Compressor 

is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. An air

compressor is a specific type of gas compressor.
Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can
transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces
the volume of a gas. Liquids are relatively incompressible; while some can be
compressed, the main action of a pump is to pressurize and transport liquids.
TYPES OF COMPRESSOR
The main and important types of gas compressors are illustrated and discussed below:

Positive displacement[edit]
A positive displacement compressor is the system which compresses the air by the
displacement of a mechanical linkage reducing the volume (since the reduction in volume
due to a piston in thermodynamics is considered as positive displacement of the piston).
[vague]

Put another way, a positive displacement compressor is one which operates by drawing in
a discreet volume of gas from its inlet then forcing that gas to exit via the compressor's
outlet. The increase in the pressure of the gas is due, at least in part, to the compressor
pumping it at a mass flow rate which cannot pass through the outlet at the lower pressure
and density of the inlet.
Reciprocating compressors[edit]
Main article: Reciprocating compressor
A motor-driven six-cylinder reciprocating compressor that can operate with two, four or
six cylinders.
Reciprocating compressors use pistons driven by a crankshaft. They can be either
stationary or portable, can be single or multi-staged, and can be driven by electric motors
or internal combustion engines.[1][2][3] Small reciprocating compressors from 5 to
30 horsepower (hp) are commonly seen in automotive applications and are typically for
intermittent duty. Larger reciprocating compressors well over 1,000 hp (750 kW) are
commonly found in large industrial and petroleum applications. Discharge pressures can
range from low pressure to very high pressure (>18000 psi or 180 MPa). In certain
applications, such as air compression, multi-stage double-acting compressors are said to
be the most efficient compressors available, and are typically larger, and more costly than
comparable rotary units.[4] Another type of reciprocating compressor, usually employed in
automotive cabin air conditioning systems,[citation needed] is the swash plate or wobble plate
compressor, which uses pistons moved by a swash plate mounted on a shaft (see axial
piston pump).
Household, home workshop, and smaller job site compressors are typically reciprocating
compressors 1½ hp or less with an attached receiver tank.
A linear compressor is a reciprocating compressor with the piston being the rotor of a
linear motor.
An ionic liquid piston compressor, ionic compressor or ionic liquid piston pump is
a hydrogen compressor based on an ionic liquid piston instead of a metal piston as in a
piston-metal diaphragm compressor.[5]
Rotary screw compressors

Diagram of a rotary screw compressor

Rotary screw compressors use two meshed rotating positive-displacement helical
screws to force the gas into a smaller space.[1][6][7] These are usually used for continuous
operation in commercial and industrial applications and may be either stationary or
portable. Their application can be from 3 horsepower (2.2 kW) to over 1,200 horsepower
(890 kW) and from low pressure to moderately high pressure (>1,200 psi or 8.3 MPa).
The classifications of rotary screw compressors vary based on stages, cooling methods,
and drive types among others.[8] Rotary screw compressors are commercially produced in
Oil Flooded, Water Flooded and Dry type. The efficiency of rotary compressors depends
on the air drier,[clarification needed] and the selection of air drier is always 1.5 times volumetric
delivery of the compressor.[9]
Designs with a single screw [10] or three screws [11] instead of two exist.
Rotary vane compressors

Eccentric rotary-vane pump

Rotary vane compressors consist of a rotor with a number of blades inserted in radial
slots in the rotor. The rotor is mounted offset in a larger housing that is either circular or a
more complex shape. As the rotor turns, blades slide in and out of the slots keeping
contact with the outer wall of the housing.[1] Thus, a series of increasing and decreasing
volumes is created by the rotating blades. Rotary Vane compressors are, with piston
compressors one of the oldest of compressor technologies.
With suitable port connections, the devices may be either a compressor or a vacuum
pump. They can be either stationary or portable, can be single or multi-staged, and can be
driven by electric motors or internal combustion engines. Dry vane machines are used at
relatively low pressures (e.g., 2 bar or 200 kPa or 29 psi) for bulk material movement
while oil-injected machines have the necessary volumetric efficiency to achieve pressures
up to about 13 bar (1,300 kPa; 190 psi) in a single stage. A rotary vane compressor is
well suited to electric motor drive and is significantly quieter in operation than the
equivalent piston compressor.
Rotary vane compressors can have mechanical efficiencies of about 90%.
Rolling piston

