Which component of an air conditioning system controls the amount of liquid going into the evaporator?

The thermal expansion valve is a critical component in an air conditioning system that regulates the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator. This valve adjusts the quantity of liquid refrigerant based on the cooling load and the evaporation temperature within the evaporator. It ensures that the right amount of refrigerant enters the evaporator to maximize heat absorption while preventing flooding of the evaporator with excess liquid, which can reduce system efficiency and performance.

By maintaining the appropriate amount of refrigerant, the thermal expansion valve helps achieve optimal cooling and energy efficiency. The mechanism typically includes a sensing bulb that monitors the temperature and pressure inside the evaporator, allowing for precise control of the refrigerant flow. This effectively balances the system’s performance to keep the cooling process efficient and avoid potential issues such as low evaporator efficiency or compressor damage.

Other components like the evaporator, receiver, and compressor perform different functions within the AC system, but they do not control the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator stage. The evaporator is where the cooling occurs, the receiver serves as a storage unit for the refrigerant, and the compressor compresses the refrigerant, but none of these directly regulate the refrigerant flow like the thermal expansion valve does.