Tennessee Technology Center at Pulaski

Superheat & Sub-cooling SubA Technicians Guide to HVACR Diagnostics

Introduction
 The

ability to properly and accurately measure superheat and sub-cooling and interpret the results is very likely the single most important skill that you, as an HVACR service technician, can acquire you study this program, keep one very important thing in mind .

 As

No Test Is Valid If The Air Flow Is Not Correct!!!

Superheat
 A vapor

is said to be superheated when its temperature is higher than its saturation temperature at the same pressure to a liquid when its temperature is below saturation for the same pressure

 Sub-cooling occurs

Checking Superheat
 Allow the

system to operate for 15 20 minutes to stabilize an accurate thermometer to the suction line near the sensing bulb on TEV systems or near the suction service valve on fixed restrictor systems

 Attach

 

Record the suction line temperature Connect a manifold gauge set to the suction service valve and record the suction pressure Use a temperature/pressure chart to obtain the saturation temperature for the suction gas at the pressure recorded Subtract the saturated temperature from the actual suction line temperature the result is the operating superheat

Example 1
 Suction  Suction  68.5

line temperature = pressure =

55 F 68.5 psig 40 F

psig =

55

F 40 F = 15 F superheat

Lets examine some common system problems and see how they affect superheat and sub-cooling

High Superheat
Possible causes and remedies for HIGH SUPERHEAT

Excessive or HIGH superheat is an indication of insufficient refrigerant in the indoor coil for the heat load present
This could be from insufficient refrigerant entering the coil or from an excessive heat load crossing the coil

LOW REFRIGERANT CHARGE

If there is insufficient refrigerant in the indoor coil, all of the refrigerant will evaporate in the first few passes of the coil.  The excess sensible heat picked up by the refrigerant vapor causes a higher than normal suction gas temperature


 Discharge

pressure will be lower than

normal  Suction pressure will be lower than normal  Superheat will be higher than normal  Sub-cooling will be lower than normal  Current draw will be lower than normal

Liquid Line Restriction

 A restriction

in the liquid line will not allow sufficient refrigerant to reach the evaporator coil  This causes many symptoms similar to a low refrigerant charge  Often there is a noticeable temperature change at the point of the restriction

 Suction

pressure will be lower than normal  Discharge pressure will be normal to lower than normal  Superheat will be high  Sub-cooling will be high  Current draw will be low

Evaporator Air Flow Too High

 Excessive

air flow reduces the latent capacity of the coil thus increasing the sensible heat load.  This additional sensible heat results in higher than normal suction gas temperatures and pressures

pressure will be high  Suction pressure will be high  Superheat will be high  Sub-cooling will be lower than normal  Current draw will be higher than normal
 Discharge

Excessive Load Conditions

 Excessive

indoor coil loads will cause a higher than normal heat content in the air crossing the coil  This excess heat will cause the refrigerant liquid to boil away sooner allowing the vapor to pick up additional superheat  Most commonly caused by internal gains such as an increase in occupancy load

 Discharge

pressure will be higher than

normal  Suction pressure will be higher than normal  Superheat will be high  Sub-cooling will be lower than normal  Current draw will be high

Metering Device Not Feeding Properly

 A restriction

in a capillary tube, orifice or TEV will reduce the amount of liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator.  Symptoms are the same as for a liquid line restriction

 Discharge

pressure will be lower than

normal  Suction pressure will be lower than normal  Superheat will be higher than normal  Sub-cooling will be higher than normal  Current draw will be lower than normal

Low Superheat
Possible causes and remedies for Low SUPERHEAT

LOW SUPERHEAT
 Low superheat

indicates an excess of liquid refrigerant in the evaporator coil  Liquid refrigerant is very likely entering the compressor  This results in reduced compressor life and possible imminent compressor failure

Refrigerant Overcharge
 An

overcharge forces excessive refrigerant into the evaporator due to increased pressure differential  There is not enough heat present to completely vaporize the excess refrigerant  Compressor failure is likely

 Discharge

pressure will be higher than

normal  Suction pressure will be higher than normal  Superheat will be lower than normal  Sub-cooling will be higher than normal  Current draw will be higher than normal

TEV Overfeeding
 Many

symptoms similar to an overcharge  Sensing bulb not insulated or not secured properly  Improperly sized valve  Wrong valve for the application

 Discharge

pressure will be higher than

normal  Suction pressure will be higher than normal  Superheat will be lower than normal  Sub-cooling will be lower than normal  Current draw will be higher than normal

