Originally Posted by Dan
Hi Mohamed
Accumulators are used very often with TXV systems. Especially in refrigeration systems. I cannot say that I wholeheartedly agree with their use, but I can provide some rationals.
On heat pumps and simple hot gas defrost systems, they are there to provide a safety tank for unevaporated refrigerant that has been switched to travel back down the suction line from the evaporator.
With low temperature refrigeration systems, iced up coils occur often enough to permit the exansion valves to overfeed and flood back to the compressors.
Accumulators are not without their drawbacks. They are often made of steel and will rust through. They can plug the oil return oririfice and starve the compressor of oil. And finally... just how large should the accumulator be?