Which statement best describes the evaporator's operation in a cooling cycle?

• A. It absorbs heat from indoor air as refrigerant evaporates inside the coil.
• B. It releases heat to the outdoor air.
• C. It compresses refrigerant to higher pressure.
• D. It stores refrigerant.

Answer: (A)

In a cooling cycle, the evaporator’s job is to remove heat from the space being cooled. Inside the evaporator coil, the refrigerant is at low pressure and low temperature. As indoor air passes over the cold coil, heat flows into the refrigerant, causing it to evaporate from liquid to vapor. This heat absorption cools the air, and the refrigerant exits as a low‑pressure gas to move on to the compressor. The evaporator also helps dehumidify the air because moisture from the air condenses on the cold surface.

The other actions—releasing heat to outdoor air, compressing the refrigerant, or storing refrigerant—happen in other parts of the system (condenser, compressor, or aren’t a purpose of the evaporator).