If one increases superheat on the inlet of the compressor, what would most likely occur?

Increasing superheat on the inlet of the compressor leads to a rise in discharge temperature because superheating means that the refrigerant vapor entering the compressor is at a higher temperature than the saturation temperature corresponding to the pressure in the evaporator.

When the refrigerant is superheated, it has absorbed additional thermal energy, resulting in a higher enthalpy at the compressor inlet. As the gas is compressed, this additional energy contributes to a higher discharge temperature because the work done on the refrigerant during compression causes the temperature to further rise.

This relationship is critical in refrigeration cycles; if superheat increases, it indicates that the refrigerant is not only being compressed but also carries more energy, elevating the overall discharge temperature. This phenomenon can impact system efficiency and reliability, leading to potential issues such as elevated condenser pressures and reduced system performance.