PERFORMANCE RATING OF REFRIGERANT LIQUID RECEIVERS

ARI Standard 495: PERFORMANCE RATING OF REFRIGERANT LIQUID RECEIVERS

For engineers and designers involved in HVAC and refrigeration system development, ensuring the consistent and reliable performance of critical components is paramount. ARI Standard 495 provides an essential framework for the performance rating of refrigerant liquid receivers, offering a proven methodology to standardize evaluation and facilitate accurate product selection. This industry-leading standard ensures clarity and comparability across manufacturers, directly impacting system efficiency and operational integrity.

What is ARI Standard 495?

ARI Standard 495, developed by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, establishes definitive criteria for the performance rating of refrigerant liquid receivers. Its primary purpose is to provide a uniform and comprehensive approach to defining capacity, data requirements, and marking for these crucial components within refrigeration systems. This standard aims to guide manufacturers, engineers, and users in understanding and specifying the performance characteristics of liquid receivers.

Scope & Purpose

This authoritative standard specifically governs the performance rating of separately installed refrigerant liquid receivers intended for field-erected systems. It defines key terms, outlines rating requirements, specifies minimum data necessary for published ratings, and details marking and nameplate information. The standard is designed to ensure that published ratings accurately reflect the functional capabilities of the receiver under defined conditions, focusing on storage capacity and suitability for specified refrigerants. It does not extend to factory-assembled systems or other components within the refrigeration circuit.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Mechanical Engineers, HVAC Design Engineers, Product Managers, Testing Technicians, and System Integrators.
• • Industries affected: HVAC Manufacturing, Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing, Industrial Refrigeration Systems, and Commercial HVAC.
• • Compliance nature: Voluntary, but claiming conformance requires adherence to all provisions.
• • Enforcement: Manufacturers voluntarily claim conformance to the standard. Users and specifiers rely on these claims for product selection and system design.

Key Requirements Overview

• • The standard requires that liquid refrigerant storage capacity be rated based on a maximum fill of 80% of the receiver's gross internal volume.
• • Capacity calculations must assume saturated liquid refrigerant density at a specified temperature, referencing established industry handbooks.
• • Manufacturers must ensure that any production unit tested exhibits a storage capacity not less than its published rated capacity.
• • Published ratings must clearly state that they are determined in accordance with ARI Standard 495 and include essential data such as storage capacity, connection sizes, maximum design pressure, and compatible refrigerants.
• • Nameplates on liquid receivers must clearly display manufacturer identification, model/serial numbers, maximum design pressure, and the liquid refrigerant storage capacity for a specified refrigerant.

Related Standards & References

ARI Standard 495 works in conjunction with other essential standards to ensure comprehensive system design and safety. Key complementary references include:

• • ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34: This standard provides the number designation and safety classification of refrigerants, which is critical for determining receiver suitability and design parameters.
• • ASHRAE Handbook Fundamentals: This resource is referenced for defining refrigerant properties, such as saturated liquid density, essential for accurate capacity calculations.
• • ASHRAE Terminology of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: This provides standardized definitions to ensure clear communication and understanding of technical terms used within the standard.