Thermostatic expansion valves maintain a constant
superheat level at the evaporator outlet
The thermostatic expansion valves TUA/TUAE,
TCAE with exchangeable orice, TUB/TUBE/
TCBE with xedorice and TUC/TUCE/TCCE
with xedorice and xed superheat setting,
are made of stainless steel and therefore
especially well suited to refrigeration systems in
the food industry and where aggressive
environments exist. These thermostatic
expansion valves have been developed and
designed especially for easy and quick
soldering into hermetic refrigeration systems.
The valves are oered in the following rated
capacities
1.
From 0.5 kW / 0.14 TR, up to 17.0 kW / 4.8 TR
R407C (TU)
2.
From 19.0 kW / 5.4 TR up to 28.5 kW / 8.1 TR
R407C (TC)
AI308624347152en-000301
Thermostatic expansion valve, Type TU and TC
Features
• Bi-metal connections
1.
Fast and easy brazing process – no wet wrap needed.
2.
Braze alloys with as little as 5% Ag can be used.
• Compact, lightweight design
1.
Flexible and easy integration in any system.
• Stainless steel
1.
High body strength.
2.
High corrosion resistance.
3.
High vibration resistance
• Laser-welded power element
1.
Ensures diaphragm´s structural integrity and lengthens life.
• Stainless steel capillary tube
1.
Flexible lightweight capillary tube, tolerates more bending for trouble-free installation and longer life.
2.
Greater resistance to vibration during operation because of low weight.
• Laser engraving
1.
Durable positive valve identication; no label that peels o over time.
2.
Customer-specic engraving available on request.
• Fully hermetic brazed and laser-welded design
1.
Hermetic valve in accordance with EU F-gas Regulation EU 517/2014.
2.
No external leakage which saves costs on maintenance and refrigerant loss.
Setting spindle for adjustment of static superheat
SS
Orice assembly
Filter
1
2
3
4
5
1
2345Thermostatic element with diaphragm
Bulb with capillary tube
Setting spindle for adjustment of static superheat
SS (behind valve, not visible)
Orice assembly
Filter
Thermostatic expansion valve, Type TU and TC
Functions
Thermostatic expansion valves maintain a constant superheat level at the evaporator outlet. It does this by
controlling the amount of refrigerant that is injected into the evaporator, taking both the evaporator load and
ambient temperatures into consideration. This both optimizes the eciency of the refrigeration system and
prevents liquid refrigerant from entering the suction line, possibly causing damage to the compressor. Particularly
when compared to systems that use capillary tubes, the thermostatic expansion valve will oer a signicant energy
saving.
Static superheat (SS) can be adjusted by turning the setting spindle (3), (TUB/TUBE/TCBE) Static Superheat cannot
be adjusted on TUC/TUCE/TCCE.
The superheat setting is 4K for all standard valves. The opening superheat is 4K, measured from when the valve
begins to open to when the valve gives its rated capacity (Qnom).
Table 2: Example
Operation
Superheat
Superheat is the controlling parameter of a TXV. Superheat, measured at the evaporator outlet, is dened as the
number of degrees the refrigerant vapor is heated above its saturation temperature (boiling point), at a specic
pressure. Liquid entering the compressor causes serious damage. To prevent this, the TXV will maintain a certain
minimum superheat. When discussing superheat in relation to TXV valve operation, the following terms are used:
Static superheat
Static superheat, SS is the superheat above which the valve will begin to open.
Opening superheat
Opening superheat, OS, is the amount of superheat above static superheat, SS, required to produce a given valve
capacity.
Total superheat
Total superheat is static superheat plus opening superheat, and is what is measured at the evaporator outlet.
Subcooling
Subcooling, measured at the condenser outlet, is dened as the number of degrees a liquid refrigerant is cooled
below its saturation temperature (boiling point), at a specic pressure. Subcooling is necessary to prevent ash gas
forming in the liquid line. Depending on system design, various levels of subcooling may be needed. In most cases,
2 to 5K of subcooling is adequate. If ash gas forms in the liquid line, the capacity of the TXV will be greatly reduced.
The fact that the TU is an all-stainless steel expansion valve oers a number of benets:
• Stainless steel is far more corrosion- resistant than traditional valve materials.
• Stainless steel valves require no surface treatment.
• Stainless steel capillary tubes are three times stronger and twenty times more resistant to vibration than copper
capillary tubes.
