An AUTO-PURGER noncondensible gas (air)

purger quickly and efficiently removes air from a

~o oufger
'f" Instil/I.eO'
refrigeration system. Noncondensible gases,prima-
rily air, present in a refrigeration system increase
condensing pressures. Air also reduces the overall
capacity of the refrigeration system by acting as an 1;;
0
u
insulator, which increasesthe amount of time
compressorsmust run. The increasedrun-time of i

compressors, in turn, increase the energy required L

to operate the system throughout the year. This is
true not only during the hot ambient temperatures OJ
C
of summer days, but also during the cool ambient .~ (ij
a. u.
cn
temperatures of night and the winter season.Elimi-
.
nating air in the refrigeration system reduces the
Installation of an AUTO-PURGER
energy required to operate the system, resulting in
results in savings on energy costs all year.
lower electricity bills.

The thousands of satisfied AUTO-PURGER

customers are a testament to the quality and reli- 0 Large air removal capacity over a
ability of Hansen AUTO-PURGERs. The money short time span
saved in reduced energy costs alone will pay for the
purchase and installation of an AUTO-PURGER. 0 Multipoint purging
Hansen AUTO-PURGERs are the leader in
0 Payback typically within one year
multipoint purging. Multipoint purging is the only
effective method for removing all air from a refrig-
0 Flexible installation location
eration system. In addition, the large air-removal
capacity of Hansen AUTO-PURGERs allows a very
0 Models to match a variety of system
large amount of air to be removed quickly. This
sizes and requirements
helps ensure that the refrigeration system runs at its
design capacity, especially in hot weather months.
0 Completely automatic startup
There are AUTO-PURGER models to match a
variety of system requirements. From large ammo- 0 Factory assembled and tested
nia or halocarbon systems, to single condenser
operation, to hazardous locations, there is an 0 CSA and CE certification available
AUTO-PURGER to meet your needs. .
2 ..

(shownwith optional valve package)
A UTO- PUR G ER AP
0 For multiple purge points, up to 24 points
0 Ideal for large systems up to 1500tons (5300kW)
nominal capacity
0 Total and rapid air removal
0 Prewired, prepiped, and insulated
0 Each unit tested on a real refrigeration system
0 Solid-state controls
0 Completely automatic
0 Water bubbler included
AUT 0- PUR G ER APM
0 For multiple purge points, up to four points
0 Ideal for medium-size systems up to 200 tons
(700 kW) nominal capacity
0 Solid-stare controls sensethe presence of air and
purge for a longer time at those points
0 Completely automatic with self-diagnostics
0 Welded pipe construction
0 Prewired, prepiped, and insulated
0 Water bubbler included
0 Functionally tested
NON-ELECTRICAL
A UTO- PURG ER (NEAP)
0 Low costand very simple
0 Typically usedfor a singlepurge point
0 Idealfor small systemsup to 100tons(350kW)
nominal capacity
0 Completelya nonelectricdesign
0 Especiallysuited for installation in hazardous
atmospheres
0 Fully automatic
0 Weldedpipe construction
0 Prepipedand assembled
0 Functionallytested
3
 To calculate the approximate annual savings
that can be realized by installing an AUTO-PURGER,
use the formula at the left. Simply enter the values
and complete the computation. To determine the
condensing pressure of pure refrigerant, refer to a
pressure-temperature chart for the refrigerant used.
An ammonia pressure-temperatUrechart is on page 7.
To determine the excesspressure due to air, refer to
the explanation and examples on page 7.

US Customary
The conditions for this example are:
Refrigerant: ammonia
Suction temperature: OaF
Condensing temperature: 86°F
Excesspressure due to air (Pa): 17 psi
Pure refrigerant condensing pressure (Pd): 169.2psia
System capacity (C): 1500 tons
Energy consumption factor (H): .80
Hours of run-time per year (T): 6500hours
Electric rate per kilowatt-hour (M): .06 dollars

17 psi
x 1500tons x .80 x 6500 hours x $.06/kW-hr
169.2 psia

= $47,O20/year

Metric
The conditions for this example are:
Refrigerant: ammonia
Suction temperature: -30°C
Condensing temperature: 30°C
Excesspressure due to air (Pa): 1.2 bar
Pure refrigerant condensing pressure (Pd): 11.6bar
System capacity (C): 5300kW
Energy consumption factor (H): .32
Hours of run-time per year (T): 6000hours
Electric rate per kilowatt-hour (M): .08 dollars