Rolling piston compressor

The Rolling piston in a rolling piston style compressor plays the part of a partition
between the vane and the rotor.[13] Rolling piston forces gas against a stationary vane.
2 of these compressors can be mounted on the same shaft to increase capacity and reduce
vibration and noise. A design without a spring is known as a swing compressor.
In refrigeration and air conditioning, this type of compressor is also known as a rotary
compressor, with rotary screw compressors being also known simply as screw
compressors.
Scroll compressors

Mechanism of a scroll pump

A scroll compressor, also known as scroll pump and scroll vacuum pump, uses two
interleaved spiral-like vanes to pump or compress fluids such as liquids and gases. The
vane geometry may be involute, archimedean spiral, or hybrid curves.[14][15][16] They
operate more smoothly, quietly, and reliably than other types of compressors in the lower
volume range.
Often, one of the scrolls is fixed, while the other orbits eccentrically without rotating,
thereby trapping and pumping or compressing pockets of fluid between the scrolls.
Due to minimum clearance volume between the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll, these
compressors have a very high volumetric efficiency.
These compressors are extensively used in air conditioning and refrigeration because they
are lighter, smaller and have fewer moving parts than reciprocating compressors and they
are also more reliable. They are more expensive though, so peltier coolers or rotary and
reciprocating compressors may be used in applications where cost is the most important
or one of the most important factors to consider when designing a refrigeration or air
conditioining system.
This type of compressor was used as the supercharger on Volkswagen G60 and G40
engines in the early 1990s.
Diaphragm compressors
A diaphragm compressor (also known as a membrane compressor) is a variant of the
conventional reciprocating compressor. The compression of gas occurs by the movement
of a flexible membrane, instead of an intake element. The back and forth movement of
the membrane is driven by a rod and a crankshaft mechanism. Only the membrane and
the compressor box come in contact with the gas being compressed.[1]
The degree of flexing and the material constituting the diaphragm affects the maintenance
life of the equipment. Generally stiff metal diaphragms may only displace a few cubic
centimeters of volume because the metal can not endure large degrees of flexing without
cracking, but the stiffness of a metal diaphragm allows it to pump at high pressures.
Rubber or silicone diaphragms are capable of enduring deep pumping strokes of very
high flexion, but their low strength limits their use to low-pressure applications, and they
need to be replaced as plastic embrittlement occurs.
Diaphragm compressors are used for hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG) as
well as in a number of other applications.

A three-stage diaphragm compressor

The photograph on the right depicts a three-stage diaphragm compressor used to
compress hydrogen gas to 6,000 psi (41 MPa) for use in a prototype compressed
hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station built in downtown Phoenix,
Arizona by the Arizona Public Service company (an electric utilities
company). Reciprocating compressors were used to compress the natural gas. The
reciprocating natural gas compressor was developed by Sertco.[17]
The prototype alternative fueling station was built in compliance with all of the
prevailing safety, environmental and building codes in Phoenix to demonstrate that such
fueling stations could be built in urban areas.
Dynamic
Dynamic compressors depend upon the inertia and momentum of a fluid.
Air bubble compressor
Also known as a trompe. A mixture of air and water generated through turbulence is
allowed to fall into a subterranean chamber where the air separates from the water. The
weight of falling water compresses the air in the top of the chamber. A submerged outlet
from the chamber allows water to flow to the surface at a lower height than the intake. An
outlet in the roof of the chamber supplies the compressed air to the surface. A facility on
this principle was built on the Montreal River at Ragged Shutes near Cobalt, Ontario in
1910 and supplied 5,000 horsepower to nearby mines.[18]
Centrifugal compressors

A single stage centrifugal compressor

Centrifugal compressors use a rotating disk or impeller in a shaped housing to force the
gas to the rim of the impeller, increasing the velocity of the gas. A diffuser (divergent
duct) section converts the velocity energy to pressure energy. They are primarily used for
continuous, stationary service in industries such as oil
refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants and natural gas processing plants.[1][19]
[20]
 Their application can be from 100 horsepower (75 kW) to thousands of horsepower.
With multiple staging, they can achieve high output pressures greater than 1,000 psi
(6.9 MPa).
This type of compressor, along with screw compressors, are extensively used in large
refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Magnetically levitated and air bearing
centrifugal compressors exist.
Many large snowmaking operations (like ski resorts) use this type of compressor. They
are also used in internal combustion engines as superchargers and turbochargers.
Centrifugal compressors are used in small gas turbine engines or as the final compression
stage of medium-sized gas turbines.
Diagonal or mixed-flow compressors
Diagonal or mixed-flow compressors are similar to centrifugal compressors, but have a
radial and axial velocity component at the exit from the rotor. The diffuser is often used
to turn diagonal flow to an axial rather than radial direction.[21] Comparative to the
conventional centrifugal compressor (of the same stage pressure ratio), the value of the
speed of the mixed flow compressor is 1.5 times larger.[22]
Axial compressors

An animation of an axial compressor.

