If one dropped suction pressure of a refrigerant system, what would be the expected outcomes?

When suction pressure in a refrigerant system drops, it can significantly impact the overall performance of the system, particularly regarding the discharge side. A decrease in suction pressure generally leads to a rise in the discharge temperature and pressure.

This occurs because the compressor is designed to operate efficiently within a specific range of suction pressures. When the suction pressure drops, the compressor experiences less refrigerant vapor entering it, which in turn leads to lower evaporating temperatures. As the compressor works harder to compress this reduced vapor volume, it generates more heat, leading to increased temperatures on the discharge side. This is primarily due to the increase in the compressor's workload to achieve the desired pressure on the high side.

In turn, the increased discharge pressure results from the compressor's efficiency dropping when it can't maintain proper suction pressure, causing it to operate less effectively and leading to higher temperatures and pressures in the discharge line. Understanding this relationship is critical in troubleshooting and optimizing refrigeration systems to maintain efficiency and performance.