What is the function of a receiver in a refrigeration system, and when is a receiver used?

• A. A receiver stores liquid refrigerant and provides a steady supply to the metering device; used in systems with large or multiple evaporators or where liquid storage upstream of the metering device is needed.
• B. A receiver cools the refrigerant and is used only in small systems.
• C. A receiver compresses refrigerant gas.
• D. A receiver filters refrigerant in the suction line.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a receiver acts as a buffer for liquid refrigerant. After the condenser turns the refrigerant into high‑pressure liquid, the receiver stores that liquid and then supplies it steadily to the metering device. This decouples the condenser’s capacity from the evaporator’s varying demand, which helps keep the expansion device fed reliably. This is especially important in systems with large evaporators or multiple evaporators, or when you want a reserve of liquid upstream of the metering device to smooth out fluctuations in load. A receiver isn’t for cooling the refrigerant, compressing gas, or filtering in the suction line—the condenser handles cooling, the compressor handles compression, and filtration is done by filters/driers elsewhere in the system.