• Stainless steel has a greater strength- to-weight ratio, making TU valves lighter and more compact.
• Stainless steel diaphragms have greater strength and corrosion resistance for a longer life.
Danfoss precision port design
The TU thermostatic expansion valve introduces precision port design, incorporating four features that ensure
superior repeatable performance over an extended valve life.
• Laser welding of the power element preserves the structural uniformity of the diaphragm, assuring consistent
operation.
• A precision-machined pushrod and bushing make a practically frictionless seal with no need for a packing gland.
• The free-oating pushrod is self-aligning and eliminates binding.
• The precision-machined cone and orice accurately meter refrigerant under all operating conditions.
High quality
The TU is manufactured on fully automated, process-monitored production lines. Cellularized computer-monitored
technology ensures uniform high quality and that, when delivered, every valve meets Danfoss quality standards and
customer specications. Cellularized production also makes possible simultaneous production of large and small
quantities of standard and custom version valves.
Advanced technology - fast and easy installation
The TU stainless steel thermostatic expansion valve has signicant installation advantages because it is a valve
designed specically for soldering. The TU can be installed in less than half the time required for traditional brassbodied valves. The valve connections are made of copper and stainless steel bi-metal which makes installation easy,
reliable, and fast.
Figure 6: TUAE
No need for a wet cloth
Bi-metal has a very low thermal conductivity, actually only 10% that of copper, so heat applied during soldering
remains largely in the copper layer of the connection tube, instead of being conducted to the valve body. External
cooling is unnecessary. The result is less energy consumption and better solder quality. At the same time, the
diaphragm's structural integrity is preserved.
Thermostatic expansion valves regulate the amount of refrigerant that is injected into the evaporator. It does this to
keep a constant superheat level at the outlet of the evaporator, thereby preventing liquid refrigerant from entering
the suction line and possibly causing damage to the compressor.
Typical applications for TU and TC valves are:
• Conventional refrigeration systems
• Heat pump systems
• Air conditioning systems
• Specialty refrigeration appliances
• Liquid chillers
• Ice machines
• Transport refrigeration
Figure 7: Application Diagram
Available charges
Universal charge
This is the standard charge, used in most applications. It is characterized by a very large operational evaporating
temperature range, with only small variations in static superheat across the temperature range. It is available in two
temperature ranges. One for normal (-40°C to +10°C / -40°F to 50°F) and one for low (-60 to -25°C / -76°F to -13°F)
temperature applications.
MOP charge (MOP = Maximum Operating Pressure)
The MOP charge is used to protect the compressor motor against overload during start-up. A valve with MOP
charge will throttle liquid injection into the evaporator and thus prevent the evaporating pressure from rising above
the specied MOP point. Above the MOP point, any increase in sensor temperature results in only minimal
additional opening of the expansion valve. A number of dierent MOP points are available
The MOP point will change if the factory superheat setting of the expansion valve is changed. If the setting is
reduced, the MOP point will go up and vice versa.
MAH charge
The Danfoss Marinite Anti-Hunt (MAH) charge can be used in dynamic systems, often A/C systems. Here it reduces
valve hunting during evaporator load changes, thereby helping to maintain stable system superheat and improve
system performance.
F-charge
The F-charge is designed for refrigeration systems where low total superheat is required. Valves with this charge are
delivered with an optimized low static superheat setting which allows for installation with no or minimal eld
adjustment. The F-charge also includes the Danfoss MAH function, as described above.
Ice charge
The ice charge is designed with an optimized static superheat characteristic, which allows for optimal function,
particularly in Ice cubers, where low superheat is required in order to fully utilize the entire evaporator coil.
Milk charge
The milk charge is designed for use in milk cooling tanks where a limitation of the suction pressure is required, but
where an MOP valve would suer from charge migration.
Bi-ow
Bi-ow function is sometimes used in systems with 4-way reversing valves where hot gas defrosts, or heating cycles
are required. Only externally equalized TU valves with orices X to 8 and externally equalized TC valves with orices
1 and 2 – without MOP charges, can be used in bi-ow mode. When used in reverse direction, the rated valve
capacity will be reduced by up to 15%. Valves for bi-ow operation should be installed so that the normal refrigerant
ow is towards the main evaporator
Figure 9: Bi-ow
Sizing example
How to select a TU or TC thermostatic expansion valve.
Example: Refrigerant: R134a
Cooling capacity: 3KW
Evaporating temperature: -10 °C