What is the main component used for heat transfer in a refrigeration cycle?

In a refrigeration cycle, the main component responsible for heat transfer is the refrigerant. The refrigerant is a fluid that absorbs heat from the environment or the substance being cooled and later releases that heat in another location.

During the evaporation process, the refrigerant absorbs heat as it changes from a liquid to a gas in the evaporator, effectively cooling the surrounding area. The refrigerant then travels to the compressor, where it is compressed into a high-pressure gas. Following this, it moves to the condenser, where it releases the heat it previously absorbed, condensing back into a liquid. This continuous cycle of absorption and release of heat by the refrigerant is what enables the refrigeration system to operate effectively.

Other components like the compressor, evaporator, and expansion valve play important roles within the cycle, but they do not directly participate in the heat transfer process like the refrigerant does. The compressor circulates the refrigerant, the evaporator facilitates its evaporation and heat absorption, and the expansion valve regulates the refrigerant flow and pressure, but none of these elements is responsible for the actual transfer of heat.