Ag Power Web Enhanced Course Materials

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Evaporator

The evaporator works the opposite of the condenser, here refrigerant liquid is converted to gas, absorbing heat from the air in the compartment.

When the liquid refrigerant reaches the evaporator its pressure has been reduced, dissipating its heat content and making it much cooler than the fan air flowing around it. This causes the refrigerant to absorb heat from the warm air and reach its low boiling point rapidly. The refrigerant then vaporizes, absorbing the maximum amount of heat.

This heat is then carried by the refrigerant from the evaporator as a low-pressure gas through a hose or line to the low side of the compressor, where the whole refrigeration cycle is repeated.

The evaporator removes heat from the area that is to be cooled. The desired temperature of cooling of the area will determine if refrigeration or air con­ditioning is desired. For example, food preservation generally requires low refrigeration temperatures, ranging from 40°F (4°C) to below 0°F (-18°C).

A higher temperature is required for human comfort. A larger area is cooled, which requires that large volumes of air be passed through the evaporator coil for heat exchange. A blower becomes a necessary part of the evaporator in the air conditioning system. The blower fans must not only draw heat-laden air into the evaporator, but must also force this air over the evaporator fins and coils where it surrenders its heat to the refrigerant and then forces the cooled air out of the evaporator into the space being cooled.

Fan Speeds

Fan speed is essential to the evaporation process in the system. Heat exchange, as we explained under condenser operation, depends upon a temperature differential of the air and the refrigerant. The greater the differential, the greater the amount of heat exchanged between the air and the refrigerant. A high heat load, as is generally encountered when the system is turned on, will allow rapid heat transfer between the air and the cooler refrigerant.

A blower fan turned on to its highest speed will deliver the most air across the fins and coils for rapid evaporation.

For the coldest air temperature from the evaporator, operate the blower fan at the lowest speed so the heat will be absorbed by the refrigerant from the air

Problems of Flooded or Starved Evaporator Coils

Changing the state of the refrigerant in the evaporator coils is as important as the air flow over the coils. Liquid refrigerant supplied to the coils by the expansion valve expands to a vapor as it absorbs heat from the air. Some liquid refrigerant must be supplied throughout the total length of the evaporator coils for full capacity.

A starved evaporator coil is a condition in which not enough refrigerant has been supplied through the total coil length. Therefore, expansion of the refrigerant has not occurred through the whole coil length, resulting in poor coil operation and too-low heat exchange.

A flooded evaporator is the opposite of the starved coil. Too much refrigerant is passed through the evaporator coils, resulting in unexpanded liquid passing onto the suction line and into the compressor.

Part Identification - Evaporator