Industry Competency Exam (ICE)
Commercial Refrigeration Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary function of the compressor in a commercial
refrigeration system?
A. To remove moisture from the refrigerant
B. To increase refrigerant pressure and circulate it through the system
C. To reduce condenser pressure
D. To store liquid refrigerant
Answer: To increase refrigerant pressure and circulate it through the system
Rationale: The compressor raises the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant vapor and provides the force that moves refrigerant through the
refrigeration circuit.
2. Which component removes heat from the refrigerated space?
A. Condenser
B. Compressor
C. Evaporator
D. Receiver
Answer: Evaporator
,Rationale: The evaporator absorbs heat from the refrigerated space as liquid
refrigerant boils into vapor.
3. What is the purpose of a condenser?
A. To absorb heat from the box
B. To reject heat from the refrigerant
C. To increase evaporator pressure
D. To meter liquid refrigerant
Answer: To reject heat from the refrigerant
Rationale: The condenser removes heat from high-pressure refrigerant vapor
and changes it into a liquid.
4. Which component controls the amount of refrigerant entering an
evaporator?
A. Accumulator
B. Receiver
C. Metering device
D. Condenser fan
Answer: Metering device
Rationale: The metering device regulates refrigerant flow into the evaporator
and creates the pressure drop needed for evaporation.
5. What happens to refrigerant pressure as it passes through a typical
expansion valve?
A. It increases
B. It remains constant
C. It decreases
D. It becomes atmospheric
Answer: It decreases
,Rationale: The expansion device creates a pressure drop between the high-
pressure liquid side and the low-pressure evaporator side.
6. What is superheat?
A. The temperature of liquid above its condensing point
B. The temperature of vapor above its saturation temperature
C. The pressure above atmospheric pressure
D. The temperature difference between the condenser and ambient
Answer: The temperature of vapor above its saturation temperature
Rationale: Superheat indicates how much a vapor has been heated above its
saturation temperature at a given pressure.
7. What does subcooling indicate?
A. Liquid refrigerant temperature below its saturation temperature
B. Vapor temperature above saturation
C. Compressor discharge temperature
D. Evaporator air temperature
Answer: Liquid refrigerant temperature below its saturation temperature
Rationale: Subcooling is the temperature difference between liquid refrigerant
saturation temperature and its actual liquid temperature.
8. Excessive evaporator superheat can indicate:
A. Excessive refrigerant flow
B. A starved evaporator
C. An overcharged compressor
D. A flooded condenser
Answer: A starved evaporator
Rationale: High superheat commonly indicates insufficient refrigerant feeding
the evaporator, although airflow and load conditions must also be checked.
, 9. What is a common cause of low evaporator superheat?
A. Insufficient refrigerant flow
B. Excessive refrigerant feeding
C. Plugged condenser
D. Dirty condenser fan blade
Answer: Excessive refrigerant feeding
Rationale: When too much refrigerant enters the evaporator, liquid can remain
farther along the coil, reducing measured superheat.
10.What is the primary purpose of a receiver?
A. Store excess liquid refrigerant
B. Remove oil from the compressor
C. Increase suction pressure
D. Cool the compressor motor
Answer: Store excess liquid refrigerant
Rationale: A receiver provides storage for liquid refrigerant and helps maintain a
reliable liquid supply to the metering device.
11.What is the purpose of a suction accumulator?
A. Store high-pressure liquid
B. Prevent liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor
C. Increase condenser pressure
D. Meter refrigerant into the evaporator
Answer: Prevent liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor
Rationale: The accumulator temporarily holds liquid refrigerant and helps
protect the compressor from liquid slugging.
12.Why is liquid refrigerant entering a reciprocating compressor dangerous?
Commercial Refrigeration Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary function of the compressor in a commercial
refrigeration system?
A. To remove moisture from the refrigerant
B. To increase refrigerant pressure and circulate it through the system
C. To reduce condenser pressure
D. To store liquid refrigerant
Answer: To increase refrigerant pressure and circulate it through the system
Rationale: The compressor raises the pressure and temperature of the
refrigerant vapor and provides the force that moves refrigerant through the
refrigeration circuit.
2. Which component removes heat from the refrigerated space?
A. Condenser
B. Compressor
C. Evaporator
D. Receiver
Answer: Evaporator
,Rationale: The evaporator absorbs heat from the refrigerated space as liquid
refrigerant boils into vapor.
3. What is the purpose of a condenser?
A. To absorb heat from the box
B. To reject heat from the refrigerant
C. To increase evaporator pressure
D. To meter liquid refrigerant
Answer: To reject heat from the refrigerant
Rationale: The condenser removes heat from high-pressure refrigerant vapor
and changes it into a liquid.
4. Which component controls the amount of refrigerant entering an
evaporator?
A. Accumulator
B. Receiver
C. Metering device
D. Condenser fan
Answer: Metering device
Rationale: The metering device regulates refrigerant flow into the evaporator
and creates the pressure drop needed for evaporation.
5. What happens to refrigerant pressure as it passes through a typical
expansion valve?
A. It increases
B. It remains constant
C. It decreases
D. It becomes atmospheric
Answer: It decreases
,Rationale: The expansion device creates a pressure drop between the high-
pressure liquid side and the low-pressure evaporator side.
6. What is superheat?
A. The temperature of liquid above its condensing point
B. The temperature of vapor above its saturation temperature
C. The pressure above atmospheric pressure
D. The temperature difference between the condenser and ambient
Answer: The temperature of vapor above its saturation temperature
Rationale: Superheat indicates how much a vapor has been heated above its
saturation temperature at a given pressure.
7. What does subcooling indicate?
A. Liquid refrigerant temperature below its saturation temperature
B. Vapor temperature above saturation
C. Compressor discharge temperature
D. Evaporator air temperature
Answer: Liquid refrigerant temperature below its saturation temperature
Rationale: Subcooling is the temperature difference between liquid refrigerant
saturation temperature and its actual liquid temperature.
8. Excessive evaporator superheat can indicate:
A. Excessive refrigerant flow
B. A starved evaporator
C. An overcharged compressor
D. A flooded condenser
Answer: A starved evaporator
Rationale: High superheat commonly indicates insufficient refrigerant feeding
the evaporator, although airflow and load conditions must also be checked.
, 9. What is a common cause of low evaporator superheat?
A. Insufficient refrigerant flow
B. Excessive refrigerant feeding
C. Plugged condenser
D. Dirty condenser fan blade
Answer: Excessive refrigerant feeding
Rationale: When too much refrigerant enters the evaporator, liquid can remain
farther along the coil, reducing measured superheat.
10.What is the primary purpose of a receiver?
A. Store excess liquid refrigerant
B. Remove oil from the compressor
C. Increase suction pressure
D. Cool the compressor motor
Answer: Store excess liquid refrigerant
Rationale: A receiver provides storage for liquid refrigerant and helps maintain a
reliable liquid supply to the metering device.
11.What is the purpose of a suction accumulator?
A. Store high-pressure liquid
B. Prevent liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor
C. Increase condenser pressure
D. Meter refrigerant into the evaporator
Answer: Prevent liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor
Rationale: The accumulator temporarily holds liquid refrigerant and helps
protect the compressor from liquid slugging.
12.Why is liquid refrigerant entering a reciprocating compressor dangerous?
