BASIC COMPONENTS OF REFRIGERATION AND AIRCONDITIONING

CAPILLARY TUBES EXPANSION DEVICES

Though the Capillary tube is not a valve, it does answer the purpose of expansion valve
in, domestic units and in some small commercial units such a refrigerator Water Cooler,
Cooling Equipments. It is a coil or a length of a fine Tubing that a very small orifice,
usually 0.30 to 0.10 in- in diameter. The high pressure is dissipated in forcing the liquid
through this small orifice and a predetermined amount of liquid of at a reduced pressure
is allowed to flow to the evaporator. The capacity is determined by the diameter and
changing the entire tube cannot change except length of tubing used and once installed,
capacity. The operation of capillary tube is simple and full proof. It is simple in
construction and no maintenance is required. System using this device does not require
receiver. The disadvantages associated with this device, the refrigerant must be free
from moisture and dirt otherwise it will chock the tube and stop the flow of refrigerant.
It cannot be used with high fluctuating load conditions.

HAND EXPANSION VALVE/ NEEDLE VALVE

A hand expansion valve is a globe valve with a needle seat in a smaller sizes and a plug
type tapered seat in the longer sizes. The chief advantages of a hand expansion valve is
simple construction, there is very little can get out of order. The main disadvantage is
that an operator must available at all the times to make the necessary adjustments to met
changing load conditions. At one time it was the only expansion valve available, but it

rapidly being replaced by automatic devices. This valve is still used in large system as
by pass valve around automatic control valve to allow operation in case of automatic
valve failure and during repairs. Some flooded evaporator control system also as a hand
expansion valve, For trotting and for liquid control. These have a float switch and
solenoid as the over riding control.

THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVE

The Thermostatic expansion valve controls the flow of refrigerant through the
evaporator will always in super heated condition. Its operation is used on maintaining a
constant degree of super heat at the evaporator outlet. The valve motion is to allow to
law or less refrigerant to maintain constant degree of super heat at the evaporator outlet
is controlled by the pressures. (1) Pressure in the bulb (2) Spring tension (3) Pressure in
the evaporator. Under normal operating condition the pressure exerted by vapour in the
controlling bulb on the diaphragm is balanced by the spring tension and the pressure in
the evaporator.

OVER LOAD PROTECTOR

The basic function of an over load protector is to protect compressor motor from
damaged, due to over current draw and over heating over its operating range and under
over load conditions of temporary valve which might occur occasionally. It is always
try to select an overload protector which will cut off compressor supply before it
reaches the critical winding temperature level and the some time ensuring that the over

load does not interfere at the acceptable winding temperature over its entire operating
range.

PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE

This type of valve is a positive action. Open-Close device it operates at pressure
differential of 3-1-3 Mpa by passing 95% of the discharge gas to suction side of the
compressor. This valve will protect the compressor due to sustained high head discharge
pressure. The valve has ability to open during slugging and vent the head gasket and
other failures. The valve is indentent as a supplementary safety device. It does not,
however, obviate the need to take all recommended precautions against refrigerant,
migration and flood bank.

HAND SHUTT OFF VALVE

This valve is used for to close open (On-Off) the circle of Refrigeration & Air
conditioning. It can be used at various places as per requirements.

FILTER DRIER
Filter drier are highly capable of keeping the system to low level of dryness. The
excellent quality of desiccants used which have the best properties to remove moisture,
acid and foreign contaminants. The incorporate brass screen and phospher bronze
screen in let and out let side for effective filtration of course and fine impurities as small
as 20 microns. The conical spring compresses the desiccant to such extent that the

individual particles cannot more during the passage of the refrigerant thus eliminating
the possibility of power formation. All internal parts are rust and heat resistant and are
unaffected during brazing of drier with system. Filter drier are principally used on
Refrigeration and Air conditioning system because of their excellent filtering, During
and acid removing characteristics. They are available in two type of desiccants i.e.
Molecular sieves Silica gel.

RECEIVER VALVE
This can be used for to fill the refrigerant gas or to use for to discharge the refrigerant
from cylinder/ receiver.

