NATE Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps Practice Exam

Why must you exercise special care when you bend soft-drawn refrigerant tubing?

1. Any distortion of the tubing diameter creates a restriction to refrigerant flow that reduces system capacity

2. Copper flakes can come loose from interior surfaces of the tubing if it is overbent

3. Overbending the tubing makes it difficult to slide on the close-cell insulation

4. The refrigeration flow rate increases if tubing is overbent, making oil return impossible

The correct answer is: Any distortion of the tubing diameter creates a restriction to refrigerant flow that reduces system capacity

When bending soft-drawn refrigerant tubing, exercising special care is essential because any distortion of the tubing diameter can lead to restrictions in refrigerant flow. If the diameter is reduced, it results in a narrower path for the refrigerant to travel, which can significantly decrease the overall capacity of the system. Refrigerant flow is critical for maintaining efficiency and performance in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, and any constriction can lead to increased pressure drops, reduced cooling efficiency, and potentially cause system components like compressors to malfunction due to inadequate refrigerant supply. The other options, while they point to possible issues associated with bending tubing, do not directly address the primary concern regarding the refrigeration cycle's efficiency and capacity. Thus, the most critical reason to be cautious when bending this type of tubing is to prevent any alteration to its diameter, ensuring optimal refrigerant flow and system performance.