Refrigerant Piping

Chilled and Cooling Water

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 Refrigeration

Refrigeration is the process of moving heat from one location to

another with the use of refrigerant in a closed cycle. A
refrigeration cycle consists of oil management, gas and liquid
separation, subcooling, superheating, piping of refrigerant in a
liquid and gas, and two-phase flow in the condenser drain line.
 Refrigerant Piping

Refrigerant piping that crosses an open space that affords passageway in

any building shall be not less than 7 feet 3 inches (2210 mm) above the floor
unless the piping is located against the ceiling of such space. Refrigerant
piping shall not be placed in any elevator, dumbwaiter or other shaft
containing a moving object or in any shaft that has openings to living
quarters or to means of egress. Refrigerant piping shall not be installed in
an enclosed public stairway, stairway landing or means of egress.
 Piping Location

Piping in Concrete Floors

Refrigerant Penetrations
 Piping in Concrete Floors

Refrigerant piping installed in concrete floors

shall be encased in pipe ducts. The piping shall be
isolated and supported to prevent damaging
vibration, stress and corrosion.
 Refrigerant Penetrations

Refrigerant piping shall not penetrate floors, ceilings, or

roofs.
Materials for Refrigerant Pipe and Tubing

Steel Pipe
Copper and Brass Pipe
Copper Tube
Copper Tubing Joints
Aluminum Tube
 Steel Pipe
Carbon steel pipe with a wall thickness not less than Schedule 80 shall be used
for Group A2, A3, B2 or B3 refrigerant liquid lines for sizes 1.5 inches (38 mm)
and smaller. Carbon steel pipe with a wall thickness not less than Schedule 40
shall be used for Group A1 or B1 refrigerant liquid lines 6 inches (152 mm)
and smaller, Group A2, A3, B2 or B3 refrigerant liquid lines sizes 2 inches (51
mm) through 6 inches (152 mm) and all refrigerant suction and discharge lines
6 inches (152 mm) and smaller. Type F steel pipe shall not be used for
refrigerant lines having an operating temperature less than -20°F (-29°C).
 Copper and Brass Pipe

Standard iron-pipe size, copper and red brass (not

less than 80-percent copper) pipe shall conform to
ASTM B 42 and ASTM B 43.
 Copper Tube
Copper tube used for refrigerant piping erected on the premises shall be
seamless copper tube of Type ACR (hard or annealed) complying with
ASTM B 280. Where approved, copper tube for refrigerant piping erected
on the premises shall be seamless copper tube of Type K, L or M (drawn or
annealed) in accordance with ASTM B 88. Annealed temper copper tube
shall not be used in sizes larger than a 2-inch (51 mm) nominal size.
Mechanical joints shall not be used on annealed temper copper tube in sizes
larger than 7/8-inch (22.2 mm) OD size.
 Copper Tubing Joints

Copper tubing joints used in refrigerating systems containing

Group A2, A3, B2 or B3 refrigerants shall be brazed. Soldered
joints shall not be used in such refrigerating systems.
 Aluminum Tube

Type 3003-0 aluminum tubing with high-pressure fittings shall

not be used with methyl chloride and other refrigerants known
to attack aluminum.
 Refrigerant piping in modern naval installations is made of
seamless copper tubing, which is good for this purpose because

1.It does not become corroded by refrigerants

2.the internal surface of the tubing is smooth enough to minimize

friction

3.copper tubing is easily shaped to meet installation requirements

 Piping of Refrigerant Systems
The piping of refrigerant systems is covered with insulation after
all joints have been check for leaks. The insulation prevents
condensation from forming on and dripping off the cold piping
on the low-pressure side of the system. On the high pressures
side, insulation reduces heat stress conditions and protects
personnel from being burned by hot piping.
Chilled and
Cooling
Water
 Chilled Water
Chilled water is used to cool and dehumidify air in mid- to large-size commercial,
industrial, and institutional facilities. Water or liquid chillers can be liquid-
cooled, air-cooled, or evaporatively cooled. Water or liquid-cooled systems can
provide efficiency and environmental impact advantages over air-cooled systems.
Chilled water serves as one of the main components in a hydronic cooling system.
These systems utilize water to transfer heat energy from inside of a building to
the outdoors, which helps to cool the interior of the structure. Chilled water
serves as an alternative to traditional refrigerant, which is used in most air
conditioning and cooling systems.
 Chilled Water

