Capillary:

What is Capillary Tube in Refrigerators?

Capillary tube is one of the most commonly used throttling devices in the refrigeration and the air conditioning systems. The
capillary tube is a copper tube of very small internal diameter. It is of very long length and it is coiled to several turns so that
it would occupy less space. The internal diameter of the capillary tube used for the refrigeration and air conditioning
applications varies from 0.5 to 2.28 mm (0.020 to 0.09 inches). Capillary tube used as the throttling device in the domestic
refrigerators, deep freezers, water coolers and air conditioners.

How Capillary Tube Works?

When the refrigerant leaves the condenser and enters the capillary tube its pressure drops down suddenly due to
very small diameter of the capillary. In capillary the fall in pressure of the refrigerant takes place not due to the
orifice but due to the small opening of the capillary.
The decrease in pressure of the refrigerant through the capillary depends on the diameter of the capillary and the
length of the capillary. Smaller is the diameter and more is the length of the capillary more is the drop in pressure
of the refrigerant as it passes through it.
In the normal working conditions of the refrigeration plant there is drop in pressure of the refrigerant across the
capillary but when the plant stops the refrigerant pressure across the two sides of the capillary equalize. Due to
this reason when the compressor restarts there won’t be much load on it. Also, due to this reason one cannot
over-charge the refrigeration system with the refrigerant and no receiver is used.
The capillary tube is non-adjustable device that means one cannot control the flow of the refrigerant through it as
one can do in the automatic throttling valve. Due to this the flow of the refrigerant through the capillary changes as
the surrounding conditions changes. For instance as the condenser pressure increases due to high atmospheric
pressure and the evaporator pressure reduces due to lesser refrigeration load the flow of the refrigerant through
the capillary changes. Thus the capillary tube is designed for certain ambient conditions. However, if it is selected
properly, it can work reasonably well over a wide range of conditions.

 The length of the capillary of particular diameter required for the refrigeration applications cannot be found by fixed formula
rather it is calculated by the empirical calculations. Some approximate length required for certain application is found out and
it is then corrected by the experiments.

 When the refrigerant leaves the condenser and enters the capillary tube its pressure drops down suddenly due to very small
diameter of the capillary. In capillary the fall in pressure of the refrigerant takes place not due to the orifice but due to the
small opening of the capillary. The decrease in pressure of the refrigerant through the capillary depends on the diameter of
the capillary and the length of the capillary. Smaller is the diameter and more is the length of the capillary more is the drop in
pressure of the refrigerant as it passes through it.

 Advantages of the Capillary Tube

Here are some of the advantages of using capillary tube as the throttling device in the refrigeration and the air conditioning
systems:

1) The capillary tube is a very simple device that can be manufactured easily and it is not very costly.

2) The capillary tube limits the maximum amount of the refrigerant that can be charged in the refrigeration system due to
which the receiver is not required in these systems.

3) When the refrigeration plant stops the pressure across the capillary tube becomes same and also along the whole
refrigeration cycle the pressure is constant. This means that when the plant is stopped the pressure at the suction and
discharge side of the compressor are same. Thus when the compressor is restarted there is not much load on it since it does
not have to overcome very high pressures. Due to this the compressor motor of smaller torque can be selected for driving the
compressor, thus reducing the cost of the compressor. This along with the above two advantages helps reducing the overall
cost of the refrigeration and the air conditioning systems.

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  Important Points to Remember when Installing Refrigeration Plants with Capillary Tube
Since the pressure on the two sides of the capillary equalizes when the refrigeration plant is stopped, one should not
overcharge the system with the refrigerant. Due to this reason the receiver is also not installed in the refrigeration system with
the capillary. If the system is overcharged the discharge pressure from the compressor will be high and the compressor would
get overloaded. Thus the refrigerant charge in the refrigeration and air conditioning systems with the capillary tube is critical.