1.2 bar
x 5300 kW x .32 x 6000 hours x $.08/kW-hr
11.6bar
Note: Thesefactors are calculated at 86~ and 30OC
= $84,212/year
condensing temperature.
5
Condensing pressure and
purger operation Q)
... Above I
~
AUTO-PURGERs
remove more air and over a In Pn~ssu "e
In
shorter period of time than other purging methods Q)
...
D..
or units to maintain the minimum possible con- C)
c
densingpressure.A refrigerationsystemwithout a ,
'In
c
purger or with an inadequatepurger may allow ~Q)
"'C
C
fluctuations in condensing pressure or may not be 0
able to maintain the minimum possiblecondensing '.u:

pressure. The charts to the right illustrate this effect.

= Excess Pressure Due to Air
= Design Pressure

C1)
~
~ Above Desi~ri
(/)
Air can enter a system in a number of ways. For (/) Priessure
C1)
~
systems operating in a vacuum, leaky gaskets and C-
O')
shaft seals allow air into the system. Other common C
(/)
ways for air to enter are during repairs and service, C
C1)
when adding refrigerant to the system, and through "'0
C
the chemical breakdown of refrigerant. Also, lubri- 0
(,)
cating oils can breakdown under heat and high
Time ~.
pressure to create noncondensible gases.
Pressureprofiles for a system with an AUTO-PURGER
versus manual purging and the same system with an
AUTO-PURGER versus an inadequate purger.
Where does air collect?
Air collects at various locations on the high-
pressure side of the system. These locations are
typically the lowest gas velocity and coolest tem-
perature areas.High-pressure condensers, receivers,
and heat reclaim heat exchangers are all likely
locations where air will collect.

Air as an insulator
Air tends to act as insulation in refrigeration
systems.A layer of air forms a blanket on the walls
of the condensing surface, preventing refrigerant
from making contact with the lower-temperature
heat exchanger surface. This results in greatly
Air acts as an insulator between the refrigerant and the
reduced system efficiency. cooling surface,greatly reducing condensing efficiency.
6 . ..

180 psig
I compressors shutting down due to the high pres-
/
/
Measuring the excesspressure in a refrigeration system.
Metric
Temperature at the
outlet of the condenser: 32°C
Pressure at the
outlet of the condenser: 12.8bar or 13.8bar absolute
Pressure of pure ammonia at 32°C: 12.3 bar absolute
Excesspressure: 13.8bar - 12.3bar = 1.5 bar
Saturation pressure-temperature charts for pure ammonia (no air).
The AUTO-PURGER Story
Hansen Technologies Corporation is the
true pioneer and idea generator for modem
industrial refrigeration air purging equipment.
Recognizing that existing systems were inad-
equate and not being utilized, Hansen devel-
oped a range of AUTO-PURGERs which are
recognized as the world standard.
How do I know how much air is
in the system?
The presence of air in a refrigeration system is
indicated by excessively high head pressure. This
may be indicated by a pressure gauge or by system
sure. The amount of air in a system can also be
measured by comparing the actual condensing
pressure to the condensing pressure of pure refrig-
erant at a given temperature. Refer to the following
examples using ammonia as the refrigerant.
US Customary
Temperature at the
outlet of the condenser: 89°F
Pressure at the
outlet of the condenser: 180 psig or 194.7psia
Pressure of pure ammonia at 89°P: 177.7psia
Excesspressure: 194.7psia -177.7 psia = 17 psi
*absolute pressure
With nearly 10,000AUTO-PURGERs in-
stalled throughout the world, Hansen customers
collectively save approximately $100,000,000(in
US dollars) per year in electric power costs.As
the number of installed AUTO-PURGERs
continues to grow the savings in electric power
costs per year continues to grow.
7
 It is difficult to determine where air will collect
in a system. There are typically several likely collec-
tion points. Multiple factors influence where air will
collect. The number of condensers and receivers,
condenser piping design, and component arrange-
ment and operation all affect the location of air.

Seasonalweather can also affect where air

collects. In hot summer weather, air may be driven
to the lower-temperature, high-pressure receivers
inside a building. In cold winter weather, the
opposite may be true.

Therefore, it is important to purge from each

possible air collection point one at a time.
Multipoint purging is the only effective method to
ensure complete air removal from the system.

