technology in refrigeration

Refrigerant pipes calculation

Selection chart The following chart shows maximum and minimum cooling capacity recommended for each suction line (gas line) pipe, as well as the average cooling capacity recommended for liquid line pipes.
LIQUID LINE GAS SUCTION LINE FROM EVAPORATING UNIT TO COMPRESSOR

Liquid line pipe selection

Once it is known a cooling capacity value at a particular evaporating temperature, a diameter for refrigerant liquid line pipes should be selected deppending on the cooling capacity recommended with a 50% margin.

Evap. temp. C

Nominal diameter for copper refrigerant pipes

Recommended Recommended Maximum cooling capacity (kW) for a 1K saturation temperature drop averange minimum in, depending on the pipes equivalent length. R404A load cooling cooling gr/m capacity capacity 10 m 15 m 20 m 25 m 30 m 40 m 50 m (kW) (kW)

Suction line (gas line) pipe selection

Once it is known a cooling capacity value at a particular evaporating temperature, this value should be between the recommended minimum cooling capacity and the maximum cooling capacity of the selected pipe, depending on its equivalent length. To guarantee a correct oil return through vertical pipes it is recommended to select a pipe diameter for which the cooling capacity is at least a 50% higher than the recommended minimum value. It is recommended not to select a pipe which values are in red color, due to a cooling capacity loss higher than 15% associated to these values. It is recommended not to select a pipe which values are in blue colour, associated to a maximum gas speed of 15 m/s.

1/4 3/8 HIGH TEMPERATURE Evaporation temp.: +0C 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1 1/8 1 3/8 1 5/8 2 1/8 1/4 3/8 MEDIUM TEMPERATURE Evaporation temp.: -10C 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1 1/8 1 3/8 1 5/8 2 1/8 1/4 3/8 LOW TEMPERATURE Evaporation temp.: -30C 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1 1/8 1 3/8 1 5/8 2 1/8 1/4 VERY LOW TEMPERATURE Evaporation temp.: -40C, isolation 30mm 3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1 1/8 1 3/8 1 5/8 2 1/8

2 5 9 15 23 32 42 55 80 110 200 1,7 4,5 9 14 22 30 40 50 75 110 200 1,5 4 8 14 20 30 40 50 70 100 170 1,5 4 7 12 18 25 35 40 60 90 150

20 50 100 160 240 340 450 570 850 1200 2100 20 50 100 160 240 340 450 570 850 1200 2100 20 50 100 160 240 340 450 570 850 1200 2100 20 50 100 160 240 340 450 570 850 1200 2100 0,2 0,3 0,5 0,8 1,1 1,5 2,0 3,0 4,0 7,0 0,2 0,5 1,0 1,7 2,7 3.5 4.5 6.5 9.1 17 0,4 0,8 1,4 2,1 3,1 4,3 6.5 9.1 17 0,7 1,2 1,8 2,7 3,6 6,2 9.1 17 0,6 1,0 1,6 2,3 3,2 5,5 8,8 17 0,9 1,4 2,1 2,9 4,9 7,9 16,8 1,2 1,8 2,5 4,2 6,8 14,3 1,6 2,2 3,7 6,0 12,7 0,25 0,45 0,7 1,1 1,5 2,0 2,5 4,0 6,0 10 0,4 0,9 1,6 2,8 4,3 5,8 7,3 10,5 15,0 28 0,3 0,7 1,3 2,2 3,4 5,1 6,9 10,5 15,0 28 0,25 0,6 1,1 1,9 2,9 4,3 5,9 10,0 15,0 28 0,5 1,0 1,7 2,6 3,8 5,2 8,8 14,2 28 0,45 0,9 1,5 2,3 3,4 4,7 8,0 12,8 27 0,8 1,3 2,0 2,9 4,0 6,8 10,9 23 0,7 1,1 1,8 2,6 3,6 6,0 9,7 21 0,4 0,8 1,3 2,0 2,8 3,7 4,7 7,0 10 18 0,9 2,1 4,0 6,7 10,4 13 17 25 35 65 0,7 1,7 3,2 5,3 8,3 12,2 16,7 25 35 65 0,6 1,4 2,7 4,6 7,1 10,4 14,2 24,1 35 65 0,5 1,3 2,4 4,0 6,3 9,2 12,6 21,3 34 65 0,5 1,1 2,2 3,6 5,7 8,4 11,4 19,3 31 65 0,4 1,0 1,9 3,1 4,9 7,1 9,7 16,5 26 56 0,9 1,6 2,7 4,3 6,3 8,6 14,6 23 50 0,6 1,2 1,9 3,0 4,0 5,5 7,0 10 15 30 1,2 3,0 5,8 9,6 15 22 25 38 54 95 1,0 2,4 4,6 7,7 12,0 17,6 24 38 54 95 0,8 2,1 3,9 6,6 10,3 15,0 20,5 35 54 95 0,7 1,8 3,5 5,8 9,1 13,3 18,2 31 49 95 0,7 1,7 3,1 5,3 8,2 12,0 16,4 28 44 94 0,6 1,4 2,7 4,5 7,0 10,3 14,0 24 38 80 0,5 1,2 2,4 4,0 6,2 9,1 12,4 21 34 71

