What is the purpose of 'superheat' in a refrigeration system?

The purpose of superheat in a refrigeration system is to ensure that only vapor refrigerant enters the compressor. Superheat is defined as the temperature of the refrigerant vapor above its saturation temperature at a given pressure. It's measured at the outlet of the evaporator, just before the refrigerant enters the compressor. Allowing liquid refrigerant to enter the compressor can cause significant damage, as ....