What happens when there is a restriction in the refrigerant liquid line of a water chiller equipped with a reciprocating compressor?

When there is a restriction in the refrigerant liquid line of a water chiller equipped with a reciprocating compressor, high suction superheat occurs due to the reduced flow of refrigerant into the evaporator. This restriction prevents the proper amount of liquid refrigerant from reaching the evaporator, which is necessary for optimal cooling performance.

As a result of this reduced refrigerant flow, the evaporator does not get fully charged with liquid refrigerant, leading to the conversion of liquid to vapor happening far from the evaporator's intended point of saturation. This causes an increase in the temperature of the vaporized refrigerant as it travels through the evaporator, resulting in high suction superheat. Essentially, the refrigerant is absorbing heat but not returning to the compressor in the liquid form as it should, which increases the temperature of the gas and reflects in the superheat readings.

In contrast, conditions such as low suction superheat would occur when there’s an excess flow of refrigerant, whereas excessive pressure in the condenser could happen due to compressor failure or excessive heat exchange but not specifically because of a restriction in the refrigerant liquid line. Improper cooling efficiency is a broader consequence of various issues, but in this scenario, the specific impact of the restricted liquid line