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Deep Technical Chapters · Charge & Metering

TXVs (Thermostatic Expansion Valves)

Technician

How a TXV controls feed, bulb placement, and what goes wrong with starving and flooding.

A TXV meters refrigerant to hold a constant superheat at the evaporator outlet. The bulb senses suction temperature and modulates the valve. Get the bulb placement wrong and the valve feeds wrong.

Failures

  • Starving (restricted, blocked, bulb cold/loose) → high superheat
  • Flooding (overfeeding, bulb too warm, oversized) → low/zero superheat

Bulb placement

Mount the bulb on a clean, horizontal suction line at the evaporator outlet, insulated, sensing pipe temperature only. A loose or warm bulb lies to the valve.

Field Rules

  • 01

    "Confirm bulb placement and charge before condemning a TXV."

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