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4.3 Control devices

The four main components explained previously exhibit the
sufficient effect in the refrigeration unit and air conditioner. In
actual cases, however, the systems are operated under various
conditions. In order to operate the system safely and effectively,
the following control devices are mounted in the systems.

(1) Four-way valve Fig.4-47

1 Outline
OUTDOOR UNIT
A four way valve is a representative one used in the heat
pump type air conditioning system. This valve aims at the OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE
THERMISTOR
passage connection of the super heated refrigerant
discharged from the compressor, to the indoor heat
exchanger in case of heating operation, and to the outdoor
heat exchanger in case of defrosting and cooling operation.

2 Structure and operating principle

This section discusses the structural drawing of the four way
change-over valve. They are, a four way solenoid valve which
operates as a pilot by electrical on-off signals, and the main
body(slide valve)which operates by the pressure difference
obtained with this pilot operation. The four way valve is made
up of these two valves.

1) In case off cooling and constituting defrosting

passage (solenoid valve: off-time)
The pilot (1) and (2) are connected, and high pressure gas is
discharged from the compressor to enter Room (5). On the
3D004866
other hand, the pressure of Room (6) which passes through
(3) and (4) already connected, is pulled into the compressor
to become low pressure. At this time, pressure difference
between high-pressure Room (5) and low-pressure Room (6)
Fig.4-48
is produced. Owing to this pressure difference, the piston
moves to the left and the slide valve connected together
moves, too. That is the flow circuit of refrigerant mentioned as
follows.
Compressor → Four way valve D → C → Outdoor heat
exchanger → Indoor heat exchanger → Four way valve E →
S → Compressor
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2) In case of constituting g heating passage (Solenoid Fig.4-49

valve: on-time )
The pilot (1) and (3) are connected, and high pressure gas is
discharged from the compressor to enter Room (6). On the
other hand, the pressure of Room (5) which passes through
(2) and (4) already connected, is pulled into the compressor
to become low pressure, thus the slide valve functions in
reverse of cooling time and the flow circuit of refrigerant in the
heating is constituted.
(There is constitution of refrigerant passage at off-time
heating or on-time cooling, too.)

3 Function and specification

1) This is a circuit changing valve which functions by electric
signal, and there is no middle position, therefore the Fig.4-50
direction changing by fully open is possible.
2) This is generally used in the range of +10% to -15% of
the constant passage voltage AC 100V or 200V.
3) Function pressure difference means the pressure
difference between the high pressure of the suction side
of the compressor. The function pressure difference is
expressed by the maximum and the minimum.
4) Distinction of the size:It is necessary to choose the size
which conforms to the to the system capacity to ensure
the normal function by (1) to (3) in the standard value.
Generally, a manufacturer's indicated conditions
(pressure drop of the low pressure circuit, the capacity at
the condensation temperature or at the evaporation
temperature) are mentioned on the catalog. Therefore,
more than the minimum requirement must be secured.
5) Test pressure: Generally, the maximum pressure which
can be used is 3.0 MPa (30kg/cm2) abs and airtight test
pressure is 3.6 MPa (36kgf/cm2) abs or so.
6) Fluid temperature: This limit is -20˚C to +120˚C or so, so
that the fluid sufficiently withstand the winter evaporation
temperature or the summer discharging gas temperature.
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4 Caution on handing Fig.4-51

1) Installation position
In the piping, refrigerating machine oil or the other flows
besides the refrigerant. For this reason, it is necessary to be
careful so that these substances should not exert bad
influences upon the pilot solenoid valve or the main body.
More, there is a case where the installation position is
structurally limited. Be careful, please.
The axis of the main body should be installed horizontally,
and the axis of the solenoid valve section should be set above
the axis of the main body.

2) Heat-resistance temperature at the time of brazing

It is necessary to follow the heat-resistance temperature
indicated by the manufacturer to prevent the carbonization of
the oil in the main body and the heat influence. As a means,
the main body must be covered by moist cloth and the
temperature must be secured not exceeding +120˚C.

Fig.4-52
(2) Liquid receiver
The liquid receiver is installed between the condenser and
the metering device and temporarily holds the refrigerant
which has been liquefied by the condenser before being sent
to the expansion valve. As a result, only the refrigerant
completely liquefied can be supplied to the metering device.
lnlet pipe Outlet pipe
The liquid receiver is also used as a container in which
Body
surplus refrigerant is stored since amount of the refrigerant
circulated differs with the following conditions. End plate
• Length of the connection piping between the condensing
(outdoor unit) and the fan coil (indoor) unit. (1) (2)
• Changes in operating conditions
Note:
The receiver must not be used in the capillary tube system,
because during off-cycle, liquid flows to the evaporator
through the capillary tube and when the compressor starts
again, there is a fear of liquid compression.

