Suction accumulators

[Camalla]

Hello

I read somewhere that suction accumulators can be useful in plated heat exchanger systems since with these plates the liquid refrigerant tends to condesate when the compressor is off.

Why liquid receiver tends to condensate when compressor is off? can anyone explain?

thanks

[The Viking]

What actually happens on some systems (without a solenoid valve in the liquid line and pump down to stop) is that the plate heat-exchanger used as evaporator fills up with liquid as it's the coldest part of the circuit. When the compressor then starts, it will try and compress liquid refrigerant...

A suction accumulator will reduce the risk of liquid reaching the compressor (so would a proper pumpdown)

[Tjune54]

To answer your second question; with out a soleniod valvle for pump down. The refrigerant will continue to migrate to the coldest prt of the system (cold plates).
When the level lquid level in the receiver drops below the king valve intake the refrigerant starts to boil and absorb heat. Thus dropping the tank below dewpoint and condensating where liquid touches the sides.

[Camalla]

Thanks a lot to both

[Peter_1]

What's King Valve?

[wambat]

The shutoff service valve on the receiver outlet

[US Iceman]

What's King Valve?

Peter, the king valve is the valve on the receiver that controls the liquid flow to the system (like wambat said).

I have never heard an explanation of how this valve came to be named this though?