When refrigerant reaches its critical temperature it cant exhaust as a liquid.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

Critical temperature is the highest temperature at which a refrigerant can exist as a liquid when pressure is increased. Above this point, the liquid and gas phases merge and the substance becomes a supercritical fluid, so it can’t form a distinct liquid by condensing. In a refrigeration cycle, the condenser’s job is to condense vapor into liquid. If the refrigerant is at or above its critical temperature, there’s no separate liquid phase to exhaust, so it cannot exhaust as a liquid. Below the critical temperature, condensation to liquid is possible, allowing liquid exhaust.