Curso
Módulo: Projecto AVAC – Dimensionamento e Selecção
Formador Joao Sousa
Data 2019
Refrigerant Piping
period one
Refrigerant Piping Requirements
© American Standard Inc. 2002 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC006-EN
Vapor-Compression Refrigeration
condenser
D C
expansion
device
compressor
A B
evaporator
Interconnecting Refrigerant
Piping
C
discharge
line
condenser
liquid
line expansion B compressor
device
A
suction
D line
evaporator
Refrigerant Piping Requirements
• Return oil to compressor
• Ensure that only liquid refrigerant
enters the expansion device
• Minimize system capacity loss
• Minimize refrigerant charge
Scroll Compressor
stationary
scroll
seal discharg
e
discharge
port
intake intake
moto
driven r
scroll shaft
Return Oil to Compressors
discharge
line
hot
liquid condenser vapor
line
warm expansion compressor
device
liquid
suction
line
cool
vapor
evaporator
Thermostatic Expansion Valve
(TXV)
distributor
TXV
evaporator
remote
bulb
liquid
refrigerant
external equalizer
refrigerant
vapor
Subcooling
subcooling
condenser saturated
{
A vapor curve
pressure
mixture of
expansio
n B
liquid and compresso
vapor
device C r
evaporator
saturated
liquid curve
enthalpy
Pressure Drop in a Suction Line
100
impact on system performance, %
98
efficiency
96
capacity
94
92
90 R-22
2 4 6 8 10 12
(13.8) (27.6) (41.4) (55.2) (69.0) (82.7)
pressure drop, psi (kPa)
Minimize Refrigerant Charge
filter
drier
evaporator
liquid line
suction line
compressor
discharge
line
condenser
Involve the Manufacturer
• If provided, use
refrigerant line sizes
recommended by
manufacturer
General Piping Requirements
• Use clean Type L copper tubing
– Copper-to-copper joints: BCuP-6 without flux
– Copper-to-steel (or brass) joints: BAg-28, non-
acid flux
• Properly support piping to account for
expansion, vibration, and weight
• Avoid installing piping underground
• Test entire refrigerant circuit for leaks
Refrigerant Piping
period two
Suction Line
© American Standard Inc. 2002 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC006-EN
suction line
Requirements for Sizing and Routing
• Ensure adequate velocity to return oil to compressor at
all steps of unloading
• Avoid excessive noise
• Minimize system capacity and efficiency loss
suction line
Process for Sizing
1 Determine total length of piping
2 Calculate refrigerant velocity at maximum and minimum
capacities
3 Select largest pipe diameter that results in acceptable
velocity at both maximum and minimum capacities
4 Calculate total equivalent length of straight pipe and
fittings
5 Determine pressure drop due to pipe and fittings
6 Add pressure drop due to accessories
Unloading Refrigeration Circuits
reciprocating compressor
with cylinder unloaders
scroll compressors
manifolded on a
single circuit
Selected Suction Line Sizes
2 1/8 in. 1 5/8 in. (42 mm)
(54 mm) riser
evaporator
2 1/8 in.
(54 mm)
drop
compressor
Double Suction Riser
circuit velocity inside minimum velocity for
capacity, 1 5/8 in. (42 mm) 1 5/8 in. (42 mm) riser,
tons (kW) pipe, fpm (m/s) fpm (m/s)
20 (70.3) 3,250 (16.5)
840 (4.3)
5 (17.6) 810 (4.1)
circuit velocity inside minimum velocity for
capacity, 1 3/8 in. (35 mm) 1 3/8 in. (35 mm) riser,
tons (kW) pipe, fpm (m/s) fpm (m/s)
20 (70.3) 4,600 (23.4)
780 (4.0)
5 (17.6) 1,150 (5.9)
Double Suction Riser
smaller
riser
larger
riser
trap
Sizing a Double Suction Riser
• Sizing the smaller riser
circuit velocity inside minimum velocity
capacity, 1 3/8 in. (35 mm) for 1 3/8 in. (35 mm)
tons (kW) pipe, fpm (m/s) riser, fpm (m/s)
5 (17.6) 1,150 (5.8) 780 (4.0)
• Sizing the larger riser
circuit velocity inside minimum velocity
capacity, 1 5/8 in. (42 mm) for 1 5/8 in. (42 mm)
tons (kW) pipe, fpm (m/s) riser, fpm (m/s)
15 (52.8) 2,450 (12.4) 840 (4.3)
Calculate Total Equivalent
Length
radius of curvature (r)
Leq is based on
r/d
diameter (d)
Leq for Long-Radius Elbows
elbow equivalent length, ft (m)
diameter,
in. (mm) “old” data “new” data
1 1/8 (28) 1.9 (0.6) 0.8 (0.24)
1 3/8 (35) 2.2 (0.7) 0.9 (0.27)
1 5/8 (42) 2.6 (0.8) 1.0 (0.30)
2 1/8 (54) 3.4 (1.0) 1.4 (0.43)
2 5/8 (67) 4.2 (1.3) 1.5 (0.46)
3 1/8 (79) 5.1 (1.6) 1.7 (0.52)
suction line