On a typical project, chilled water is produced on site using a large chiller or cooling
tank. These devices contain some form of heat exchange system, which captures heat
energy in the water and exhausts it to the outdoor. By removing the heat energy,
these cooling systems chill the water, allowing it to be used to cool the building. The
same water moves through piping within the cooling system in a continuous loop,
absorbing heat energy from indoors and expelling it to the outdoors.
Chilled water from the chiller or cooling tank enters the building's air-handling unit
through a network of pipes or cools. A fan or blower within this unit blows air over
the pipes. The chilled water within the pipes absorbs the heat energy, leaving the air
cool. This cool air then travels through the building's duct system to distribute cool
air to each room. Fresh chilled water continuously passes through the pipes to
absorb more heat energy and keep the air cool.
 Chilled Water
Chilled water-cooling systems provide many benefits to users. They generally
require less maintenance than traditional refrigeration systems, as there is no
need to check, balance, and refill the refrigerant on a regular basis. Chilled
water also costs much less than refrigerant products, which can reduce the cost
of repairs over time. These systems also pose very little risk of leaks and can be
repaired with relative ease. Finally, by eliminating the refrigerant, chilled
water systems protect the environment from potential pollution and
global warming effects commonly associated with many refrigerants.
 Cooling Water

Water cooling is a method of heat removal from components and industrial

equipment. Evaporative cooling using water is often more efficient than
air cooling. Water is inexpensive and non-toxic however it can contain
impurities and cause corrosion. Water cooling is commonly used
for cooling automobile internal combustion engines and power stations.

Cooling water is water used as a heat-transfer medium to carry heat away from
one or more parts of a system.
 Cooling Water
Cooling water flows through a closed piping system that circulates water
through various pieces of equipment. Exchangers and condensers require
chilled water to reduce the temperature of the process commodity. As water
circulates through the shell of an exchanger, heat is transferred from the
process commodity to the cooling water. To maintain its effectiveness, the
cooling water is piped to a cooling tower where the heated water is aerated
to reduce its heat gain. After the heat has been removed from the cooling
water, the chilled water travels back to the exchanger and repeat the
process.
 Water Cooled Air Conditioner

Water cooled air conditioner is also called water cooled condenser as its function
is to reject the heat that was absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator. Water
is used to cool the hot air refrigerant (180°F or 82°C) from the compressor by
pumping counter-flow water in the condenser.

The water used can be a wastewater system in which the water is thrown away
into the drain after being used. Wastewater system is not encouraged as it is a
wasteful and many states prohibit its use. A better option but higher cost is to
recirculate the water by using a cooling tower. The cooling tower will reject the
heat from the water by forced draft or natural draft.
Water Cooled Air Conditioner Types

Tube-Within-A-Tube
Shell and Coil
Shell and Tube
 Tube-Within-A-Tube

In this design, the inner tube is inserted into the bigger outer tube and both pipes
are formed into the shape of a coil to save space. This is the most commonly use
design as it is easy to manufacture.

Water will flow through the inner tube and cools the refrigerant that is flowing
in the outer tube. The refrigerant is also cooled by the air in the room. The inner
tube can be designed to have grooved inner tube to increase the heat transfer
between the refrigerant and the water.
 Shell and Coil

This configuration of condenser consists of a shell (can be steel) which contains a coil
of tube which is usually made from copper inside it. The water will flow through the
coil to cool the hot gas refrigerant in the shell. Hot air is usually feed from the top of
the shell and condenses as it flows down and contact the coil. The gas that condenses
is further cool down into subcooling state at the bottom of the shell.
The minerals that deposited on the coil from the water cannot be cleaned
mechanically as it is located inside the shell. The only way to clean it is to use
chemicals to flush out the minerals.
 Shell and Tube

This type of condenser has a steel shell with many copper tubes
inside it. As the cost to produce it is relatively high, it is only used in
higher capacity air conditioning systems.
Water is circulated in the tubes to cool the refrigerant that flows
into the shell from the top. The shell also acts as a receiver. The
subcooled liquid refrigerant is channeled out from the condenser
for use in the next stage of the cooling process.
Thank You
and

Stay Safe