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What Is Subcooling

This document explains what subcooling is in refrigeration systems and why it is important. Subcooling occurs when refrigerant is cooled below its saturation temperature as a liquid. Insufficient subcooling reduces cooling capacity and efficiency. The document describes how to measure subcooling using gauges and thermometers to determine the temperature difference between liquid and saturation temperatures.

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152 views

What Is Subcooling

This document explains what subcooling is in refrigeration systems and why it is important. Subcooling occurs when refrigerant is cooled below its saturation temperature as a liquid. Insufficient subcooling reduces cooling capacity and efficiency. The document describes how to measure subcooling using gauges and thermometers to determine the temperature difference between liquid and saturation temperatures.

Uploaded by

HoàngViệtAnh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Subcooling

This guide explains what subcooling is, why it is important to the performance of a
system and how to measure it.

Cool Stuff from Cool Concerns


What is subcooling

When a refrigerant is sub cooled it is a pure liquid at a lower temperature than the
saturation (bubble) temperature. Sub cooling is the temperature difference between
the liquid and its saturation temperature. On a refrigeration system this is:

Sub cooling = saturated condensing temperature – liquid temperature

The liquid temperature is measured 100 mm from the inlet to the expansion valve

Sub cooled does not mean cold: a hot cup of coffee from a vending machine at 85OC is a
sub cooled liquid because it is 15OC cooler than the saturation temperature of the water
(1000C).

In a refrigeration system, there should be subcooled liquid refrigerant in the liquid line
between the receiver and the expansion valve. The liquid leaving the receiver will be at
the condensing temperature – and therefore higher than ambient temperature (usually
by between 10 and
20°C). It will cool down
– subcool – as it travels
along the liquid line.
This will happen
naturally, as shown in
the example right,
where the outside
temperature is 20°C and
the refrigerant
condenses at 35°C. Although the inside (room) temperature is warmer than ambient, it
is below the condensing temperature, so the refrigerant subcools. In the example the
degree of subcooling is 8K.

However, in the next


example the refrigerant
has not subcooled
because it is much
colder outside,
resulting in a
condensing
temperature lower
than the inside (room)
temperature. The refrigerant arriving at the expansion device will be a mixture of liquid
and gas (flash gas), so it will have less capacity to absorb heat when it flows through the
evaporator. It is not uncommon for this situation to occur, but it has an adverse impact
on the performance of the system. Insulating the liquid line inside the building will
reduce the amount of flash gas in the liquid arriving at the expansion device.

www.coolconcerns.co.uk page 1
Subcooling, September 2013, ©Cool Concerns Ltd
Why subcooling is important

The refrigerant that enters an expansion valve must be a subcooled liquid (i.e. pure liquid
with no flash gas) to achieve the maximum cooling capacity. The low pressure liquid
flowing through the evaporator absorbs heat as it evaporates, thus cooling the product.
If the refrigerant at the valve entry is not a subcooled liquid – i.e. it is a mixture of flash

Cool Stuff from Cool Concerns


gas and liquid as in the second diagram above – the system capacity and efficiency will
drop. This is because gas is far less dense than liquid, so the amount of refrigerant
which can flow through the expansion valve will be less, thus reducing its cooling
capacity. The amount of flash gas entering the evaporator is also significantly increased,
further reducing performance.

If the refrigerant into the expansion valve is not


subcooled, the system will have to work harder and
for longer to achieve the correct product temperature.
This is the case if you see bubbles (flash gas) in the
liquid line sight glass.

There are several reasons why refrigerant is not


subcooled when it reaches the expansion valve:

• Shortage of refrigerant, either because of


leakage or because the system has been undercharged;
• Blocked condenser surface or poor air flow;
• Liquid lines routed through areas where the surrounding temperature exceeds
the condensing temperature. In this case the head pressure control setting
should be increased and /or the liquid line should be insulated;
• Very long liquid lines and associated high pressure drops. A liquid pump can
help to resolve this problem;
• Liquid receiver significantly lower than the expansion valve inlet (i.e. long risers).

The sight glass on the pack or condensing unit can only indicate the state of the
refrigerant at the start of the liquid line. By the time the refrigerant has reached the
expansion valve it may have lost subcooling, with the consequences described above.
You need to measure the degree of subcooling to verify this.

Measuring subcooling

To measure subcooling you will need:

• A gauge manifold set with accurate gauges;


• An accurate electronic thermometer with a suitable touch/contact probe;
• A refrigerant comparator.

The most accurate method of measuring subcooling is as follows:

1. Measure the temperature on the liquid line about 10 cm before the inlet of the
expansion device (T);
2. Measure the condensing pressure as close to the condenser as possible;
3. Work out condensing temp (CT) from a comparator;
4. Calculate the subcooling as follows: subcooling = CT – T.

www.coolconcerns.co.uk page 2
Subcooling, September 2013, ©Cool Concerns Ltd
For a refrigerant blend use the saturated liquid (bubble) temperature as the condensing
temperature.

Subcooling in the condenser

Cool Stuff from Cool Concerns


Subcooling will not usually occur in the condenser unless liquid backs up in the
condenser. This can happen under some conditions:

• If the system is overcharged with refrigerant;


• When there is a condenser pressure regulator;
• If the refrigerant at the exit of the condenser cannot drain freely into the
receiver, for example because the receiver is located above the condenser outlet
or is warmer than the condenser.

Some condensers have a separate, additional pass which provides subcooling. It is


connected after the receiver as shown, circled, in the diagram below for a central plant
system.

Additional subcooling can also be achieved by using a mechanical subcooler (heat


exchanger) in which some of the liquid is expanded and cools the main liquid line.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this document,
but the content is subject to change and Cool Concerns Ltd cannot guarantee its
accuracy or currency. No legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or
misleading statements.

www.coolconcerns.co.uk page 3
Subcooling, September 2013, ©Cool Concerns Ltd

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