In a wet compression refrigeration system, what is the state of the discharge gas from the compressor?

In a wet compression refrigeration system, the discharge gas from the compressor is typically in a saturated state. This means that the refrigerant is at the point where it can coexist as both liquid and vapor.

In a wet compression system, the presence of liquid refrigerant in the suction line leads to the compressor pumping a mixture of vapor and liquid, and ideally, the compressor should discharge a gas that has a high vapor content. However, due to the saturation condition, some liquid can still be present in the mixture.

The significance of this is crucial—if the gas were superheated, it would imply that all liquid refrigerant has evaporated, while subcooled refrigerant would indicate that it is entirely liquid, becoming problematic for compressor operation. Mist refers to a situation where small droplets of liquid refrigerant are present in the vapor, but in terms of the primary state associated with discharge, saturation is the definitive characteristic for a system designed for wet compression.

Therefore, the discharge gas being saturated means it maintains a delicate balance that is essential for efficient refrigeration cycles in wet compression systems.