The Four Types of Refrigeration Systems You

Need to Know
What Are the Different Types of Refrigeration Systems?

I Mechanical-Compression Refrigeration Systems

The most widely used refrigeration cycle method is mechanical compression. It has applications
in both air conditioning and commercial and industrial refrigeration.

As the name suggests, these types of systems transfer heat by mechanically compressing
refrigerant into a low-pressure, cold liquid and expanding it into a high-pressure, hot gas.
Refrigerants are substances that can boil at a wide range of temperatures with the application or
removal of pressure.

Like all liquids, they absorb heat when they boil into a gas and release it when they condense
back into a liquid.

The basics of the process deal with moving the refrigerant from the low-pressure side of the
closed system to the high-pressure side. The liquid refrigerant boils at 40°F on the low-pressure
side and absorbs heat from the warm indoor air.

On the high-pressure side of the system, the heat travels from the 110°F vapor refrigerant to the
cooler outdoor air, and the process repeats.[2]

II Absorption Refrigeration

Heat is also transferred in absorption refrigeration systems by compressing and expanding

refrigerant.

These systems rely on the process of absorption and heat, instead of an electrically powered
mechanical compressor, to move the refrigerant from the low-pressure side to the high-pressure
side. Unlike mechanical-compression refrigeration systems, which typically use R-22 and R-
410A for refrigerants, absorption refrigeration systems use refrigerants that other substances are
attracted to and absorb.

For example, residential HVAC chillers often use ammonia as the refrigerant and water as the
absorbent. The water is located in a component called the absorber, where it sucks ammonia
from the low-pressure side of the system and removes heat while absorbing it. A pump sends the
water-ammonia solution to a generator, which boils it, separating the ammonia from the water
before sending it to the high-pressure side.[3]

In addition to the process of absorption, heat is also used to move the refrigerant throughout the
system. The heat can derive from hot water, steam, natural gas or other fuel sources.[4]
III Evaporative Cooling

Unlike the mechanical-compression and absorption refrigeration systems discussed above,

evaporative cooling doesn’t use the traditional refrigeration cycle. Instead, these units, often
called swamp coolers, cool warmer outdoor air by blowing it over water-soaked pads as it enters
the home.

The water absorbs the heat from the air and evaporates. The cooler air is channeled into the home
and the warm air out of it.

Evaporative coolers can reduce air temperature by 15° to 40°F but are best suited for dry
climates, such as those in the southwestern U.S. They’re also less costly to install and use about a
quarter of the energy of central air conditioners.[5][6]

IV Thermoelectric Refrigeration

Thermoelectric refrigeration systems are unique from the three other types of refrigeration in that
no refrigerant or water is used. These systems use an electric current and a thermocouple.

A thermocouple is made up of two different metal wires that are united at both ends. Insulation
separates the rest of the wires from each other. When the current is directed on the thermocouple,
one end will become hot and the other cool.

Reversing the current’s direction has the effect of swapping the cold and hot junctions. The hot
end will typically be placed outside of the area to be cooled with a heat sink attached to it to keep
it the same temperature as the surrounding air.

The cold side, which is below room temperature, is placed in the area to be cooled, attracting
heat out of the air.[7]

This type of refrigeration is generally used for small cooling loads that can be difficult to access,
such as electronic systems.[1]

Wide World of Refrigeration

Refrigeration is only one part of an entire industry built around keeping indoor air comfortable
and healthy called heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration (HVAC/R).

A whole universe of science exists behind the ways refrigeration operates to keep the world
cooler. Learn more facts about how refrigeration works.