What is the reason for subcooling the refrigerant?

Subcooling the refrigerant is primarily done to increase the refrigerating effect within a cooling system. When refrigerant is subcooled, it means that it has been cooled below its saturation temperature at a given pressure. This process ensures that the refrigerant is completely in its liquid state when it enters the expansion device, such as a thermal expansion valve or capillary tube.

By increasing the amount of liquid refrigerant that is available to evaporate in the evaporator, you enhance the heat absorption capability of the system. The more effective the evaporator is at absorbing heat from the environment, the lower the temperature of the conditioned space can be. This leads to improved system efficiency and greater cooling capacity, which is essential for achieving desired temperatures in air conditioning or refrigeration applications.

Therefore, the correct answer highlights the importance of subcooling in maximizing the overall performance of a refrigeration cycle.