What happens to the refrigerant in a low-pressure system when the pressure drops significantly?

• A. It converts to a gas
• B. It remains in liquid form
• C. It evaporates immediately
• D. It freezes

Answer: (A)

In a low-pressure refrigeration system, when the pressure drops significantly, the refrigerant is likely to convert to a gas. This is because refrigerants are designed to transition between liquid and gas phases depending on the pressure and temperature conditions within the system.

In a low-pressure environment, the boiling point of the refrigerant decreases. As the pressure drops significantly, if the temperature is at or below the refrigerant's boiling point at that pressure, the refrigerant will evaporate and turn into a gas. This phase change is a critical aspect of refrigeration cycle operation, where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the environment in its gaseous state and releases it when compressed back to a liquid state.

While the other options may seem plausible at first glance, they do not accurately represent the behavior of refrigerants in low-pressure systems. For instance, remaining in liquid form would typically occur at higher pressures or certain specific conditions, evaporating immediately does not account for the gradual transition dependent on temperature, and freezing is not a common occurrence for modern refrigerants in typical operational conditions.