Quick Facts: Superheat And Subcooling

Superheat

What is superheat?
Superheat refers to the number of degrees a vapor is above its saturation temperature (boiling point) at a particular pressure.

How do I measure superheat?
Superheat is determined by taking the low side pressure gauge reading, converting that pressure to temperature using a PT chart, and then subtracting that temperature from the actual temperature measured (using an accurate thermometer or thermocouple) at the same point the pressure was taken.

Why is it important to know the superheat of a system?
Superheat gives an indication if the amount of refrigerant flowing into the evaporator is appropriate for the load. If the superheat is too high, then not enough refrigerant is being fed resulting in poor refrigeration and excess energy use. If the superheat is too low, then too much refrigerant is being fed possibly resulting in liquid getting back to the compressor and causing compressor damage.

When should I check the superheat?
The superheat should be checked whenever any of the following takes place:

System appears not to be refrigerating properly.

Compressor is replaced.

TXV is replaced.

Refrigerant is changed or added to the system.

Note: The superheat should be checked with the system running at a full-load, steady-state condition.

How do I change the superheat?
Turning the adjustment stem on the TXV changes the superheat.

Clockwise - increases the superheat.

Counterclockwise - decreases the superheat.

superheat and subcooling

Subcooling

What is meant by subcooling?
Subcooling is the condition where the liquid refrigerant is colder than the minimum temperature (saturation temperature) required to keep it from boiling and, hence, change from the liquid to a gas phase.

The amount of subcooling, at a given condition, is the difference between its saturation temperature and the actual liquid refrigerant temperature.

Why is subcooling desirable?
Subcooling is desirable for several reasons:

It increases the efficiency of the system since the amount of heat being removed per pound of refrigerant circulated is greater. In other words, you pump less refrigerant through the system to maintain the refrigerated temperature you want. This reduces the amount of time that the compressor must run to maintain the temperature. The amount of capacity boost which you get with each degree of subcooling varies with the refrigerant being used.

Subcooling is beneficial because it prevents the liquid refrigerant from changing to a gas before it gets to the evaporator. Pressure drops in the liquid piping and vertical risers can reduce the refrigerant pressure to the point where it will boil or "flash" in the liquid line. This change of phase causes the refrigerant to absorb heat before it reaches the evaporator. Inadequate subcooling prevents the expansion valve from properly metering liquid refrigerant into the evaporator, resulting in poor system performance.

Quick Facts is courtesy of the Flow Controls Division of Emerson Climate Technologies (formerly Alco Controls). For more information, visit www.emersonclimatecontractor.com.

Publication date: 06/13/2005

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