The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of the essentials of working with R-410A. Those who have the time and opportunity to attend a R-410A certification seminar are encouraged to do so. Most of the seminars and published materials on this topic not only cover the specific differences necessary to the safe and proper handling of 410A, but they also review information that technicians should already know anyway.

In this article only the essential differences between R-22 usage and R-410A usage will be discussed. However, if a technician is going to take the voluntary 410A safety exam, he or she will be required to answer a number of general questions common to the function, operation, and servicing of all mechanical compression cooling systems. Every technician is expected to have a good solid knowledge of the complete mechanical cycle, superheat, subcooling, latent heats, and the major components of a system. A review of the basic system, accessories, and even global warming and ozone depletion is essential.

Refrigerant 410A was developed to replace refrigerant 22 because R-22 is being phased out due to its ozone depletion potential. R-410A has no ozone depletion potential but does have a higher global warming potential. However, according to experts, the global warming potential using R-410A should be lower overall because of its higher efficiency, enabling reduced power plant emissions.

The Essentials Of R-410A

System Pressures
Technicians with R-22 experience will need to become familiar with working with high and low side pressures that are much higher when using R-410A. A typical R-22 system operating normally with a head pressure of 260 psig at a 120 degree condensing temperature and a low side pressure of 76 psig at a 45 degree evaporator saturation temperature will find the equivalent pressures in a R-410A system to be much higher.

A normally operating R-410A system with the same condensing temperature of 120 degrees and a 45 degree evaporator saturation temperature will have a high side pressure of 418 psig and a low side pressure of 130 psig.

Although refrigerant 410A is a near-azeotrope and has a slight temperature glide, there is no need to correct for refrigerant dewpoint and bubble point differences. Superheat and subcooling calculations can be calculated the same way we have always done with R-22 refrigerant. The only difference will be the higher pressure-temperature relationship when reading the temperature-pressure chart. The temperature glide for R-410A is only 0.3 degrees F and can be ignored, and fractionation is not a concern.

Compression Ratio And System Efficiency
At first glance, one might ask the question, with 410A operating at higher pressures, are the compression ratio higher and the efficiency less? The answer is no, the compression ratio is about the same or slightly lower than that of R-22 and the efficiency is higher. Compression ratio is the absolute high side pressure divided by the absolute low side pressure. The compression ratio is affected by the pressure differential between the high and low sides of the system, not how high both pressures are.

Using the previous examples comparing the operating pressures of an R-22 system to an R-410A system, the R-22 system would have a compression ratio of 3.02:1, while the R-410A system would have a compression ratio of 2.98:1. The actual efficiency gains from R-410A are due to its superior thermodynamic values over R-22. Under identical operating conditions, the discharge temperature on a 410A system may actually be lower than on an R-22 system.

With all else being equal, it is possible to manufacture an R-410A air conditioning system that is physically smaller using less refrigerant and a smaller compressor than an R-22 system of the same capacity and SEER rating.

Compressors
Compressors used on 410A systems use thicker metals to withstand the higher operating pressures. Therefore, only a compressor designed for 410A should be used with 410A. The ideal compressor type for use with 410A is a scroll built to withstand the higher pressures. The scroll compressor has the advantage over the reciprocating compressor when comparing volumetric efficiencies and internal heat transfer losses between the suction and discharge ports.

Scroll compressors compress the refrigerant in stages through the use of up to six individual pockets in its scroll assembly while reciprocating compressors raise the pressure from the suction pressure to the high side pressure in a single stroke. In addition, the scroll compressor's suction and discharge openings are farther apart than those in a reciprocating compressor, thus decreasing heat transfer losses between the suction and discharge ports.

The internal pressure relief valves inside the compressor open at a pressure between 550 and 625 psig on compressors designed for R-410A service. Compressors designed for R-22 service have internal pressure relief valve settings that open between 375 and 450 psig. So only compressors rated to work with R-22 should be used with R-22 and those rated for use with R-410A should be used with R-410A.

Metering Devices
The metering device used in a 410A system must be about 15 percent smaller in capacity compared to a metering device used in a R-22 system of the same capacity. It is imperative that only a metering device designed and properly sized for R-410A be used on a R-410A system. In fact, no parts designed for R-22 use should be used on a 410A system.

Refrigerant Lines
Refrigerant lines used for R-410A must be properly sized for R-410A systems. It is possible to use existing refrigerant lines from an R-22 system in a R-410A system installation if they are of the correct size; however, they must be cleaned of all debris and oil. The best practice is to replace the lines with new copper liquid and suction lines to ensure they are clean and do not have any weak areas that could be a problem at the higher operating pressures of 410A.

Driers And System Accessories
The desiccants used in R-410A systems are the same as those used for most other refrigerants. Zeolites, molecular sieve type desiccants, work on the principle of a material with small pockets or areas that adsorb moisture by the process of capillary action. This type of desiccant seems to work well with all modern refrigerants including R-410A. The metal shell containing the filter-drier, however, must be thicker to withstand the higher pressures of 410A. Therefore, only use filter-driers rated for use with R-410A. R-410A filter-driers are those rated for pressures no less than 600 psig.

