What is the state of refrigerant in the discharge line of a system?

The discharge line of a refrigeration or air conditioning system carries refrigerant that has been compressed by the compressor. In this state, the refrigerant is considered high pressure and high temperature vapor. This is because during compression, the refrigerant's pressure and temperature increase significantly as energy is added to it in the process.

The discharge line typically transports this vapor to the condenser, where it will eventually release heat and condense into a liquid state. Understanding this state is crucial for assessing system performance and troubleshooting issues, as the proper functioning of the cooling cycle relies on the refrigerant being in the correct state throughout the process.

The other options describe refrigerant states that do not occur in the discharge line. A low-pressure, low-temperature liquid is characteristic of the refrigerant after it has been through the expansion valve and is entering the evaporator. A high-pressure, low-temperature liquid does not exist in the discharge line, as the refrigerant has already been compressed and heated. Medium pressure vapor is not typically an accurate description of refrigerant in a discharge line, which is characterized specifically by its high-pressure and high-temperature vapor state.