What happens to the boiling point of a refrigerant as system pressure increases?

When the pressure in a refrigeration system increases, the boiling point of the refrigerant also increases. This relationship is based on the principle that boiling point is dependent on pressure; specifically, higher pressures elevate the boiling point temperature. This is crucial in refrigeration systems where the refrigerant must absorb heat from the environment before reaching its boiling point, converting from a liquid to a vapor state.

In practical terms, this means that within a closed refrigeration cycle, as the system operates and compresses the refrigerant, the increase in pressure leads to a higher boiling point. As a result, the refrigerant can efficiently absorb heat at these elevated temperatures before it transitions into a vapor, maintaining the desired cooling effect in the system. Understanding this principle is essential for proper system design and troubleshooting in HVAC applications.