EPA Section 608 Universal Certification ExamCoreEasy
A technician is evacuating a system to remove non-condensables and moisture. What is the primary purpose of evacuating a refrigeration system to a deep vacuum?
- ATo test for leaks in the system.
- BTo boil off moisture and remove non-condensable gases.
- CTo remove all refrigerant from the system.
- DTo increase the system's cooling capacity.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. To boil off moisture and remove non-condensable gases.
Evacuating a refrigeration system to a deep vacuum lowers the pressure to a point where any moisture present will boil at room temperature and be removed as vapor, along with any non-condensable gases.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While a vacuum can hold, it's not the primary method for leak testing; pressure decay or electronic leak detectors are used.
- C. Refrigerant is removed during recovery, not deep vacuum evacuation.
- D. While a properly evacuated system improves efficiency, increasing cooling capacity is not the primary purpose of evacuation itself.
Deep Vacuum Evacuation
The process of reducing the pressure within a refrigeration system to a very low level (deep vacuum) to remove moisture and non-condensable gases.
- Lowers the boiling point of water, allowing it to vaporize at ambient temperatures.
- Removes air and other non-condensable gases that can cause high head pressure.
- Essential for system efficiency and longevity.
- Requires a vacuum pump and micron gauge.
Memory trick: Vacuum makes water vanish and air vanish.