NATE Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps Practice Exam

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What level of vacuum is needed to ensure that a sufficiently deep vacuum has been drawn for the removal of water vapor?

500 microns
1,000 microns
2,500 microns
25,000 microns

The correct answer is: 500 microns

To effectively remove water vapor from a refrigeration system during the evacuation process, achieving a deep vacuum is essential. A vacuum level of 500 microns is often regarded as the threshold required to ensure that moisture is adequately removed. At this level, the boiling point of water is significantly lowered, allowing any remaining water vapor to vaporize and be removed by the vacuum pump. Reaching a vacuum level of 1,000 microns or higher may not guarantee the complete removal of all water vapor, as some moisture could still remain in the system, potentially leading to problems such as freezing in the expansion device or corrosion within the system. Higher vacuum levels, like 2,500 microns or 25,000 microns, do not provide a sufficient depth to ensure that any residual moisture within the refrigeration system is effectively eliminated. Therefore, 500 microns is the appropriate vacuum level to aim for during the evacuation process to confidently ensure that water vapor is removed.