Under a heavy load, what will happen to a constant-pressure expansion valve?

When discussing the behavior of a constant-pressure expansion valve under heavy load conditions, it is important to understand how this type of valve operates. A constant-pressure expansion valve is designed to maintain a specific pressure differential across the evaporator.

Under conditions of heavy load, the demand for refrigerant in the evaporator increases. If the valve cannot provide enough refrigerant to meet this demand, it will result in a situation where insufficient refrigerant is entering the evaporator. This condition is referred to as "starving" the evaporator.

Starving the evaporator can lead to inadequate cooling as the refrigerant is unable to absorb enough heat, which can affect the overall efficiency of the refrigeration system. Therefore, in the context of the question, the scenario of starving the evaporator accurately reflects what happens to a constant-pressure expansion valve under heavy load conditions.