ASPEN DA Series Uncased Upflow-Downflow Aluminum Coils Installation Guide

DA Series – Uncased Upflow/Downflow Aluminum Coils
DC Series – Cased Upflow/Downflow Aluminum Coils
DE Series – Cased Multi-Position Aluminum Coils

Safety Instruction

Potential safety hazards are alerted using the following symbols. The symbol is used in conjunction with terms that indicate the intensity of the hazard.
WARNING
This symbol indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which if not avoided, could result in serious injury, property damage, product damage or death.
CAUTION
This symbol indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which if not avoided, may result in moderate injury or property damage.
WARNING Product designed and manufactured to   permit installation in accordance with local and nationalbuilding codes. It is the installer’s responsibility to ensure that  product is installed in strict compliance with the aforementioned codes. Manufacturer assumes no responsibility for damage (personal, product or property) caused due to installations violating regulations.
WARNING Certified technicians or those individuals meeting the requirements specified by NATE may use this information. Property and product damage or personal injury hazard may occur without such background.
WARNING All power sources should be disconnected prior to servicing. Failure to do so may cause personal injury or property damage.

Inspection

On receiving the product, visually inspect it for any major shipping related damages. Shipping damages are the carrier’s responsibility.
Inspect the product labels to verify the model number and options are in accordance with your order. Manufacturer will not accept damage claims for incorrectly shipped product.

Installation Preparation

Read all the instructions in this guideline carefully while paying special attention to the WARNING and CAUTION alerts. If any of the instructions are unclear, clarify with a certified technician before proceeding. Gather all tools needed for successful installation of the unit prior to beginning the installation.
Note that absence of pres-
11. Plastic Drain Pan Application sure/charge does not verify a leak. Check coils for leaks prior to installation.

Condensate Drain Preparation

Aspen recommends an auxiliary drain pan be provided and installed by the installing contractor, which should be properly sloped, installed according to code, and  erminated in an area visible to the home owner. The auxiliary pans provide extra protection to the area under the unit should the primary and secondary drain plug up and overflow
WARNING
As expressed in our product warranty; ASPEN WILL NOT BE BILLED FOR ANY STRUCTURAL DAMAGES CAUSE BY FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS INSTALLATION REQUIREMENT.
CAUTION
Drain lines from the auxiliary drain pan should NOT be connected to the primary drain line of the coil.
WARNING
Do NOT install coils with plastic drain pans on any OIL or DRUM type furnaces or applications where temperature of the drain pan might exceed 260±5 ºF. A metal pan should be installed in these applications.
Install coils with the drain pan and/or casing on a flat, level surface. Slope the coil 1/4” towards the drain.
Condensate lines must be installed in accordance with building codes. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure proper condensate drainage at the time of the installation; Aspen bears no responsibility for damages caused by improper condensate management.
CAUTION
Some coils have primary and secondary drain ports on both sides of the pan to offer installation flexibility, so ensure all threaded plugs are in present and tightened in any  nused drain ports. These may be hidden behind the coil casing access door. Failure to do so may result in property water damage; it is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure these plugs are present and tight.
The drain lines must be installed with ¼” per foot pitch to provide free drainage. A condensate trap MUST be installed on the primary drain line to ensure proper drainage of the condensate. The trap must be installed in the drain line below the bottom of the drain pan. Fig. 4-1 illustrates the typical drain trap installation. Prior to installation, ensure drain pan hole is not obstructed. Additionally, Aspen recommends the drain lines be insulated to prevent sweating and dripping.

CAUTION
Use Teflon tape to connect the drain lines to the threads in the drain pan. DO NOT USE SOLVENT BASED PIPE DOPE. THIS WILL REDUCE THE LIFE OF THE PAN.
The drain pan has primary (white) and secondary (red) drain connections. If a secondary drain line is required, it should be run separately from the primary and should terminate in a highly visible location. Condensate disposal through the secondary drain line indicates that the primary drain line is plugged and needs cleaning. If a secondary drain line will not be provided, plug the secondary drain. Drain plugs are NOT to be reused without plumbers tape or putty. Drain line  connectionshould be finger tightened,
then turned no more than one complete turn as needed to ensure a firm connection. DO NOT overtighten connection or damage may occur.

Coil Installation

WARNING
The coil is manufactured with dry nitrogen pre-charge. Release the pressure through the Schrader valve test port pri- or to installation. If holding pressure is not present, return coil to distributor for exchange.

