Recent Blog Posts

Refrigeration Cycle: Noncondensable Gases

August 11th, 2026

The ideal vapor compression cycle assumes that pure refrigerant is being used, such as ammonia. Unfortunately, in the “real world,” noncondensable gases can find their way into a system. A “noncondensable gas” is an undesired foreign gas that is in the system. It travels through the cycle with the refrigerant, but it does not assist […]

Refrigeration Cycle: Compression Ratio

August 4th, 2026

“Compression ratio”, which is the ratio of the absolute discharge pressure to the absolute suction pressure, is an important concept for a refrigeration professional. Compressors are limited in the pressure differential that they can impose on a vapor. Screw compressors have the highest potential and can achieve compression ratios as high as twenty to one. […]

Refrigeration Cycle: Heat of Compression

July 28th, 2026

Anyone that has operated a refrigeration system knows that a significant amount of energy is required to run a compressor. “Heat” and “energy” are measured using the same units, and much of the electrical energy required by the compressor is transformed into heat energy in the refrigerant vapor. Think about it this way. When any […]

Refrigeration Cycle: Refrigeration Condition Throughout the Cycle

July 21st, 2026

A savvy refrigeration professional will not only understand the vapor compression cycle, but will also know the “condition” of the refrigerant throughout the system. Let’s start with saturation. Whenever a substance changes from liquid to vapor or vice versa, it is said to be “saturated”. Additionally, a refrigerant is saturated when liquid and vapor coexist. […]

Refrigeration Cycle: Pumped Overfeed Refrigeration System

July 14th, 2026

A “pumped overfeed” or “recirc system” is similar to the gravity-flooded system in that it utilizes a vessel that was not part of the DX system. In a pumped overfeed system, however, the vessel, often called a “recirculator”, is not located above the evaporator. In fact, the recirculator may be a long distance from the […]