A/C FILTER DRIER & REFRIGERANT FILTER-DRIER

Single piece spun construction of copper eliminating corrosion problem from moisture.
One piece construction avoids fitting joint leaks. This filter drier is used only in some
Refrigerant and Air conditioner units such as domestic refrigerator and window type Air
conditioner units & Commercial freezer.

PTC RELAY
PTC relay is the need for improved or higher starting torque on some typical occasions
where PSC applied compressors are expected to start at extreme low voltage or under
circumstances beyond normal start conditions PTC start Assist Device is not introduce

to replace the difference combination of CSR electrical accessories Viz. Start capacitor
and start relay currently used on PSC design compressor.

DIAL TYPE THERMOMETER

Many process require on of giving temperature indication at a point remote from the
temperature sources while maintaining acceptance accuracy our it entire range, dial
thermometers have been economically. The complete thermometric system comprise a
sensing phiel, a length of capillary tubing, a bourden tube and a mechanical movement.
Any change in the temperature produces a change in the vapour pressure in phial, which
acts upon the burden tubes and results in proportional movement of the pointer over the
scale.

INDUSTRIAL THERMOSTAT
The purpose of industrial thermostat is same as Refrigerant Thermostat. The industrial
Thermostat is used mostly in plant Air Conditioning.

RELAY FOR STARTING OF MOTORS IN REFRIGERANT

At the time of starting, the motor takes heavy passes through the coil which pulls up the
plunger and the controls are closed bringing the starting winding into current. Once the
motor catches the speed, the current is reduced which automatically release the plunger
and the starting winding is cut off. Only running winding is kept in the circuit. Over

current element which is a bimetallic strip disconnect the supply to the motor when
excessive current is taken by the motor. Bimetallic strip and the contacts are broken.

DISCHARGE VALVE
This valve is divides the compressor from the rest of the system for that the machine
may be shut down and worked on without interference from refrigerant.

HIGH PRESSURE CONTROL / CUT OFF

A high pressure cut out is a pressure control device used as a safety control on the
discharge line of a compressor or a group of compressor. In case of condenser failure,
or other operating conditions that cause the discharge pressure to rise above a set point
the high pressure cut out, opens the compressor motor controls circuit to prevent further
pressure increase. The control can also be wired to actuate an alarm circuit.

LOW PRESSURE CONTROL CUT / OUT

A low pressure cut out is a similar type pressure controller. It is so arranged that the
contact are opened when the pressure falls below a given point. It is sometimes used a
safety control to prevent the suction pressure from falling to a point where the
compressor ratio will be too great for the compressor design. It also prevents the suction
pressure from falling to a point where other damage can occur from low temperature
such as freezing up of a water cooler. This cut out is often used as the control device to

stop the compressor when pressure (and therefore temperature) conditions have been
satisfied. These controls also have an adjustable range and differential.

STARTING CAPACITOR
It gives starting torque to the motor and cut off after running the motor.

RUNNING CAPACITOR
The function of the running capacitor is to give regular torque to the FHB motor or split
phase induction run motor. It connected in paralleled.

Y TYPE STRAINER
The function of the Y type strainer is to prevent foreign practical going to the expansion
valve. The Y type strainer fixed in the liquid line of the package Air Conditioner,
Central & other industrial & commercial air conditioners.

SUCTION GAUGE
The function of the suction gauge is to show the low side pressure of the system. It
works on spring tension as shown in equipment fitted on the board.

PRESSURE GAUGE
The function is to show high pressure of the system in terms of Kg/cm2 or Bar.

CHECK VALVE
The function of the check valve is to prevent the liquid into the line. It works on
pressure of the liquid. The spring lift up when pressure exists and allow liquid to pass
and prevent the way when pressure drop. It is also called saving device.

ANGLE VALVE
Angle valve on the liquid line located between the liquid shut off valve and the strainer
is very helpful in charging the system with liquid refrigerant. All these valves have seal
caps with seal washers to prevent any leakage of the refrigerant through the gland of the
valve stem. The flare ends should be capped in the angle valves provided for servicing
purpose.

