Expansion Devices

Shyam Sunder
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering

BITS Pilani
March 11, 2016
Shyam Sunder Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering Expansion Devices

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Refrigeration System
Expansion Devices

INSIDE

EVAPORATOR ABSORBS
HEAT FROM SPACE.
EXPANSION DEVICE
METERS REFRIGERANT.

CONDENSER REJECTS
COMPRESSOR PUMPS
HEAT TO THE
HEAT-LADEN
OUTDOORS.
REFRIGERANT.

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Expansion Devices
Different Types

Capillary
tube

Automatic
expansion
valve

Shyam Sunder Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering Expansion Devices

Thermostatic
expansion
valve

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Expansion Devices
Capillary Tubes

Its a copper tube with a very small, calibrated,

inside diameter
Simple construction, no moving parts, directly
connects condenser and evaporator
Length and diameter of the tube depends on
the required mass flow rate and pressure drop
Equilizes pressure when ref. plant is shut-off and therefore reduces
motor starting torque when the plant is started again
Cannot adjust to load change. Usually used where the load is
relatively constant with no large fluctuations.
Small bore size tubes can get blocked with metal particles, or even
with high viscosity oils. A strainer is required at the inlet to the device

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Expansion Devices
Automatic Expansion Valve

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Expansion Devices
Automatic Expansion Valve: Force Balance

Force due to Spring Setting

Force due to Ambient

pressure
Valve
Diaphragm
Force due to Refrigerant
pressure
@
Evaporator

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Expansion Devices
Automatic Expansion Valve

These maintain a constant evaporator pressure and hence a constant

evaporator temperature during the on-cycle
Adjustment spring is usually set such that during off-cycle the valve is
fully closed
There is a slight variation in evaporator pressure during the on-off
cycle

Pe

Off

On

Time

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Automatic Expansion Valve

Effect of load variation

Decrease in Refrigeration Load

I

The evaporator temperature and hence the evaporator pressure

decreases
Due to constant spring setting, the valve will open more, allowing more
amount of refrigerant into the evaporator

Increase in Refrigeration Load

I

The evaporator temperature and hence the evaporator pressure

increases
Due to constant spring setting, the valve will close more, allowing less
amount of refrigerant into the evaporator

This valve counteracts to the requirement

Result:
I
I

Flooding of evaporator with a decrease in refrigeration load

Starving of evaporator with an increase in refrigeration load

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Automatic Expansion Valve

Applications

Automatic Expansion Valves are cheaper in cost

These are used in applications where an almost constant and
continuous load is maintained in the evaporator
Examples:
I
I
I

These are used in milk chilling units in dairies

Used in small capacity water coolers
Also used in some air conditioning systems

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Expansion Devices
Thermostatic Expansion Valves

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Expansion Devices
TEVs: Bulb Location

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Expansion Devices
Thermostatic Expansion Valve: Force Balance

Bulb
pressure

Valve
diaphragm
Evaporator
pressure
Spring pressure

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Expansion Devices
Thermostatic Expansion Valve: Characteristics

A thermostatic expansion valve maintains a constant degree of

superheat at the exit of evaporator
The pressure of the bulb fluid is the saturation pressure corresponding
to the temperature at the evaporator exit
If the evaporator is starving:
Degree of superheat is higher
Bulb pressure is more
Valve will tend to open

If the evaporator is flooding:

Degree of superheat is less
Bulb pressure will be less
Valve will tend to close

The refrigerant mass flow rate supplied through the expansion valve is
proportional to the load
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Expansion Devices
Thermostatic Expansion Valve: Effect of Load Variation

Increase in Evaporator Load

I
I
I
I

The evaporation rate of liquid refrigerant increases

The area available for superheating the vapour increases
As the degree of superheat increases, bulb pressure increases
This pressure will open the valve letting more refrigerant into the
evaporator

Decrease in Evaporator Load

I
I
I

The evaporation rate of refrigerant decreases

The degree of superheat decreases
The bulb pressure decreases so as to close the valve

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Expansion Devices
TEVs: External Equilizer

In case the evaporator is large and has a significant pressure drop, the
pressure from evaporator exit is fed directly to the bottom of the
bellows by a narrow tube

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Expansion Devices
Other Types

Float Valves, Hand Valves etc.

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Thank you all for the attention...

Any questions?

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