What is the process of removing heat from the liquid refrigerant after it has condensed called?

The process of removing heat from the liquid refrigerant after it has condensed is known as subcooling. During refrigeration and air conditioning cycles, once the refrigerant releases its heat to the environment and transitions from a gas to a liquid in the condenser, it is then important to lower its temperature further below its saturation point, which is where it transitions from gas to liquid. This additional cooling of the liquid refrigerant is referred to as subcooling.

Subcooling ensures that the refrigerant remains in its liquid state as it moves through the system to the expansion valve, improving system efficiency. By doing this, it reduces the amount of vapor present in the liquid line, which can optimize the capacity of the cooling system and prevent any potential compressor damage due to the introduction of vapor at this stage.

Other processes like saturation, superheating, and condensation describe different phases or states of refrigerant but do not specifically involve the act of removing heat from a liquid refrigerant after condensation.