The technician should be very careful while brazing the capillary to the condenser and the evaporator coil. Since the diameter
of the capillary is very small the capillary may get blocked if the brazing is done deep inside. Brazing the capillary requires
lots of expertise and patience.

In most of the cases, when the fresh refrigerant is charged into the refrigerator or the deep freezers, the capillary of the system
should also be changed. This is because when the machine is stopped some oil particles may clog the capillary as the
refrigerant leaks to the atmosphere.

Accumulator Used in the Refrigeration Systems with Capillary Tube

Accumulator is a small hollow cylindrical shape vessel made of copper. It is fitted between the evaporator and the
compressor of the refrigeration system towards the suction side of the compressor. Sometimes the refrigerant
leaving the evaporator carries liquid particles. These particles get separated in the accumulator. The liquid
refrigerant collected in the accumulator slowly gets vaporized and is then sucked by the compressor. The
accumulator also prevents the flooding of the liquid refrigerant to the compressor when the load on the evaporator
drops down drastically.

 Refrigeration System with Capillary Tube and Accumulator

 Reference
1) Book: Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by P. N. Ananthanarayanan, Second Edition, Tata Mc-Graw-Hill
Publishing Company Limited

 Images Courtesy
1) Lytron
2) Book: Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by P. N. Ananthanarayanan, Second Edition, Tata Mc-Graw-Hill
Publishing Company Limited

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 Throttling Devices or the Expansion Valves Used in the
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems

This article describes what the throttling valves are, the working of throttling valve, the functions of the throttling valve in the
refrigeration and air conditioning systems and the types of throttling valve.

 Throttling Devices as Important Components of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems
Throttling devise is another vital part of all the refrigeration systems and air conditioning systems apart from the
compressor, condenser and the evaporator. The refrigerant leaves the compressor at high pressure and
temperature and enters the condenser. After leaving the condenser the refrigerant is at medium temperature and
high pressure and then it enters the throttling valve. In the throttling valve the pressure and the temperature of the
refrigerant is reduced drastically and suddenly. Thus us it is the throttling valve where the temperature of the
refrigerant is reduced and it is then able to produce the cooling effect in the evaporator of the refrigerator or the
cooling coil of the air conditioner. The throttling valve also controls the amount of the refrigerant that should enter
into the evaporator depending on the refrigeration load.

What is the Throttling Device or Expansion Valve? How Throttling Devices Work?
The throttling devise can be the valve or the copper tubing that allows the flow of the refrigerant through very
small opening also called as the orifice. The throttling devices allow restricted flow of the refrigerant. The throttling
devices are also called as the expansion valves because when the refrigerant passes through them the pressure
of the refrigerant drops down or it expands..

When the refrigerant passes through the orifice its pressure reduces due to friction and also the small opening of
the orifice. The amount of the refrigerant flowing through the throttling valve depends on the amount of opening of
the orifice. It also depends on the difference of pressure across two sides of the throttling devise that condenser
and the evaporator.

In case of the automatic throttling valve the amount of the opening of the orifice is controlled by the pressure or
the temperature in the evaporator. In case of the large refrigeration systems the opening of the orifice is controlled
by the level of liquid refrigerant in the condenser or the evaporator. If the throttling valve has fix opening like in
capillary tube, the amount of refrigerant flowing through it depends on the pressure towards the inlet side of the
throttling valve (condenser pressure) and the outlet side of the throttling valve (evaporator pressure).

 Functions Performed by the Throttling Devices in Refrigeration Systems

When the high pressure refrigerant from the condenser enters the throttling devise the pressure of the refrigerant drops down
suddenly, due to this the temperature of the refrigerant also drops down suddenly and substantially. There are two important
functions performed by the throttling devices or the expansion valves as mentioned below:

