What does head pressure mean in a refrigeration system?

What does head pressure mean in a refrigeration system?

• A. The low-side pressure on the evaporator side
• B. The average pressure in the system
• C. The ambient atmospheric pressure
• D. The high-side pressure on the condenser side of the cycle

Answer: (D)

Head pressure is the pressure on the high-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle—the pressure the compressor must develop to push refrigerant through the condenser. It corresponds to the discharge or condenser pressure, measured on the condenser side of the cycle. This is different from suction pressure, which is the low-side pressure on the evaporator side, and it’s not a single average pressure or the ambient atmospheric pressure. So, the high-side, condenser-side pressure is what head pressure refers to.

Head pressure is the pressure on the high-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle—the pressure the compressor must develop to push refrigerant through the condenser. It corresponds to the discharge or condenser pressure, measured on the condenser side of the cycle. This is different from suction pressure, which is the low-side pressure on the evaporator side, and it’s not a single average pressure or the ambient atmospheric pressure. So, the high-side, condenser-side pressure is what head pressure refers to.