The thermostatic-expansion valve, used primarily in commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning, is a refinement of the automatic-expansion valve (see Fig. 11-3). A bellows or diaphragm responds to pressure from a remote bulb charged with a substance similar to the refrigerant in the system. The bulb is attached to the suction line near the evaporator outlet. It is connected to the expansion valve by a capillary tube.
In operation, the thermostatic-expansion valve keeps the frost line of the unit at the desired location by reacting to the superheat of the suction gas. Superheat cannot be present until all liquid refrigerant in the evaporator has been vaporized. Thus, it is possible to obtain a range of evaporator temperatures by adjusting the superheat control of the thermostatic-expansion valve.
The prime importance of this type of metering device is its ability to prevent the flood-back of slugs or liquid through the suction line to the compressor. If this liquid returns to the compressor, it could damage it. The compressor is designed to pump vapors, not liquids.
