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What is another name for a 4-way valve in an air conditioning system?
Reversing valve
Bypass valve
Pressure relief valve
Flow control valve
The correct answer is: Reversing valve
A 4-way valve in an air conditioning system is commonly referred to as a reversing valve. The primary function of this valve is to change the direction of the refrigerant flow in the system, allowing for both heating and cooling modes of operation. In heating mode, the valve reverses the flow, enabling the system to extract heat from the outside air and circulate it indoors, while in cooling mode, it directs refrigerant to absorb heat from the indoor space and expel it outside. This functionality is essential for heat pump systems, where versatility in climate control is required. The other terms do refer to different types of valves that serve distinct functions within HVAC systems but do not match the specific role of a 4-way valve. A bypass valve is typically used to divert coolant to maintain flow during certain conditions, a pressure relief valve is designed to release pressure to prevent system overloading, and a flow control valve regulates the flow of fluids within the system without altering their direction. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for effective troubleshooting and system design.