Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Air Conditioner Certification Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

An accumulator located between the evaporator and the compressor serves a specific purpose within the A/C system, particularly in systems that utilize an orifice tube for refrigerant flow regulation. The primary function of the accumulator is to store excess refrigerant vapor and to ensure that only vapor enters the compressor. This helps prevent liquid refrigerant from damaging the compressor due to hydraulic lock, which can occur if liquid refrigerant reaches the compressor.

When an accumulator is present, it indicates that the system is designed to manage refrigerant flow in a way that aligns with the operation of an orifice tube, which is a fixed restriction used to control refrigerant flow. Therefore, the presence of an accumulator is a clear indicator that the system supports the use of an orifice tube.

In contrast, a system that uses an expansion valve typically has a different configuration with a receiver/drier located outside the evaporator and compressor, and may not utilize an accumulator in the same way. Additionally, while the refrigerant type (like R134a) can be a factor in system design, it does not directly relate to the presence of an accumulator.