Suction line pipes thermal isolation

It is suggested the following minimum isolation thickness, made in elastomeric material, to avoid any water condensation in ambient conditions of 25C and 50% RH: High and medium temperature: Low temperature (Tev: -30C): 10 mm 20 mm

Very low temperature (Tev: -40C): 30 mm

Calculation basis
The present calculation method, developed by Intarcon, is provided as a guideline, being the project technician responsible for making verifications. The calculation method is only used to calculate R404A refrigerant pipes made in copper specifically for refrigeration purposes. Maximum cooling capacity shown for each situation are based on a 1K saturation temperature drop, with a gas speed limit of 15 m/s (values in blue colour). Minimum cooling capacity recommended in suction line is relative to a minimum speed of 4 m/s in medium and high temperature, 5 m/s in low temperature and 6 m/s in very low temperature applications. The cooling capacity values have been calculated according to a 45C condensation temperature, with superheat 10K and subcooling 0K.

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technology in refrigeration

Equivalent length

The equivalent length of a refrigeration pipe is usually about 1,2 to 5 times longer than its real length, depending on the number of elbows and chokes in it. As a guideline, the values shown in the following chart can be used to get an approximate calculation:
Equivalent length (m)

Example 1.- cooling pipes calculation

Sizing up cooling pipes to service one evaporating unit of a cooling capacity of 1500W in a -20C cold room with DT1 = 7K. We size up the liquid pipes according to recommended cooling capacity, it is acceptable a pipe diameter of 1/4. We accept as premise a equivalent length of 1,5 times longer than real length. In our situation: Leq = 1,5 x 20 m = 30 m

Nominal diameter for copper refrigerant pipes

90 elbow

T-shape coupler straight flow angular flow

Choke

Siphon

Angular service valve

Gate service valve

3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1 1/8 1 3/8 1 5/8 2 1/8

0,7 0,8 0,9 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,4 1,7 2,0 2,5

0,3 0,3 0,4 0,4 0,5 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,9 1,1

0,8 0,9 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,5 1,8 2,2 2,7 3,3

0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,6 0,7 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,5

1,1 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8 2,0 2,3 2,7 3,5 4,3

1,8 2,0 2,2 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0 5,0 6,0 8,0

0,2 0,2 0,3 0,3 0,3 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7

We accept a pressure drop equivalent to a 1K saturation temperature drop, we see in 30m column, in low temperature section (evaporation temp. -30C), and we found that: 3/4 pipes are related to a recommended maximum cooling capacity of 1,5 kW, but with a cooling capacity loss higher than 15% (values in red colour). 7/8 pipes are related to a recommended minimum cooling capacity of 1,5 kW, but making difficult the gas return in vertical pipes. So, it is recommended to utilize 7/8 pipes in horizontal and descending piping and 3/4 only in ascending piping. We can check out that equivalent length estimated is right, indeed: Leq = 20m + 3x 1,1m (elbow) + 2x 1,6m (siphon) + + 2,5m (service valve) = 29 m

Recommendations

It is recommended to take notice of the following tips for a better cooling pipes design: Designing the pipes as straight as possible, with the lowest number of elbows, couplers and refrigerant jets. Installing a siphon in vertical pipes in suction lines every 3 metres. Giving the horizontal stretch a little inclination down to the compressor. Connection from the evaporating unit to the suction line collector should be always undertaken from the unit up to the collector.

Example 2.- multiservice installation calculation

Sizing up a multiservice installation pipes, as seen in scheme, to service 5 evaporating unit of 1000W each one in 0C cold rooms with DT1 = 8K. We size up the liquid pipes according to recommended cooling capacity, it is acceptable a pipe diameter of 1/4 for a cooling capacity between 1000 and 2000W and a pipe diameter of 3/8 for a cooling capacity between 3000W and 5000W. We accept as premise a equivalent length of 1,5 times longer than real length to the most distant evaporating unit. In our situation: Leq = 1,5 x 35 m = 52,5 m

Example 1
3m x 7/8

5m x 7/8 1/4 1/4 3m x 3/4

3m x 7/8 1/4

Siphon every 3 metres in vertical pipes 3m x 3/4 3m x 7/8 1/4

We accept a pressure drop equivalent to a 2K saturation temperature drop, we see in 25m column (50m2), in medium temperature section (evaporation temp. -10C), and we found that: For a cooling capacity of 1000W it is recommended a 1/2 pipe, of 2000W it is recommended a 5/8 pipe, of 3000W it is recommended a 3/4 pipe,

1/4

Example 2

5m x 7/8

and of 5000W it is recommended a 7/8 pipe, We can check out that equivalent length estimated is right, indeed:
10m x 7/8

Leq = 35m+ 1,1m (elbow) + 3x 1,8m + 1,2m (siphons) + +0,5+0,6+0,6 (chokes) + 2,5+0,2 (valves) = 47m

3/8

1/4 5m x 1/2 5m x 1/2

1/4 5m x 5/8 5m x 1/2

3/8 5m x 3/4 5m x 1/2

1/4 5m x 5/8 5m x 1/2

1/4 5m x 1/2 5m x 1/2

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