Which components are on the low-pressure side of an orifice-tube A/C system?

Which components are on the low-pressure side of an orifice-tube A/C system?

• A. 1/2 orifice tube; evaporator; accumulator; 1/2 compressor
• B. evaporator; compressor; receiver dryer
• C. condenser; evaporator; 1/2 orifice tube
• D. 1/2 orifice tube; evaporator; accumulator; 1/2 compressor

Answer: (A)

Focus on where the pressure is low. After the metering device in an orifice-tube system, refrigerant enters the low-pressure side, feeding the evaporator and returning to the compressor through the suction line. The accumulator sits in that suction path to keep liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor, and the compressor’s inlet (the suction side) operates at low pressure as it draws in that vapor. The orifice tube itself sits at the boundary between high and low pressure, so the portion of the tube on the low-pressure side is considered part of this side as well. Therefore, the components on the low-pressure side are the evaporator, the accumulator, and the suction side of the compressor (with the downstream portion of the orifice tube). The condenser and receiver-drier stay on the high-pressure side.

Focus on where the pressure is low. After the metering device in an orifice-tube system, refrigerant enters the low-pressure side, feeding the evaporator and returning to the compressor through the suction line. The accumulator sits in that suction path to keep liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor, and the compressor’s inlet (the suction side) operates at low pressure as it draws in that vapor. The orifice tube itself sits at the boundary between high and low pressure, so the portion of the tube on the low-pressure side is considered part of this side as well. Therefore, the components on the low-pressure side are the evaporator, the accumulator, and the suction side of the compressor (with the downstream portion of the orifice tube). The condenser and receiver-drier stay on the high-pressure side.