Final answer:
In a refrigeration system with a thermal expansion valve, the expansion valve is the component directly following the condenser. It plays a crucial role in reducing the pressure and cooling the refrigerant before it enters the evaporator.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 4) Expansion valve
Step-by-step explanation:
In a refrigeration system using a thermal expansion valve, the component directly following the condenser is the expansion valve. After the refrigerant leaves the condenser, where it has released heat and changed from a gas to a liquid, it flows through the expansion valve.
This valve reduces the pressure of the liquid refrigerant, which in turn cools it down before it enters the evaporator. Inside the evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat and changes back into a gas, which then heads to the compressor to continue the refrigeration cycle.
The correct option from the list provided is 4) Expansion valve. It is the fourth component in the basic heat pump or refrigeration cycle, following the condenser. The sequence of components typically goes as follows: compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and then evaporator.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 4) Expansion valve