A muffler in a refrigeration system is installed between which two components?

• A. Between the evaporator and the compressor
• B. Between the compressor and the condenser
• C. Between the compressor and the condenser
• D. Between the condenser and the receiver

Answer: (C)

A muffler is used to dampen pressure pulsations and reduce noise in the discharge gas from the compressor. When a compressor sends out high‑pressure refrigerant in pulses, those pulses create vibration and loud operation. Placing a muffler in the discharge line right before the condenser smooths the flow and absorbs much of that sound energy, protecting the condenser and piping from shocks and reducing overall noise. This location is specifically chosen because it tackles the issue where the pulsations originate—the compressor discharge—before the refrigerant enters the condenser.

Placing a muffler elsewhere, such as on the suction side feeding the evaporator or after the condenser before the receiver, wouldn’t address those discharge pulsations where they cause the most noise and vibration, so the between-compressor-and-condenser position is the effective one.