If a refrigeration system is overcharged with refrigerant, what condition is likely to occur?

When a refrigeration system is overcharged with refrigerant, it leads to a condition where the refrigerant volume exceeds the system’s designed capacity. This excess refrigerant results in a decrease in overall cooling capacity due to the inability of the system components—such as the evaporator and condenser—to efficiently handle the additional refrigerant.

As the system tries to accommodate the surplus refrigerant, it leads to an increase in head pressure. The head pressure is the pressure at the discharge side of the compressor, which rises as the compressor works harder to circulate the excessive refrigerant through the system. This increase in pressure can strain system components and lead to operational issues. Hence, the system experiences reduced efficiency and cooling performance, making option B the correct answer.

Moreover, other options do not hold true under the condition of overcharging. An increase in cooling capacity (option A) would suggest enhanced performance, which is not the case when overcharge occurs. Stable operating conditions (option C) would imply the system is functioning optimally without fluctuation in pressures, which is disrupted due to the overcharge. Lastly, while an increase in evaporator pressure (option D) can occur under certain conditions, it is not a direct outcome when considering that overcharge primarily impacts