Brochure

Page 30 – Bulletin 40-10
Suction Line Filter-Driers
Sporlan Suction Line Filter-Driers are designed
specifically for CLEAN-UP after BURNOUT using
the HH TYPE CHARCOAL CORE
PROVEN BENEFITS:
■
Positive protection
for the compressor
■
Most economical
method of clean-up
■
Minimum down time
— system operates
during clean-up
■
Method is applicable
to almost any size system
■
Removes all contaminants —
moisture, acid, sludges, dirt…
■
Recommended by the leading
equipment manufacturers
method of clean-Up
The Suction Line Filter-Drier method
of cleaning up a system after a hermetic
motor burnout is favored by service
technicians and recommended by manu-
facturers throughout our industry. This
method gives the most practical and posi-
tive protection of the new compressor,
since the refrigerant-lubricant mixture is
filtered and purified just before it returns
to the compressor. It is important that all
contaminants remaining in the system be
removed to prevent a repeat burnout of
the new compressor.
constrUction
The construction of the suction line filter-
drier is not significantly different from
the standard liquid line filter-drier. Both
driers remove the important contami-
nants such as moisture, dirt, acid, and
the products of lubricant decomposi-
tion. The suction line filter-driers utilizes
the HH style charcoal core to obtain the
maximum ability for lubricant clean-up
and removing all types of contaminants.
The sealed models have an access valve
(-T) at the inlet end to permit measur-
ing the pressure drop during the first
several hours of operation. RSF shells
have an access valve to measure pressure
drop (see Bulletin 80-10). Also, replace-
able core Catch-Alls have a 1/4” female
pipe connection (-G) in the endplate to
permit the installation of an access valve
to measure pressure drop. If the proper
style drier is not available, then a suction
line filter-drier can be used in the suction
or liquid line; and a liquid line filter-drier
can be used in the suction line. The pres-
sure drop characteristics of the two types
of driers are essentially the same for a
given line size.
installation
The Catch-All Filter-Drier can be installed
directly in the suction line by removing
a portion of the line. After clean-up, the
Catch-All Filter-Drier is generally left
in the line. The cores in the replaceable
model or RSF shell should be replaced
with filter elements (RPE-48-BD or
RPE-100) to obtain the lowest pos-
sible pressure drop. A hermetic motor
burnout produces large amounts of acid,
moisture, sludge and all types of lubricant
decomposition materials. To obtain the
maximum ability to remove all these vari-
ous types of contaminants, the Sporlan
HH style charcoal core is preferred. If the
HH style core is not available, the stan-
dard cores may be used.
importance of lUBricant as a
scavenger
OEM recommendations stress the impor-
tance of lubricant in cleaning up a system
after a motor burnout. The lubricant acts
as a scavenger, collecting the acid, slud-
ges, and other contaminants. Therefore,
the service technician should check the
color and acid content of the lubricant.
It must be clean and acid free before the
job is finished. The acid content can be
checked with an acid test kit.
oBtaining a lUBricant sample
This is frequently a difficult task. A lubri-
cant sample can usually be obtained
from the burned out compressor. To
obtain repeated samples after the system
is started up, install a trap in the suction
line with an access valve in the bottom
of the trap. This permits collecting the
small amount of lubricant required for
running an acid test. Another method is
to build a trap with valves, and connec-
tions for charging hoses. Then refrigerant
vapor from the discharge service valve is
run through this trap and put back into
the suction service valve. In a short time
sufficient lubricant collects in the trap for
analysis. For more information request
Sporlan Form 40-141.
sUction line pressUre drop
Most hermetic motors rely on refrigerant
vapor for cooling. Any large pressure drop
in the suction line could result in reduced
flow of suction gas, and thus improper
cooling of the new hermetic motor. Field
experience has shown that if the filter-
drier is properly sized, the pressure drop
across it should not exceed the values
given in the table on page 31. The pres-
sure drop across the filter-drier should
be checked during the first hour of
operation to determine if the cores need
to be changed.
Any pressure loss in the suction line also
reduces system capacity significantly.
When an RSF shell or replaceable core
type Catch-All is used, it is recommended
that the cores be removed and filter ele-
ments installed when the clean-up job is
complete. Obtaining a low pressure drop
is particularly important for energy sav-
ings on supermarket refrigeration systems.
Therefore, suction line filter-driers should
be sized generously on these systems.
Compressor
Suction
Service Valve
RSF Shell
Suction
Line