Axial compressors are dynamic rotating compressors that use arrays of fan-
like airfoils to progressively compress a fluid. They are used where high flow rates or a
compact design are required.
The arrays of airfoils are set in rows, usually as pairs: one rotating and one stationary.
The rotating airfoils, also known as blades or rotors, accelerate the fluid. The stationary
airfoils, also known as stators or vanes, decelerate and redirect the flow direction of the
fluid, preparing it for the rotor blades of the next stage. Axial compressors are almost
always multi-staged, with the cross-sectional area of the gas passage diminishing along
the compressor to maintain an optimum axial Mach number. Beyond about 5 stages or a
4:1 design pressure ratio a compressor will not function unless fitted with features such as
stationary vanes with variable angles (known as variable inlet guide vanes and variable
stators), the ability to allow some air to escape part-way along the compressor (known as
interstage bleed) and being split into more than one rotating assembly (known as twin
spools, for example).
Axial compressors can have high efficiencies; around 90% polytropic at their design
conditions. However, they are relatively expensive, requiring a large number of
components, tight tolerances and high quality materials. Axial compressors are used in
medium to large gas turbine engines, natural gas pumping stations, and some chemical
plants.
Hermetically sealed, open, or semi-hermetic

A small hermetically sealed compressor in a common

consumer refrigerator or freezer typically has a rounded steel outer shell permanently
welded shut, which seals operating gases inside the system. There is no route for gases to
leak, such as around motor shaft seals. On this model, the plastic top section is part of an
auto-defrost system that uses motor heat to evaporate the water.
Compressors used in refrigeration systems are often described as being either hermetic,
open, or semi-hermetic, to describe how the compressor and motor drive are situated in
relation to the gas or vapor being compressed. The industry name for a hermetic
is hermetically sealed compressor, while a semi-hermetic is commonly called a semi-
hermetic compressor.
In hermetic and most semi-hermetic compressors, the compressor and motor driving the
compressor are integrated, and operate within the pressurized gas envelope of the system.
The motor is designed to operate in, and be cooled by, the refrigerant gas being
compressed.
The difference between the hermetic and semi-hermetic, is that the hermetic uses a one-
piece welded steel casing that cannot be opened for repair; if the hermetic fails it is
simply replaced with an entire new unit. A semi-hermetic uses a large cast metal shell
with gasketed covers with screws that can be opened to replace motor and compressor
components.
The primary advantage of a hermetic and semi-hermetic is that there is no route for the
gas to leak out of the system. Open compressors rely on shaft seals to retain the internal
pressure, and these seals require a lubricant such as oil to retain their sealing properties.
An open pressurized system such as an automobile air conditioner can be more
susceptible to leak its operating gases. Open systems rely on lubricant in the system to
splash on pump components and seals. If it is not operated frequently enough, the
lubricant on the seals slowly evaporates, and then the seals begin to leak until the system
is no longer functional and must be recharged. By comparison, a hermetic or semi-
hermetic system can sit unused for years, and can usually be started up again at any time
without requiring maintenance or experiencing any loss of system pressure.
The disadvantage of hermetic compressors is that the motor drive cannot be repaired or
maintained, and the entire compressor must be replaced if a motor fails. A further
disadvantage is that burnt-out windings can contaminate whole systems, thereby
requiring the system to be entirely pumped down and the gas replaced (This can also
happen in semi hermetic compressors where the motor operates in the refrigerant).
Typically, hermetic compressors are used in low-cost factory-assembled consumer goods
where the cost of repair and labor is high compared to the value of the device, and it
would be more economical to just purchase a new device or compressor. Semi-hermetic
compressors are used in mid-sized to large refrigeration and air conditioning systems,
where it is cheaper to repair the compressor rather than buying and installing a new one.
A hermetic compressor is simpler and cheaper to build than a semi-hermetic compressor.
An advantage of open compressors is that they can be driven by non-electric power
sources, such as an internal combustion engine or turbine. However, open compressors
that drive refrigeration systems are generally not totally maintenance-free throughout the
life of the system, since some gas leakage will occur over time

Condenser 

is a device or unit used to condense a gaseous substance into a liquid state through

cooling. In so doing, the latent heat is released by the substance and transferred to the
surrounding environment. Condensers can be made according to numerous designs, and
come in many sizes ranging from rather small (hand-held) to very large (industrial-scale
units used in plant processes).

