The filter drier is a structural element of refrigeration units, which is used to remove moisture from the refrigerant. The device is installed between the capillary tube and the condenser, protecting these parts from solid blockages.
What is a filter drier?
The functional element has the form of a sealed metal cartridge.
The internal space of the device is filled with adsorbent. Most often, synthetic zeolite is used as the latter - a granular material that absorbs moisture well.
On the condenser side of the air conditioner, the filter dryer contains a grid with large cells. It serves to protect the system from zeolite granules. There is a grid on the capillary tube side. Its small openings trap small particles that accumulate in the liquid refrigerant as it passes through the split system.
Principle of operation
The filter drier functions in the same way, regardless of the air conditioning system in which it is installed. When the air conditioner starts, an
electromagnetic clutch is activated
, which compresses the gaseous freon. The compressor distills the refrigerant to the condenser, where it is cooled. Then freon enters directly into the filter dryer. Here, moisture is removed from the refrigerant, it is cleaned of small debris, after which the substance moves through the system.
Filter dryer replacement
Replacement of a functional element may be required during the development of its resource or in case of depressurization of the air conditioning system. The following tools allow you to cope with the task:
- Vacuum pump;
- burner;
- pipe cutter;
- cylinder for replenishing the system with freon.
The work is carried out in several stages. First, with the help of a burner and a pipe cutter, the old filter dryer is removed, which must be replaced. Then the surfaces are carefully cleaned to attach a new device. At the end, the drying element is soldered into place, the system is evacuated using a pump, after which the system is refilled with refrigerant.
Quite often, the presence of debris in the system can cause clogging of the new filter dryer and the capillary tube of the air conditioner. Therefore, after performing work on the replacement of the element, it is worthwhile to conduct maintenance of the main components of the freon circuit.
Useful Tips
The reliability of the filter dryer is largely determined by the adsorbent used. Some fillers better absorb moisture, while others cope with the task is not so effective. For this reason, devices from trusted manufacturers should be selected for replacement, for example, the Danfoss filter dryer. After all, the difference in moisture absorption in different filters can be up to 20-30 g of liquid, which is a critical indicator for any air conditioner.
Filter driers have a limited service life. Therefore, the masters introduced such a requirement as their mandatory replacement. To determine how long the filter drier is capable of functioning, when choosing it, it is enough to carefully study the technical documentation.
Most air conditioner manufacturers recommend replacing the dehumidifier each time the system is scheduled to be serviced, even if there is no malfunction in the unit. The cost of the filter is negligible. Therefore, it is worth listening to such tips, which will avoid more impressive waste in the future.
Finally
As you can see, with specialized tools and equipment, replacing the filter drier is not a very difficult task. At the same time, it is better to trust the work to a master who has already dealt with such tasks. Self-dismantling the filter drier can lead to damage to the compressor and other critical components of the system.