Electric expansion valves
Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 and AKVA 20
Designed for ammonia refrigerating plant
AKVA are electric expansion valves designed for
ammonia refrigerating plant.
The AKVA valves are normally controlled by a
controller from Danfoss’ range of ADAP-KOOL
controllers.
The AKVA valves are supplied as a component
programme, as follows:
• Separate valve
• Separate coil with terminal box or cable
• Spare parts in the form upper part, orice and
lter
The individual capacities are indicated with a
number forming part of the type designation.
The number represents the size of the orice of
the valve in question.
A valve with orice 3 will for example be
designated AKVA 10-3.
The orice assembly is replaceable.
Features
• The valve requires no adjustment
• Wide regulation range
• Replaceable orice assembly
• Wide range of coils for d.c. and a.c.
• Quick reaction in whole range of stated
capacity.
• In some applications AKVA can be used both
as expansion valve and solenoid valve.
• Classication: DNV, CRN, BV, EAC etc. To get
an updated list of certication on the
products please contact your local Danfoss
Sales Company.
®
AI183786440857en-000801
0
6
12
18
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
Functions
The valve capacity is regulated by means of pulse-width modulation. Within a period of six seconds a voltage signal
from the controller will be transmitted to and removed from the valve coil. This makes the valve open and close for
the ow of refrigerant.
Figure 1: Function
The relation between this opening and closing time indicates the actual capacity. If there is an intense need for
refrigeration, the valve will remain open for almost all six seconds of the period. If the required amount of
refrigeration is modest, the valve will only stay open during a fraction of the period. The amount of refrigeration
needed is determined by the controller. When no refrigeration is required, the valve will remain closed.In some
applications, AKVA can advantage-ously be used both as expansion valve and solenoid valve. See Applications
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
Applications
Recommendations
It is important to realize when AKVA is operating, that the valve always is fully open or fully closed. That means that
this way of operation should always be considered during the refrigeration design. (Piping, liquid velocity, sub
cooling etc.)
Danfoss have the following recommendations/guidelines to be taken into considerations:
• In 1:1 applications (1 evaporator, 1 condenser and 1 compressor) chillers with a small amount of refrigerant or
installed in front of a Plate Heat Exchangers, it must be observed that every time the AKVA is fully open or closed it
will have a signicant impact on the hole system. (e.g. pressure variations on suction side).
Please observe that the performance of such a system is not only related to one component. (e.g. AKVA) Other
factors which is very important to include in the overall refrigeration system design:
◦ Liquid distribution at and design of evaporator
◦ total evaporator coil is of adequate length thus superheat can be controlled within the entered period time
(normal 6 sec. or 3 sec.)
◦ mounting principle of temperature sensor, to ensure a steady and fast signal can be detected by the electronic
system.
• If pressure dependent valves like, ICS with pilots like CVP e.t.c., is installed between evaporator and compressor, it
can eect the lifetime of ICS, because the piston of the ICS will operate together with operation of AKVA. Type of
refrigerant and evaporator has a big inuende of the size of pulsations after the evaporator and in front of the ICS.
• AKVA is a direct pressure independent valve. That means that if non-Danfoss electronic controllers is used,
intelligent and fast optimal control is needed, because the quick pressure changes only can be detected and
compensated via the electronic control system.
• Liquid lines must be designed according to AKVA capacity and not evaporator capacity.
• To avoid ash-gas ensure sucient sub-cooling or design liquid lines thus to big pressure drop is avoided, when
AKVA is open. If not sucient subcooling is not obtained (normally 4K) it will have an impact on the lifetime of the
vale).
• Where the demand for safety level is extremely high, (e.g. Liquid Level Control in a pump seperator) an extra valve
can be installed in front of AKVA to avoid leakage. This valve must be Danfoss type EVRAT.
• Always install a 100 µm lter in front of AKVA 15 and AKVA 20 valves.
• If AKVA has to be used in chillers. Please contact Danfoss.
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
Media
Refrigerants
For R717 (Ammonia) and R744 (CO2)
.
New refrigerants
Danfoss products are continually evaluated for use with new refrigerants depending on market requirements.
