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blessing or curse? keeps the compressor more fully reliable operation by introducing
loaded while the evaporator satisfies problems stemming from insufficient
Hot Gas Bypass the part-load condition. Also, the
diverted vapor raises the suction
oil return and refrigerant logging in the
HGBP line. And in all cases, hot gas
temperature, which prevents frost bypass inflates the life-cycle cost of
Its not enough to deliver an HVAC from forming. the system:
system that meets the unique needs of HGBP increases the initial cost.
each application. The owner also For decades HGBP has been applied in
It requires an additional refrigerant line,
deserves a system that is the most direct-expansion refrigerant systems to
which also increases the likelihood of
reliable and the least costly to operate. control capacity at low loads. It was
refrigerant leaks and oil/refrigerant
In specific cases, adding hot gas probably conceived to correct a job-
logging.
bypass to the refrigeration system may specific problem but was subsequently,
be necessary in order to achieve all and indiscriminately, added to HVAC HGBP greatly reduces operating
three goals. But more often than not, systems as a preventive measure. efficiency because the bypassed vapor
the responsibility to deliver a reliable, does no useful cooling.
cost-effective system will preclude its The curse. True, HGBP has provided
HGBP costs more to operate. As
addition. Hot gas bypass has the frost control and some semblance of
the load fluctuates, the compressor
potential to modulate capacity or capacity control in many applications.
consumes more energy because its
improve reliability, but these benefits But numerous cases exist in which
forced to operate at a compression
will not be realized without careful HGBP either fails to safely stabilize the
step that is likely one stage higher
evaluation of its appropriateness and system or, worse still, undermines
than necessary.
painstaking attention to design,
installation, control, and maintenance. The blessing. Despite these
HGBP in chilled water
applications shortcomings, hot gas bypass can be
The success of an application with appropriate for cooling applications that
HGBP depends on unfailing diligence at Certain process cooling applications may
demand tight, continuous, thermal
every step. HGBP can be a blessing require hot gas bypass to match chiller
capacity to an instantaneous load. In such
controlparticularly if large amounts of
when it is warranted and effectively outdoor air, widely varying loads, or
cases, the system is designed to operate
implemented. In all other cases, HGBP excessive compressor on/off delays are
continuously and hot gas bypass
will be a curse. To understand why, lets neutralizes the refrigeration effect. involved. Most often these
briefly review what hot gas bypass characteristics describe process cooling
does and how it is applied. For comfort cooling, however, the addition rather than standard comfort cooling. If
of hot gas bypass is seldom necessary.
applied properly, HGBP can:
The objective. When diminishing Thats because a properly designed chilled
loads force a refrigeration system to water loop can provide an effective buffer Prevent excessive compressor
between system load and chiller capacity. cycling
operate at unstable conditions,
The key is to establish a loop time that
compressor and evaporator capacities equals the greater of two values: either Match system capacity to load
balance at ever lower suction pressures the minimum compressor off time for the
and temperatures. Unchecked, the last stage of cooling, or the minimum loop Allow the system to operate at safe
eventual result is coil frosting and time permitted by the chiller controller. balance points during unsafe loads
compressor flooding. You can accomplish this by changing the
design flow rate or by adding a tank.
Hot gas bypass can stabilize the The simplicity of this approach will
system balance point by diverting hot, benefit the owner, as will the operating- Application Considerations
high-pressure refrigerant vapor from cost savings. (A chilled water system Although it can be applied in
the discharge line directly to the low- without hot gas bypass requires less power refrigerant-to-water systems, comfort
pressure side of the system. This tactic than one that operates the compressors
cooling applications of hot gas bypass
with hot gas bypass.)
2003 American Standard Inc. All rights reserved Volume 32, No. 2
most often involve refrigerant-to-air Figure 1. Hot gas bypassed to evaporator inlet (preferred arrangement for HGBP)
evaporators. With countless
combinations of equipment and layouts
possible, how can you best and most
responsibly implement hot gas bypass?
Trane
A business of American Standard Companies
www.trane.com
Trane believes the facts and suggestions presented here to be accurate. However,
For more information, contact your local district final design and application decisions are your responsibility. Trane disclaims
office or e-mail us at comfort@trane.com any responsibility for actions taken on the material presented.
4 ADM-APN007-EN