If the liquid drain from the condenser is at 82°F and head pressure is 182 psi G, what does this indicate?

The correct answer reflects that the measured conditions indicate the presence of noncondensable gases in the system. When the liquid drain from the condenser is at a significantly higher temperature than typical operating temperatures corresponding to the head pressure, this can result from noncondensable gases, which do not condense under the prevailing temperature and pressure conditions.

In normal operations, the liquid in the condenser should condense adequately and maintain appropriate temperatures that correlate well with the measured pressures. However, if noncondensables are present, they can interfere with the heat exchange process, causing the refrigerant to not function efficiently. This leads to higher temperatures observed at the outlet because the heat transfer in the condenser is compromised.

Recognizing this situation requires an understanding of how refrigerants behave under pressure and temperature changes, and identifying that noncondensable gases can lead to inefficiencies and higher than expected temperatures provides critical insight into system diagnostics in HVAC operations.