In a typical refrigeration system, which pressure is higher: suction pressure or discharge pressure?

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In a vapor-compression refrigeration system, the distributor role is to pressurize the refrigerant after it leaves the evaporator. The refrigerant entering the compressor is low-pressure and low-temperature vapor from the evaporator. The compressor then raises the pressure so that the refrigerant can flow through the condenser where it rejects heat to the surroundings. This pressure rise is essential to push the refrigerant through the condenser and complete the cycle. So, during normal operation, the discharge pressure (the pressure on the compressor’s outlet) is higher than the suction pressure (the pressure on the compressor’s inlet). The exact values depend on the refrigerant and operating conditions, but the higher discharge pressure is the rule for a functioning system.