Hello,

I've noticed many hermetically sealed refrigeration compressors have the compressor housing connected as the lowside of the system so the output of the pump is plumbed directly out. I've also noticed many have the opposite setup where the housing is the highside so the suction line is plumbed directly into the pump.


Does anyone know what the reasons are for this?

I work a lot with antique refrigerators and from 1927-1934 General Electric had the compressor housing as the highside, but they also required a heater to keep refrigerant from condensing in the oil. In 1934-1935 time they swapped and started using the housing as the lowside and omitted the heater. I had assumed this was done for no reason other than it had not been thought of before. Now I just learned many modern compressors are setup with the housing as the highside so I'm guessing there is a whole lot more to it.

I'm hoping someone will know what reasons for and or pros and cons of each setup.