[Physics] Lowering of temperature in expansion valve of refrigerator

heat-enginethermodynamics

We know that the high pressure liquid refrigerant (comming from condenser) passes through the expansion valve and lowers the temperature (due to decrease in pressure).

My Question:
From the formula pV = nRT:
(p1V1) / T1 = (p2V2) / T2 [ n & R are constant]
So, if the pressure (p2) decreases, either volume (V2) should increase or temperature (T2) decrease.
Then, why only the temperature (T2) decreases. It can rather be isothermal process in which temperature remains constant (T1) and volume (V2) may increase.
Moreover, this process of expansion of gas is very fast and we know that transfer of heat will not get sufficient time. So temperature should remain conatant and volume should increase.
But actually, it does not happen. Why?

Best Answer

Refrigerant is NOT an ideal gas, so the ideal gas law is inappropriate in this application. The temperature of the refrigerant is related to the pressure that the refrigerant is experiencing through the Antoine equation. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_equation. As the refrigerant flows through the expansion valve, it experiences a significant drop in pressure. Due to this, the refrigerant is superheated on the low pressure side of the expansion valve, and it boils as a result. The heat required for boiling comes from the refrigerant itself, so the temperature of the refrigerant rapidly drops as boiling occurs, and this temperature drop does NOT require any heat transfer to or from the environment. Thus, on the low pressure side of the expansion valve, there is a mixture of low pressure vapor and low pressure liquid that goes to the evaporator.