When a refrigerant is approved for use by Danfoss, it is added to the relevant portfolio, and the R number of the
refrigerant (e.g. R513A) will be added to the technical data of the code number. Therefore, products for specic
refrigerants are best checked at store.danfoss.com/en/, or by contacting your local Danfoss representative.
The AKVA 10 valves covers a capacity range from 4 kW to 100 kW (R 717) and are divided into 8 capacity ranges. The
AKVA 10 valve bodies are made in stainless steel and have weld connections..
The AKVA 15 valves covers a capacity range from 125 kW to 500 kW (R 717) and are divided into 4 capacity ranges.
The AKVA 15 valves have ange connections.
The AKVA 20 valves cover a capacity range from 500 kW to 3150 kW (R 717) and are divided into 5 capacity ranges.
The AKVA 20 valve has weld connections.
The AKVA valves can be used for:
• Flooded evaporation (high/low pressure)
• Pump separators
• Direct expansion. See Applications.
If AKVA has to be used in chillers please contact Danfoss.
Capacity in kW at pressure drop across valve ∆p bar
2468101214
16
AKVA 10 - 1
2.2
3.1
3.7
4.1
4.4
4.755.2
AKVA 10 - 2
3.5
4.9
5.8
6.577.5
7.9
8.3
AKVA 10 - 3
5.6
7.7
9.1
10.2
11.1
11.9
12.5
13.1
AKVA 10 - 4
9.1
12.4
14.7
16.5
17.9
19.2
20.2
21.1
AKVA 10 - 5
14.2
19.4
22.9
25.72829.9
31.6
33
AKVA 10 - 6
23
31.2
36.4
41.44548.1
50.7
53.1
AKVA 10 - 7
36.6
49.3
58.16570.6
75.3
79.4
83
AKVA 10 - 8
59.1
78.9
93.5
104
112
120
126
131
AKVA 15 - 1
95.7
113
127
138
148
156
163
AKVA 15 - 2
153
181
203
221
236
250
261
AKVA 15 - 3
231
274
308
335
358
377
395
AKVA 15 - 4
383
455
510
555
593
625
655
AKVA 20 - 1
383
455
510
555
593
625
655
AKVA 20 - 2
612
726
814
886
947
999
1045
AKVA 20 - 3
959
1137
1275
1388
1482
1564
1635
AKVA 20 - 4
1552
1836
2057
2239
2391
2523
2639
AKVA 20 - 5
2479
2921
3267
3550
3789
3994
4174
Correction factor
2K4K10K
15K
20K
25K
30K
35K
40K
45K
50K
R717
1.01
1.00
0.98
0.96
0.94
0.92
0.91
0.89
0.87
0.86
0.85
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
Capacity
Range: - 40 °C to 10 °C
Table 2: R717
Correction for subcooling
The liquid injected capacity must be corrected, if the subcooling deviates from 4 K. Use the actual correction factor
indicated in the table. Multiply the liquid injected capacity by the correction factor to obtain the corrected capacity.
Table 3: Correction factors for subcooling ∆t
sub
Dimensioning
To obtain an expansion valve that will function correctly under dierent load conditions it is necessary to consider
the following points when the valve has to be dimensioned.
These points must be dealt with in the following sequence:
1.
Evaporator capacity
2.
Pressure drop across the valve
3.
Correction for subcooling
4.
Correction for evaporating temperature
5.
Determination of valve size
6.
Correctly dimensioned liquid line
Example for a direct expansion system
Evaporator capacity
The evaporator capacity is found in the specications from the evaporator supplier.
Pressure drop across the valve
The pressure drop across the valve directly determines the capacity and must therefore be considered. The pressure
drop across the valve is normally calculated as the condensing pressure minus the evaporating pressure and other
pressure drops in the liquid line, distributor, evaporator, etc. It is indicated in the following formula: ∆pvalve = pc –
(pe + ∆p1 + ∆p3 + ∆p4)
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
Figure 5: Example of a direct expansion system
NOTE:
The pressure drop across the liquid line and the distributor system must be calculated on the basis of the valve’s
max. capacity, as the valve operates with pulse-width modulation.
