What component is used to control the flow of refrigerant in a system?

The expansion valve plays a crucial role in HVAC systems by effectively controlling the flow of refrigerant within the refrigeration cycle. It is designed to regulate the amount of refrigerant that enters the evaporator coil, wherein refrigerant absorbs heat from the surrounding environment. By adjusting the flow based on the cooling demand, the expansion valve ensures that the system maintains the desired indoor temperature efficiently.

This component allows for the proper expansion and reduction of refrigerant pressure, facilitating its change from high-pressure liquid to low-pressure gas, which is essential for the absorption of heat in the evaporator. This precise control is important for optimizing efficiency and performance in air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Other components such as the condenser coil, evaporator fan, and compressor motor each play their respective roles in the refrigeration cycle but do not manage the flow of refrigerant. The condenser coil is involved in dissipating heat and changing refrigerant from gas to liquid, the evaporator fan circulates air through the evaporator coil, and the compressor motor pumps the refrigerant throughout the system, but none of these components directly control refrigerant flow like the expansion valve does.