Standard for Refrigerant Liquid Receivers

ANSI/ARI 495-1999: Standard for Refrigerant Liquid Receivers

Navigating the design and application of refrigerant liquid receivers requires adherence to established industry benchmarks. The ANSI/ARI 495-1999 standard provides an authoritative framework for ensuring the reliability and performance of these critical components within refrigeration systems, making it an essential reference for engineers and manufacturers.

What is ANSI/ARI 495-1999?

ANSI/ARI 495-1999, published by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), is a comprehensive standard that defines the requirements for refrigerant liquid receivers. Its primary purpose is to establish clear guidelines for definitions, rating methodologies, minimum data for published ratings, marking, and conditions for conformance, ensuring consistency and facilitating proper application across the industry.

Scope & Purpose

This standard specifically governs separately installed refrigerant liquid receivers intended for field-erected systems. It outlines the criteria for determining their storage capacity, the necessary information to be published by manufacturers, and the required marking for identification. The standard focuses on the technical specifications and performance ratings of these receivers, excluding considerations for integrated or factory-assembled components.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Mechanical Engineers, HVAC Design Engineers, Project Managers, Refrigeration System Designers, and Compliance Officers.
• • Industries affected: HVAC Manufacturing, Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Systems, Building Services, and Mechanical Contracting.
• • Compliance nature: Voluntary, however, claiming conformance to the standard necessitates adherence to all its stipulated requirements.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified through internal quality control processes, customer specifications, and market acceptance rather than external regulatory enforcement.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard mandates several key provisions to ensure the proper design and application of refrigerant liquid receivers:

• • Rating Requirements: Professionals must ensure that the rated storage capacity of a liquid receiver is calculated as a maximum of 80% of its gross internal volume. This calculation should assume saturated liquid refrigerant density at a specified temperature (90°F or 32°C), referencing established ASHRAE data.
• • Published Ratings: Manufacturers are required to clearly publish the liquid refrigerant storage capacity, determined according to the standard's rating methods.
• • Minimum Data: Essential technical details, including refrigerant connection sizes, design pressure, and the types of refrigerants for which the vessel is suitable (as per ANSI/ASHRAE 34), must be provided in manufacturer literature.
• • Nameplate Data: Each receiver must be marked with critical information, including the manufacturer's name, model number, design pressure, and the rated liquid refrigerant storage capacity.
• • Production Unit Tolerance: Any production unit tested must demonstrate a storage capacity not less than its rated capacity to comply with the standard.

Related Standards & References

ANSI/ARI 495-1999 works in conjunction with other foundational industry documents. Notably, it references ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34 for the safety classification and designation of refrigerants, ensuring compatibility and safety considerations are integrated. Furthermore, the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook is cited for its vital data on refrigerant properties and thermodynamic principles, essential for accurate capacity calculations. The standard also relies on definitions provided in **ASHRAE Terminology