Which statement about a suction line accumulator in a refrigeration system is true?

Which statement about a suction line accumulator in a refrigeration system is true?

• A. False
• B. Not applicable
• C. Only for refrigerants above 20 psi
• D. True

Answer: (D)

A suction line accumulator’s purpose is to prevent liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor by trapping any liquid that might be carried with the vapor in the suction line. It acts as a small reservoir in the suction path between the evaporator and the compressor, giving liquid refrigerant a chance to separate from the vapor. The compressor then receives mainly vapor, not liquid, which protects it from liquid slugging—a condition that can cause hydraulic shock and severe damage. This protection is important in systems with long suction runs, multiple evaporators, or rapid load changes where liquid carryover is more likely. The statement that describes this protective function is true, because the accumulator’s whole role is to remove liquid from the suction to keep the compressor fed with gas. It isn’t tied to a specific pressure threshold like “above 20 psi,” and it isn’t something that’s universally irrelevant or false—the device is real and its purpose clear.

A suction line accumulator’s purpose is to prevent liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor by trapping any liquid that might be carried with the vapor in the suction line. It acts as a small reservoir in the suction path between the evaporator and the compressor, giving liquid refrigerant a chance to separate from the vapor. The compressor then receives mainly vapor, not liquid, which protects it from liquid slugging—a condition that can cause hydraulic shock and severe damage. This protection is important in systems with long suction runs, multiple evaporators, or rapid load changes where liquid carryover is more likely.

The statement that describes this protective function is true, because the accumulator’s whole role is to remove liquid from the suction to keep the compressor fed with gas. It isn’t tied to a specific pressure threshold like “above 20 psi,” and it isn’t something that’s universally irrelevant or false—the device is real and its purpose clear.