Clean coil fins with degreasing agent or mild detergent and rinse fins clean prior to installation. Refer to section 10 for coil cleaning/ maintenance guidance.
The refrigerant line sizes should be selected according to the recommendations of the outdoor unit manufacturer.
Care must be taken to ensure all connection joints are burr-free and clean. Failure to do so may increase chances of a leak. It is recommended to use a pipe cutter to remove the spun closed end of the suction line.
To reduce air leakage, rubber grommets may be present where the lines pass through the coil case. To avoid damage, remove grommets prior to brazing by sliding
over the lines. Use a quenching cloth or allow the lines to cool before reinstalling the grommets.
Use of wet rags/quenching cloth is highly recommended to prevent weld-related damages to the casing and Schrader valve (if present).
Can be installed in either an upflow or a downflow application.
CAUTION
Coil should be installed on the discharge side of the furnace
CAUTION
Aspen coils may include a Schrader valve on the suction manifold. Ensure that the Schrader valve and valve core (where present) are protected from heat to prevent leakage.
WARNING
As mentioned elsewhere in this document, in an application involving oil fur- nace a metal drain pan MUST be used.
Coils installed on an oil furnace must have a minimum of six inches clearance between the top of the furnace and bottom of the drain pan.
CAUTION
Multi-position Coils are shipped from the factory for specific horizontal applications (horizontal right or horizontal left). Installer must ensure that the coil is installed in the orientation for which it was intended (horizontal drain pan side down). Failure to follow these instructions might lead to property and equipment damage.
CAUTION
5A. Vertical Upflow/Downflow Installation (DA, DC, DE ) When installing in conjunction with a gas furnace in a vertical orientation, ensure that there is 2” gap between the bottom of the drain pan and the outlet of the furnace.
To set up coils for downflow application, install the two 3” wide by 16” long galvanized metal plates on the outside of the coil, against the fins on each side of the coil as shown in Fig. 5A-3. These plates are supplied with the coil.
Do NOT exceed 350 cfm/ton of airflow for downflow applications.
To position the coil on furnace:

1. Locate the air outlet of the furnace.
2. Adjust flanges accordingly and position the coil over or under the furnace outlet.
3. Place ductwork over the casing.
   Refer to Furnace/Air Handler manufacturer literature for specific coil installation guidelines and recommendations

5B. Horizontal Installation (DE Only)
Multi-position coils are shipped from the factory such that they can be installed in both vertical and horizontal applications without changes to the coil. When installing these coils in the horizontal application, the details mentioned in this section must be followed.
Multi-position coils come equipped with a horizontal drain pan (Plastic/Metal).
The plastic drain pan is protected from high temperatures by a metal plate at the apex end of the coil.

Refer to Furnace/Air Handler manufacturer literature for specific coil installation guidelines and recommendations.
CAUTION
Due to higher designed radiant heat, a six inch spacer (placed between the furnace exit and the inlet of the evaporator) should be installed when matching up an Aspen coil with an ultralow NOx (ULN) furnace.

Suction Line Connection

The sensing bulb and TXV body MUST be protected from overheating during brazing.
The sensing bulb and TXV body must
WARNING
be covered using a quench cloth or wet cloth when brazing.
Pointing the brazing flame away from the valve and sensing bulb provide partial protection only.
CAUTION
Aspen coils may include a Schrader valve on the suction manifold. Ensure that the Schrader valve and valve core (where present) are protected from heat to prevent leakage.

1. Ensure suction line connection joints are burr-free and clean.
   Failure to do so may increase chances of a leak and introduce contaminants to the system. It is recommended to use a pipe cutter to remove the spun closed end of the  uction line.

2. Swedge (or use a field supplied coupler) and braze the field supplied refrigerant suction line tubing to the coil stub using approved industry practices.

WARNING
Do not attempt to touch brazed joints while hot. Severe burns may result.

Metering Devices/Liquid Line Conection

Aspen coils are available with two kinds of metering devices a) flowrator or b) TXV.
The following instructions are separated into sections by metering device.
7A. Flowrator Coils

CAUTION
Use Piston sizes recommended by the outdoor unit manufacturer whenever possible. The piston should be sized accord- ing to the capacity of the outdoor unit.
WARNING
Failure to install the proper piston can lead to poor system performance and possible compressor damage.
I. Installation
Note: Photos are for basic illustration purposes only. Actual equipment configuration may differ from that shown.

I-1. Disassemble flowrator body using two wrenches and unscrewing with a counterclockwise motion.

I-2. Replace the Teflon O-ring (located between the halves). Discard Schrader if present.
CAUTION
Be aware of the Teflon O-ring. Be sure to replace the O-ring to attain a proper seal. (The Teflon O-ring is located between the two halves of the flowrator)
I-3. Slide the attachment nut onto the liquid line stub out.
I-4. Braze the stub-out portion to the liquid line and let cool.

I-5. Taking care that the white Teflon seal is still in place inside the flowrater body, firmly seat the stub and screw the attachment nut to flowrater body.
I-6. Tighten nut using no more than 10 ft-lbs of torque. A flare nut open end wrench is recommended to evenly distribute the force across all six sides of the nut to ensure piston body is not deformed.
II. Piston Replacement
Note: Photos are for basic illustration purposes only. Actual equipment configuration may differ from that shown.

During some installations, a piston change may be required. If so, the installer MUST change the piston. Use piston sizes recommended by the outdoor unit manufacturer. If a sizing chart is not available, use the piston size chart provided below to size the required piston.
The size of the piston is stamped on the piston body (Fig 7A-2).
Use the chart below when matching coil with an outdoor unit with a different nominal capacity than the coil.

II-1. Evacuate the system as per manufacturer guidelines and recommendations
II-2. Turn the 13/16” nut once to release any residual pressure in the coil.

II-3. After ensuring that the coil is free of any residual pressure, disassemble the flowrator body completely using two wrenches. Take great care not to distort the feeder tubes. The wrench used to clasp the nut should be turned in counter-clockwise direction to unscrew the nut.

II-4. Slide the 13/16” nut over the lineset and separate the two halves of the flowrator.

II-5. Pull the piston out using a small wire or pick. Verify the piston size (size is typically stamped on the body of the piston – Fig 7A-2). If a different piston size is required by the outdoor unit manufacturer, replace the piston using the small wire provided with the piston kit.

II-6. Replace the piston with one of the correct size. Do not force the new piston into the body. Make sure the piston moves freely in body.
CAUTION
Pay close attention to the piston orientation. The pointed end of the piston MUST go into the distributor body, towards the coil. Failure to ensure this orientation will cause the piston to be bypassed during operation which might damage the outdoor unit.
II-7. Assemble the two halves correctly and ensure that the Teflon O-ring is present between the two halves (See I-5). Slide the 13/16” nut onto the distributor body.
CAUTION
Be aware of the Teflon O-ring. Be sure to replace the O-ring to attain a proper seal. (The Teflon O-ring is located between the two halves of the flowrator)
II-8. Tighten the nut to a torque of approximately 10 ft-lbs. Do NOT overtighten the nut. Overtightening could crack the nut and/or impede the piston movement during operation.
II-9. If present, slide the rubber grommet back to position to prevent air leakage.
7B. TXV Coils

WARNING
The sensing bulb and TXV body MUST be protected from overheating during brazing. The sensing bulb and TXV body must be covered using a quench cloth or wet cloth when brazing. Pointing the brazing flame away from the valve and sensing bulb provide partial protection only.
CAUTION
Ensure that the TXV selected is compatible with the refrigerant used in the outdoor system (R22 or R410A). TXV caps are  painted green for R22 or pink for R410A. In  bsence of color, the caps will be marked with the compatible refrigerant.
CAUTION
The valves should be sized according to the capacity of the outdoor unit. Failure to install the right valve can lead to poor performance and possible compressor damage.
I. TXV Bulb Horizontal Mounting
The orientation and location of the TXV bulb has a major influence on the system performance.
CAUTION
Ensure that the TXV bulb is in direct contact with the suction/vapor line.
Gap between the bulb and tube should be avoided. Failure to do so will impair the proper functioning of the TXV valve.
It is recommended that the TXV bulb be installed parallel to the ground (on a horizontal plane). The bulb position should be at 2 o’clock or 10 o’clock. Fig. 7B-2 shows the recommended position for the TXV bulb installation in the horizontal plane.

Fig 7B-2. Recommended location for horizontal TXV bulb mount
The TXV sensing bulb SHOULD be mounted on the suction line approximately 6” from the TXV or coil housing using the metal clamp provided. In order to obtain a good temperature reading and correct superheat control, the TXV sensing bulb must conform to ALL of the following criteria:

1. The sensing bulb MUST be in direct and continuous contact with the suction line.
2. The sensing bulb should be mounted horizontally on the suction line.
3. The sensing bulb MUST be mounted at the 2 o’clock or 10 o’clock position on the circumference of the suction line.
4. The sensing bulb MUST be insulated from outside air. A properly mounted sensing bulb will prevent false readings caused by liquid refrigerant that may have formed inside the suction/vapor line. Insulation will protect the sensing bulb from false readings due to contact with warm air.

II. TXV Bulb Vertical Mounting

As recommended in Section 7B-I, the TXV sensing bulb should be mounted in a horizontal plane in relation to the suction/vapor line. However, some installation  onfigurations may require that the sensing bulb be mounted vertically. In this instance, place the bulb opposite the piping wall being hit by refrigerant and oil leaving the distributor tubes, and with capillary tubes directed upwards as shown in Fig. 7B-3.
CAUTION
If the TXV sensing bulb is mounted vertically; the capillary MUST be directed upwards. The bulb must be mounted on the wall opposite to that being directly hit by the refrigerant and oil leaving the distributor tubes.
III. Field-Installed TXV Retrofit
Note: Photos are for basic illustration purposes only. Actual equipment configuration may differ from that shown.
When installing an expansion valve, it is not necessary to slide the coil out of the housing.

III-1. Disassemble the flowrator body using two wrenches. Unscrew the body with a counterclockwise motion.

III-2. Remove the existing flow- rator piston using a small wire or pick.

III-3. Replace the Teflon O-ring seal in place (located between the halves).
III-4. Inspect the TXV box to confirm that the valve is compatible with the refrigerant in the system.

III-5. Remove the valve from the box and note the location of the inlet side (threaded male port) and the outlet side (female swivel nut port).

III-6. After ensuring that the Teflon O-ring seal is still in place inside the flowrator body, screw the female swivel nut onto the flowrator body.
III-7. Slide attachment the nut onto the liquid line stub out (See 7A, I-3)
III-8. Braze the stub-out portion to the liquid line and let cool.
WARNING
Do not attempt to touch brazed joints while hot. Severe burns may result.

III-9. Remove the additional Teflon O-ring seal from the box and place on the shoulder just inside the TXV inlet port. Screw the nut attached to the stub- out portion of the  flowrator body onto the inlet port of the TXV.
III-10. Tighten all connections taking care to use proper back up.
Tighten the nut to a torque of approximately 10-30 ft-lbs.
III-11. Remove the valve identification sticker from the valve and place it adjacent to the Aspen model number on unit name plate.
III-12a. Some Aspen coils come with a Schrader valve on the suction line. If a Schrader port is present:

A. Remove the valve stem from the Schrader port mounted on the suction line.

B. Screw flare nut on TXV equalization tube on to the Schrader  valve stem.
III-12b. In some cases, a suction line schrader port may not be present. If a Schrader port is NOT present:

A. Install a field-supplied braze-on schrader valve like that shown on the suction line near the intended sensing bulb mounting location. Follow valve manufacturer instructions and recommendations for installation.
B. Attach equalizer tube to valve as described in section III-12a above.
III-13. Mount the sensing bulb as described in section 7B-I or 7B-II.
CAUTION
When handling or manipulating the equalizer tube, take great care not to kink or make extreme bends in the tubing.
CAUTION
Using a non-bleed expansion valve may require the use of a hard-start kit. Follow the outdoor unit manufacturer’s guidelines.

Leak Check

1. Following outdoor unit manufacturer instructions and recommendations, charge the system with dry nitrogen to a maximum pressure of 150 PSIG.
2. Check all brazed and screwon line connections by  applying asoap solution to the joint. A leak will produce bubbles in the soap solution.\
3. If any leaks or are discovered, relieve system pressure and repair leaks. Repeat steps 1-3.
4. With no leaks or weak connections present, evacuate the system and charge as per the outdoor unit manufacturer instructions and specifications.

System Charging

CAUTION
An improperly charged system will likely cause loss in system performance and may damage the compressor.
CAUTION
Refer to outdoor unit manufacturer charging guidelines and recommendations. The recommendations given below are general in nature and are NOT to supersede outdoor unit manufacturer specifications.
2A. Flowrator coils: Add refrigerant until the superheat measured at the outdoor unit suction/vapor line matches the superheat from the chart below.

Outdoor
Temp| Superheat
---|---
°F D.B.| Min| Nom| Max
65| 30| 35| 40
70| 26| 30| 34
75| 21| 25| 29
80| 17| 20| 23
85| 12| 15| 18
90| 8| 10| 12
95| 4| 5| 7
100

2B. TXV coils: Add refrigerant until the subcooling measured at the outdoor unit liquid line matches the subcooling recommendation of the outdoor manufacturer. If chart is unavailable charge the unit to a subcooling value of 8ºF +/- 1ºF.

Coil Cleaning Instructions

Aspen cased coils are equipped with a two-piece panel door to allow for cleaning and maintenance access. Remove one or both doors to access the coil for cleaning. For both copper and aluminum tube coils, it is recommended to flush with the coil with water. There are coil cleaners that are available that contain corrosive chemicals, such as, but not limited to, chlorine and hydroxide, that are not approved for use on Aspen copper and aluminum tube coils.

373 Atascocita Rd.
Humble, TX 77396
Phone: 281.441.6500
Toll Free: 800.423.9007
Fax: 281.441.6510
www.aspenmfg.com

http://aspenmfg.com/
Revised 09/10/2021. Subject to change without notice and without incurring obligation.
© Copyright 2021 Aspen Manufacturing. All Rights Reserved

References

• aspenmfg.com

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