Thermostatic Expansion Valves; Charging By Subcooling; Low Ambient Dampers - Trane INTELLIPAK Installation Operation & Maintenance

Thermostatic Expansion Valves

The reliability and performance of the refrigeration system
is heavily dependent upon proper expansion valve adjust-
ment. Therefore, the importance of maintaining the proper
superheat cannot be over emphasized. Accurate measure-
ments of superheat will provide the following information.
1. How well the expansion valve is controlling the refriger-
ant flow.
2. The efficiency of the evaporator coil.
3. The amount of protection the compressor is receiving
against flooding or overheating.The recommended
range for superheat is 10 to 16 degrees at the evapora-
tor. Systems operating with less than 10 degrees of su-
perheat:
a. Could cause serious compressor damage due to
refrigerant floodback.
b. Removes working surface from the evaporator
normally used for heat transfer.
Systems operating with superheat in excess of 16 degrees:
a. Could cause excessive compressor cycling on
internal winding thermostat which leads to
compressor motor failure.
b. Lowers the efficiency of the evaporator by
reducing the heat transfer capability.
Tables are based on outdoor ambient between 65 & 105 F,
relative humidity above 40 percent. Measuring the operat-
ing pressures can be meaningless outside of these ranges.
Measuring Superheat
1. Measure the suction pressure at the suction line gauge
access port located near the compressor.
2. Using a Refrigerant/Temperature chart, convert the
pressure reading to a corresponding saturated vapor
temperature.
3. Measured the suction line temperature as close to the
expansion valve bulb, as possible.
4. Subtract the saturated vapor temperature obtained in
step 2 from the actual suction line temperature obtained
in step 3. The difference between the two temperatures
is known as "superheat".
When adjusting superheat, recheck the system subcooling
before shutting the system "Off".

Charging by Subcooling

The outdoor ambient temperature must be between 65 and
105 F and the relative humidity of the air entering the
evaporator must be above 40 percent. When the tempera-
tures are outside of these ranges, measuring the operating
pressures can be meaningless.
Do not attempt to charge the system with the low ambient
dampers and/or hot gas bypass operating (if applicable).
Disable the low ambient dampers in the "Open" position (re-
fer to the "Low Ambient Damper" section) and de-energize
the hot gas bypass valves before taking performance mea-
surements.
With the unit operating at "Full Circuit Capacity", accept-
able subcooling ranges between 14 F to 22 F.
Unit Start-Up (Continued)
Measuring Subcooling
1. At the liquid line service valve, measure the liquid line
pressure. Using a Refrigerant 22 pressure/temperature
chart, convert the pressure reading into the correspond-
ing saturated temperature.
2. Measure the actual liquid line temperature as close to
the liquid line service valve as possible. To ensure an
accurate reading, clean the line thoroughly where the
temperature sensor will be attached. After securing the
sensor to the line, insulate the sensor and line to iso-
late it from the ambient air.
Note: Glass thermometers do not have sufficient
contact area to give an accurate reading.
3. Determine the system subcooling by subtracting the ac-
tual liquid line temperature (measured in step 2) from
the saturated liquid temperature (converted in step 1).

Low Ambient Dampers

Operation
Low Ambient Dampers are available as a factory installed
option on 20 - 75 Ton units or can be field-installed. Damp-
ers are used to extend the operation of these units from the
standard operational temperatures to a minimum of 0 F
without hot gas bypass or 10 F with hot gas bypass. (These
values apply when wind speed across the condenser coil is
less than 5 m.p.h. If typical wind speeds are higher than 5
m.p.h., a wind screen around the unit may be required.) By
restricting the airflow across the condenser coils, saturated
condensing temperatures can be maintained as the ambient
temperatures change.
The low ambient modulating output(s) on the compressor
module controls the low ambient damper actuator for each
refrigerant circuit in response to saturated condensing tem-
perature.
When the head pressure control has staged up to fan stage 2 or
3, the modulating output (0 to 10 VDC) will be at 100% (10 VDC).
When the head pressure control is at fan stage 1, the modulating
output will control the saturated condensing temperature to within
the programmable "condensing temperature low ambient control
point".
The following Table gives the minimum starting tempera-
tures for both "Standard" & "Low" Ambient units. Do not
start the unit in the cooling mode if the ambient temperature
is below the recommended operating temperatures.
Minimum Starting Ambient (1)
Standard (2)
Unit Size
20 & 40 55°
25 & 30 50°
70 - 130 45°
55 40°
50 35°
60 30°
Notes:
1. Min. starting ambients in degrees F and is based on unit operating
at min. step of unloading & unloading & 5 mph wind across condenser.
2. With or Without HGBP
95
Low Ambient
with without
HGBP HGBP
10° 0°
10° 0°
10° 0°
10° 0°
10° 0°
10° 0°