The configuration as shown in the figure on the right, which

frequently appears in the piping circuit diagram, is a circuit
used for liquid sealing prevention, which bypasses high-
pressure gas through the direct receipt of resistance with the
capillary from the liquid receiver. This circuit unites the
function of fusible plug with pressure equalization at the time
of stopping the operation.
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Fig.4-53
(3) Dryer filter (Filter)
The dryer filter removes moisture and minuite particles of
foreign objects from the refrigerant during operation. It is a
copper cylinder containing desiccating agent and is installed
between the condenser and the metering device.
Moistre contained in the refrigerant causes the following
troubles.
1. The expansion valve or capillary tube is stopped up with
ice.
2. Hydrochloric acid is created, which corrodes metals.
3. Copper plating takes place.
As desiccating agent, Molecularseeve is used, because its
absorption capacity does not decrease by high temperature
or low partial pressure.
Molecularseeve is reclaimable by heating it from 150˚C to
300˚C.

Filter
Even though dryer filter stuffed with drying agent was previously
used, since recently broken mesh of filter causes the drying
agent to move through the circuit, thus resulting in clogging of
narrow parts such as expansion valve. Therefore, the filters are
only used in many cases.

Filter

Fig.4-54
(4) Accumulator
The accumulator is installed between the evaporator and the
compressor and functions to prevent the liquid refrigerant
from entering the compressor.
The accumulator contains the liquid refrigerant and returns
only the gaseous refrigerant to the compressor.
The oil admixed in the liquid refrigerant is separated from the
refrigerant at the bottom of the accumulator, and returns to
the compressor together with the suction gas, through a small
hole in the suction pipe.
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Fig.4-55
(5) Injection capillary
When cooling load increases and the discharge pressure
rises, the discharge gas temperature rises and the
compressor motor is over-heated.
The injection capillary is used for preventing the compressor
motor from over-heating.
The structure of the injection capillary is the same with that of
the capillary tube, and it is connected to the compressor or
the suction pipe.
A certain constant volume of the liquid refrigerant passes
through the injection capillary, where the refrigerant is
changed to the low temperature liquid refrigerant, and cools
the compressor motor.

Fig.4-56
(6) Low pressure control valve
The low pressure control valve controls cooling operation.
The low pressure control valve senses the low pressure
which is about 4kgf/cm2G or less (the pressure of the fan coil
unit) and bypasses the discharge gas from the compressor to
the accumulator.

Fig.4-57
(7) Distributor
Heat exchanger with a cross fin coil is not designed so that a
single coil passes all through the heat exchanger and
consists of two or more circuits. Therefore, a distributor is
used to distribute the refrigerant.
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Fig.4-58
(8) Gas/liquid heat exchanger
The gas/liquid heat exchanger is used in the multi system.
During operation, the high temperature liquid refrigerant
(before it is sent to the expansion valve ) and the low
temperature gaseous refrigerant (before it is sent to the
compressor) are exchanged in heat in this heat exchanger.
The function of this heat exchanger is shown with broken line
on the Mollier chart. [See Fig.4-58 (3)]
• Amount of subcooling becomes high so that liquid
refrigerant (before it is sent to the expansion valve) does
not become the flash gas easily.
• The cooling capacity increases.
• The low temperature gas is heated to a suitable
superheated degree so as to prevent wet compression.

Fig.4-59
(9) Pre-cooler
There are two types of pre-cooler, one constructed as a U-
shaped copper pipe with aluminium fins, and the other using
part of the cooling piping of the condenser. Either type
functions to cool the compressor discharge gas and to return
it to the compressor.
r. This protects against overheating of the
compressor motor and reduces power consumption.

Fig.4-60
(10)Muffler
(10)Muffl
f er
Some air conditioner provides a muffler to break up the
pressure pulses which create noise. The muffler is usually
located between the compressor discharge and the
condenser and installed vertically to provide efficient oil
movement.
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Fig.4-61
(11)Solenoid valve
In case of the multi system, the refrigerant flow for the fan coil CAPILLARY
SV TUBE(6)
units stopped during cooling operation should be blocked.
The solenoid valve is used to open or close the refrigerant SOLENOID
VALVE
circuit by energizing it on and off.

The solenoid valve resembles the electronic expansion valve ACCUMULATOR

in the piping circuit diagram. Therefore, do not confuse with it. ACCUMULATOR
The illustrated piping circuit is used for pressure equalization
COMPRESSOR
of high and low pressures while the unit stops running in
order to reduce the torque for restarting the
compressor.

(1) (2) (3)

Fig.4-62
(12)Check valve
This valve allows the refrigerant to flow in one direction
only. As shown in figure on the right, the structure is quite
simple, but care must be taken to install it in the correct
direction. In this reason, an arrow on its surface indicates
the direction of refrigerant flow.
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Fig.4-63
(13)Bridge circuit
The bridge circuit is made in combination of four check valves
in order to use the components downstream from this circuit
in common even though the refrigerant flows in the opposite
direction in cooling and heating, which is frequently
introduced the recent SkyAir Series.

As shown in the figure on the right, capillary tube for liquid

sealing prevention use as well as liquid receiver, filer, and
electronic expansion valve can be used as common parts.