What is the process of circulating hot vapor, high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor to melt ice build-up called?

The process of circulating hot vapor, high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor to melt ice build-up is known as hot-gas defrost. This method is commonly used in refrigeration systems, particularly in applications like walk-in freezers or ice machines.

During hot-gas defrost, the system diverts hot gas from the compressor to the evaporator coils where the ice has formed. The high-temperature refrigerant effectively raises the temperature of the evaporator surface, allowing the ice to melt. This presents a practical solution for maintaining the efficiency of the refrigeration system by preventing ice accumulation that could impair airflow and heat exchange.

Hot-gas defrost is effective because it utilizes the heat generated by the refrigerant under high pressure, ensuring that the ice is removed without the need for additional heating elements or external energy sources. Once the ice is melted, the melted water can be drained from the system, allowing normal refrigeration operation to resume.

In contrast, methods like cold-gas defrost and liquid defrost employ different techniques that do not specifically utilize the high-temperature gaseous refrigerant to effectively remove ice buildup.