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But having the conversation regarding fractionization with a refrigerant mfgr rep., it was stated that the conditions under which actual fractionization could actually occur would have to be entirely "static"
The Prof can generally buy into this argument, but with the possible exception of a two-phase flow leak. A refrigerant blend flowing thru the evaporator will being evaporating at a low temperature, and continue to evaporate at higher temperature until it reaches saturated vapor (the dew point). The difference in these temperatures is the refrigerant temperature glide in the evaporator, and the reason it occurs is the more volatile components of the refrigerant blend boil off first. So if a leak exists at the inlet of the evaporator, one might expect the more volatile components to leak out, assuming refrigerant vapor and not liquid is leaking out.