Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Usa
    Age
    35
    Posts
    3
    Rep Power
    0

    Need help with Superheat



    So when the unit is kicked on under a load i understand that the pressure goes up thus causing the refrigerant to boil faster.But the easiest way to make sure an evaporator is working is checking superheat.But unlike subcool which is straight forward but with superheat i am confused.If someone can lay it out in layman terms. as i am on break from school and kinda got lost since im a hands on learner



  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    england
    Age
    49
    Posts
    3,874
    Rep Power
    46

    Re: Need help with Superheat

    Superheat is like a mirror image of subcooling, if you can understand one the other should be no problem.

    Taking water as an example at sea level, below 100C/212F it will be subcooled, above 100c/212F it will be superheated, that is to say warmed above its boiling point/saturation temperature at the corresponding pressure, in this example atmospheric pressure at sea level.

    Your gauges will have a temperature scale to go with the pressure scale for the refrigerant in use in the system.

    So for example, R22 system with evaporating pressure of 70psi gives a saturation temperature of 5C/41F, (the temperature the refrigerant it boiling at), now if you measure a temperature of 15C/59F on the suction line that gives a superheat of 10C/18F.
    Mostly found in Oxfordshire, UK :)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Republic of south africa
    Age
    48
    Posts
    186
    Rep Power
    20

    Re: Need help with Superheat

    Understanding Superheat

    Superheat is probably the most talked about, yet misunderstood, technical term used by technicians.Superheat is a measured value. It is the difference between two temperatures. Superheat is measured as the difference between the actual temperature of the refrigerant vapor and the saturation temperature of the refrigerant at that same point. Superheat on the system's low side can be divided into two types: evaporator superheat and total (or compressor) superheat.


    Evaporator Superheat

    Evaporator superheat starts at the 100-percent saturated vapor point in the evaporator and ends at the outlet of the evaporator. The 100-percent saturated vapor point is the point where all the liquid has just turned to vapor. The temperature at this point can be obtained from a pressure-temperature chart.

    Figure 1. A diagram of a basic refrigeration system.



    The evaporator outlet is where the remote bulb of the thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) is located. (See Figure 1.) Technicians usually put a thermistor or thermocouple at the evaporator outlet to get the evaporator outlet temperature. A pressure gauge at the same point as the temperature reading will give a technician the saturated vapor temperature. Most manufacturers of larger evaporators supply a Schrader fitting at the evaporator outlet pretty close to the remote bulb of the TXV for measuring pressure. (See Figure 2.)

    Figure 2. A Schrader fitting at the evaporator outlet or the beginning of the suction line can be used for measuring pressure.



    Example No. 1

    Let's look at an R-134a refrigeration system. The low-side gauge reading at the evaporator outlet equals 20 psig or 23 degrees F. (See Table 1.) The evaporator outlet temperature (thermistor reading) equals 30 degrees.The evaporator superheat calculation would be as follows: The evaporator outlet temperature (30 degrees) minus the saturation temperature at the evaporator (23 degrees) equals the evaporator superheat (7 degrees).


    Errors To Avoid

    If a technician were to measure the pressure at the compressor instead of the evaporator outlet, a higher and fictitious superheat value would be read. As the refrigerant travels the length of the suction line, there would be associated pressure drop from friction and/or restrictions. This would cause the pressure at the compressor to be lower than the pressure at the evaporator outlet.This higher, fictitious superheat reading may lead the technician to adjust the TXV stem clockwise (open) to compensate for the erroneously high superheat reading. This could cause compressor damage from liquid flooding or slugging from too low of a superheat setting.


    Example No. 2

    Assume a 5-psi pressure drop from the evaporator outlet to the compressor in an R-134a system. The low-side gauge reading at the compressor inlet equals 15 psig or 15 degrees. The evaporator outlet temperature (thermistor reading) equals 30 degrees.In this case, the evaporator superheat calculation would be: Evaporator outlet temperature (30 degrees) minus saturation temperature at compressor inlet (15 degrees) equals degrees superheat (15 degrees).
    The superheat changed from 7 degrees to 15 degrees simply by reading the pressure at the compressor inlet instead of the evaporator outlet. This correct evaporator superheat would be 7 degrees. It is best to measure the pressure at the same location as you measured the temperature to exclude any system pressure drops.


