What effect do non-condensable gases have on the power required to produce refrigeration?

Non-condensable gases are gases that do not change from a gas to a liquid state within the refrigeration system, such as air or nitrogen. When non-condensable gases are present in a refrigeration system, they occupy space in the condenser and can lead to a higher pressure in the condenser. This increased pressure causes the compressor to work harder to maintain the desired refrigeration effect. Consequently, this results in an increase in power consumption because the compressor must exert more energy to overcome the additional pressure that non-condensable gases create.

This additional load translates directly to higher energy requirements for the refrigeration cycle to maintain efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, the presence of non-condensable gases directly leads to an increase in power consumption, making the answer accurate. Understanding the effect of non-condensable gases is critical to maintaining an efficient refrigeration operation and diagnosing potential issues within refrigeration systems.