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Fault Detection and Diagnostics for Rooftop Air Conditioners

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112<br />

in cold water application, it is easy to determine all the values in Table A3-4 <strong>for</strong> the<br />

refrigerant vapor application.<br />

Table A2-3 Thermal resistance distribution of RTD <strong>for</strong> measuring cold water<br />

Thermal<br />

Resistance<br />

R<br />

i<br />

R<br />

ib<br />

R<br />

contact<br />

R<br />

in<br />

R<br />

o<br />

Value 0.0278/5=0.00556 0.0000765 0.4087 1.052 6.82<br />

Portion 5% 95%<br />

Table A2-4 Thermal resistance distribution of RTD <strong>for</strong> measuring refrigerant vapor<br />

Thermal<br />

Resistance<br />

R<br />

i<br />

R<br />

ib<br />

R<br />

contact<br />

R<br />

in<br />

R<br />

o<br />

Value 0.0278 0.0000765 0.4087 1.052 0.682<br />

Portion 20% 80%<br />

From Table A2-4, it can be seen that the subtotal thermal resistance between the<br />

refrigerant inside the tube <strong>and</strong> the RTD is up to 20% of the total, which means that there<br />

would be up to 20 F measurement error even under good contact <strong>and</strong> insulation if there<br />

was a 100 F temperature difference between the refrigerant <strong>and</strong> ambient air.<br />

Besides the thermal resistance, the temperature difference between the refrigerant<br />

inside the tube <strong>and</strong> ambient air is the other important factor (see Equation (A2-1)).<br />

Error = α T − T )<br />

(A2-1)<br />

(<br />

ref amb<br />

α is the thermal resistance portion (say 20%).<br />

Since the maximum temperature difference occurs between the discharge line<br />

refrigerant <strong>and</strong> ambient air, over 100 F. So either thermocouple or modification is needed<br />

(see Equation (A2-2)).<br />

Tref<br />

−αTamb<br />

T<br />

ref,mod<br />

=<br />

(A2-2)<br />

1−α<br />

So the key is to determine the thermal resistance portion α . According to our<br />

experience, if the RTD sensor was insulated very well <strong>and</strong> tube wall was polished be<strong>for</strong>e<br />

thermal grease was applied, it can be reduced to 5%. However, if the sensor is not<br />

properly installed, its value can be very large.<br />

112

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