    Superheat Amounts

    The amount of evaporator superheat that is required for a certain application will vary. Commercial icemakers call for 3 degrees to 5 degrees of evaporator superheat to fill out their ice sheets.However, suction line accumulators are often employed on these systems for added protection. This will help ensure the entire refrigerant entering the compressor is free of liquid. This will also help keep a fully active evaporator. Lower temperature applications generally utilize lower evaporator superheat. Please consult the case manufacturer if in doubt. In the absence of manufacturer's data, a chart such as the one shown in Table 2 shows guidelines for superheat settings.
    There will always be a time when the evaporator sees a light load and the TXV may lose control of its evaporator superheat due to limitations of the valve and to system instability. This is where total superheat comes into play.


    Total Superheat

    Total superheat is all the superheat in the low side of the refrigeration system. It starts at the 100-percent saturated vapor point in the evaporator and ends at the compressor inlet. (See Figure 1.)Sometimes referred to as compressor superheat, total superheat consists of evaporator superheat plus suction line superheat. A technician can measure total superheat by placing a thermistor or thermocouple at the compressor's inlet and taking the temperature. A pressure reading will also be needed at this same location.


    Table 1. A pressure-temperature chart for R-134a.

    Example No. 3

    Let's take another look at an R-134a system. Low-side pressure at the compressor is 20 psig or 23 degrees F. (See Table 1.) The compressor inlet temperature equals 50 degrees.The total superheat calculation is as follows: Degrees compressor in temperature (50 degrees) minus saturation temperature (23 degrees) equals total superheat (27 degrees).
    In the above example, the total superheat was calculated to be 27 degrees. It is possible to have a TXV that is adjusted to control superheat at the coil (evaporator superheat) and still return liquid refrigerant to the compressor at certain low load conditions.
    If so, the conditions causing the floodback should be found and corrected. It is recommended that all TXV-controlled refrigeration systems have at least 20 degrees of compressor superheat to ensure that the compressor will not see liquid refrigerant (flood or slug) at low evaporator loads. Total superheats from 20 degrees to 30 degrees are recommended to ensure adequate compressor cooling and preventive liquid control to the compressor. The TXV, however, should be set to maintain proper superheat for the evaporator.
    Air-cooled compressors are more vulnerable to slugging and valve damage because the suction gases are not heated by the motor windings. The gases enter the sidewall of the compressor and go directly to the valves. The 20 degrees of compressor superheat will be a buffer in case the TXV loses control of superheat at these low loads.
    However, the evaporator superheat must still be maintained by the guidelines in the chart shown. A buffer of 20 degrees to 30 degrees of compressor superheat will also make sure that the refrigerant vapor entering the compressor is not too dense. Vapors at too high of a density entering the compressor will cause the compressor to have a higher-than-normal amp draw.
    This will overload the compressor in many instances and open thermal overloads.
    On the other hand, excess suction gas superheat and/or long periods of low mass flow rate (e.g., an unloaded compressor), can result in insufficient cooling of the stator and open the internal protectors.


    Increasing Total Superheat

    Remember, the TXV controls evaporator superheat. To obtain more total superheat, one may add a liquid/suction heat exchanger, or even run a bit longer suction line to allow heat gains from the surrounding temperature to heat the suction line.It is not recommended to take the insulation off of the suction line to increase total superheat. This will cause the suction line to sweat from water vapor in the air reaching its dew point on the suction line. Freezing at this condensation may also occur if suction line temperatures are below 32 degrees. Water damage can occur.


    Table 2. A sample chart showing recommended superheat settings for evaporators.



    If at all possible, do not sacrifice (raise) evaporator superheat to get the amount of total superheat needed. This will not maintain an active evaporator and system capacity will suffer.TXVs often lose control of evaporator superheat at evaporator loads. Low evaporator loads can be caused by many different situations.
    Causes for low load conditions on evaporator coils include:
    Inoperable evaporator fan motor.
    Iced-up or dirty coil.
    Defrost circuit malfunction causing coil icing.
    End of the refrigeration cycle.
    Low airflow across evaporator coil.
    Low refrigerant charge.

