ESCO Air Conditioning Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

An accumulator serves an important role in a refrigeration system by preventing liquid refrigerant from reaching the compressor. This aspect is crucial because compressors are designed to compress vapor and can be damaged if liquid refrigerant enters the compression chamber. The accumulator essentially collects any excess liquid refrigerant that might flow from the evaporator during operation and allows it to vaporize before it reaches the compressor. By doing so, it helps protect the compressor from potential liquid slugging, which could lead to mechanical failure.

The other functions listed in the choices involve different components and principles of refrigeration systems. Adjusting superheat levels is typically managed by a thermal expansion valve, while noise reduction features may be found in other system components or through designs that minimize operational noise. Storing excess refrigerant is not the primary function of an accumulator; rather, it is more related to the receiver or receiver-drier in a system that manages fluid levels. Therefore, the accumulator's main job aligns perfectly with the correct answer.