Suction line heat exchanger

jeff5may · 02-11-13, 06:24 PM

Mikesolar,

Thank you so much for the retrofit articles! I wish we could sticky these. They are a must for anyone attempting projects with flammable refrigerants. The articles put safety first and discuss proper handling techniques for these potentially dangerous gases. Very well authored.

dc€x,

I have just recently become aware of Coolpack and have used the software a few hours, but I still haven't become proficient enough with it to get much meaningful data. AC_Hacker has started a tutorial thread about it. Hopefully he can teach us noobs something.

I am aware of the HC refrigerants and their applications except DME. Really? Dimethyl ether? This stuff has been taken out of everything it used to be in except spray paint and vcr tape head cleaner spray due to people getting high with it. I googled it and found that ASHRAE has labeled it R-E170. Wow, higher COP than R12? Maybe someday we will have sub-mini-splits running off ether!

Honestly, I believe the 3 winners in this new arena will be propane, butane, and co2. All are common and inexpensive, and they actually work well. I've experimented with propane (r-22 replacement) and butane (r-12 replacement), with good results with both gases.

The guentner knowhow article I cited a few days ago titled "Subcooling but Correctly" briefly covers the TX valve operating at its limits. It's near the end of the article. Basically, it says that with extreme subcooling (enough that the liquid line could sweat), the valve bangs against its seat when it shuts, much like when flash gas is fed into it. Either condition is to be avoided. I read the same thing somewhere else also but I can't find it now.

02-11-13, 06:24 PM	#23
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,428 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	Mikesolar, Thank you so much for the retrofit articles! I wish we could sticky these. They are a must for anyone attempting projects with flammable refrigerants. The articles put safety first and discuss proper handling techniques for these potentially dangerous gases. Very well authored. dc€x, I have just recently become aware of Coolpack and have used the software a few hours, but I still haven't become proficient enough with it to get much meaningful data. AC_Hacker has started a tutorial thread about it. Hopefully he can teach us noobs something. I am aware of the HC refrigerants and their applications except DME. Really? Dimethyl ether? This stuff has been taken out of everything it used to be in except spray paint and vcr tape head cleaner spray due to people getting high with it. I googled it and found that ASHRAE has labeled it R-E170. Wow, higher COP than R12? Maybe someday we will have sub-mini-splits running off ether! Honestly, I believe the 3 winners in this new arena will be propane, butane, and co2. All are common and inexpensive, and they actually work well. I've experimented with propane (r-22 replacement) and butane (r-12 replacement), with good results with both gases. The guentner knowhow article I cited a few days ago titled "Subcooling but Correctly" briefly covers the TX valve operating at its limits. It's near the end of the article. Basically, it says that with extreme subcooling (enough that the liquid line could sweat), the valve bangs against its seat when it shuts, much like when flash gas is fed into it. Either condition is to be avoided. I read the same thing somewhere else also but I can't find it now.