Any device, like a refrigerator or air conditioner, that removes heat from a cold region and transfers it to a hot region is basically a heat engine in reverse. Work W is done on the system, causing heat Q_L to be transferred from the lower-temperature region. Heat Q_H is transferred from the system at a higher temperature.

By conservation of energy:

W + |Q_L| = |Q_H|

A refrigerator or air conditioner consists of a fluid pumped through a closed system. Four steps are involved in the cycle.

1. The fluid passes through a nozzle and expands into a low-pressure area. This is essentially an adiabatic expansion - the fluid vaporizes and cools down.
   
   
2. The cool gas is colder than the inside of the fridge, so heat is transferred naturally from the fridge to the gas. This takes place at constant pressure, so it's an isobaric expansion.
   
   
3. The gas is transferred to a compressor, where most of the work is done. The gas is compressed adiabatically, heating it and turning it back to a liquid.
   
   
4. The liquid passes through cooling coils on the outside of the fridge. Because the liquid is now warmer than room temperature, heat is transferred naturally to the room. This is an isobaric compression process.

   A refrigerator is rated by its coefficient of performance K, the ratio of the heat removed from the fridge to the work required to remove it:

   K =

   |QL| W

   P-V Diagram for a refrigerator

   The P-V diagram shown above is over-simplified, showing two adiabatic processes and two isobaric (constant pressure) processes but neglecting the two changes of state that occur. This gives you the general flavor of the cycle, however.