1) Reduce the pressure of the refrigerant: The refrigerant leaving the condenser is at high pressure. The pressure of the
refrigerant has to be reduced so that it can vaporize at the required temperature in the evaporator. The small opening or the
orifice in the throttling valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant to the level such that vaporization of the refrigerant
occurs. The refrigerant leaving the throttling valve enters the evaporator at low pressure, low temperature and partially liquid
and vapor state.
2) Meet the refrigeration load: The throttling valve also controls the amount of the refrigerant flowing through it and to the
evaporator. When there is more refrigeration load that means the quantity of the substance stored in the freezer is more and it
is at higher temperature, more amount of heat is to be removed from it. In such cases the throttling devise allows increased

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 flow of the refrigerant through it. When the refrigeration load is less that means the quantity of the substance is less and it is
at lower temperature, less amount of heat is to be removed from it. In such cases the throttling valve allows lesser flow of the
refrigerant through it.

 Types of Throttling Devices

Some of the most commonly used types of throttling valves are:

1) Capillary tube

2) Constant pressure or automatic throttling valve

3) Thermostatic expansion valve

4) Float valve

 Throttling Devices for Refrigeration Systems

 Reference
1) Book: Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by P. N. Ananthanarayanan, Second Edition, Tata Mc-Graw-Hill
Publishing Company Limited

 Images Courtesy
1) e-Refrigeration

Throttling or Expansion Devices for Refrigerator and Air-Conditioner

Systems

In throttling devices the pressure of the refrigerant drops down suddenly and due to this its temperature also
reduces drastically. This article describes various types of throttling devices being used for refrigerator and air-
conditioning systems.

Refrigerating and air-conditioning systems are comprised of four important components: the compressor,
the condenser, the throttling or expansion device and the evaporator. The refrigerant keeps on flowing through
these components in a continuous cycle. The high pressure and medium temperature condensed refrigerant
leaves the condenser and enters the throttling or expansion valve.

. In the throttling valve the pressure of the refrigerant reduces suddenly and excessively. With this the
temperature of the refrigerant also reduces drastically. This low pressure and low temperature liquid refrigerant
then enters the evaporator and absorbs heat from the substance or the space to be cooled.

The throttling valve is fitted between the condenser and the evaporator. The throttling or expansion device is in
the form of a small orifice. When refrigerant passes through this small orifice its pressure reduces suddenly due to
the friction. The rate of the flow of refrigerant through the throttling device depends on the size and opening of the
orifice. It also depends on the difference in pressure on the evaporator and the condenser sides.

There are different types of throttling devices, but in refrigerating and air-conditioning systems, the two most
commonly used types are: capillary tube and thermostatic expansion valve. These have been described below:

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 1) Capillary tube: Instead of the orifice, the capillary is small diameter tubing that offers the restricted flow of the
refrigerant. Its internal diameter ranges from 0.020 to 0.090 inches depending upon the capacity of the
refrigerating or air-conditioning system. The pressure drop attained through the capillary depends upon its
diameter and length. Capillary tubing made of copper is most commonly used.

Capillary tubing is used for small refrigerating and air-conditioning systems like household refrigerators, water
coolers, deep freezers, window air-conditioners, split air-conditioners, small packaged air-conditioners etc. For
systems in which capillary tubing is fitted, technicians have to be very careful of refrigerant charging as the
overcharging can lead excessive high discharge pressures from the compressor, which leads to over loading of
the compressor and the chances of refrigerant leakages from the system are also increased.

2) Thermostatic expansion valves: The thermostatic expansion valve is not controlled by the temperature. It
works automatically maintaining proper flow of the refrigerant depending upon the heat load in the evaporator.
Apart from reducing the pressure of the refrigerant, the thermostatic expansion valve also keeps the evaporator
active. These days thermostatic expansion valves used with solenoid valves are more common.

Thermostatic expansion valves are used extensively in medium and large sized refrigerating and air-conditioning
systems. They can be used for large water chilling plants, brine chilling plants, large packaged air-conditioners,
central air-conditioning plants etc.

Thermostatic Expansion Valve or TEV

Thermostatic expansion valve is one of the most commonly used throttling devices in the refrigeration and air conditioning
systems. Let us see the details of this valve that automatically maintains the flow of the refrigerant inside the evaporator.