TYPES OF CONDENSER

 A surface condenser is one in which condensing medium and vapors are

physically separated and used when direct contact is not desired. It is a shell and tube
heat exchanger installed at the outlet of every steam turbine in thermal power
stations. Commonly, the cooling water flows through the tube side and the steam
enters the shell side where the condensation occurs on the outside of the heat transfer
tubes. The condensate drips down and collects at the bottom, often in a built-in pan
called a hotwell. The shell side often operates at a vacuum or partial vacuum,
produced by the difference in specific volume between the steam and condensate.
Conversely, the vapor can be fed through the tubes with the coolant water or air
flowing around the outside.
 In chemistry, a condenser is the apparatus which cools hot vapors, causing them
to condense into a liquid. See "Condenser (laboratory)" for laboratory-scale
condensers, as opposed to industrial-scale condensers. Examples include the Liebig
condenser, Graham condenser, and Allihn condenser. This is not to be confused with
a condensation reaction which links two fragments into a single molecule by an
addition reaction and an elimination reaction.
In laboratory distillation, reflux, and rotary evaporators, several types of
condensers are commonly used. The Liebig condenser is simply a straight tube
within a cooling water jacket, and is the simplest (and relatively least expensive)
form of condenser. The Graham condenser is a spiral tube within a water jacket,
 and the Allihn condenser has a series of large and small constrictions on the inside
tube, each increasing the surface area upon which the vapor constituents may
condense. Being more complex shapes to manufacture, these latter types are also
more expensive to purchase. These three types of condensers are laboratory
glassware items since they are typically made of glass. Commercially available
condensers usually are fitted with ground glass joints and come in standard
lengths of 100, 200, and 400 mm. Air-cooled condensers are unjacketed, while
water-cooled condensers contain a jacket for the water.

 Larger condensers are also used in industrial-scale distillation processes to cool

distilled vapor into liquid distillate. Commonly, the coolant flows through the
tube side and distilled vapor through the shell side with distillate collecting at or
flowing out the bottom.

Condenser unit for central air conditioning for a typical house

 A condenser unit used in central air conditioning systems typically has a heat

exchanger section to cool down and condense incoming refrigerant vapor into
liquid, a compressor to raise the pressure of the refrigerant and move it along, and
a fan for blowing outside air through the heat exchanger section to cool the
refrigerant inside. A typical configuration of such a condenser unit is as follows:
The heat exchanger section wraps around the sides of the unit with the
compressor inside. In this heat exchanger section, the refrigerant goes through
multiple tube passes, which are surrounded by heat transfer fins through which
cooling air can circulate from outside to inside the unit. There is a
motorized fan inside the condenser unit near the top, which is covered by some
grating to keep any objects from accidentally falling inside on the fan. The fan is
used to pull outside cooling air in through the heat exchanger section at the sides
and blow it out the top through the grating. These condenser units are located on
the outside of the building they are trying to cool, with tubing between the unit
and building, one for vapor refrigerant entering and another for liquid refrigerant
leaving the unit. Of course, an electric power supply is needed for the compressor
and fan inside the unit.
 In a direct-contact condenser, hot vapor and cool liquid are introduced into a
vessel and allowed to mix directly, rather than being separated by a barrier such
as the wall of a heat exchanger tube. The vapor gives up its latent heat and
condenses to a liquid, while the liquid absorbs this heat and undergoes a
 temperature rise. The entering vapor and liquid typically contain a single
condensable substance, such as a water spray being used to cool air and adjust its
humidity.
Other Types of Condensers
There are three other condensers used in HVAC systems:

 Water-cooled
 Air-cooled
 Evaporative
Applications:

 Air cooled – If the condenser is located on the outside of the unit, the air cooled
condenser can provide the easiest arrangement. These types of condensers eject
heat to the outdoors and are simple to install.
   Most common uses for this condenser are domestic refrigerators, upright freezers
and in residential packaged air conditioning units. A great feature of the air cooled
condenser is they are very easy to clean. Since dirt can cause serious issues with the
condensers performance, it is highly recommended that these be kept clear of dirt.

 Water cooled – Although a little pricier to install, these condensers are the more
efficient type. Commonly used for swimming pools and condensers piped for city
water flow, these condensers require regular service and maintenance.
    They also require a cooling tower to conserve water. To prevent corrosion and the
forming of algae, water cooled condensers require a constant supply of makeup water
along with water treatment.
    Depending on the application you can choose from tube in tube, shell and coil or
shell and tube condensers. All are essentially made to produce the same outcome, but
each in a different way.

