What is the term for the quantity of energy absorbed by a unit mass of refrigerant in the evaporator?

The term that refers to the quantity of energy absorbed by a unit mass of refrigerant in the evaporator is known as the refrigeration effect. This concept is central to understanding how refrigeration cycles operate. When refrigerant enters the evaporator, it absorbs heat from the surroundings, which causes it to change from a liquid to a vapor state. The amount of heat absorbed per unit mass of refrigerant during this process is quantified as the refrigeration effect.

This value is crucial for determining the efficiency and capacity of a refrigeration system, as it directly relates to the system's ability to remove heat from a space, thereby cooling it down. Understanding the refrigeration effect is fundamental for professionals working with HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems, as well as anyone involved in refrigeration technology.

Other terms like heat transfer rate and cooling effect are often used in discussions of thermodynamics and heat exchangers; however, they do not specifically denote the quantity of energy absorbed per unit mass in the context of refrigerants and evaporators. Thermal load typically refers to the amount of heat energy that must be removed from a space to maintain a desired temperature, which is a broader concept and does not focus on the refrigerant itself or its phase change dynamics.