What type of heat is removed from the refrigerant in a condenser?

In a condenser, both sensible and latent heat are removed from the refrigerant during the phase change process. When a refrigerant enters the condenser in a vapor state, it needs to lose heat to transition into a liquid state. This process involves two important elements of heat removal.

Initially, as the refrigerant vapor condenses into liquid, latent heat is extracted. Latent heat refers to the heat that is absorbed or released during a phase change without a change in temperature. In this case, the refrigerant releases latent heat as it transitions from vapor to liquid.

At the same time, the temperature of the refrigerant may decrease as it releases this heat, indicating that sensible heat is also being removed. Sensible heat is the heat that causes a temperature change without a phase change.

Therefore, the correct answer encompasses the removal of both types of heat: sensible heat due to temperature changes and latent heat due to the phase change from vapor to liquid. This comprehensive understanding illustrates the dual role the condenser plays in the refrigeration cycle.