Standard for Performance Rating of Remote Type Refrigerant-Cooled Liquid Coolers

ARI Standard 480: Standard for Performance Rating of Remote Type Refrigerant-Cooled Liquid Coolers

For engineers and designers specifying or evaluating liquid cooling systems, ensuring consistent and comparable performance data is paramount. ARI Standard 480 provides the essential framework for this, offering a proven methodology to understand and compare the capabilities of remote-type refrigerant-cooled liquid coolers. Adherence to this industry-leading standard ensures that product ratings are reliable, facilitating informed decision-making in HVAC and process cooling applications.

What is ARI Standard 480?

ARI Standard 480, published by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), establishes definitive requirements for the performance rating of remote type refrigerant-cooled liquid coolers. Its primary purpose is to provide a standardized method for testing, rating, and presenting performance data, enabling precise comparisons between different manufacturers' equipment. This comprehensive standard ensures clarity and technical accuracy in product specifications.

Scope & Purpose

This standard governs the testing and performance rating of factory-made remote-type refrigerant-cooled liquid coolers designed for field installation within larger refrigeration systems. It specifically applies to shell-and-tube, shell-and-U-tube, shell-and-coil, and tube-in-tube configurations utilizing single-component and azeotropic refrigerants. Notably, it excludes liquid coolers integrated into factory-assembled liquid-chilling packages, as well as certain types such as Baudelot-type, open-tank, and open shell-and-tube coolers. The standard does not address sanitary provisions for potable liquids or coolers using zeotropic refrigerants.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Mechanical Engineers, HVAC Designers, Product Engineers, Test Engineers, and Application Engineers.
• • Industries affected: HVAC Manufacturing, Building Construction, Industrial Process Cooling, and any sector utilizing dedicated liquid cooling solutions.
• • Compliance nature: Voluntary, but widely adopted for product certification and market acceptance by manufacturers seeking to provide reliable performance data.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified through third-party certification programs administered by organizations like AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute), the successor to ARI.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard requires manufacturers to conduct rigorous testing to verify performance ratings. Key provisions include establishing standardized rating conditions for consistent comparison, such as specific entering and leaving liquid temperatures and refrigerant saturation temperatures. Professionals must ensure that published ratings reflect performance under these defined "Standard Rating Conditions" and are based on tests with initially clean heat transfer surfaces. The standard also mandates specific data be included on product nameplates and in published literature, detailing capacity, operating conditions, and refrigerant type for clarity.

Related Standards & References

ARI Standard 480 often works in conjunction with other industry standards. For instance, testing procedures typically reference ASHRAE Standard 24, ensuring a consistent methodology for evaluating liquid cooler performance. Additionally, definitions and terminology are often aligned with ASHRAE's foundational standards for HVAC&R, ensuring a common language across the engineering community. These complementary standards collectively support the accurate specification and application of liquid cooling equipment.