What effect does raising the pressure in a sealed system have on refrigerant?

Raising the pressure in a sealed system directly affects the boiling point of the refrigerant due to the principles outlined in thermodynamics. Specifically, when pressure is increased, the boiling point of the refrigerant also increases. This is because higher pressure forces refrigerant molecules closer together, requiring a greater amount of thermal energy to overcome that intermolecular attraction to change from a liquid to a gas.

This characteristic is crucial in HVAC systems, as it allows the refrigerant to absorb heat at higher temperatures when it circulates in the evaporator coil, enhancing system efficiency in heat transfer applications.

While other effects, such as changes in density or evaporation rate, can occur in a sealed system, they are not as direct or emphasized as the increase in boiling point resulting from elevated pressure. Understanding this relationship is fundamental to optimizing the performance of HVAC systems employing refrigerants.