Add Pressure Drop of Accessories
• Suction filter = 2 psi (13.8 kPa)
• Angle valve = 1 psi (6.9 kPa)
• Ball valve = 1 equivalent ft (0.3 m)
suction line filter
TXV Installation
distributor
TXV
evaporator
remote
bulb liquid
refrigerant
refrigerant
vapor
external equalizer line
single distributor on circuit
Evaporator Coil Connection
must rise above
height of evaporator
TXV
bulb
must drop below suction header
header outlet
single distributor on circuit
Evaporator Coil Connection
must rise above
height of evaporator
TXV
bulb
must drop below suction header
header outlet
multiple distributors on circuit
Evaporator Coil Connections
must rise above
TXV
height of evaporator bulb
must drop below
lowest header outlet double-elbow
configuration
suction line
Other Considerations
• Do not use suction riser traps: they are not required
• Pitch horizontal sections to drain toward evaporator
• Insulate entire suction line
– Prevents condensation
– Minimizes loss of capacity due to heat gain
• Install suction-line filter close to compressor
– Manual shutoff valves allow isolation for replacement
• Install access ports to measure suction pressure and
superheat
Suction-Line Accumulator
• Check with
equipment
manufacturer to
determine if required,
recommended, or
discouraged
photo provided by Henry Technologies
suction line
Reciprocating Compressors
pitch
pipe
anchor
Refrigerant Piping
period three
Discharge Line
© American Standard Inc. 2002 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC006-EN
discharge line
Requirements for Sizing and Routing
• Ensure adequate velocity to return oil to
compressor at all steps of unloading
• Avoid excessive noise
• Minimize efficiency loss
discharge line
Process for Sizing
1 Determine total length of piping
2 Calculate refrigerant velocity at maximum
and minimum capacities
3 Select largest pipe diameter that results in
acceptable velocity at both maximum and
minimum capacity
4 Calculate total equivalent length of straight
pipe and fittings
5 Determine pressure drop due to pipe and
fittings
discharge line
Add Pressure Drop of Accessories
• Angle valve = 1 psi (6.9 kPa)
• Ball valve = 1 equivalent ft (0.3 m)
discharge line
Other Considerations
• Do not use discharge riser traps: they are not
required
• Pitch horizontal sections to drain toward
condenser
• Insulate only to prevent accidental burns or
when system must operate in cold ambient
conditions
discharge line
Reciprocating Compressors
pitch
pipe
anchor
Refrigerant Piping
period four
Liquid Line
© American Standard Inc. 2002 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC006-EN
liquid line
Requirements for Sizing and Routing
• Ensure that only liquid refrigerant enters
expansion device
• Minimize refrigerant charge
• Avoid excessive noise and pipe erosion
Subcooling
subcooling
110°F
pressure, psia (kPa)
{
(43.3°C)
293
(2,020) 125°F
(51.7°C)
241
(1,662)
saturated mixture of liquid
liquid curve and vapor
enthalpy, Btu/lb (kJ/kg)
liquid line
Process for Sizing
1 Determine total length of piping
2 Obtain subcooling provided by condenser
3 Determine refrigerant velocity
4 Select smallest pipe diameter that results in acceptable
velocity at maximum capacity
5 Calculate total equivalent length of pipe and fittings
6 Determine pressure drop due to pipe and fittings
7 Add pressure drop due to accessories
8 Calculate loss of subcooling due to pressure drop and
elevation change
System Operating Envelope
condensing unit,
low OA
temperature
system cooling capacity
evaporator,
high cooling load
evaporator,
low cooling load condensing unit,
high OA
temperature
saturated suction temperature
System Operating Envelope
high cooling load,
D low OA temperature
system cooling capacity
C
low cooling load,
low OA A high cooling load,
temperature high OA temperature
B
low cooling load,
high OA temperature
saturated suction temperature
effect of cooling load and outdoor temperature
Subcooling Leaving Condenser
cooling outdoor subcooling leaving
load temperature condenser*, °F (°C)
A high high 18 (10.0)
B low high 21 (11.7)
C low low 13 (7.2)
D high low 5 (2.8)
* This example system uses a TXV for the expansion device.
