Origin of REFFLEX®

REFFLEX® stands for REFrigeration and FLEXibility and has it's origin in the requirement to no longer use copper based capillary tubes in refrigeration systems.

Refrigerants

REFFLEX® capillary tubing and fittings are suitable for almost all non-corrosive refrigerants including natural gasses.

  • HFC/HFO refrigerants
    such as R134a, R404A, R407A, R407C, R407F, R449A, R513A and R1234ze

  • HC refrigerants
    such as R290 (propane), R600 (butane) and R600a (isobutyl)

  • Natural refrigerants
    such CO2 SUBcritical.
    We are working on tubes applicable to CO2 TRANScritical.

 

Copper gaskets

REFFLEX® does not unconditionally support the application of copper gaskets. However, if required, they are part of our assortment.

Without using a copper gasket, the usual REFFLEX® DN-2.0 brass-to-brass or DN-5.0 steel-to-brass connection (e.g. the connection to a pressure switch, manometer, compressor valve service port or oil level system) is perfectly safe and 100% gas- and liquid-tight. 

Of course the surface of the fitting on the equipment to be connected with must be smooth. Only would the surface clearly show scratches and/or other irregularities, the copper gasket might be required.

Please realise that some well-known disadvantages of copper gaskets are: The soft copper gets flattened during tightening the nut, the gasket’s outside diameter grows larger, and copper gets inside the thread of the nut. The inside diameter grows smaller and may even substantially block the orifice of the fitting or disable the proper function of the access valve depressor (if applied)

Best procedure:
During tightening the flare nut one may see the REFFLEX® fitting rotate a short distance along with the flare nut. Unscrew the flare nut over one or two full revolutions. Manually rotate the fitting counter clockwise as far as it initially went along with the flare nut. Next finally tighten the flare nut. Doing so radial tension (torque) in the hose is avoided and now both matching surfaces fit perfectly together.

European rules

The European regulation EN 378 addresses all sorts of topics concerning refrigeration systems. One subject is the quality of non-metallic hoses for connecting (among others) pressure switches. The burst pressure has to be at least three times the maximum work pressure (MWP).

REFFLEX® DN-2.0 and DN-5.0  have a burst pressure of > 700 and > 500 bar respectively. The MWP is 80 bar, and the maximum allowable temperature is 115°C.

Inside Diameter (ID)

For many years, Germany has applied a rule DIN 8975 which says that safety pressure switches have to be connected with minimum ID of 4.0 mm along the full length of tube or hose, fittings included. This rule shall be promoted to European rule and be incorporated in the EN 378.

The ID of REFFLEX® hose is no less than 5.0 mm and the corresponding fittings have an ID of 4.0 mm.

REFFLEX® complies to the directive RoHS.
REFFLEX® complies to the directive REACh.

REFFLEX® complies to EN1736.
REFFLEX® complies to ISO9223.