What is the function of expansion valve in refrigeration?

The expansion valve removes pressure from the liquid refrigerant to allow expansion or change of state from a liquid to a vapor in the evaporator.

Why do we need an expansion valve?

Expansion valves serve two purposes: Controlling the amount of refrigerant entering the evaporator: As much of the evaporator surface as possible should be covered with​ liquid refrigerant without liquid being carried over to the compressor.

What is the function of an expansion device?

The purpose of the expansion device is to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant. The fast cooling of the refrigerant allows it to enter the evaporator.

How does an expansion valve reduce pressure?

The main function of the expansion valve in a refrigeration system is to reduce the pressure of a fluid by controlling the flow rate of the fluid. and use also term controlling the mass flow rate (kg/s) instead of flow rate.

What is the difference between the expansion valve and the compressor in the refrigeration system?

Refrigerant flows through the compressor, which raises the pressure of the refrigerant. … The heat given off is what makes the condenser “hot to the touch.” After the condenser, the refrigerant goes through the expansion valve, where it experiences a pressure drop.

What are three types of expansion valves?

The Main Types of Expansion Valves are as Follows.


  • Thermal Expansion Valves (TEVs)
  • Manual Valves.
  • Capillary Tubes.
  • Automatic Valves.
  • Electronic Expansion Valves.
  • Float Valves.

What is the function of expansion valve or capillary tube?

Although these two systems both control the flow of refrigerant, they work in different ways. A thermal expansion valve can respond to the environment by increasing or decreasing the flow of refrigerant as necessary, while a capillary tube is a fixed system that does not fluctuate with heat load changes.

How do you choose an expansion valve for refrigeration?

The following procedure helps to select the correct valve for the system.

  1. Determine the pressure drop across the valve. …
  2. Determine required valve capacity. …
  3. Determine required orifice size. …
  4. Select a thermostatic charge. …
  5. Determine if external equalizer is required. …
  6. Order the required components.

Does temperature change in expansion valve?

Expansion valve acts like a diffuser or a divergent nozzle which perpetually converts pressure energy into kinetic energy (See Bernoulli’s Equation) without any external work done. Due to lowering of pressure, eventually the temperature also decreases according to Charles law of constant volume.

How do I reduce refrigerant pressure?

Car AC pressure too high FIX overcharged a/c gauge fluctuation …

Which expansion valve is used in domestic refrigerator?

The thermostatic expansion valve or TEV is a commonly used device in the cooling and refrigerator systems. The thermostatic expansion valve is used to maintain proper flow of the refrigerant in the evaporator.

Do refrigerators use expansion valves?

There are different types of throttling devices, but in refrigerating and air-conditioning systems, the two most commonly used types are: capillary tube and thermostatic expansion valve. … Its internal diameter ranges from 0.020 to 0.090 inches depending upon the capacity of the refrigerating or air-conditioning system.

Where is the expansion valve located in a refrigerator?

The expansion valve is situated in the liquid line between the condenser and the inlet of the evaporator. It operates on the opposite side of the system, relative to the compressor.

How many types of expansion valve used in refrigeration system?

Types. There are two main types of thermal expansion valves: internally or externally equalized. The difference between externally and internally equalized valves is how the evaporator pressure affects the position of the needle.

What is the function of evaporator in refrigerator?

The evaporator is located inside a refrigerator and is the part that makes the items in the refrigerator cold. As the refrigerant turns from a liquid into a gas through evaporation, it cools the area around it, producing the proper environment for storing food.

How does capillary tube work in refrigeration?

How Does Capillary Tube Work? When the refrigerant leaves the condenser and enters the capillary tube, its pressure drops down suddenly due to the very small diameter of the capillary. In the capillary, the fall in pressure of the refrigerant takes place due to the small opening of the capillary.

What is electronic expansion valve?

The EXV is a control valve driven by a geared motor for use in A/C systems for the chemical refrigerants R134a and R1234yf. It is increasingly used in electric vehicles equipped with heat pumps. In addition to serving as an expansion valve, it can also be used as a shut-off valve.

What is an automatic expansion valve?

automatic expansion valve. A valve designed to maintain a constant pressure in the evaporator and to meter the refrigerant by using a pressure sensing device.

What is superheat?

Superheat is a measurement of the temperature a vapour is above its saturation or boiling point. Superheat can be measured in any vapour such as steam or refrigerant. There are two important superheat readings that can be taken on a system.

How do I choose a thermal expansion valve?

The TXV needs to be selected to match the Btu capacity of the system’s evaporator and compressor. Normally, these valves are rated in tons of refrigeration, so you need to remember that 1 ton of refrigeration equals 12,000 Btuh. pressure drop across the valve.

Is refrigerant gas or liquid?

A refrigerant is a working fluid used in the refrigeration cycle of air conditioning systems and heat pumps where in most cases they undergo a repeated phase transition from a liquid to a gas and back again.

Why does the refrigerant pressure decrease?

Why does refrigerant pressure decrease in a refrigerant cylinder while charging with vapor. When refrigerant is added in the vapor state, the refrigerant cylinder will lose pressure as the vapor is pushed out of the cylinder. 4. … How does a graduated cylinder account for the volume change due to temperature changes?

What is the pressure and temperature of refrigerant at expansion valve and condenser?

Like anything that is put under pressure, the increased pressure from the compressor causes the temperature of the refrigerant to rise. As it leaves the compressor, the refrigerant is a hot vapor, roughly 120° to 140°F. It now flows into the outdoor coil, (known as the condenser).

What is subcooling in refrigeration?

Subcooling is a process that takes place inside of your condenser coil shortly before the refrigerant moves on to the evaporator coil. … At that point, the refrigerant has absorbed enough heat to change the liquid to a gas. This low-pressure gas then flows back to the condensing unit and enters the compressor.

What is evaporating temperature in refrigeration?

Evaporation temperature is the temperature at which the refrigerant evaporates and boils in the evaporator, which corresponds to the evaporation pressure. Evaporation temperatures are generally 2-3 °C lower than the required water temperature.

What is saturation in refrigeration?

the saturation temperature of the refrigerant (i.e., the temperature at which the refrigerant changes from a liquid state to vapor. This is the same as its boiling point. For water at sea level, the saturation temperature is 212°F. The saturation temperature of liquid increases as pressure increases.

Can you clean expansion valve?

It is very difficult to determine if a Thermostat Expansion Valve is clean. The only way to be sure the valve is clean is to put it back into operation and run a system performance test. If there is any malfunction, the unit must be disassembled again to change the valve.

What is the function of solenoid valve in refrigeration system?

A solenoid valve is an electromechanical valve frequently used to control the flow of liquid or gas. Solenoid valves are found in many applications and are commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Their function is simply to turn refrigerant flow on and off.

What causes expansion valve to freeze?

Moisture in the System

If the drier becomes saturated with moisture, it releases it at the hottest times of the day. This moisture freezes in the expansion valve and deprives the evaporator of refrigerant.

Why freezer is kept at top of refrigerator?

Answer: Freezers are always on top of a fridge due to the nature of convection. The natural law of convection is that warm air rises while cold air falls, so the freezer at the top provides cold air for the other compartments at the bottom of the freezer.

Why condenser is used in refrigerator?

In systems involving heat transfer, a condenser is a heat exchanger used to condense a gaseous substance into a liquid state through cooling. … For example, a refrigerator uses a condenser to get rid of heat extracted from the interior of the unit to the outside air.

Which device is used for the expansion of refrigerant in vapor compression refrigeration cycle?

Expansive valve or the capillary: The refrigerant leaving the condenser enters the expansion device, which is the capillary tube in case of the domestic refrigerators.