Liquid Refrigerant and Centrifugal Compressors
Liquid Refrigerant and Centrifugal Compressors
(OP)
I have a water cooled chiller that utilizes R-134a refrigerant. This chiller is equipped with a centrifugal 2-stage compressor, condenser, economizer, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle shows that in the economizer (intercooler) has a line going to both the evaporator and a line bypassing the evaporator and going into the 2nd stage of compression. The refrigerant is in liquid state going into the economiser. I always thought that liquid refrigerant can damage compressors. Is that true?





RE: Liquid Refrigerant and Centrifugal Compressors
Likely your system has a choke to limit the amount to a very small percent of total flow, so that it nearly instantaneously flashes to vapor when mixed with the hot interstage gas.
RE: Liquid Refrigerant and Centrifugal Compressors
RE: Liquid Refrigerant and Centrifugal Compressors
It has to be that way; if you would have any liquid in compressor you would hear it very well, and you would have to collect broken pieces of equipment as well.