What is the purpose of the receiver in a vapor-compression refrigeration system?

• A. To absorb heat from surroundings.
• B. To store liquid refrigerant and buffer high- and low-side flows.
• C. To compress refrigerant.
• D. To dehydrate refrigerant.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how the system manages liquid refrigerant on the high-pressure side. The receiver sits on the high-pressure liquid line after the condenser and serves as a storage vessel. It stores liquid refrigerant and provides a buffer between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side, smoothing out fluctuations in compressor cooling and condenser capacity. With this reservoir, the expansion device downstream is more likely to receive a steady supply of liquid, which helps prevent flash gas and keeps the evaporator fed properly.

Other roles aren’t what the receiver does: absorbing heat from surroundings happens in the evaporator, compressing refrigerant is the job of the compressor, and dehydrating refrigerant is handled by a dryer.