Geothermal Alliance of Illinois

TXVs – Theory and Fundamentals

John Haug – Senior Application Engineer
Emerson Climate Technologies - Flow Controls
Thermal Expansion Valve
Topics

 Anatomy

 Operation

 Terms & Features

 Superheat

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Anatomy

Valve
Sensing Power
Packing
Bulb Element
Metering
Diaphragm Pin

External Valve Inlet

Equalizer

Valve Outlet Internal Check

(Optional)
Pin Carrier
Superheat
S.H. Adjusting Spring
Stem (Optional)

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Power Assembly

Thermal
Thermal
Ballast
Ballast Stainless
Steel P.E.
Diaphragm
Stainless Steel

Buffer Plate
Emerson Flow Controls
Thermal Expansion Valve
Metering Pin & Port

Metering Pin
Valve Inlet

Valve Port

Pin Carrier

Valve Outlet

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Topics

 Anatomy

 Operation

 Terms & Features

 Superheat

Emerson Flow Controls

Why Do You Need A … TXV

“It regulates the flow of liquid

refrigerant into the coil to match
the heat load on the coil”.

This is accomplished by controlling the superheat

temperature of the refrigerant vapor leaving the
coil.

Emerson Flow Controls

Purpose Of A TXV
Controls Evaporator Superheat
– Responds To Temperature
And Pressure Only

Does Not Control:

– Space Temperature
– Head Pressure
– Capacity
– Suction Pressure
– Humidity

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Valve Operation (Separates high side from low side)

High
Pressure Low Pressure
Liquid Liquid
and Vapor

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Valve Operation

100°F
100°F Low
Pressure
High Liquid
Pressure and Vapor
Liquid 40°F40°F

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Valve Operation

Remote Bulb And

Power Assembly P1
Pressure
(Only Opening Evaporator Pressure
Force) (Closing Force)
P2

Valve is in
P3 Superheat Spring
Balance When
(Closing Force)
P1=P2+P3
Emerson Flow Controls
Thermal Expansion Valve
Topics

 Anatomy

 Operation

 Superheat

 Terms & Features

Emerson Flow Controls

1 pound of + 140 BTU = 1 pound of
Water 72˚ (Sensible Heat) Water 212˚

1 pound of + 970 BTU = 1 pound of

Water 212˚ (Latent Heat) Steam 212˚

1 pound of + 8 BTU = 1 pound of

Steam 212˚ (Sensible Heat) Steam 220˚
Emerson Flow Controls
Superheat Is A Temperature Difference
Not Just A Temperature

+ 40 - 40

+ 50 - 30

10°F Superheat 10°F Superheat

Emerson Flow Controls

Superheat Measurement
R-22

68.5 PSIG = 40 F

Actual Temp.
65.6 PSIG = 38 F
40°F
58.5 PSIG = 33 F

PT
Saturated CHART
33°F
Suction Pressure 58.5 PSIG
Note: Turn Clockwise Actual Superheat = 7°F
To Increase S/H
Emerson Flow Controls
Thermal Expansion Valves
Normal Superheat Settings

 High Temp = 10 to 12 F (>30°F Evap. )

 Medium Temp = 5 to 10 F (0 to 30°F Evap.)

 Low Temp = 2 to 5 F (Below 0°F Evap.)

Follow System Manufacturers Recommended Superheat

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valves
Superheat Adjustments
 Turn Adjustment Stem
Clockwise To Increase
Superheat.

NXT
 Adjustment (Superheat
Change) Varies By:
– Valve manufacturer
– Valve family
– Refrigerant
– Evaporator Temperature

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Topics

 Anatomy

 Operation

 Superheat

 Terms & Features

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Fixed Vs Adjustable Superheat

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Internal Vs External Equalizers

Internal Separate
Equalizer Equalizer
Connection

Outlet Connection

External
Equalizer

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Internal Bleed Option

A Bleed Port Is An
Internal Passage Directly
Between The Valve Inlet
And Outlet.
 Allows High And Low Side
System Pressures To Equalize
During The Off Cycle Thereby
Allowing The Use Of Low Start
Torque Compressors
 Adds To Total Valve Capacity
 15% To 20% Typical Bleed Rate

Emerson Flow Controls

Water Source HP Bi-Flow Cooling

Emerson Flow Controls

Water Source HP Bi-Flow Heating

Emerson Flow Controls

Thermal Expansion Valve
Internal Check Option

Flow Flow

Forward (Closed) Flow Reverse (Open) Flow

(Low Leak) (High Flow)
Emerson Flow Controls
Water Source HP Dual TXVs Cooling

Emerson Flow Controls

Water Source HP Dual TXVs Heating

Emerson Flow Controls

http://www.emersonclimate.com
• Emerson valves, controls and system
protectors.
• Other Emerson products including
Copeland compressors and White-Rogers
thermostats.
• Additional training and educational
material.
TXV Troubleshooting
Sensing Bulb Location
 Bulb Should Be Clamp On A Horizontal Run
 Bulb Should Be Locate On The Pipe At:
– 12 O’clock On Less Than 7/8" Pipe
– 8 Or 4 O’clock On Greater Than 7/8" Pipe
 In All Cases The Bulb Should Be Insulated From The
Ambient

