What does "superheating" in a refrigeration system refer to?

Superheating in a refrigeration system specifically refers to the process of heating a vapor refrigerant above its boiling point after it has evaporated. This occurs after the refrigerant has absorbed heat and has completely transitioned from a liquid to a vapor state within the evaporator coil. The purpose of superheating is to ensure that all the refrigerant is in vapor form before it enters the compressor. If any liquid refrigerant enters the compressor, it can cause damage to the compressor components, leading to inefficiency or failure.

Superheating also enhances the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle because it allows the refrigerant to carry more heat, leading to effective cooling in the system and preventing potential flooding of the compressor with liquid refrigerant. Thus, understanding superheating is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and reliability of refrigeration systems.