Phase transition cooling

Definition

Cooling that depends on a working fluid (water or a refrigerant) changing phase, absorbing latent heat where it evaporates and releasing it where it condenses.

Both halves of industrial cooling rely on phase change: water evaporating in cooling towers and refrigerant evaporating and condensing inside chillers. The phase change moves large amounts of energy at controllable temperatures, which is the core mechanism of refrigeration and evaporative heat rejection.

Related concepts

Evaporative Cooling · Pressure control of phase change · Latent Heat of Vaporization

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🔥 thermodynamics