🔍 Key Concepts

• Vapor-compression refrigeration cycle and the roles of the evaporator and compressor • Difference between saturated refrigerant and superheated refrigerant vapor • Why liquid refrigerant entering the compressor is dangerous

💭 Think About

• Think about what phase (liquid, vapor, or mix) the refrigerant should be in just before it enters the compressor. Should a compressor handle liquid, gas, or both? • Consider what happens at the outlet of the evaporator: after all the liquid has boiled off, what additional heating does to the refrigerant condition. • Look at each option and ask: which condition best protects the compressor from liquid slugging while still allowing efficient heat absorption in the evaporator?

✅ Before You Answer

• Make sure the condition you choose describes vapor only, not liquid, entering the compressor. • Confirm you understand that saturated means a mixture at the boiling/condensing point, while superheated means vapor heated above saturation temperature at that pressure. • Eliminate any option that would imply the compressor could ingest liquid refrigerant, which can cause severe mechanical damage.