Core Cycle Process
Compression: The compressor compresses low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into high-temperature, high-pressure gas, providing the driving force for the cycle.
Condensation: The high-temperature, high-pressure gas dissipates heat in the outdoor condenser and liquefies into a high-pressure, ambient-temperature liquid.
Throttling: The high-pressure liquid undergoes a pressure drop via a capillary tube or expansion valve, transforming into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas-liquid mixture.
Evaporation: The low-temperature refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor environment within the indoor evaporator and vaporizes, blowing out cool air.
Switching Between Cooling and Heating
Cooling Mode: The indoor unit acts as an evaporator to absorb heat, while the outdoor unit acts as a condenser to release heat, transferring indoor heat to the outdoors.
Heating Mode: A four-way valve reverses the flow of refrigerant; the indoor unit switches to acting as a condenser to release heat, while the outdoor unit acts as an evaporator to absorb heat from the outside, achieving reverse heat transfer.