To increase the operating superheat on a thermostatic expansion valve, what action should be taken?

Increasing the operating superheat on a thermostatic expansion valve involves adjusting the valve's sensitivity to temperature changes in the evaporator. When the adjusting stem is turned clockwise, it effectively raises the superheat setting. This adjustment decreases the amount of refrigerant flowing through the valve, leading to higher superheat. Higher superheat means that the refrigerant vapor will absorb more heat before it enters the compressor, ensuring better efficiency and operation of the refrigeration system.

This adjustment is crucial because it allows the system to manage the refrigerant flow based on the actual cooling demands while preventing issues like flooding of the compressor, which could lead to damage. Therefore, the correct action to take when you want to increase the operating superheat is to turn the adjusting stem clockwise.