When removing a filter-drier from a system, it should be cut out with a tubing cutter, not a torch flame. The desiccant in a filter-drier adsorbs and holds moisture better when it is cool or cold. Therefore, if the desiccant is heated, moisture may be driven out of the desiccant and into the system, creating a moisture problem. This is of greater concern on R-410A systems because the oil used (POE) is highly hygroscopic. Once moisture is absorbed in a POE oil, it is difficult to remove. Usually an oil change is necessary.

The practice of replacing the filter-drier every time the system is opened is particularly important on R-410A systems because of the hygroscopic nature of the oil used.

Pressure Control Settings
Because of the higher operating pressures, the high- and low-pressure control settings must be higher than those encountered on R-22 systems. The recommended high-pressure control settings are a cut-out pressure of 610 psig and a cut-in pressure of approximately 500 psig. The recommended low-pressure control setting is a cut-out pressure of 50 psig. Make sure the pressure control you are using on a 410A system has the correct pressure range, allowing it to be adjusted for the correct pressures.

Oil
R-410A systems use a synthetic polyolester (POE) oil. This oil has superior lubricating ability over the mineral oils commonly used in R-22 systems. Only POE oil should be used in a 410A system. However, not all POE oils are the same. There is a variety of POE oil types and grades; therefore, it is important to know which POE oil is in the system being serviced. Mixing some POE oils may create a compatibility problem and lead to a system failure.

All POE oils are highly hygroscopic. That is, they absorb moisture quickly and hold the moisture they absorb. Once absorbed, the moisture cannot be removed through system evacuation, even at vacuum pressures of 500 microns. Therefore, it is important to prevent moisture from getting in the oil in the first place. The general recommendations for handling POE oil are to keep it in a metal container, transfer it with an oil pump, and keep the container sealed except when absolutely necessary. POE oils are also irritating to the skin and a real medical concern if it comes in contact with your eyes. Gloves and safety glasses are essential items when working with this oil.

Brazed Connections
The higher operating pressures encountered with R-410A systems require the use of brazing materials rated to withstand these pressures. Some technicians have used lower temperature solders when making tubing connections on R-22 systems. Such should not be the practice on R-410A systems. It is the author's opinion that only high-temperature brazing materials such as Silphos type brazing rod or one of the silver solders be used on any R-22 system. It is even more important to use suitable brazing materials on R-410A systems.

Moisture And Evacuation
The hygroscopic nature of the oils used in R-410A systems cannot be over-emphasized. Moisture can be a significant problem to the proper operation and life expectancy of any system operating on the mechanical refrigerant cycle. Therefore, it is more important than in the past to take precautions to keep moisture out of a system during installation and service, to evacuate to 500 microns, and replace filter-driers when a system has been opened. Questionable workmanship that may have gotten a technician by when working on R-22 systems will not be tolerated by R-410A systems.

System Considerations

System conversions are simply out of the question. After reading this far, it should be obvious that the differences in construction of R-410A systems exceed the practical and economic limits of converting an R-22 system to R-410A.

Tools
Gauge manifold sets, hoses, recovery cylinders, and the recovery machine must be rated for the higher pressures encountered with R-410A. An attempt to use standard refrigerant service tools on 410A systems is very dangerous and simply foolish. This is a safety issue of great concern to the industry and is one of the reasons the AC&R Safety Coalition was formed and R-410A safety and handling certification was established.

Recovery cylinders must be rated for R-410A use. These cylinders meet the Department Of Transportation DOT 4BA 400 or DOT 4BW 400 standards for recovery cylinders. Be very careful here; it would be very easy and convenient to use whatever recovery cylinder was handy rather than the correct cylinder. Such a mistake could be the last one a technician makes.

Leak Detection
R-410A is an HFC refrigerant. Therefore, any leak detection device or method that works for other HFC refrigerants will work for R-410A.

Recovery Of 410A
Standard recovery procedures for R-410A remain unchanged. The only difference is the necessity to use a recovery machine and cylinders approved for the higher pressures of R-410A.

Charging
Since R-410A has a slight (0.3 degree) fractionation, it, like all other 400 series refrigerants, must be charged in the liquid state. Otherwise, follow the manufacturer's recommended charging procedure. The dewpoint and bubble point temperatures may be ignored (they are not even listed on temperature-pressure charts for R-410A) when calculating system superheat and subcooling.

Personal Safety

Personal safety is always of utmost importance when working on any job or piece of equipment. Safety glasses and gloves should be worn no matter what refrigerant is being used. However, because of the higher pressures of R-410A, safety is of even greater significance. If it is necessary to heat a cylinder of R-410A to raise its pressure in cooler weather, heat the cylinder with water no hotter than 90 degrees F and never heat the cylinder with a flame. Don't allow the cylinder to reach a temperature more than 125 degrees F during transport or storage. A cylinder of R-410A at 125 degrees exerts a cylinder pressure of 450 psig.

Attend a 410A safe use and handling seminar and take the voluntary 410A certification exam developed by the AC & R Safety Coalition. Set yourself and your contractor apart as certified, qualified, and safe providers of the new 410A systems. This refrigerant and its systems are here to stay.

Norm Christopherson is a technical writer, seminar presenter, and former HVACR instructor with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He is currently seeking training opportunities. He can be contacted at nchristo@juno.com.

Publication date: 11/03/2003