 What is Thermostatic Expansion Valve or TEV?

Thermostatic expansion valve or TEV is one of the most commonly used throttling devices in the refrigerator and air
conditioning systems. The thermostatic expansion valve is the automatic valve that maintains proper flow of the refrigerant in
the evaporator as per the load inside the evaporator. If the load inside the evaporator is higher it allows the increase in flow of
the refrigerant and when the load reduces it allows the reduction in the flow of the refrigerant. This leads to highly efficient
working of the compressor and the whole refrigeration and the air conditioning plant.

The thermostatic expansion valve also prevents the flooding of the refrigerant to the compressor ensuring that the plant would
run safely without any risk of breakage of the compressor due to compression of the liquid. The thermostatic expansion valve
does not controls the temperature inside the evaporator and it does not vary the temperature inside the evaporator as its name
may suggest.

Beside the capillary tube, the thermostatic expansion valve is used widely in the refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
While the capillary tube is used in the small domestic systems, the thermostatic expansion valve is used in the systems of
higher capacities. It is commonly used in the industrial refrigeration plants, high capacity split air conditioners, packaged air
conditioners, central air conditioners and many other systems.

The thermostatic expansion valve performs following functions:

1) Reduce the pressure of the refrigerant: The first and the foremost function of the thermostatic expansion valve is
to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant from the condenser pressure to the evaporator pressure. In the
condenser the refrigerant is at very high pressure. The thermostatic expansion valve has a constriction or orifice
due to which the pressure of the refrigerant passing through it drops down suddenly to the level of the evaporator
pressure. Due this the temperature of the refrigerant also drops down suddenly and it produces cooling effect
inside the evaporator.
2) Keep the evaporator active: The thermostatic expansion valve allows the flow of the refrigerant as per the
cooling load inside it. At higher load the flow of the refrigerant is increased and at the lower loads the flow is
reduced. It won’t happen that the load on the evaporator is high and the flow of the refrigerant is low thereby

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 reducing the capacity of the evaporator. The thermostatic expansion valve allows the evaporator to run as per the
requirements and there won’t be any wastage of the capacity of the evaporator. The TEV constantly modulates
the flow to maintain the superheat for which it has been adjusted.
 3) Allow the flow of the refrigerant as per the requirements: This is another important function of the thermostatic
expansion valve. It allows the flow of the refrigerant to the evaporator as per the load on it. This prevents the flooding of the
liquid refrigerant to the compressor and efficient working of the evaporator and the compressor and the whole refrigeration
plant.

 Advantages of the Thermostatic Expansion Valve

As it is obvious from the above discussion the advantages of the thermostatic expansion valve are:

1) The TEV maintains the flow of the refrigerant to the evaporator as per the load inside. Thus the refrigeration or the air
conditioning plant can run to the optimum capacity as per the requirements.

2) The TEV keeps the evaporator fully active and helps getting the optimum cooling effect from it.

3) Since the entire refrigerant in the evaporator gets vaporized the chances of the liquid refrigerant particles going to the
compressor are reduced. This reduces the chances of the breakdown of the compressor due to compression of the liquid.

4) The compressor can also work at the optimum capacity as per the refrigeration load on the system. If the load is lesser it
has to compress refrigerant and work on lesser capacity thus absorbing lesser electric power. If the load is higher it can work
at higher capacities.

 Types of Thermostatic Expansion Valves

There are two types of thermostatic expansion valves:

1) Internally equalized thermostatic expansion valves

2) Externally equalized thermostatic expansion valves

 Reference
1) Book: Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by P. N. Ananthanarayanan, Second Edition, Tata Mc-Graw-Hill
Publishing Company Limited

 Images Courtesy
1) e-Refrigeration
2) Refrigeration Training Products

Working of the Thermostatic Expansion Valve

This article describes the working of commonly used thermostatic expansion valve or TEV. TEV is used as the throttling
device in number of refrigeration and air conditioning plants of higher cooling capacities.