12 O’clock
8 O’clock 4 O’clock

Emerson Flow Controls

Sensing Bulb Location
 In Most Cases The Bulb Can Be
Mounted In Any Position On A
Vertical Run
 In Most Cases It Is Not True That
The Charge Will Leave Bulb If OK
Mounted With Cap Tube Down
 Why Not OK?
 Horizontal Position Is Preferred Not
OK

Emerson Flow Controls

Proper Bulb and Equalizer Location
 The Bulb Should Be Located As Close As Possible To
The Outlet Of The Evaporator Outlet
 The Bulb Should Be As Close As Possible To The
Equalizer Tube
 The Bulb Should Be Located Up Stream Of The
Equalizer To Prevent Being Effected By Any Liquid
Leakage Through The Equalizer Tube

Emerson Flow Controls

Improper Bulb and Equalizer Location
 The Bulb Should Not Be Mounted On The
Evaporator Suction Header
 The Bulb Can Not Measure The Temperature On
The Bottom Runs
– This Could Create A Possible Flood Back
Situation

Emerson Flow Controls

Improper Bulb and Equalizer Location
 If The Bulb And The Equalizer Are Not On The Same
Side Of The P Trap Poor Superheat Control Can
Result
– Equalizer On The Coil Side Can Result In High
Superheat
– Bulb On The Coil Side Can Result In Low
Superheat

WRONG

Emerson Flow Controls

Improper Bulb and Equalizer Location
 If A P-Trap Is
Used The
Equalizer And
The Bulb Have To
Be On The Same
Side Of The Trap
– Coil Side Is
Preferred
– If There Is Not
Enough Room
The
Compressor
Side Of The
Trap Will Work

Emerson Flow Controls

Valve Doesn’t Feed Enough
 No Solid Column Of
Liquid
– Valve Can’t Make The Valve Must Have a
Capacity Solid Column of Liquid
 Results at the Inlet
– High Superheat
– Loss of Coil Efficiency

Corrective Action: Add Refrigerant

Emerson Flow Controls

Valve Doesn’t Feed Enough
Cause: Flash Gas In The Liquid Line
Diagnose By:
 Look For Flash Gas In The Sight
Glass
 Listen For A Whistling Sound At
The TXV.

Results: Flash Gas

– High Superheat Bubbles At
0 TXV Inlet
– Loss Of Coil Efficiency

Corrective Action: Remove Source Of

Restriction Or Add Refrigerant

Emerson Flow Controls

Valve Doesn’t Feed Enough
Cause: Incorrect Superheat Setting (High)

High Setting Normal Setting

Last Point Last Point

of Liquid of Refrigerant
Refrigerant
Inefficient

Corrective Action: Change Superheat Setting

Emerson Flow Controls

Valve Doesn’t Feed Enough
P1
Cause: Low or Lost Bulb Charge

 The Loss Of P1 Means The Only Opening

Force In The Valve Has Disappeared.
 This Means Little Or No Flow Through P2
The Valve - High Superheat
 Diagnose: Remove Bulb And Hold In
Your Hand
– If No Change In Valve Flow, Then The P3
Bulb Has Lost Charge

Corrective Action: Replace Power Head Or Valve

Emerson Flow Controls
Superheat Is Erratic Or Hunts
 Bulb Location
– Reposition Bulb
 Too Large A Valve
– Replace Valve With The Proper Size
 Superheat Adjustment
– Adjust Superheat To Correct Setting

 Don’t Jump to Conclusions to Quickly

– If the valve has been operating properly for a lengthy period
of time it’s probably not the conclusions listed above

Emerson Flow Controls

TXV Troubleshooting
Problem Sympton Cause Fix

Overfeeding Low Superheat S/H Setting Adjust

Overfeeding Oversize TXV Replace
Overfeeding Overcharge Remove Refrig.
Overfeeding Bulb Location Relocate
Overfeeding Dirty Evaporator Clean

Underfeeding High Superheat S/H Setting Adjust

Underfeeding Undercharge Add Refrig.
Underfeeding Damaged Power Head Replace
Underfeeding Clogged Drier Change
Underfeeding Ice Forming Change Drier

Hunting Fluctuating S/H Bulb Location Relocate

Hunting Oversize TXV Replace
Hunting S/H Setting Adjust

(See catalog section for more)

Emerson Flow Controls