant temperature while still being heated.The cooling effect does not occur in the capillary tube. It occurs there were the phase change occurs.[snip] The phase change occurs in the evaporator.
Yes. And just to be clear, "the warm tubes at the back of the fridge" are the condenser coils.jartsa said:There are two fridge parts where refrigerant temperature drops: the expansion valve and those warm tubes at the back of the fridge.
The liquid that comes out of the expansion valve is cold because a small fraction of it has evaporated.
The liquid that is in the evaporator is cold, despite of it being warmed, because it is evaporating.
So it is being heated but it is cooling? I think you're just mixing up the to and from of the heat transfer: the evaporator coil is cooling the air while heating the refrigerant. Again: you would never use the word "cooling" to describe what is happening to a boiling pot of water on a stove.If 10% of evaporation occurs in the expansion valve and 90% of evaporation occurs in the evaporator, then the evaporator is the main part where cooling occurs. 'Cooling' does not mean drop of temperature here, it means staying cool, despite of being warmed.
Just a minor quibble: It oddly splits the condenser into two separate steps/devices. It's only one step/device (the coil).jartsa said:@Karagoz: Here's a good explanation of how refrigerators work:
http://mocomi.com/how-does-a-refrigerator-work/
Everybody: Anything wrong with that explanation?
The capillary tube is a thin, narrow tube that is used to control the flow of refrigerant in a refrigerator. It works by creating a restriction in the refrigerant flow, causing a pressure drop. This pressure drop helps to lower the temperature of the refrigerant, which is then used to cool the inside of the refrigerator.
The main purpose of the capillary tube in a refrigerator is to regulate the flow of refrigerant. It helps to maintain a constant pressure and temperature in the system, which is necessary for efficient cooling. Additionally, the capillary tube also helps to separate the high-pressure and low-pressure sides of the refrigeration system.
The size of the capillary tube plays a crucial role in the cooling efficiency of a refrigerator. A larger diameter capillary tube allows for a higher flow rate of refrigerant, which can lead to faster cooling. However, if the capillary tube is too large, it can result in an uneven distribution of refrigerant and negatively impact the cooling efficiency. On the other hand, a smaller diameter capillary tube can restrict the flow of refrigerant, leading to slower cooling.
Yes, a damaged or clogged capillary tube can significantly impact the performance of a refrigerator. If the capillary tube is damaged, it can result in a refrigerant leak, leading to a loss of cooling capacity. Similarly, a clogged capillary tube can restrict the flow of refrigerant, causing the refrigerator to run less efficiently and take longer to cool.
The capillary tube is designed to only allow a small amount of refrigerant to pass through it at a time. This helps to prevent liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor, which can cause damage and reduce the lifespan of the compressor. By controlling the flow of refrigerant, the capillary tube ensures that only gaseous refrigerant enters the compressor, which is necessary for it to function properly.