Table of Contents
Advertisement
Piping
•
All refrigeration piping and components are to be installed in accordance with applicable local and national codes and
in conformance with industry refrigeration guidelines to ensure proper operation of the refrigeration system.
•
Only refrigeration grade copper tubing should be used.
•
Long radius elbows should be used. Short radius elbows have points of excessive stress concentration and are subject
to breaking at these points, do not use short radius elbows.
•
Suction lines must be insulated with a minimum ¾" thick insulation tubing to reduce heat pick-up.
Cleanliness
•
Condensing units and evaporator coils are cleaned and dehydrated at the factory.
•
The condensing unit must remain closed and pressurized until the piping is complete and final connections are ready
to be made.
The maximum air exposure for dehydrated condensing units is 15 minutes. Systems exposed longer than 15
minutes must have the compressor oil and drier filter replaced. Leaving a system exposed to the atmosphere
for more than 15 minutes can result in premature system failure.
Do not remove base mount valve covers until work is ready to be performed.
•
Ensure that all refrigeration tubing is clean and dry prior to installation.
•
Use only tubing cutters when trimming tubing to the proper length. Do not use saws to cut tubing.
•
The use of saws to cut tubing can contaminate the system with copper chips causing premature system failure.
•
Brazing joints require a dry inert gas, typically nitrogen, be passed through the lines at a low pressure to prevent
scaling and oxidation.
•
Use only silver solder brazing alloys. Minimize the amount of flux to prevent internal contamination. Flux only the
male portion of the joint.
•
Thoroughly clean fluxed joints after brazing.
Dry inert gas must be passed through the system while brazing to prevent scaling and oxidation. Scaling and
oxides can clog refrigeration components resulting in system failure
Pipe Supports
•
All tubing should be supported in a least two locations (near the end of each tubing run).
•
Long runs will require additional support.
•
As a guide, support 3/8" to 7/8" pipe every five feet, 1-1/8" to 1-3/8" every seven feet, and 1-5/8" to 2-1/8" every ten
feet.
•
Do not leave a corner unsupported when changing directions.
•
Place supports within 2 feet of each direction change.
•
Piping that is attached to a vibrating object (such as a compressor or compressor base) must be supported in a
manner that will not restrict the movement of the vibrating object.
•
Rigid mounting will fatigue the tubing causing refrigerant leaks.
Section 4
Piping
CAUTION
CAUTION
CAUTION
.
9
Advertisement
Table of Contents
