A storage tank located in the suction line before the compressor. It allows small amounts of liquid refrigerant to boil away before entering the compressor.
Accumulator
A device used to exchange heat between air and another medium at different temperature levels. Such as: air to air, water to air, or air to refrigerant.
Air Heat Exchanger
A thin piece of flexible material used between two metal plates to prevent leakage.
Gasket
The component in a refrigeration system that transfers heat from by condensing refrigerant.
Condensor
Any substance in a refrigeration system that is foreign to the system, particularly if it causes damage.
Contaminant
A device used in a refrigerant line to remove moisture.
Drier
A tool that may have more than one guage with a valve arrangement to control fluid flow.
Gage Manifold
A vapor pump that pumps vapor (refrigerant to air) from one pressure level to a higher pressure level.
Compressor
Another term for pressure, usually referring to liquid or gas.
Head
The volume at the top of the stroke in a compressor cylinder between the top of the piston and the valve plate.
Clearance Volume
An external type of compressor motor drive as opposed to a hermetic compressor.
External Drive
Substance in a refrigeration system drier that collects moisture
Desiccant
The pressure on the low pressure side of a refrigeration system (also known as suction pressure).
Back Pressure
The final device in many water cooled systems, which rejects heat from the system into the atmosphere by evaporation of water.
Cooling Tower
The end structure of an electric motor that normally contains the bearings and lubrication system.
End Bell
A complete unit that includes the compressor and the condensing coil.
Condensing Unit
A compressor used for large refrigeration systems. It is not a positive displacement but is similar to a blower.
Centrifugal Compressor
A reciprocating compressor valve design with a low clearance volume and a large bore.
Discuss Valve
A term applied in the industry to refer to the tubing or piping from the condensor to the expansion device.
Liquid Line
The term applied to refrigeration systems when the liquid line reaches the compressor
Flooding
A term used to indicate the high pressure or condensing side of the refrigeration system.
High Side
The component in a refrigeration system that absorbs heat into the system and evaporates the liquid refrigerant.
Evaporator
An off-center device that rotates in a circle around a shaft