What should be done if an evaporator has an external equalized TEV, but only an internal equalized valve is available?

When faced with a situation where only an internal equalized thermostatic expansion valve (TEV) is available for an evaporator designed for external equalization, the most practical approach is to temporarily install the internal valve until the correct one can be obtained. This allows the system to continue functioning rather than waiting idly for the correct components, which could lead to food spoilage or equipment failure due to the refrigeration system being inoperative.

Adjusting the superheat normally with the internal equalized valve is crucial because it allows for some level of control over the refrigerant flow to the evaporator. Even though the internal equalized valve is not ideal and operates differently from an external equalized valve, this temporary installation helps maintain refrigeration and operational integrity in the system. It essentially acts as a stopgap measure to ensure that food and products remain at safe temperatures while waiting for the correct part, which is important in commercial settings.

Other options, like doing nothing or replacing the evaporator entirely, would result in unnecessary downtime and potential losses. Running the system without a TEV could cause severe damage and inefficiencies, leading to compressor failure and other related issues, which makes the first option the best action to take in this scenario.