 Evaporative – While these remain the least popular choice, they are used when
either water supply is inadequate to operate water cooled condenser or
condensation temperature is lower that can achieved by air cooled condenser.
Evaporative condensers can be used inside or outside of a building and under
typical conditions, operate at a low condensing temperature.
    Typically these are used in large commercial air-conditioning units. Although
effective, they are not necessarily the most efficient.
Evaporator 

is a device in a process used to turn the liquid form of a chemical substance such as water
into its gaseous-form/vapor. The liquid is evaporated, or vaporized, into a gas form of the
targeted substance in that process

Types of evaporators used today

Evaporator with SBT to eliminate bumping.

Natural/forced circulation evaporator

Natural circulation evaporators are based on the

natural circulation of the product caused by the
density differences that arise from heating. In an
evaporator using tubing, after the water begins to
boil, bubbles will rise and cause circulation,
facilitating the separation of the liquid and the vapor
at the top of the heating tubes. The amount of
evaporation that takes place depends on the
temperature difference between the steam and the
solution.

Problems can arise if the tubes are not well-immersed in the solution. If this occurs, the
system will be dried out and circulation compromised. In order to avoid this, forced
circulation can be used by inserting a pump to increase pressure and circulation. Forced
circulation occurs when hydrostatic head prevents boiling at the heating surface.
Common uses of forced circulation evaporators include waste streams, crystallizers,
viscous fluids, and other difficult process fluids as suppressed boiling can reduce scaling
and fouling. A pump can also be used to avoid fouling that is caused by the boiling of
liquid on the tubes; the pump suppresses bubble formation. Other problems are that the
residing time is undefined and the consumption of steam is very high, but at high
temperatures, good circulation is easily achieved.

Falling film evaporator

This type of evaporator is generally made of 4–8 m (13–26 ft) tubes enclosed by steam
jackets. The uniform distribution of the solution is important when using this type of
evaporator. The solution enters and gains velocity as it flows downward. This gain in
velocity is attributed to the vapor being evolved against the heating medium, which flows
downward as well. This evaporator is usually applied to highly viscous solutions, so it is
frequently used in the chemical,sugar, food, and fermentation industries.

Rising film (Long Tube Vertical) evaporator

A rising film evaporator

In this type of evaporator, boiling takes place inside the

tubes, due to heating made (usually by steam) outside the
same. Submergence is therefore not desired; the creation
of water vapor bubbles inside the tube creates an
ascensional flow enhancing the heat transfer coefficient.
This type of evaporator is therefore quite efficient, the
disadvantage being to be prone to quick scaling of the
internal surface of the tubes. This design is then usually
applied to clear, non-salting solutions. Tubes are usually
quite long, typically 4+ meters (13+ ft). Sometimes a
small recycle is provided. Sizing this type of evaporator is usually a delicate task, since it
requires a precise evaluation of the actual level of the process liquor inside the tubes.
Recent applications tend to favor the falling-film pattern rather than rising-film.and also
it is very useful.

Climbing and falling-film plate evaporator

Climbing and falling-film plate evaporators have a relatively large surface area. The
plates are usually corrugated and are supported by frame. During evaporation, steam
flows through the channels formed by the free spaces between the plates. The steam
alternately climbs and falls parallel to the concentrated liquid. The steam follows a co-
current, counter-current path in relation to the liquid. The concentrate and the vapor are
both fed into the separation stage where the vapor is sent to a condenser. This type of
plate evaporator is frequently applied in the dairy and fermentation industries since they
have spatial flexibility. A negative point of this type of evaporator is that it is limited in
its ability to treat viscous or solid-containing products. There are other types of plate
evaporators, which work with only climbing film.

Multiple-effect evaporators
Unlike single-stage evaporators, these evaporators can be composed of up to seven
evaporator stages (effects). The energy consumption for single-effect evaporators is very
high and is most of the cost for an evaporation system. Putting together evaporators saves
heat and thus requires less energy. Adding one evaporator to the original decreases
energy consumption to 50%. Adding another effect reduces it to 33% and so on. A heat-
saving-percent equation can be used to estimate how much one will save by adding a
certain number of effects.

The number of effects in a multiple-effect evaporator is usually restricted to seven

because after that, the equipment cost approaches the cost savings of the energy-
requirement drop.

