What component is located at the end of the liquid line in a refrigeration system?

• A. Expansion device
• B. Compressor
• C. Condenser
• D. Accumulator

Answer: (A)

The end of the liquid line is where the refrigerant is throttled to a lower pressure so it can start boiling in the evaporator. This function is performed by the expansion device—whether it’s a capillary tube, a thermostatic expansion valve, or another metering device. After the condenser, the high-pressure liquid must be reduced in pressure before it enters the evaporator, and the expansion device is placed right at that point to meter and drop the pressure as the liquid moves into the evaporator.

Think of the other components by their roles: the compressor pressurizes refrigerant on the hot side, the condenser rejects heat and turns it into liquid, and the accumulator on the suction side prevents liquid refrigerant from returning to the compressor. None of these sit at the end of the liquid line where the expansion occurs.