The transfer of heat and cold in the air conditioner is carried out by means of a refrigerant (refrigerant, freon). In semi-industrial and domestic systems, R22 and R410a freons are used. The effectiveness of the work depends on the pressure level in the air conditioning system. How to measure it and is there a special air conditioning pressure control valve?
Air conditioner pressure settings
To know the pressure in the air conditioner is very simple. Information should be indicated on the outdoor unit. Pressure indicators are objective only for equipment of the same model. Different models of the same manufacturer can work at different pressures. The parameters depend on the type of compressor, power.
The table gives the upper indicators of high and low pressure in the air conditioning system:
- discharge side - high pressure side, here freon after passing through the compressor is in the liquid fraction;
- suction side- low pressure side. Freon becomes gaseous in the evaporator.
The refrigerant pressure level in the system is only regulated by refueling or by manually bleeding. There are no special pressure valves in household air conditioners (unlike car air conditioners).
How to check the pressure
To control the pressure in the air conditioner, a gauge station is used.
They are available for various types of refrigerant. The station consists of two manometers: blue and red, they are connected to the collector and through hoses to the freon route.
When the air conditioner is started in cooling mode, the blue low pressure gauge checks the air conditioner pressure at the inlet of the freon line to the external module.
A red pressure gauge measures high pressure. It should be connected to the exit of the freon route from the compressor, that is, on the discharge side.
To connect the pressure gauge, special flexible hoses are used, which are connected to the service valve using an external nut. Look for it should be in the place of attachment of a thick copper pipe to the external module. After connecting, the air conditioner starts and after a quarter of an hour you can check the pressure of the air conditioning freon on the pressure gauge. It must be remembered that during periods of shutdown of the compressor the readings are not correct.
Working pressure and air temperature
Operating pressure is closely related to the ambient temperature.
So, with an increase in air temperature in the room or on the street by 5 degrees, the working pressure should be increased by about 0.5 bar for R410a freon.
For Freon R22, the dependence of the operating pressure in the air conditioner on the temperature in the street and in the room is different. Exact numbers can be found in special tables.