 Pressures Acting Inside the Thermostatic Expansion Valve or TEV

The working of the thermostatic expansion valve can be explained with the help of the attached image of the valve. The valve
comprises of external body inside which various parts as shown in the figure are enclosed.

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 There are three pressures acting inside the thermostatic expansion valve. P1 is the pressure at the top of the
thermostatic expansion valve acting inside the power element above the diaphragm. Due to this pressure the
diaphragm tends to move down due which the needle also moves down and the valve tends to open. When the
evaporator temperature becomes higher the gas in the feeler bulb expands due to which the gas pressure inside
the power element increases. This causes the downward movement of the needle to open the valve
The pressure P2 is the pressure acting on the lower side of the diaphragm due to the refrigerant pressure inside
the evaporator. This pressure tends to move the diaphragm upwards and close the opening of the valve.

The pressure P3 is the spring pressure that tends to close the opening of the valve.
This pressure remains constant.
The pressures P2 and P3 act against the pressure P1. The pressure P1 tends to open the valve while the
pressure P2 and P3 tend to close the thermostatic expansion valve. Thus if the valve has to open P1 should be
greater than combined forces of P2 and P3.

How Thermostatic Expansion Valve Works?

During the normal working of the refrigeration plant the thermostatic expansion valve remains opened in certain
position. When the refrigeration load increases, the temperature inside the evaporator also increases. In such
cases there is need of the more refrigerant to take care of the increased load. The increased temperature in the
evaporator is sensed by the feeler bulb of the thermostatic expansion valve. This leads to the expansion of the
gas in the feeler bulb and also in the power element of the TEV leading to the increase in pressure P1. Due to this
the diaphragm of the TEV moves down and tends to open the valve further to increase the flow of the refrigerant
to the evaporator.

 At the same time the pressure P2 below the diaphragm also increases due to superheating of the refrigerant inside the
evaporator. This pressure tends to close the valve. There is also spring pressure P3 below the diaphragm that opposes the
opening of the valve. If the increase in the refrigeration load is much higher the pressure P1 overcomes pressure P2 and P3
leading to the further opening of the thermostatic expansion valve. This allows for the increased flow of the refrigerant to the
evaporator to take care of the extra load.

When the refrigeration load reduces, the magnitude of pressure P1 reduces and the combined pressures P2 and P3 overcome
pressure P1 that allows for partial closing of the valve so the flow of the refrigerant to the evaporator reduces. Thus the TEV
maintains the flow of the refrigerant inside the evaporator as per the refrigeration or air conditioning load. The TEV
constantly modulates the flow to maintain the superheat for which it has been adjusted by the spring.

 Reference

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 1) Book: Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by P. N. Ananthanarayanan, Second Edition, Tata Mc-Graw-Hill
Publishing Company Limited

 Images Courtesy
1) Book: Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by P. N. Ananthanarayanan, Second Edition, Tata Mc-Graw-Hill
Publishing Company Limited

2) e-Refrigeration

Constant Pressure Expansion Valve or Automatic Expansion Valve

This article describes another type of throttling valve: the constant pressure expansion valve.

 Constant Pressure Expansion Valve or Automatic Expansion Valve

The constant pressure expansion valve keeps the pressure inside the evaporator constant, hence the name. The constant
pressure valve maintains constant pressure inside the evaporator no matter what the load inside the evaporator is. It does not
allow the control of the flow of the refrigerant through it even when lesser or more refrigerant is required in the evaporator
since the primary function of the constant pressure valve is to maintain constant pressure inside the evaporator.

 The constant pressure valve is also called as the automatic expansion valve but this is the misnomer

since it is not automatic for it does not allow automatic control of the flow of refrigerant through it. In the

very earlier days only hand operated expansion valve or throttling valve was available, however since this

valve allowed automatic constant pressure in the evaporator it was given the name automatic expansion

valve. Constant Pressure Expansion Valve

 Construction of the Constant Pressure Valve

The constructional details of the constant pressure expansion valve are shown in the figure above. It comprises of the metallic
body inside which is the metallic diaphragm or bellow. On the upper side of the diaphragm is the spring which is under
pressure and its pressure is controlled by the adjusting screw.

