what is the fuction of accamulater in refrigeration

[jahangir.ahmad]

hi every one

one question is that please tell me the fuction of accumulater in refrigeration


thanks
jahangir ahmad khan
lahore pakistan

[philfridge]

It function is to act as a small reciever to collect and stop any surplus liquid refrigerant flooding back to the compressor .

[GXMPLX]

Adding to philfridge's reply it also: 1) permits flow of oil and liquid refrigerant back to the compressor in controled amounts. 2) Prevents liquid slugs (not just floodback) to the compressor. 3) Reduces gas pulses in the suction thus acts as a silencer for the suction line. 4) Reduces metal particles reaching the compressor. 5) (Almost forgot) provides a mixing chamber to desuperheat suction gas if you have to use liquid inyection to do it. It has two drawbacks: 1) it adds pressure drop to the suction increasing suction gas superheat when it might not be nessesary. 2) It does not work if it is poorly dimensioned (like it usually is in heat pump applications) because it can flood with oil and refrigerant and not stop the floodback to the compressor. 3) If the system is allowed to stop and the accumulator is flooded, the suction tube will become full of liquid refrigerant that will return uncontrolled when the compressor starts.

[US Iceman]

These devices are sometimes called suction accumulators because of their location in the system. As their name states they accumulate the liquid refrigerant returning from the evaporators so that any liquid does not enter the compressor.

Of course, they have to be properly selected to accomplish that task.

[sinewave]

There quite handy for Pumping down purposes in small split A/C's too!

[frank]

There quite handy for Pumping down purposes in small split A/C's too!

They are on the wrong side of the system to be any use for pumpdown. Refrigerant is stored in the condenser/receiver during pumpdown.

[Thermatech]

Heat pump systems need suction accumulator because a different volume of refrigerant is needed for cooling & heating modes.

VRF systems need to store liquid when some indoor units are off & less refrigerant is needed around the system.

So suction accumulator standard on most heat pumps & vrf systems.

Also some manufacturers tend to precharge split systems for long interconnecting pipe length, but if installer has short pipe length then system needs to store excess refrigerant.

[GXMPLX]

Heat pump systems need suction accumulator because a different volume of refrigerant is needed for cooling & heating modes.

No, that's why they need high pressure receivers but not accumulators.

They need accumulators because every time you change cycle you kick off the refrigerant of the "until then condenser" into the suction of the compressor.

Being this the main purpose and lack of space make designers choose undersized accumulators for my taste!

[2007eng]

I think the main function is to prevent the entering of liquid to the compressor.

[pomdekiwi]

Are we all agreed then that it has many functions lol

Pom

[2007eng]

Are we all agreed then that it has many functions lol

Pom

Yes it has many functions :) and also it has main functions.