What does the term "Evaporator Superheat" refer to in air conditioning?

Evaporator Superheat refers to the difference in temperature between the refrigerant vapor and its saturation temperature at the existing pressure within the evaporator. When a refrigerant absorbs heat, it transitions from a liquid state to a vapor state. Superheating occurs when the refrigerant vapor continues to absorb heat beyond its boiling point at a given pressure. This additional heat means the temperature of the vapor rises above the saturation temperature and is essential for preventing liquid refrigerant from returning to the compressor.

Understanding superheat is crucial for the efficient operation of an air conditioning system. Adequate superheat ensures that the vapor entering the compressor is entirely in a gaseous state, which is necessary to prevent potential damage to the compressor caused by liquid refrigerant. In this context, knowing the difference between the actual temperature of the refrigerant vapor and its saturation temperature serves as a metric for system performance and effectiveness in heat exchange.