What is the primary function of a condenser in an air conditioning system?

The primary function of a condenser in an air conditioning system is to release absorbed heat from the refrigerant and condense it back into liquid. In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor environment, turning it into gas as it passes through the evaporator. This gaseous refrigerant then flows to the condenser, typically located outside the building.

In the condenser, the refrigerant releases the absorbed heat to the outside air as it passes through a series of coils. As it cools, the refrigerant condenses back into a high-pressure liquid, ready to return to the evaporator and continue the cycle. This process is crucial for maintaining the system's efficiency and enabling the air conditioning unit to effectively cool indoor spaces.

The other choices relate to functions that are either performed by different components of the air conditioning system or do not accurately describe what the condenser does. For instance, circulating air throughout the interior is the role of the blower or fan, increasing the pressure of the refrigerant occurs in the compressor, and cooling air before it enters the evaporator is not a task assigned to the condenser. The essence of the condenser's role lies specifically in heat removal and phase change of the refrigerant.