What is the purpose of a distributor in an HVAC system?

The purpose of a distributor in an HVAC system is primarily to ensure that refrigerant is evenly fed to the evaporator. By distributing the refrigerant uniformly across the evaporator coils, the distributor allows for efficient heat exchange and maximizes the cooling process within the system. This balanced distribution is crucial because it helps to prevent areas of the evaporator from becoming overloaded or underloaded with refrigerant, which could lead to inefficient operation or even damage.

In this context, the other options do not accurately describe the function of a distributor. The distributor does not feed refrigerant to the compressor; instead, it supplies it to the evaporator where cooling occurs. It also does not serve the condenser, which has a separate process involving the phase change of refrigerant from gas to liquid. Lastly, while solenoid valves are used in HVAC systems as part of control mechanisms, they are not the target of the distributor's function. The distributor's main role is specifically tied to optimizing the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator, reinforcing why this choice is the correct answer.