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Copper Tubes: Sample Information Sheet

The document provides information about copper tubes used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. It discusses the two types of wall thicknesses for copper tubes, type K and type L, and that type L is most commonly used. It also describes the differences between soft drawn and hard drawn copper tubes, including that soft drawn is more flexible while hard drawn is stiffer. Finally, it provides tables with the safe working pressures of copper tubing at different temperatures, noting that working pressure decreases as temperature increases.

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Michelle Copones Llanes
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401 views4 pages

Copper Tubes: Sample Information Sheet

The document provides information about copper tubes used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. It discusses the two types of wall thicknesses for copper tubes, type K and type L, and that type L is most commonly used. It also describes the differences between soft drawn and hard drawn copper tubes, including that soft drawn is more flexible while hard drawn is stiffer. Finally, it provides tables with the safe working pressures of copper tubing at different temperatures, noting that working pressure decreases as temperature increases.

Uploaded by

Michelle Copones Llanes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sample Information Sheet

Copper Tubes

Objective(s): At the end of this reading activity, the learner/trainee should be able to:

• determine the type of copper tubes according to wall thickness


• differentiate soft drawn copper tube from hard drawn copper tube
• explain the effect of temperature to working pressure

Most tubing used in a refrigeration and air-conditioning are made of copper. All tubing
used in air conditioning and refrigeration is referred to as ACR tubing. It is carefully
processed to give the desired characteristics like being clean and dry inside.

There are two types of wall thickness for copper tubes. One is type K (heavy duty) and
the other is type L (medium thick). Most ACR tubing used at present are type L.

Copper tubing is available in soft and hard drawn copper tubing.


a. Soft drawn copper tubing

Soft copper tubing is used in domestic work and in some


commercial refrigeration and air conditioning work. It is
already annealed which makes it flexible, therefore easy
to bend and flare. It is supplied in 25 and 50 feet/ roll.
One hundred (100) ft/ roll are available upon special
order. This type of tubing can be joined by using fitting
or brazing.

b. Hard drawn copper tubing

Hard drawn copper tubing is usually used in commercial


refrigeration and conditioning work. It is hard and stiff
and is not recommended for bending. Using fittings is
more practical (but in some applications where in
appearance is important, bending could be done after
the tube has been annealed). Since this tube is hard, it
is less flexible which requires less bracket and support
when installed. This tube is supplied in 20 ft with
diameter larger than soft drawn copper tubing. It can be
joined by brazing. Flared fittings can be used to join
small diameter hard drawn copper tubes when
annealed.
Sizes of Tubing

Tubes and pipes have different sizes. Pipes used for plumbing and heating
applications used the inside diameter (ID). These are called nominal-size tubing. The figure
below shows how to determine the tube size for nominal-sized tubing and ACR tubing:

Nominal-sized Tubing
ACR Tubing

5/8 in. 1/2 in. 1/2 in.

Tube size for nominal- Tube size for ACR


sized tubing tubing

ACR tubing is sized on its outside diameter (OD). Copper tubing’s sizes range from
3/16 to greater than 6 inches. The wall thickness of the tube varies with its diameter and type
of wall thickness (type L or type K). Below is a table which describes typical sizes of hard
drawn and soft drawn copper tubes:

Wall
Nominal Size Outside Diameter
Type Thickness
Inches In Inches
In Inches
K 0.375 3/8 0. 035
1/4
L 0.375 3/8 0. 030

K 0.500 1/2 0. 049


3/8
L 0.500 1/2 0. 040

K 0.750 3/4 0. 049


5/8
L 0.750 3/4 0. 042

K 0.875 7/8 0. 065


3/4
L 0.875 7/8 0. 045

K 1.125 1 1/8 0. 065


1
L 1.125 1 1/8 0. 050
Safe Working Pressure

The size of tubing and the temperature of the material it is carrying will mostly
determine the safe working pressures of copper tubing. As the temperature increases, the
safe working pressure decreases. The pressures of soft-drawn tubing are shown below:

Wall Weight 150 (°F) 250 (°F) 350 (°F) 400 (°F)
Tube OD
Thickness per foot PSI PSI PSI PSI
1/4 0.030 0.0804 1230 1130 970 720
3/8 0.032 0.134 860 700 670 500
1/2 0.032 0.182 630 580 490 370
5/8 0.035 0.251 540 500 430 320
3/4 0.035 0.305 440 400 350 260
7/8 0.045 0.455 500 460 390 300
1 1/8 0.050 0.655 430 400 340 250
1 3/8 0.055 0.884 390 360 300 230
1 5/8 0.060 1.140 370 340 280 220

The safe working pressures of hard drawn copper tubing are shown below:

Wall Weight 150 (°F) 250 (°F) 350 (°F) 400 (°F)
Tube OD
Thickness per foot PSI PSI PSI PSI
3/8 0.030 0.126 900 870 570 380
1/2 0.035 0.198 800 770 500 330
5/8 0.040 0.285 740 720 470 310
3/4 0.042 0.362 650 630 410 270
7/8 0.045 0.455 590 570 370 250
1 1/8 0.050 0.655 510 490 320 210
1 3/8 0.055 0.884 460 440 290 190
1 5/8 0.060 1.140 430 420 270 180
2 1/8 0.070 1.75 370 360 230 150
3 1/8 0.090 3.33 330 320 210 140
3 5/8 0.100 4.29 320 310 200 130
4 1/8 0.110 5.38 300 290 190 120
5 1/8 0.123 7.61 280 270 180 120

The safe working pressures of tubing should never exceed to avoid property damage
and personal injury.
Self-Check 1:

Direction: Answer the following questions. Check your answers using the model answers on
page $# of this learning element

1. What do we call the copper tube which is already annealed?

2. What wall thickness of tube is commonly used?

3. What happens to the working pressure of the tube if the temperature increases?

4. If a soft drawn copper tube of 3/8” diameter will be used in 150°F working
temperature, what will be it’s the maximum safe working pressure?

5. If a hard 3/4“ diameter, drawn copper tube will be used in 250°F working temperature,
What will be its safe working pressure?

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