Product Information

Copper Tube for R410A

We have recently been asked if our copper tube is suitable for use with R410A. Of course the answer is "YES"
I am uncertain what has given rise to this question apart from the view that some air conditioning manufactures have expressed in that the
tube should have a wall thickness of at least 1mm. This not the case if systems are designed in accordance with BS4434 : 1995 (EN378)
since the basis of the pipe work design for any refrigeration or air conditioning system under this standard is centred around the maximum
allowable pressure of the refrigerant in the system, taking into account pressures that are experienced when the system is either in operation
or at rest. There is also a minimum allowable pressure that systems must be capable of withstanding which is the saturation pressure of the
refrigerant at the minimum system design temperature. This value in a 32 oC ambient temperature for R410A equates to 33.6bar for the high
pressure side of a system and 19bar for the low pressure side. (heat pumps must be designed as if the entire system is at high side
pressure).
The charts below show the situation for an R410A system in a 32 oC ambient, together with an extract from our own copper tube maximum
operating pressure chart.

HP switch setting = 30.2bar Pressure relief valve rating

(min allowable press x 0.9) (min allowable press x 1.1)

R410A Minimum allowable pressure = 33.6bar Strength test pressure = 43.68bar

(design & leak test pressure) (min allowable press x 1.3)

Maximum Safe Working Pressure for Copper Refrigeration Tubes (Coil and Straight Lengths)
HRP Standard Tube OD OD Wall Thickness Temperature = 50oC Temperature = 100oC Temperature = 150oC
Straight Coil Inch mm SWG mm bar psi bar psi bar psi
X 1/8" 3.175 22 0.711 240 3478 230 3333 170 2463
X 3/16" 4.672 22 0.711 147.7 2140 141.6 2052 104.6 1516
X 1/4" 6.35 22 0.711 106.7 1546 102.2 1481 75.6 1095
X 5/16" 7.938 22 0.711 83.5 1210 80 1159 59.1 856
X X 3/8" 9.525 21 0.813 77.5 1123 74.2 1075 54.9 796
X X 1/2" 12.7 21 0.813 56.9 824 54.6 791 40.3 584
X X 5/8" 15.875 20 0.914 51.8 751 49.6 719 36.7 532
X 3/4" 19.05 19 1.02 48.4 701 46.4 672 34.3 497
X 3/4" 19.05 18 1.22 58.4 846 56 811 41.4 600
X 7/8" 22.225 19 1.02 41.2 597 39.5 572 29.2 423
X 7/8" 22.225 18 1.22 49.6 719 47.5 688 35.1 509
X 1.1/8" 28.575 18 1.22 38.2 554 36.6 530 27 391
X 1.3/8" 34.925 18 1.22 31 449 29.7 430 22 319
X 1.5/8" 41.275 18 1.22 26.1 378 25 362 18.5 268
X 1.5/8" 41.275 16 1.63 35.5 514 34.1 494 25.2 365

The shaded area in the chart above shows the copper tube sizes that fall into the usable range for R410A based on heat pump application
where the high pressure side of the system can be rated at a maximum of 100 oC and the maximum allowable pressure is 33.6bar, resulting
in a test pressure of 43.68bar.

We have also heard comments such that only hard drawn tube must be used, but since the pressure rating of coiled, half hard, and hard
draw tube is calculated as the same value there seems to be no basis for making this assumption.
One comment which may be worth considering is that fittings should be used as opposed to formed pipe bends which by their very nature
have the potential of reducing the wall thickness and therefore the pressure capability of the tube.
Issue Date : 23rd October 2000 Issue No. 18