HEAT EXCHANGERS
A heat exchanger may be defined as equipments, which transfers the energy from a hot
fluid with maximum rate and minimum investment and running cost. In heat
exchangers the temperature of each fluid changes as it passes through the exchangers
and hence the temperature of dividing wall between the fluids also changes along the
length of the exchanger.

OIL SEPERATOR
Oil separator is provided on the hot gas line to arrest oil carried by the refrigerant hot
gas from the compressor. Like in the accumulator, the heavier oil drops down into the

oil separator shell because of the low gas velocity in the shell. Oil catching screens or
centrifugal separation is also adopted. Oil separator is a must where oil is not miscible
with refrigerant (e.g. ammonia).

BALANCING VALVE
Balancing valves are used in the refrigerant cycle where we have to maintain the
temperature and pressure of two evaporators through the single compressor. The gauges
are also fixed in the balancing valve. So that we can adjust the pressure of the liquid
refrigerant while checking the gauges.

BALL VALVE
Ball valve are used in the air conditioning. It is hand-operated valve, which opens the
way of the refrigerant/water/liquid while flowing.

BUTTERFLY VALVE
Butterfly valve is hand-operated valve, which is commonly used in the by-pass lines of
water-cooled condenser/chiller (evaporators) and maintain and control the supply water.
We can control the supply of water to these water- cooled condensers/evaporators
immediately because these is no hand wheel on it.

2 WAY HAND SHUT OFF VALVE These valves are used in refrigerant and airconditioning cycle to close/open (on-off) the supply of refrigerant. It can be used at

various different places in the refrigerant cycle as per our requirement. It can also be
used as increase/or decrease the flow rate of liquid refrigerant.

3 WAY HAND SHUT OFF VALVE

3-way hands shut off valves are used in refrigerant cycle where the refrigerant has to be
control and then to divide into two different components. It can be used at various
different places in the refrigerant cycle as per our requirement.

GATE VALVE
Gate valve is hands operated valves and are used in the by-pass line of water-cooled
condensers/or chiller evaporator to control and regulate the supply of water. The supply
of water can easily be controlled by just revolving down the spindle fixed on the head
of gate valve.

SPLIT A/C COMPRESSOR VALVE

These valves are fixed in the sealed compressors to prevent the leakage of refrigerant
while repairing/maintaining the split Air-conditioners. Hence these valves decrease the
maintenance cost.

AMMONIA EXPANSION VALVE

Ammonia expansion valve is a hand-operated valve used for throttling of the liquid
Ammonia. In Ammonia expansion valve, there is an orifice, which gives resistance to

the liquid flows and produces the necessary pressure drop. In operation it is not
automatic and therefore the valve has to be manually adjusted every time the load
changes.
AMMONIA HAND SHUT OFF VALVE
Ammonia hand shut off valves are used in NH 3 air-conditioning where it is used to
control and regulate the supply of NH3 (refrigerant). It is also used as open- close (onoff) the supply of the refrigerant.

AMMONIA GATE VALVE

Ammonia gate valve are used in big NH 3 air conditioning plant. It is also a handoperate valve.

AMMONIA ANGLE VALVE

Ammonia angle valve are used in Ammonia air-conditioning. It is used a services valve.
We can save the NH3 at the time of maintenance through this angle valve only. In these
valves, we can fit the pressure gauge in on side and check the pressure also.

COMPRESSOR SEAL
In open type compressor at a point, where the shaft comes out of the compressor body,
there must be a sealing arrangement around the shaft to prevent the leakage of the
refrigerant.

COOLING TOWER NOZZLES

The atmospheric cooling tower by the use of spray nozzles, which spray water from the
top of the cooling tower. The spray helps in distributing the water in fine droplets
through out the area of cooling tower.

FLARE FITTING
Flared joints can be employed only with soft copper pipes. The ends of the pipes are
flared by the use of the flaring tool. Sizes of countersunk holes for taking in the copper
pipes of to diameter.
SOLDER CONNECTION FITTING
Solder or brazed method gives a stronger joint. These joints, If properly done are much
susceptible of developing leaks compared to the threaded flair joints. Hence this method
is extensively adopted for refrigeration units and air conditioning plants.

