Where will superheated vapor be found if heat pump equipment is operating correctly with low pressure and low temperature?

Superheated vapor in a heat pump system, particularly when operating with low pressure and low temperature, is typically found at the outlet of the outdoor coil during the heating mode. In this setting, the heat pump extracts heat from the outside air, even when the temperature is low. The refrigerant then evaporates inside the outdoor coil, transitioning from a low-pressure liquid state to a vapor state as it absorbs heat.

Once this refrigerant has fully evaporated, it becomes superheated as it continues to absorb heat from the surroundings beyond the boiling point, which raises its temperature while maintaining low pressure. By the time the refrigerant leaves the outdoor coil and enters the compressor, it is in a superheated vapor state, ready to be compressed to a higher pressure and temperature.

This makes the outlet of the outdoor coil the correct location for superheated vapor in the heating operation of the heat pump. Understanding this process is crucial for diagnosing and maintaining the efficiency and proper functioning of heat pump systems.