Vapor bubbles present in the liquid upon arrival to the thermal expansion valve in a refrigeration system may cause erosion of the expansion valve's needle and seat. This, in turn, could cause what condition?

Correct Answer: Option C — TXV hunting

Flash gas and vapor bubbles entering a thermal expansion valve (TXV) reduce mass flow and starve the evaporator, causing erratic bulb temperature sensing. This leads to severe hunting where the valve continuously overcorrects, fluctuating between starvation and flooding.