AAON CB-060 - Manual (Page 15)

15
Determining Refrigerant Line Size
The piping between the condenser and low
side must ensure:
1. Minimum pressure drop, and
2. Continuous oil return, and
3. Prevention of liquid refrigerant slugging,
or carryover
Minimizing the refrigerant line size is
favorable from an economic perspective,
reducing installation costs, and reducing the
potential for leakage. However, as pipe
diameters
narrow, pressure-reducing
frictional forces increase.
Excessive suction line pressure drop causes
loss of compressor capacity and increased
power usage resulting in reduced system
efficiency. Excessive pressure drops in the
liquid line can cause the liquid refrigerant to
flash, resulting in faulty Thermal Expansion
Valve (TXV) operation and improper
system performance. In order to operate
efficiently and cost effectively, while
avoiding malfunction, refrigeration systems
must be designed to minimize both cost and
pressure loss.
Equivalent Line Length
All line lengths discussed in this manual,
unless specifically stated otherwise, are
Equivalent Line Lengths. The frictional
pressure drop through valves, fittings, and
accessories is determined by establishing the
equivalent length of straight pipe of the
same diameter. Always use equivalent line
lengths when calculating pressure drop.
Special piping provisions must be taken
when lines are run underground, up vertical
risers, or in excessively long line runs.
Liquid Line Sizing
When sizing the liquid line, it is important to
minimize the refrigerant charge to reduce
installation costs and improve system
reliability. This can be achieved by
minimizing the liquid line diameter.
However, reducing the pipe diameter will
increase the velocity of the liquid refrigerant
which increases the frictional pressure drop
in the liquid line, and causes other
undesirable effects such as noise.
Maintaining the pressure in the liquid line is
critical to ensuring sufficient saturation
temperature, avoiding flashing upstream of
the
TXV, and maintaining system
efficiency. Pressure losses through the
liquid line due to frictional contact, installed
accessories,
and vertical risers are
inevitable. Maintaining adequate sub-
cooling at the condenser to overcome these
losses is the only method to ensure that
liquid refrigerant reaches the TXV.
Liquid refrigerant traveling upwards in a
riser loses head pressure. If the evaporator is
below the condenser, and the liquid line
does not include risers, the gravitational
force will increase the pressure of the liquid
refrigerant. This will allow the refrigerant to
withstand greater frictional losses without
the occurrence of flashing prior to the TXV.
A moisture-indicating sight glass may be
field installed in the liquid line to indicate
the occurrence of premature flashing or
moisture in the line. The sight glass should
not be used to determine if the system is
properly charged. Use temperature and
pressure measurements to determine
liquid sub-cooling, not the sight glass.
Line sizes must be selected to meet
actual installation conditions, not
simply based on the connection sizes
at the condensing unit or air handling
unit.
CAUTION