1
NYC REFRIGERATION OPERATING ENGINEER LICENSE
PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027 COMPLETE CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
NYC
Prepare for your NYC Refrigeration Operating Engineer License Practice Exam with
focused review of refrigeration systems, HVAC principles, equipment operation,
preventive maintenance, and workplace safety. Strengthen your understanding of
system components, troubleshooting procedures, pressure and temperature controls,
and safe operating practices. Suitable for refrigeration technicians, aspiring operating
engineers, and candidates preparing for New York City refrigeration-related licensing
examinations.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Section 1: Refrigeration Fundamentals & Thermodynamics (Questions 1–
20)
1. One ton of refrigeration is defined as the removal of how many BTUs per
hour?
A. 1,000 BTU/hr
B. 12,000 BTU/hr
C. 10,000 BTU/hr
D. 120,000 BTU/hr
Answer: B
Rationale: One ton of refrigeration is equivalent to the heat absorption
rate of 12,000 BTU per hour, which is the amount of heat required to melt
one ton of ice in 24 hours.
2. The primary purpose of a refrigeration system is to:
A. Generate steam
B. Remove heat from a space or substance and reject it elsewhere
C. Increase pressure
D. Produce electricity
, 2
Answer: B
Rationale: Refrigeration systems transfer heat from a low-temperature
space to a higher-temperature environment, removing heat to maintain a
desired temperature.
3. In a basic vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, which component
absorbs heat from the refrigerated space?
A. Compressor
B. Condenser
C. Evaporator
D. Expansion valve
Answer: C
Rationale: The evaporator is where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the
space, causing it to evaporate from liquid to vapor.
4. What occurs in the condenser of a refrigeration system?
A. The refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates
B. The refrigerant releases heat and condenses
C. The refrigerant pressure is reduced
D. The refrigerant is compressed
Answer: B
Rationale: In the condenser, the high-pressure, high-temperature
refrigerant vapor releases heat to the environment and condenses into a
liquid.
5. The four main components of the vapor-compression refrigeration
cycle are:
A. Compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve
B. Compressor, boiler, turbine, pump
C. Condenser, cooling tower, chiller, pump
D. Evaporator, absorber, generator, pump
Answer: A
Rationale: The four essential components are the compressor (raises
pressure), condenser (rejects heat), expansion valve (reduces pressure),
and evaporator (absorbs heat).
, 3
6. Which component raises the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant vapor?
A. Evaporator
B. Condenser
C. Compressor
D. Metering device
Answer: C
Rationale: The compressor increases the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant vapor so it can reject heat in the condenser.
7. What is the function of the expansion valve (metering device)?
A. To raise refrigerant pressure
B. To regulate refrigerant flow and reduce pressure
C. To remove heat from the space
D. To compress refrigerant
Answer: B
Rationale: The expansion valve regulates the flow of refrigerant into the
evaporator and reduces its pressure, causing it to expand and cool.
8. Superheat is defined as:
A. Heat added to refrigerant vapor above its saturation temperature
B. Heat removed from refrigerant liquid below its saturation temperature
C. The temperature difference between evaporator and condenser
D. The pressure difference across the compressor
Answer: A
Rationale: Superheat is the heat added to refrigerant vapor above its
boiling (saturation) point, ensuring no liquid enters the compressor.
9. Subcooling is defined as:
A. Heat added to refrigerant vapor
B. Heat removed from refrigerant liquid below its saturation temperature
C. The temperature difference between evaporator and condenser
D. The pressure difference across the compressor
Answer: B
Rationale: Subcooling is the heat removed from liquid refrigerant below
, 4
its saturation temperature, ensuring a solid column of liquid reaches the
metering device.
10. Which of the following is a primary function of the evaporator?
A. To remove heat from the refrigerant
B. To absorb heat from the refrigerated space
C. To compress the refrigerant
D. To store liquid refrigerant
Answer: B
Rationale: The evaporator absorbs heat from the space being cooled,
causing the refrigerant to evaporate.
11. What is the primary function of the condenser?
A. To absorb heat from the space
B. To release heat from the refrigerant to the environment
C. To raise refrigerant pressure
D. To regulate refrigerant flow
Answer: B
Rationale: The condenser releases heat from the refrigerant to the
surrounding air or water, causing the refrigerant to condense.
12. The pressure-enthalpy (P-H) diagram is used to:
A. Measure refrigerant temperature only
B. Analyze the refrigeration cycle and component performance
C. Determine electrical voltage
D. Measure airflow
Answer: B
Rationale: The P-H diagram plots pressure versus enthalpy and is used to
analyze the refrigeration cycle, including superheat, subcooling, and
component performance.
