ESCO Air Conditioning Practice Exam

The clearance space in a reciprocating compressor refers to the gap between the top of the piston and the top of the cylinder. This space has an effect on compressor capacity because it determines the volume of gas that can be compressed in each stroke. A larger clearance space means a larger volume of gas can be compressed, leading to an increase in compressor capacity. The other options are incorrect because B refers to a different aspect of compressor performance, C is unrelated to compressor performance, and D is not affected by the clearance space.