In a sealed refrigeration system, what happens to the pressure as the temperature increases?

Prepare for the Rhode Island Journeyman's Refrigeration License Test. Practice with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each equipped with hints and explanations. Ace your certification!

In a sealed refrigeration system, the pressure increases as the temperature rises due to the principles of thermodynamics and the behavior of gases. According to the ideal gas law, when the volume of a gas is kept constant (as it is in a sealed system), an increase in temperature will result in an increase in pressure. This is because the molecules of the gas gain kinetic energy as they absorb heat, moving more rapidly and colliding with the walls of the container more frequently and with greater force.

This relationship can also be described using the concept known as the vapor-pressure curve. In a refrigerant system, as the refrigerant absorbs heat and changes from a liquid to a gas, the temperature of the gas rises, which in turn raises the pressure within the system. This principle is crucial for understanding how refrigeration cycles work, including the compression and expansion phases, and it underscores the importance of maintaining proper operating temperatures and pressures to ensure efficient and safe system performance.

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