AMMETER
Ammeter is used to measure the current flow or ampere in a circuit. The coil in the
ammeter is of very low resistance and is always connected in series with the load,
which necessitates interrupting a connected load circuit.

VOLTMETER
A voltmeter shows the voltage or potential across a circuit. The coils of these meters are
of high resistance and should be connected in parallel (across the load).

ENERGY METER
The Energy meter is used to measure the power in the watts or kilowatts. Since power is
the product of voltage, current and power factor, both voltage and ammeter connections
are to be made to the wattmeter. Wattmeter in conjunction with potential and current
transformers are used to measure higher ranges of power (watts).

REVERSING SWITCH
Reversing switch is used as a phase changer. It is used with the generator and in the
main line.

A/C ROTARY SWITCH

A/C rotary switch are used in the window air conditioning to control the speed of the
motor. Generally three-speed rotary switch are used.

ROTARY SWITCH
Rotary switch is used a phase changer and also acts as a speed controller.

COMPRESSOR OIL HEATER

An additional arrangement in systems with halogenated refrigerant is the use of
compressor oil heated. By maintaining the oil temperature at a slightly higher level by
the use of compressor oil heater, the rate of absorption of refrigerant vapour by the oil,
during the idle period is substantially reduced. This, coupled with the pump down cycle,

wherever possible, eliminates the foaming problem at the start up. The heaters used are
of very low wattage (40 to 60W for to 60 ton compressors) and are not capable of
increasing oil temperature to a high level.

A/C HEATER
For winter heating applications, a hot water or steam heating coil is also provided in the
air-handling units. Instead of the heating coils, electrical strip heaters are also used for
heating the air when the air is heated, its relative humidity will obviously fall. So for
maintaining a proper relative humidity level, humidification of the air is also required.

KETTLE ELEMENT
Kettle element is used in boilers and used for heating the water according to the
requirement. While using the kettle element, it should merge with in the water only
otherwise the element burns out.

FINS TYPE HEATER

Fins type heater are the heaters with fins attached to it. These are used for winter airconditioning used for heating on increasing the ambient temperature of the atmosphere.

DUCT HEATERS
Duct heaters are the type of heaters, which are, used inside the duct of further increases
the humidity of the air. Humidification plants are extensively used for textile mills,

tobacco bulk storage, tea processing etc. Where high relative humidity levels are
required.

AUTTOMATIC EXPANSION VALVE

The automatic expansion valve is also known as constant pressure expansion valve,
because it maintains constant evaporator pressure regardless of the load on the
evaporator. Its main moving force is the evaporator pressure. It is used with dry
expansion evaporators where the load is relatively constant.
The automatic expansion valve consists of a needle valve and a seat (which forms an
orifice), a metallic diagram or bellows, spring and an adjusting screw. The opening and
closing of the valve with respect to the seat depends upon the following two opposing
forces acting on the diaphragm:
1. The spring pressure and atmospheric pressure acting on the top of the diaphragm.
2. The evaporator pressure acting below the diaphragm.
When the compressor is running, the valve maintains an evaporator pressure in
equilibrium with the spring pressure and the atmospheric pressure. The spring pressure
can be varied by adjusting the tension of the spring with the help of spring adjusting
screw. Once the spring is adjusted for a desired evaporator pressure, then the valve
operates automatically to maintain constant evaporator pressure by controlling the flow
of refrigerant to the evaporator.
When the evaporator pressure falls down, the diaphragm moves downwards to
open the valve. This allows more liquid refrigerant to enter into the evaporator and thus

increasing the evaporator pressure till the desired evaporator pressure is reached. On the
other hand when the evaporator pressure rises, the diaphragm moves upwards to reduce
the opening of the valve. This decreases the flow of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator
which, in turn, lowers the evaporator pressure till the desired evaporator pressure is
reached.
When the compressor stops, the liquid refrigerant continues to flow into the
evaporator. This increase in evaporator pressure causes the diaphragm to move upwards
and the valve is closed. It remains closed until the compressor starts again and reduces
the pressure in the evaporator.