Multipoint purging.

Why not just open all purge points at the same To AUTO-PURGER
time?If this is done,air is removedfrom only one of (lower pressure)
the points. Eventhough the pressuredifference ~

acrossthe purge points may be assmall as .25psi

(.02bar), air will only be removedfrom the point (.nr~~=1= 1+';;es
that has the highestpressure.As a result, air will
continueto collectin the other locations. Open
In addition, if the pressure difference is great
enough, it is possible that air from the point with
the highest pressure can be forced into the other 155.3 psig 155.0 psig 155.8 psig 155.5 psig
10.71 bar 10.69 bar 10.74 bar 10.72 bar
condensers. By purging from each point one at a
time, which is standard on AUTO-PURGERs, air is Purge Points (Condenser Outlet)

effectively removed from throughout the entire When multiple purge points are open simultaneously, air
refrigeration system. is purgedfrom only the point with the highest pressure.

8
 Gas velocity is too high at the
inlet to allow air to collect \
Purge points should be installed at the most
Inlet likely locations where air will collect. In general,
these points are at the lowest-temperature, lowest-
velocity areas of high-pressure receivers, condens-
lAir ers, and other high-pressure components.

Purge Purge points should be located in such a way as

/ Point
to ensure liquid is not drawn into the purger. For
example, locate the purge point on top of a pipe or
receiver, not on the bottom.

Outlet The outlet piping of the purge point solenoid

valves can be connected to a manifold to save on
piping. However, only one point should be open at
Trapcreates
a liquid seal any given time. The manifold piping should pitch
to gather air at down toward the AUTO-PURGER to facilitate
the purge point draining of any condensed refrigerant.

Purge point location for an evaporative condenser. Evaporative condensers should be purged from
the top of the outlet header of each circuit. Manu-
facturers often provide a connection at this location
for a purge point. A trap should be installed in the
condenser drain leg. This creates a liquid seal to
trap air at the outlet of the condenser and prevent it
from migrating to the receivers.

Receivers with the inlet at one end should have

Air collects at the coolest, lowest velocity areas
Purge point locations for horizontal receivers.
a purge point installed at the top of the opposite
end. Receivers with the inlet in the middle should
have a purge point at the top on each end,.This
applies to water-cooled condensers as well.
Purge point solenoid valves should be a mini-
mum of ~"(13 mm) port size. The purge point
5piping should alsobe a minimum of ~" (13 mm)
size. Piping should pitch down toward the purger
to facilitate draining of any condensed refrigerant.
No traps should be present in the piping or mani-
fold. Avoid running purge point piping through
refrigerated spacesto minimize condensing of any
refrigerant present in the purge gas.

9
AUTO-PURGER AP
Shown at the right is an AUTO-PURGER AP
installed in a typical large industrial refrigeration
system. The piping arrangement shown is typical
high-side piping for two dual-circuit condensers
and a receiver.

There is a total of six purge points on this

system. Each circuit of each condenser is purged at
the outlet. The inlet of the receiver is located in the
middle. Therefore, a purge point is located at each
end of the receiver. These purge points are the
coolest, lowest-velocity areas of these components.

TheAUTO-PURGERAP sequencesthe sole-

noid valvesto purge from eachpoint individually.
Only one purge point solenoidvalve is open at any AUTO-PURGER AP application with six purge points.

given time. This ensuresthat air is efficiently re-

moved from the system.

AUT 0- PUR G ER APM

Shown at the left is an AUTO-PURGER APM
installed in a typical medium-size industrial refrig-
eration system. The piping arrangement shown is
typical high-side piping for two single-circuit
condensers and a receiver.

Thereis a total of threepurge points utilized in

this system.Eachcondenseris purged at the outlet.
The inlet of the receiveris at one end. Therefore,the
purge point is locatedat the other end of the vessel.
This is the coolest,lowest-velocityareaof the vessel.

The AUTO-PURGERAPM sequencesthe

solenoidvalvesto purge from eachpoint individu-
ally. Only one purge point solenoidvalve is open at
any given time. This ensuresthat air is efficiently AUTO-PURGER APM application using
removedfrom the system. three purge points.

10
NON-ELECTRICAL
AUTO-PURGER (NEAP)
Shown at the right is a Non-Electrical

AUTO-PURGER (NEAP) installed on a small

industrial shell and tube skidded chiller package.

