What is superheat in HVAC terminology?

Superheat refers to the temperature of a vapor refrigerant above its boiling point at a given pressure. In HVAC systems, understanding superheat is crucial because it indicates how much additional heat has been absorbed by the refrigerant after it has completely vaporized. Proper superheating ensures that the refrigerant entering the compressor is entirely in vapor form, which helps to prevent compressor damage and maintain system efficiency.

When a refrigerant is subjected to heat, it first changes from a liquid to a vapor at its boiling point, and any temperature increase beyond this point is referred to as superheat. This concept is essential for diagnosing and optimizing the performance of refrigeration and air conditioning systems while also serving as a critical parameter for achieving the desired climate control effectiveness and energy efficiency.