What is the process of removing heat from a substance to be cooled in a refrigeration system?

The process of removing heat from a substance to be cooled in a refrigeration system is best described as extracting. In the context of refrigeration, extraction refers to the means by which heat is removed from an environment or substance, allowing the temperature of that substance to decrease.

When a refrigeration cycle operates, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the area or product being cooled. This process occurs in the evaporator, where the refrigerant changes states from a liquid to a vapor as it absorbs heat. The term "extracting" effectively captures the essence of this operation—pulling or removing heat energy from one location to another, where it can be dissipated.

The other terms have specific meanings in the context of refrigeration but do not capture the process of cooling as effectively. For instance, absorbing might imply the refrigerant takes in heat without denoting the subsequent cooling effect. Transferring refers more broadly to the movement of heat but does not specify the act of cooling. Condensing describes the process where a vapor turns back into a liquid, which occurs after heat has been extracted from the refrigerant in the system. Thus, extracting is the most precise description of the cooling process.