Below the diaphragm there is thin plate or seat that has the small opening. The opening in the seat is controlled by the needle
or stem connected to the diaphragm. As the diaphragm moves down the needle also moves down thus opening the valve. The
the seat and the needle form the orifice for the constant pressure valve.

There are also two opening in the valve. From one side the refrigerant from the condenser enters the constant pressure
expansion valve and from the other side the refrigerant leaves the valve to enter the evaporator.

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 How the Constant Pressure Expansion Valve Works?
The spring above the diaphragm is under compression thus the spring pressure along with the atmospheric
pressure acts on the diaphragm. Due to the pressure the diaphragm tends to move down due to which the needle
also tends to move down away from the seat leading to the opening of the valve.

Below the diaphragm there is refrigerant at the evaporator pressure thus the evaporator pressure tends to move
the diaphragm in the upward direction. Due to this the needle tends to move in the upward direction towards the
seat to close the valve.

 Thus the spring pressure and the evaporator pressure act against each other and whichever is greater would determine the
position of the needle and the opening of the orifice of the valve. In the normal running condition of the plant the valve
maintains equilibrium between the evaporator pressure and the spring pressure and maintains certain opening of the valve to
allow the flow of refrigerant through it.

The tension of the spring can be adjusted as per the requirements by the adjusting screw. The constant pressure expansion
valve maintains the pressure inside the evaporator constant and automatically as per the setting of the spring pressure. This
means that the evaporator pressure can be varied by changing the position of the spring.

When the refrigeration plant with the constant pressure valve is stopped, certain amount of the refrigerant remains inside the
evaporator and create pressure inside the evaporator. This pressure acts against the diaphragm and keeps the valve closed.
When the refrigeration plant is started again, the evaporator pressure reduces and the constant pressure expansion valve opens
again.

 The main aim of the constant pressure expansion valve is to maintain constant pressure inside the evaporator no matter what
the refrigeration load inside the evaporator is. When the load on evaporator is high it won’t allow more flow of the refrigerant
as per the requirement. Similarly, when the load is lesser, it won’t allow reduction of the flow of the refrigerant as per the
requirement. Thus the constant pressure expansion valve does not allow the control of the flow of the refrigerant through it
which is very important for the efficient operation of the refrigeration plant.

 Limitations of the Constant Pressure Expansion Valve

The main aim of the constant pressure expansion valve is to maintain constant pressure inside the evaporator no matter what
the refrigeration load inside the evaporator is. When the load on evaporator is high it won’t allow more flow of the refrigerant
as per the requirement. Similarly, when the load is lesser, it won’t allow reduction of the flow of the refrigerant as per the
requirement. Thus the constant pressure expansion valve does not allow the control of the flow of the refrigerant through it
which is very important for the efficient operation of the refrigeration plant.

Sometimes the load on the compressor is very less in such cases the liquid refrigerant floods to the compressor. This can be
very dangerous as the piston and cylinder of the compressor may break due to compression of the liquid.

 By changing the position of the spring one can change the pressure inside the evaporator. One can change the position of the
spring to allow for higher flow of the refrigerant though the valve, but in that case the compressor will work at high suction
pressure or higher capacity even if the load is lower. This will lead to lots of wastage of the power. On the other hand if the
spring pressure is adjusted to allow lesser flow of the refrigerant due to lesser evaporator load the compressor would not work
at full capacity when required.

Thus the constant expansion valve actually puts the limitation on the capacity of the compressor and the whole refrigeration
plant. It is not really automatic in the real sense since it cannot automatically adjust the flow of the refrigerant as per the
requirement. Due to these limitations the constant pressure expansion valve is seldom used these days. In fact even the name
automatic expansion valve is not correct for this valve; it was probably given to it since it maintains the pressure inside the
evaporator constant automatically.

