Which one of the following is the most important function of thermosta...
Thermostatic expansion valve maintains constant degree of superheat in the evaporator.
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Which one of the following is the most important function of thermosta...
Thermostatic expansion valve (TEV) is a device that controls the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator of a refrigeration system. The most important function of TEV is to control the degree of superheat in the evaporator. Let's understand this function in detail.
Controlling the degree of superheat:
Superheat is the amount of heat added to the refrigerant vapor above its saturated vapor temperature. In an evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the surrounding and evaporates, producing a low-temperature vapor. TEV controls the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator so that the refrigerant evaporates completely before leaving the evaporator. This means that the refrigerant vapor leaving the evaporator contains no liquid droplets and is fully saturated. If the refrigerant vapor leaving the evaporator contains liquid droplets, it can cause compressor damage, reduce system efficiency, and lead to poor cooling performance.
TEV maintains the degree of superheat by sensing the temperature of the refrigerant vapor leaving the evaporator and adjusting the refrigerant flow rate accordingly. If the refrigerant vapor is too hot, it means that not all refrigerant has been evaporated, and the TEV will reduce the refrigerant flow rate. On the other hand, if the refrigerant vapor is too cold, it means that too much refrigerant has been evaporated, and the TEV will increase the refrigerant flow rate.
Other functions of TEV:
Although controlling the degree of superheat is the most important function of TEV, it also helps in controlling the evaporator pressure and temperature. As the refrigerant flow rate through the TEV is controlled, the pressure drop across the evaporator is also controlled. This helps in maintaining the evaporator pressure at the desired level. Similarly, by maintaining the degree of superheat, the TEV also helps in controlling the evaporator temperature. However, these functions are secondary to the primary function of controlling the degree of superheat.
In conclusion, the most important function of the thermostatic expansion valve is to control the degree of superheat in the evaporator. It helps in ensuring that the refrigerant vapor leaving the evaporator is fully saturated and contains no liquid droplets, which can cause compressor damage and reduce system efficiency.
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