There are two types of feeding that can be used when dealing with multiple-effect
evaporators. Forward feeding takes place when the product enters the system through the
first effect, which is at the highest temperature. The product is then partially concentrated
as some of the water is transformed into vapor and carried away. It is then fed into the
second effect which is slightly lower in temperature. The second effect uses the heated
vapor created in the first stage as its heat source (hence the saving in energy expenditure).
The combination of lower temperatures and higher viscosities in subsequent effects
provides good conditions for treating heat-sensitive products, such as enzymes and
proteins. In this system, an increase in the heating surface area of subsequent effects is
required.

Another method is using backward feeding. In this process, the dilute products are fed
into the last effect which has the lowest temperature and are transferred from effect to
effect, with the temperature increasing. The final concentrate is collected in the hottest
effect, which provides an advantage in that the product is highly viscous in the last
stages, and so the heat transfer is better. In recent years, multiple-effect vacuum
evaporator (with heatpump) systems have come into use. These are well known to be
energetically and technically more effective than systems with mechanical vapor
recompression (MVR). Due to the lower boiling temperature they can handle highly
corrosive liquids or liquids which are prone to forming incrustations.
Agitated Thin / Wiped Film Evaporator Diagram

Agitated thin film evaporators

Agitated thin-film evaporation has been very

successful with difficult-to-handle products. Simply
stated, the method quickly separates the volatile from
the less volatile components using indirect heat
transfer and mechanical agitation of the flowing
product film under controlled conditions. The
separation is normally made under vacuum
conditions to maximize ∆T while maintaining the
most favorable product temperature so that the
product only sees equilibrium conditions inside the
evaporator and can maximize volatile stripping and
recovery.

Expansion valves

are devices used to control the refrigerant flow in a

refrigeration system. They help to facilitate the change of higher pressure of liquid
refrigerant in the condensing unit to lower pressure gas refrigerant in the evaporator

Types of Expansion Valves

There are basically four types of valves that are in used. These valves are also refer to as
metering devices.

• Automatic Exp. Valves

• Thermostatic Exp. Valves

• Capillary Tubes

• Float Valves
Automatic Expansion Valve regulates the flow of refrigerant from the liquid line to the
evaporator by using a pressure-actuated diaphragm. It maintains a constant pressure in
the evaporator.

The setback is that it is not efficient if the load fluctuates hence this type is not suitable
for use in air conditioning as the load fluctuates a lot during its operation.

Thermostatic Expansion Valve uses a valve mechanism to control the flow of liquid
refrigerant into the evaporator coil. The flow is controlled by the pressure in the
evaporator.

This type of metering device is able to operate well when the load fluctuates and hence is
suitable for use in air conditioning system. When the evaporator warms, the valve
provides a higher flow rate amd when it cools, it reduces the flow rate.

It is also commonly refer to as TXV, TEV or TX valve. There is a sensing bulb which
detects the temperature of the coil and is usually located at a higher temperature within
the evaporator.

The bulb must be clamped firmly to the coil to ensure proper sensing. When the
temperature of the evaporator increases due to the demand for cooling, the pressure in the
bulb will also increase hence pushing the spring to open the valve.

Similarly, when the temperature of the evaporator reduces due to a lack of demand for
cooling, the pressure in the bulb will drop hence causing the spring to close the valve.

Capillary Tube is a tube with small internal diameter and could be coiled for part of its
length. It is installed to the suction line. A filter-drier is sometimes fitted before the tube
to remove dirt or moisture from the refrigerant.

This device is simple, does not have any moving part and lasts longer. In order to use this
device, the amount of refrigerant in the system must be properly calibrated at factory
level.

Due to its lower cost compared to TXV, this metering device is used in units that are
produced in large quantity such as room or window air conditioners.

Depending on the capacity design of the system, the capillary tube internal diameter that
is commonly used range from 0.031" to 0.065" and the outer diameter from 0.083" to
0.130".

Float Valve is actuated by a float that is immersed in the liquid refrigerant. Both low-side
float and high side-float are used to control the flow of liquid refrigerant.
The low-side float helps to maintain a constant level of liquid refrigerant in the
evaporator. It opens when there is no liquid in the evap. and closes when there is liquid in
the evap.

The high-side float is located at the high pressure side of the system and maintain a
constant level of refrigerant in the condenser. When the compressor operates, the
condensed refrigerant flows to the float chamber and opens the valve.

This causes the refrigerant to flow into the evaporator where it is stored. As the liquid
level falls in the float chamber, the valve opening will close hence preventing the liquid
from flowing to the evap.