 Reference and Images Courtesy

1) 1) Book: Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by P. N. Ananthanarayanan, Second Edition, Tata Mc-Graw-Hill
Publishing Company Limited

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 Throttling or Expansion Devices for Refrigerator and Air-Conditioner
Systems
In throttling devices the pressure of the refrigerant drops down suddenly and due to this its temperature also reduces
drastically. This article describes various types of throttling devices being used for refrigerator and air-conditioning systems.

 Refrigerating and air-conditioning systems are comprised of four important components: the
 compressor, the condenser, the throttling or expansion device and the evaporator. The refrigerant keeps on
flowing through these components in a continuous cycle. The high pressure and medium temperature condensed
refrigerant leaves the condenser and enters the throttling or expansion valve. In the throttling valve the pressure
of the refrigerant reduces suddenly and excessively. With this the temperature of the refrigerant also reduces
drastically. This low pressure and low temperature liquid refrigerant then enters the evaporator and absorbs heat
from the substance or the space to be cooled.

The throttling valve is fitted between the condenser and the evaporator. The throttling or expansion device is in
the form of a small orifice. When refrigerant passes through this small orifice its pressure reduces suddenly due to
the friction. The rate of the flow of refrigerant through the throttling device depends on the size and opening of the
orifice. It also depends on the difference in pressure on the evaporator and the condenser sides.

There are different types of throttling devices, but in refrigerating and air-conditioning systems, the two most
commonly used types are: capillary tube and thermostatic expansion valve. These have been described below:

1) Capillary tube: Instead of the orifice, the capillary is small diameter tubing that offers the restricted flow of the
refrigerant. Its internal diameter ranges from 0.020 to 0.090 inches depending upon the capacity of the
refrigerating or air-conditioning system. The pressure drop attained through the capillary depends upon its
diameter and length. Capillary tubing made of copper is most commonly used.

Capillary tubing is used for small refrigerating and air-conditioning systems like household refrigerators, water
coolers, deep freezers, window air-conditioners, split air-conditioners, small packaged air-conditioners etc. For
systems in which capillary tubing is fitted, technicians have to be very careful of refrigerant charging as the
overcharging can lead excessive high discharge pressures from the compressor, which leads to over loading of
the compressor and the chances of refrigerant leakages from the system are also increased. Thermostatic
expansion valves: The thermostatic expansion valve is not controlled by the temperature. It works automatically maintaining
proper flow of the refrigerant depending upon the heat load in the evaporator. Apart from reducing the pressure of the
refrigerant, the thermostatic expansion valve also keeps the evaporator active. These days thermostatic expansion valves used
with solenoid valves are more common.

Thermostatic expansion valves are used extensively in medium and large sized refrigerating and air-conditioning systems.
They can be used for large water chilling plants, brine chilling plants, large packaged air-conditioners, central air-
conditioning plants etc.

Throttling Effect:
Throttling effect as it pertains to a refrigeration system is simply the process of reducing the pressure of
liquid refrigerant as it passes thru the expansion device. By reducing pressure, we cause the liquid
refrigerant to flash into vapor which creates a cooling effect.

To understand why reduced pressures are associated with lower temperatures, one can look at the ideal
gas law: PV = RT, where P pressure, V = volume, R = gas constant, and T = temperature. We can

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 equate two different states of an ideal gas as follows: P1*V1/T1 = P2*V2/T2, since R is constant in both
cases. If we hold volume constant, we get: P1/T1 = P2/T2, i.e., pressure is proportional to temperature.
So if we have an ideal gas at 200 psia and 530°R (70°F), and we wish to reduce this pressure to 100
psia while holding volume constant, we must lower the gas temperature to: T2 = 100*530/200 = 265°R
(-195°F).

One can observe this cooling effect by simply opening a nitrogen bottle to atmosphere. As the
compressed nitogren is expelled to atmosphere, its temperature is reduced.

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