Refrigerant Storage in Off System: Gas or Liquid?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the state and storage location of refrigerant in a refrigeration system when the system is turned off. Participants explore the behavior of refrigerant, including its phase (gas or liquid) and the implications of system design on refrigerant storage.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that when the system is off, the refrigerant can evaporate, leading to increased pressure and temperature, potentially resulting in a two-phase regime or entirely gas state.
  • There is a question about where the two-phase refrigerant resides, with some indicating it may remain in the tubes or the compressor.
  • Participants discuss the implications of refrigerant state at vapor pressure, questioning whether liquid refrigerant remains in the tubes.
  • One participant raises a concern about why liquid refrigerant cannot flow to the compressor cavity and references advice against tilting the compressor during relocation.
  • Another participant posits that the advice against tilting may relate more to the risk of lubricating oil flooding the compressor chamber rather than refrigerant behavior.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the behavior of refrigerant when the system is off, particularly regarding its phase and storage location. There is no consensus on the specifics of refrigerant behavior in this context.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the refrigerant's state may depend on various factors, including the type of coolant and the system's design. There are unresolved questions about the implications of tilting the compressor and the movement of lubricating oil.

M.Kalai vanan
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
WHERE is the refrigerant stored in the refrigeration system when the system is in OFF and
in WHAT state Gas or Liquid ?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
After switching off the cooling system the refrigerant evaporates, increasing the pressure in the closed system and therefore also the temperature. After a certain time the temperature of the refrigerant corresponds to the ambient temperature. Depending on the type of coolant, its state could be in the two-phase regime (at vapor pressure corresponding to the ambient temperature) or it could be entirely evaporated and the system contains only gas.
 
stockzahn said:
After switching off the cooling system the refrigerant evaporates, increasing the pressure in the closed system and therefore also the temperature. After a certain time the temperature of the refrigerant corresponds to the ambient temperature. Depending on the type of coolant, its state could be in the two-phase regime (at vapor pressure corresponding to the ambient temperature) or it could be entirely evaporated and the system contains only gas.

Thanks
But where will the two phase regime stay
Within the compressor or the tubes
 
russ_watters said:
...and it just remains in the tubes.
But once it reaches the vapor pressure, some of it becomes liquid and if so will the liquid remains in the tube ?
 
M.Kalai vanan said:
But once it reaches the vapor pressure, some of it becomes liquid and if so will the liquid remains in the tube ?
Sure. Where else could it go?
 
@ russ_watters
Why can't the liquid flow to the compressor cavity.
Why then the ac mechanics advise us not to tilt the compressor during shifting or relocating. They say it is the compressor that stores the gas during OFF.
Please expalin this part.
 
M.Kalai vanan said:
@ russ_watters
Why can't the liquid flow to the compressor cavity.
Why then the ac mechanics advise us not to tilt the compressor during shifting or relocating. They say it is the compressor that stores the gas during OFF.
Please expalin this part.

The refrigerant normally is stored in all parts of the cooling system (compressor, vaporizer, ...) .If the coolant is in two-phase region, part of the liquid phase could enter the compressor, if, after switching it off and turning/shifting/tilting the device, one of the valves is not tight (or even open) - this especially concerns the inlet valve, which is constructed to open, if the pressure outside of the compressor exceeds the pressure in the inside.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: russ_watters
M.Kalai vanan said:
not to tilt the compressor during shifting or relocating
I think it has more to do with the possibility of the lubricating oil flooding the compressor chamber, or entering into the condenser in bulk.
If the bulk of oil is pushed along and enters the capillary tube then more problems...as it works it way through
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
53
Views
12K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K