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EPA 608 Core Exam·Refrigeration Fundamentals

What is the 'superheat' in a refrigeration system?

  1. AThe temperature above the condensing temperature
  2. The temperature above the saturation temperature in the evaporator
  3. CThe temperature of the compressor discharge
  4. DThe ambient temperature around the system

Correct answer

The temperature above the saturation temperature in the evaporator

Why

Superheat is the temperature of the refrigerant vapor above its saturation (boiling) temperature at a given pressure in the evaporator.

The concept behind this question

The refrigeration cycle moves heat rather than creating cold, and every question about pressures and temperatures comes back to it. The compressor raises the refrigerant's pressure and temperature; the condenser rejects heat and the refrigerant becomes liquid; the metering device drops the pressure; the evaporator absorbs heat from the space and the refrigerant boils back to vapour. Because pressure and temperature are related for a saturated refrigerant, a pressure reading plus a P/T chart tells you the saturation temperature — which is the basis for measuring superheat and subcooling.

More questions on this topic

Exam-style practice question. Not an official EPA exam question.