: How does coolant work in an automobile or air-condition or in machines?

Question

And also why can’t we use nitrogen instead of coolants ?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Coolant in a car engine works differently than coolant in an air conditioner

Coolant in a car engine is basically just running water over the hot parts, and then blowing air throw the hot water to cool the water back down, and repeating the cycle. It’s only a special coolant and not water because water will freeze, and automotive coolant freezes at a much lower temperature. In fact, you can just use water if you don’t have anti-freeze and the weather will not be cold

Air conditioners work differently, by compressing a gas or “decompressing” a gas it will either get hot or cold. This is the refrigeration cycle. The specific properties of the gas will make it absorb or release more heat, but it may have other tradeoffs such as being expensive or bad for the environment