13. In a refrigeration system, the refrigerant changes state from:
A. Liquid to vapor in the condenser
B. Vapor to liquid in the evaporator
C. Liquid to vapor in the evaporator
D. Vapor to liquid in the compressor
NYC REFRIGERATION OPERATING ENGINEER LICENSE
PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027 COMPLETE CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
NYC
Prepare for your NYC Refrigeration Operating Engineer License Practice Exam with
focused review of refrigeration systems, HVAC principles, equipment operation,
preventive maintenance, and workplace safety. Strengthen your understanding of
system components, troubleshooting procedures, pressure and temperature controls,
and safe operating practices. Suitable for refrigeration technicians, aspiring operating
engineers, and candidates preparing for New York City refrigeration-related licensing
examinations.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Section 1: Refrigeration Fundamentals & Thermodynamics (Questions 1–
20)
1. One ton of refrigeration is defined as the removal of how many BTUs per
hour?
A. 1,000 BTU/hr
B. 12,000 BTU/hr
C. 10,000 BTU/hr
D. 120,000 BTU/hr
Answer: B
Rationale: One ton of refrigeration is equivalent to the heat absorption
rate of 12,000 BTU per hour, which is the amount of heat required to melt
one ton of ice in 24 hours.
2. The primary purpose of a refrigeration system is to:
A. Generate steam
B. Remove heat from a space or substance and reject it elsewhere
C. Increase pressure
D. Produce electricity
, 2
Answer: B
Rationale: Refrigeration systems transfer heat from a low-temperature
space to a higher-temperature environment, removing heat to maintain a
desired temperature.
3. In a basic vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, which component
absorbs heat from the refrigerated space?
A. Compressor
B. Condenser
C. Evaporator
D. Expansion valve
Answer: C
Rationale: The evaporator is where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the
space, causing it to evaporate from liquid to vapor.
4. What occurs in the condenser of a refrigeration system?
A. The refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates
B. The refrigerant releases heat and condenses
C. The refrigerant pressure is reduced
D. The refrigerant is compressed
Answer: B
Rationale: In the condenser, the high-pressure, high-temperature
refrigerant vapor releases heat to the environment and condenses into a
liquid.
5. The four main components of the vapor-compression refrigeration
cycle are:
A. Compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve
B. Compressor, boiler, turbine, pump
C. Condenser, cooling tower, chiller, pump
D. Evaporator, absorber, generator, pump
Answer: A
Rationale: The four essential components are the compressor (raises
pressure), condenser (rejects heat), expansion valve (reduces pressure),
and evaporator (absorbs heat).
, 3
6. Which component raises the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant vapor?
A. Evaporator
B. Condenser
C. Compressor
D. Metering device
Answer: C
Rationale: The compressor increases the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant vapor so it can reject heat in the condenser.
7. What is the function of the expansion valve (metering device)?
A. To raise refrigerant pressure
B. To regulate refrigerant flow and reduce pressure
C. To remove heat from the space
D. To compress refrigerant
Answer: B
Rationale: The expansion valve regulates the flow of refrigerant into the
evaporator and reduces its pressure, causing it to expand and cool.
8. Superheat is defined as:
A. Heat added to refrigerant vapor above its saturation temperature
B. Heat removed from refrigerant liquid below its saturation temperature
C. The temperature difference between evaporator and condenser
D. The pressure difference across the compressor
Answer: A
Rationale: Superheat is the heat added to refrigerant vapor above its
boiling (saturation) point, ensuring no liquid enters the compressor.
9. Subcooling is defined as:
A. Heat added to refrigerant vapor
B. Heat removed from refrigerant liquid below its saturation temperature
C. The temperature difference between evaporator and condenser
D. The pressure difference across the compressor
Answer: B
Rationale: Subcooling is the heat removed from liquid refrigerant below
, 4
its saturation temperature, ensuring a solid column of liquid reaches the
metering device.
10. Which of the following is a primary function of the evaporator?
A. To remove heat from the refrigerant
B. To absorb heat from the refrigerated space
C. To compress the refrigerant
D. To store liquid refrigerant
Answer: B
Rationale: The evaporator absorbs heat from the space being cooled,
causing the refrigerant to evaporate.
11. What is the primary function of the condenser?
A. To absorb heat from the space
B. To release heat from the refrigerant to the environment
C. To raise refrigerant pressure
D. To regulate refrigerant flow
Answer: B
Rationale: The condenser releases heat from the refrigerant to the
surrounding air or water, causing the refrigerant to condense.
12. The pressure-enthalpy (P-H) diagram is used to:
A. Measure refrigerant temperature only
B. Analyze the refrigeration cycle and component performance
C. Determine electrical voltage
D. Measure airflow
Answer: B
Rationale: The P-H diagram plots pressure versus enthalpy and is used to
analyze the refrigeration cycle, including superheat, subcooling, and
component performance.
13. In a refrigeration system, the refrigerant changes state from:
A. Liquid to vapor in the condenser
B. Vapor to liquid in the evaporator
C. Liquid to vapor in the evaporator
D. Vapor to liquid in the compressor
