Reliability determines the success of a split air-conditioning system. Interconnecting refrigerant lines play an instrumental role in that success. It's up to us to ensure that our system design practices evolve with equipment technologies.

This article revisited split-system application guidelines in light of current scroll compressor technology. They can be summarized as five fundamental “rules”:

1. Choose the right system, i.e. don't specify split-system equipment when a chiller is best suited for the job.
2. Size the interconnecting lines to avoid the use of traps and double risers.
3. Slope the suction and liquid lines toward the evaporator.
4. Minimize the length of the interconnecting tubing.
5. Keep the system clean.

By Paul Solberg, applications engineer, and Brenda Bradley, information designer, Trane.

If you'd like to comment on this article, send a note to Trane, Engineers Newsletter Editor, 3600 Pammel Creek Road, La Crosse WI 54601, or e-mail us.

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