The purge point is located on the condenser at the

opposite end as the inlet. This is the coolest, lowest-

velocity area of the condenser. Shown below is a

simple system often found in geographically-remote

installations. The simple design of the NEAP makes

AUTO-PURGER NEAP installed on a skidded chiller
it especially suited for these installations. packagefor use in hazardous atmospheres.

AUTO-PURGER NEAP installed on a simple system in a geographically-remote area.

Selecting an AUTO-PURGER
Severalfactorsareinvolved in selectingthe
a System size? correctAUTO-PURGERfor an application.First, the
a Suction above or in a vacuum? systemsizeneedsto be considered.In general,for a
Above vacuum (nominal capacity): systemwith a high potential for air entry,suchas
a AUTO-PURGER AP one with suctionin a vacuum or frequently opened
1500 tons (5300 kW) for repairs,the purger capacitymust be derated.For
a AUTO-PURGER APM example,the AUTO-PURGERAP is suitedfor sys-
200 tons (700 k W) ternsup to 1500tons (5300kW) with suction above
a Non-Electrical AUTO-PURGER vacuum.For systemswith suction in a vacuum,the
100 tons (350 kW) NEAP AP is suited for systemsup to 750tons (2600kW).
In a vacuum (nominal capacity):
a AUTO-PURGER AP In addition, the total number of purge points
750 tons (2600k W) must be considered.TheAUTO-PURGERAP is
a AUTO-PURGER APM suited for up to 24 purge points, the APM for up to
100 tons (350 kW) four purge poirits, and the NEAP is typically used
a Non-Electrical AUTO-PURGER to purge a singlepoint.
75 tons (265 k W) NEAP If nonelectric control is required, such as for
0 Number of purge points? hazardous atmospheres, the model NEAP should be
installed. The simple, nonelectric design of the
0 Electronic or nonelectric control?
NEAP also makes it ideal for installation in geo-
0 Hazardous atmosphere installation? graphically-remote locations.
11
 All AUTO-PURGERs are designed for use with
ammonia refrigerant. In addition, Model APF is a
variation of the AUTO-PURGER AP designed
specifically for use with halocarbon refrigerants.
The APF comes complete with a filter-dryer condi-
tioning system on the foul gas and liquid lines. The
filter-dryer system removes water from the refriger-
ant beforeit entersthe purger.This preventsfreeze-
up at the expansion device, but also supplements
the water removal of the system's main filter-dryers.

AUTO-PURGER AP AUTO-PURGER APM

Catalog Description
Number
APO8 AUTO-PURGER AP, 8 Points
AP16 AUTO-PURGER AP, 16 Points
AP24 AUTO-PURGER AP, 24 Points
APC AUTO-PURGERfor ComputerizedPlants
AUTO-PURGER AP Basic, Single Point Non-Electrical
APOI
(see WBA and INS options below)
AUTO-PUR G ER (NEAP)
E "European" Construction
For Halocarbons;mcludes Driers;
APF
SpecifyRefrigerant
NEMA4 "Watertight" Construction Option
Purge Point Si)l-enold
~ve: St~ess
HS8ST Piston, 111."
(13 rom) Port with Strainer,
115V 50/60 Hz, 111."(13 rom) FPT or SW
OP110NSFORAUTO-PURGERAP
To order an AUTO-PURGER, specify the catalog
""\Vate~Conditioning
Housing for WCC
WCH number, refrigerant, voltage (if applicable), and any
below,3/4"(20mm) FPTConnection
wcc Water Conditioning Cartridge desired options.
Water Bubbler Flush System, for APOl;
WBA Standard on APOB,AP16, AP24, and APC
Insulation Option, for APO1;
INS
Standardon APO8,AP16,AP24,and APC
All drawings in this bulletin arefor illustration purposes
Pressure-Reli~f Valve, 112"x 3/4"
H5600 only and should not be usedfor actual design.
( 13 x 20 mm), Set at 300 psig (20.7 bar)
Differential Pressurestat System to Detect
DPS Loss of Foul Gas Pressure

1 ... HANSEN TECHNOLOGIES

1

T' CORPORATION
6827 High Grove Boulevard
Burr Ridge, It 60521USA
Phone: 630-325-1565
Toll-free (US and Canada): 800-426-7368
Fax: 630-325-1572
E-mail: info@hantech.com
Web site: www.hantech.com