Example of calculation of pressure drop across a valve:
• Refrigerant: R 717
• Condensing temperature: 35 °C (pc = 13.5 bar)
• Evaporating temperature: -20 °C (pe = 1.9 bar)
• ∆p1 = 0.2 bar
• ∆p3 = 0.8 bar
• ∆p4 = 0.1 bar
This will give you the following equation:
∆p
= pc – (pe + ∆p1 + ∆p3 + ∆p4)
valve
= 13.5 – (1.9 + 0.2 + 0.8 + 0.1)
= 10.5 bar
The found value for “pressure drop across the valve” is used later in the section “Determination of valve size”.
Correction for subcooling
The evaporator capacity used must be corrected, if the subcooling deviates from 4 K. Use the actual correction
factor indicated in the table. Multiply the evaporator capacity by the correction factor to obtain the corrected
capacity.
Table 4: Correction factors for subcooling ∆t
sub
Corrected capacity = evaporator capacity x correction factor.
The corrected capacity is used in the section “Determination of valve size”.
NOTE:
Too little subcooling may cause ash gas.
Example of correction:
Refrigerant: R 717
Evaporator capacity Qe: 300 kW
Subcooling: 10 K
Correction factor according to the table = 0.98
Corrected evaporator capacity = 300 x 0.98 = 294 kW
Correction for evaporating temperature (te)
To obtain a correctly dimensioned valve it is important that the application is considered. Depending on the
application, the valve should have an overcapacity enabling it to cope with the extra amount of refrigeration
needed during certain periods, e.g. during the defrost recovery process. The valve’s opening degree should
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
therefore be between 50 and 75% when regulating. In this way it is ensured that the valve has a suciently wide
regulation range, so that it can manage changed loads at or near the normal working point. Correction factors
based on the evaporating temperature are indicated below:
Table 5: Correction factors for evaporating temperature (te)
Correctly dimensioned liquid line
To obtain a correct supply of liquid to the AKVA valve, the liquid line to the individual AKVA valve must be correctly
dimensioned. The liquid ow rate must not exceed 1 m/sec at a fully open valve.
This must be observed on account of the pressure drop in the liquid line (lack of subcooling) and pulsations in the
liquid line. Dimensioning of the liquid line must be based on the capacity of the valve at the pressure drop with
which it is operating (cf. capacity table), and not on the evaporator's capacity, see gures below
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
Dimension and weight
Figure 9: Dimension
Table 6: AKVA 10
Table 7: Dimensions
Determination of valve size
When the valve size meeting the required capacity is selected it is important to note that the capacity indications
are the valve’s rated capacity, i.e. when the valve is 100% open. In this section we tell you how the valve’s size is
determined.
There are three factors that have an inuence on the choice of the valve:
• the pressure drop across the valve
• the corrected capacity (correction for subcooling)
• the corrected capacity for evaporating temperature
The three factors have been described earlier in this section on dimensioning.
When these three factors have been established, the selection of the valve can be made:
• First you multiply the “corrected capacity” by a value stated in the table.
• Use the new value in the capacity table in combination with the pressure drop value.
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
Accessories
Strainer
On plants with ammonia and similar industrial plant a strainer must be mounted in front of AKVA 15 and AKVA 20.
AKVA 10 has built-in strainer and external strainer is not necessary.
Figure 12: Strainer
Table 10: Recommended strainer for AKVA 15 / 20
For further information: see Danfoss catalogue AI222586432958
Electric expansion valves, Type AKVA 10, AKVA 15 & AKVA 20
Certicates, declarations, and approvals
The list contains all certicates, declarations, and approvals for this product type. Individual code number may have
some or all of these approvals, and certain local approvals may not appear on the list.
Some approvals may change over time. You can check the most current status at danfoss.com or contact your local
Danfoss representative if you have any questions.
Table 25: Valid approvals
Approvals
• DEMKO, Denmark SETI, Finland SEV, Switzerland
• AKVA 20 are CE marked according to pressure Equipment Directive 97/23
•UL listed to UB.S.og Canadian standards (separatecode.nos.)
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