Involve the Manufacturer
• If provided, use
refrigerant line sizes
recommended by
manufacturer
liquid line
Calculate Total Equivalent
Length
5/8 in.
(15 mm)
5/8 in.
(15 mm)
5/8 in.
(15 mm)
drop
riser
evaporator
condenser
liquid line
Add Pressure Drop of
Accessories
• Filter-drier = 6 psi (41.4 kPa)
• Solenoid valve = 4 psi (27.6 kPa)
• Sight glass = 1 equivalent ft (0.3 m)
• Angle valve = 1 psi (6.9 kPa)
• Ball valve = 1 equivalent ft (0.3 m)
solenoid
valve
liquid line
Pressure Drop Due to Elevation
evaporator
condenser 15 ft (4.6 m) 11 ft (3.4 m)
vertical rise vertical drop
creates creates
pressure drop pressure gain
liquid line
Pressure Drop Due to Elevation
0.550
pressure drop/net liquid rise, psi/ft (kPa/m)
(12.4)
0.525
(11.9)
0.500
(11.3)
0.475
(10.7)
0.450
(10.2)
0.425
(9.6) 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
(4.4) (15.6) (26.7) (37.8) (48.9) (60.0) (71.1)
liquid temperature, °F (°C)
liquid line
Calculate Loss of Subcooling
5.0
(62.2)
loss of subcooling, psi/°F (kPa/°C)
4.0
(49.7)
3.0
(37.3)
2.0
(24.9)
1.0
(12.4)
0
(0) 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
(4.4) (15.6) (26.7) (37.8) (48.9) (60.0) (71.1)
liquid temperature, °F (°C)
liquid line
Evaporator Coil Connections
TXV
solenoid
valve
evaporator
distributor
liquid line
Refrigerant Accessories
condenser
liquid line
sight
glass
TXV
filter-drier
evaporator
solenoid
valve
Liquid Line Routing
evaporator
condenser
evaporator
condenser
route the horizontal leg below the
riser
liquid line
Other Considerations
• Pitch horizontal sections to run alongside
suction or discharge line
• Insulate lines that are routed through very
warm spaces
Refrigerant Piping
period five
Hot-Gas Bypass Line
© American Standard Inc. 2002 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC006-EN
hot-gas bypass line
Requirements for Sizing and Routing
• Ensure that oil and refrigerant are not
trapped in piping
• Avoid excessive noise
• Proper routing is more critical than pipe
diameter
Hot-Gas Bypass to Evaporator Inlet
TXV
evaporator
liquid line
hot-gas
distributor
bypass
valve
suction line
condenser
compressor
Hot-Gas Bypass Valve Installation
hot-gas pilot
bypass line
valve pitch away
from hot-
pitch back toward gas
discharge line bypass
hot-gasvalve
bypass line
condenser suction
line
compressor
discharge
line
Hot-Gas Bypass Risers
hot-gas
bypass hot-gas
valve bypass riser
drain leg
condenser
suction
oil-return
compressor line
line
hot-gas bypass line
Connection to Evaporator
solenoid
valve
evaporator
liquid
line
TXV
distributor
hot-gas
bypass line
hot-gas bypass line
Connection to Evaporator
check
valves
solenoid
valve
evaporator
TXV
distributor
hot-gas
bypass line
Hot-Gas Bypass to Suction Line
TXV
liquid line
evaporator
hot-gas
bypass
valve
liquid-injection
condenser valve
suction line
compressor
hot-gas bypass line
Connection to Suction Line
hot-gas liquid-
bypass injection valve
valve
liquid
line
solenoi
d
condenser
valve
suction line
compressor
hot-gas bypass line
Other Considerations
• Insulate entire line to prevent refrigerant
vapor from condensing
• Minimize overall length of the line
• Install solenoid valve if system includes a
pump-down cycle
Notas finais
• Os conteúdos deste manual de formação são da
exclusiva responsabilidade do formador.
• As fontes mencionadas foram fornecidas pelos
autores.
• Os direitos são cedidos pelo autor ao ISQ para
efeitos de formação.
Contacto do formador
JOAO SOUSA
[email protected] 919483202
