OIL SEPARATORS

[VTP99]

there on a 10 ton split system for A/C. Originally it was a water cooled air handler. Someone added a air condenser on the roof. Two 5 ton Copeland CRN-5's on separate circuits. Hot gas goes into separators then up to roof. The one dead compressors separator looks like a major leakier. I would like to cut it out and bypass it. Yes, No, or Maybe ?

[valdelocc]

maybe!!
it all depends on the piping, if the liquid and suction lines were sized to maintain refrigerant velocities during low loads then the separator is not needed.
is that a on-off system, no staging,unloading etc? where is the evaporator with relation to compressor?

[VTP99]

maybe!!
it all depends on the piping, if the liquid and suction lines were sized to maintain refrigerant velocities during low loads then the separator is not needed.
is that a on-off system, no staging,unloading etc? where is the evaporator with relation to compressor?

valdelocc,
The only lines going up to the roof are the discharge lines from each compressor and then two liquid lines coming back from the air condenser on roof. The compressors are at the bottom of the air handler ( old Trane commercial ) with the evaporator just above. Very short suction lines about 3 feet. Two stage t-stat runs compressors.

[valdelocc]

cant see why not

[VTP99]

cant see why not

I would like to know why they put them in to begin with. Were they from the original water cooled setup or added when they switched to air.

[gas_n_go]

Are you sure its an oil seperator? Just a hunch but it might be a desuperheater that you are looking at

[VTP99]

Are you sure its an oil seperator? Just a hunch but it might be a desuperheater that you are looking at

No I'm not. It has hot gas from the compressor going in then hot gas going out and a 1/4 line going back to the suction tube @ the compressor. All three lines come into the top. The flat top is bolted to the shell. I believe there is a core filter inside. Would a desuperheater look the same ?

[gas_n_go]

No I'm not. It has hot gas from the compressor going in then hot gas going out and a 1/4 line going back to the suction tube @ the compressor. All three lines come into the top. The flat top is bolted to the shell. I believe there is a core filter inside. Would a desuperheater look the same ?

What they might be doing is desuperheating the liquid to give you more usable btu's at the valve and then adding that absorbed heat back onto your suction line to boil off any liquid that night exist as a secondary percaution, which in essence is performing a very similiar function as if it was an accumilator.

I cant tell you 100% that is what you have or that you can get away without it but odds are you can do away with it without harming your equipment. What you will lose if efficenty and it will cost you more money to run and you will shorten the overall life of your compressor in the long term.

[VTP99]

What they might be doing is desuperheating the liquid to give you more usable btu's at the valve and then adding that absorbed heat back onto your suction line to boil off any liquid that night exist as a secondary percaution, which in essence is performing a very similiar function as if it was an accumilator.

I cant tell you 100% that is what you have or that you can get away without it but odds are you can do away with it without harming your equipment. What you will lose if efficenty and it will cost you more money to run and you will shorten the overall life of your compressor in the long term.

How would it de-superheat the liquid if it is on the discharge line ? That same discharge line continues on up to the roof to a air condenser that then returns as subcooled liquid. What am I missing here ?

[gas_n_go]

How would it de-superheat the liquid if it is on the discharge line ? That same discharge line continues on up to the roof to a air condenser that then returns as subcooled liquid. What am I missing here ?

If your discharge line temp enetering your desuperheater is 300 and where it exits that componet it reads 250 D. That would lower your SH by 50 degrees. You desuperheated your line by 50 degrees

[VTP99]

If your discharge line temp enetering your desuperheater is 300 and where it exits that componet it reads 250 D. That would lower your SH by 50 degrees. You desuperheated your line by 50 degrees

Thanks gas_n_go,
That makes sense to me. I already pulled the one contraption so I guess the only sensible thing to do now is open that sucker up. I'll let you no what I find.

[gas_n_go]

Thanks gas_n_go,
That makes sense to me. I already pulled the one contraption so I guess the only sensible thing to do now is open that sucker up. I'll let you no what I find.

no problem, glad I could help

[VTP99]

Well I just had to go and check it out. Here's what I found. Shell is 11" tall and 4" in diameter. Top is 3/8" solid copper with ten bolts to hold it down. Two 7/8" stubs one marked in one marked out. The 1/4" sae fitting marked oil. Removed top to find two mesh screens hang like lantern mantels. The 1/4" sae had a dip tube going to a 3" round ball float. Thanks for taking a shot at the title. Also was marked (Rightemp) the manufacturer I'm guessing.