Low Evaporator Heat Load

 Most

common cause of low superheat  Low air volume (dirty coils, filters, restricted duct, etc.)  Reduces the heat available to vaporize the refrigerant  Liquid refrigerant may enter the compressor

 Discharge

pressure will be lower than

normal  Suction pressure will be lower than normal  Superheat will be lower than normal  Sub-cooling will be higher than normal  Current draw will be lower than normal

Improper Metering Device

 The

wrong orifice  A capillary tube the wrong size (or that has been shortened)  An improperly sized TEV  Symptoms identical to device overfeeding

 Discharge

pressure will be higher than

normal  Suction pressure will be higher than normal  Superheat will be lower than normal  Sub-cooling will be lower than normal  Current draw will be higher than normal

Equipment Oversized
 When

a system is greatly oversized there is not enough heat to vaporize the refrigerant present in the evaporator  Symptoms are similar to a low charge, except that a low charge will have a high superheat and run excessively  Oversized unit will likely short cycle and have a low superheat

 Discharge

pressure will be lower than

normal  Suction pressure will be lower than normal  Superheat will be lower than normal  Sub-cooling will be higher than normal  Current draw will be lower than normal

Condenser Air Flow

 Low condenser

air flow or recycled condenser air will increase condensing temperature thus increasing condenser pressure  Increased pressure drop across the metering device results in a flooded evaporator

Caused by:
 Dirty coil  Bad

motor or blade  Shrubs, bushes or other obstructions  Low overhangs  Other equipment too close

 Discharge

pressure will be higher than

normal  Suction pressure will be higher than normal  Superheat will be lower than normal  Sub-cooling will be lower than normal  Current draw will be higher than normal

SUBSUB-COOLING
 A liquid

is sub-cooled when its temperature is below saturation at the same pressure  Measuring sub-cooling is a good method of confirming your diagnosis based on other tests  TEV systems MUST be charged by subcooling in the absence of a known charge quantity

Measuring Sub-cooling Sub

Allow the system to operate for 15 20 minutes to stabilize Attach an accurate thermometer to the liquid line near the inlet of the metering device whenever possible The condenser outlet may be used, but will be in error by the amount of liquid line pressure/temperature losses

 Record

the liquid line temperature  Using a gauge manifold, obtain the liquid line pressure  Discharge pressure may be used, but allowances must be made for condenser pressure drop

   

Using a temperature/pressure chart, convert the pressure reading to saturation temperature Subtract the line temperature from the saturation temperature The difference is operating sub-cooling In the absence of manufacturers data, a subcooling reading of 10 degrees or more is usually acceptable

SubSub-cooling Losses
 Long liquid

lines  Liquid lines exposed to high ambient temperatures (un-insulated)  Low condenser air flow  Inadequate condenser size  Long vertical lifts

Long Liquid Lines

 Long liquid

lines cause increased pressure drop due to friction losses  Use the shortest lines possible  Relocate equipment if necessary

Liquid lines exposed to high ambient

 High

ambient increases liquid line temperature  Exposed liquid lines should be insulated  Heat exchangers or auxiliary sub-coolers may be considered.

Low condenser air flow

 Low condenser

air flow reduces the condensers ability to reject heat  Causes increased condensing temperature  Clean condenser coils and clear any obstructions

Inadequate condenser size

 A condenser

coil that is too small uses all of the available space for condensing leaving no room for sub-cooling  May be caused by the presence of NCGs (non-condensable gasses)

Long vertical lifts

 The

weight of the refrigerant in long vertical lifts causes a pressure drop  HCFC-22 looses about PSIG for every foot of vertical rise  Reduce the lift, use a heat exchanger or artificial liquid line amplification

Practice Exercises

Exercise # 1
   

2 ton package gas unit 5 years old No previous service Not cooling enough

       

odb = 95F Idb = 80F Iwb = 68F SP = 55 PSIG ST = 36F DP = 210 PSIG LT = 96F Current = low

LOW LOAD
 Superheat

is low  Sub-cooling is low to normal  Both pressures are low  Current draw is low

Exercise # 2
   

2 ton package heatpump 15 years old No previous service Not cooling enough

       

odb = 95F Idb = 80F Iwb = 68F SP = 55 PSIG ST = 76F DP = 180 PSIG LT = 96F Current = low

LOW CHARGE
 Superheat

is high  Sub-cooling is low  Both pressures are low  Current draw is low