    TXV Hunting

    Anytime the evaporator coil sees a reduced heat load than that it is designed to see, a TXV can lose control and hunt. Hunting is nothing but the valve overfeeding and then underfeeding, trying to find itself.Hunting occurs during periods of system unbalance (e.g., low loads), when temperatures and pressures become unstable. The TXV tends to overfeed and underfeed in response to these rapidly changing values until the system conditions settle out, and the TXV can stabilize.
    It is this overfeeding condition that hurts compressors. Too low evaporator superheat setting also causes the TXV to hunt.
    In conclusion, a total superheat of at least 20 degrees can prevent the compressor from seeing any liquid refrigerant.
    Tomczyk is a professor of HVACR at Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich. He can be reached by e-mail at tomczykj@tucker-usa.com.
    Publication date: 06/07/2004

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Usa
    Age
    35
    Posts
    3
    Rep Power
    0

    Re: Need help with Superheat

    so to make sue i somewhat get it.You need the liquid refrigerant to absorb heat.To much superheat means not enough refrigerant is not there whether it be a restriction undercharge or leak.So with less refrigerant isnt able to transfer the heat.

    So even thou it sounds like high superheat is a good thing it isnt.Mainly since the pressure is low since very little refrigerant availible.So the suction line temp/pressure and evaporator temp/pressure is way lower then a system with the right amount of charge

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    England
    Age
    59
    Posts
    1,537
    Rep Power
    36

    Re: Need help with Superheat

    Quote Originally Posted by mayno561 View Post
    so to make sue i somewhat get it.You need the liquid refrigerant to absorb heat.To much superheat means not enough refrigerant is not there whether it be a restriction undercharge or leak.So with less refrigerant isnt able to transfer the heat.
    Yes. As the others have said, superheat is only the difference between
    the actual temp and the saturation / evaporation temp.

    Your gauges tell you the saturation / evaporation temp and the thermometer
    tells you the actual temp at any given point on the system.

    If you have too much superheat out of the evap it tends to mean not enough
    refrigerant inside the evap. Most superheat settings, on valves are between 6 & 8 degs.
    Some people allow between 5 & 10 degs.

    Any lower than 5 and there is a chance of the odd bit of liquid passing by, but higher
    than 10 means your evap is starved for whatever reason.



    Quote Originally Posted by mayno561 View Post
    So even thou it sounds like high superheat is a good thing it isnt.Mainly since the pressure is low since very little refrigerant availible.So the suction line temp/pressure and evaporator temp/pressure is way lower then a system with the right amount of charge
    Don't confuse the superheat out of the compressor with the superheat into the compressor.

    The superheat before the comp is measured against the evaporator saturation temperature,
    the superheat in the discharge of the compressor is measured against the condenser saturation
    temperature.

    Both are the same in the sense that the refrigerant is higher in temperature than the saturation
    temperature but the discharge is considerably higher in temperature because of the compression
    process.

    Rob

    .
    .. ... -. .----. - / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / --. --- --- -..

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    NTH.QLD Australia
    Age
    62
    Posts
    1,762
    Rep Power
    32

    Re: Need help with Superheat

    Quote: So when the unit is kicked on under a load i understand that the pressure goes up thus causing the refrigerant to boil faster.But the easiest way to make sure an evaporator is working is checking superheat.

    Superheat in the Evaporator is sensible heat gain. Sensible heat is a measurable temperature increase that occurs when the liquid/vapour mix entering the evaporator via the expansion device boils off before the evap outlet, leaving vapour only in the suction line to absorb heat while leave the room.

    Starting a system ( Aussies call this firing up ) is not the time to measure superheat as the system/ kit has to stabilize.

    My apologies to the previous ^ posters. I sifted through comments and thought i might be able to explain evap superheat in my own modest expression.

    May i add
    RIP for the late Robin Williams.

    http://www.marlerblog.com/uploads/im...80_602539a.jpg

    Last edited by mikeref; 12-08-2014 at 10:05 AM.
    To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •