APSM 152B: CHARGING REFRIGERANT SYSTEMS
Foothill College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Summer 2022 |
| Units: | 2 |
| Hours: | 20 lecture, 20 laboratory per quarter (40 total per quarter) |
| Prerequisite: | Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Program. |
| Degree & Credit Status: | Degree-Applicable Credit Course |
| Foothill GE: | Non-GE |
| Transferable: | None |
| Grade Type: | Letter Grade Only |
| Repeatability: | Not Repeatable |
Student Learning Outcomes
- A successful student will be able to use pressure and temperature measuring instruments to evaluate refrigerant condition in a typical hvac system.
- A successful student will be able to use charging equipment to achieve the desired refrigerant charge for a common air conditioning system.
Description
Students learn the fundamentals of charging refrigerant systems.
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
- Determine the proper charging method for a specific system
- Use temperature measuring instruments
- Use pressure test instruments
- Use refrigerant leak detection devices
- Use charging equipment to achieve the proper charge for the system
- Determine factors that may adversely affect the correct charge of the system (existing duct design, piping size, ambient temperature, component location)
- Demonstrate other refrigerant charging techniques
Course Content
- Determine the proper charging method for a specific system
- Describe how refrigerant is charged into systems in the vapor and liquid states (Lec and Lab)
- Describe how refrigerant is charged into systems in the vapor and liquid states (Lec and Lab)
- Describe two types of charging devices (Lec and Lab)
- Use temperature measuring instruments
- Demonstrate the use of type K and bead probe measuring instruments (Lec and Lab)
- Use pressure test instruments
- Demonstrate use of manifold gauge pressure sets (Lec and Lab)
- Use refrigerant leak detection devices
- Describe various types of leak detectors and demonstrate their use (Lec and Lab)
- Use charging equipment to achieve the proper charge for the system
- State the advantage of using electronic weighing scales (Lec and Lab)
- Determine factors that may adversely affect the correct charge of the system (existing duct design, piping size, ambient temperature, component location) (Lec and Lab)
- Demonstrate other refrigerant charging techniques
- Describe system charging using two different weighing methods (Lec and Lab)
- Use the sub-cooling method of charging units with a TXV (Lec and Lab)
- Charge fixed orifice, capillary tube and piston tube systems using charging charts and curves (Lec and Lab)
- Charge refrigerant blends incorporating a temperature glide and fractionation potential (Lec and Lab)
Lab Content
- Demonstrate proper use of refrigerant pressure test instruments
- Demonstrate proper use of refrigerant leak detection devices
- Demonstrate use of refrigerant charging equipment to achieve proper charge for system
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
1. Laboratory with sheet metal service tools
2. Personal protective equipment
3. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address
2. Personal protective equipment
3. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address
Method(s) of Evaluation
Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:
Results of written quizzes and tests
Responses in class discussions
Comprehensive written final examination
Comprehensive final project
Demonstration of assigned skills to acceptable level per instructor
Method(s) of Instruction
Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:
Lecture
Discussion
Demonstration
Lab assignments followed by discussion
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Whitman, B., B. Johnson, J. Tomczyk, and E. Silberstein. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, 8th ed.. 2016.
Auvil, Ronnie J.. HVAC Controls Systems, 4th ed.. 2017.
These are the standard sheet metal textbooks/workbooks used for this course. Although one or more may not be within five years of the required published date, they are the most current books used when teaching this course.
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
- Sample reading assignment: From the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology textbook, Unit 10, "System Charging"
- Sample writing assignment: Answer review questions related to the assigned reading
Discipline(s)
Sheet Metal or Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Heating