Accumulator - Bryant Base Series Application Manual And Service Manual

Residential Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Using R-22 and Puron® Refrigerant: Application Guideline and Service Manual

Accumulator

The accumulator is specifically designed to operate with Puron or R22
respectfully; use only factory-authorized components. Under some light
load conditions on indoor coils, liquid refrigerant is present in suction
gas returning to compressor. The accumulator stores liquid and allows it
to boil off into a vapor so it can be safely returned to compressor. Since a
compressor is designed to pump refrigerant in its gaseous state,
introduction of liquid into it could cause severe damage or total failure of
compressor.
The accumulator is a passive device which seldom needs replacing.
Occasionally its internal oil return orifice or bleed hole may become
plugged. Some oil is contained in refrigerant returning to compressor. It
cannot boil off in accumulator with liquid refrigerant. The bleed hole
allows a small amount of oil and refrigerant to enter the return line where
velocity of refrigerant returns it to compressor. If bleed hole plugs, oil is
trapped in accumulator, and compressor will eventually fail from lack of
lubrication. If bleed hole is plugged, accumulator must be changed. The
accumulator has a fusible element located in the bottom end bell. (See
Fig. 26.) This fusible element will melt at 430°F//221°C and vent the
refrigerant if this temperature is reached either internal or external to the
system. If fuse melts, the accumulator must be replaced.
To change accumulator:
1. Shut off all power to unit.
2. Recover all refrigerant from system.
Manufacturer reserves the right to change, at any time, specifications and designs without notice and without obligations.
3. Break vacuum with dry nitrogen. Do not exceed 5 psig.
NOTE: Coil may be removed for access to accumulator. Refer to
appropriate sections of Service Manual for instructions.
PERSONAL INJURY HAZARD
Failure to follow this caution may result in personal injury.
Wear safety glasses, protective clothing, and gloves when handling
refrigerant.
4. Remove accumulator from system with tubing cutter.
5. Tape ends of open tubing.
6. Scratch matching marks on tubing studs and old accumulator.
Scratch matching marks on new accumulator. Unbraze stubs from
old accumulator and braze into new accumulator.
7. Thoroughly rinse any flux residue from joints and paint with
corrosion-resistant coating such as zinc-rich paint.
8. Install factory authorized accumulator into system with copper slip
couplings.
9. Evacuate and charge system.
Pour and measure oil quantity (if any) from old accumulator. If more
than 20 percent of oil charge is trapped in accumulator, add new POE oil
to compressor to make up for this loss.
Fig. 26 – Accumulator
30
CAUTION
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A88410