DR. Porter's Piping Magic

R-454B Refrigerant Line Sizing Calculator
R-454B
Scope This tool is only for YORK split systems up to 50 tons (Norman or Wichita products). Do not use for other manufacturers, other tonnage, or packaged/VRF equipment.
↗ Reference · Commercial YORK R-454B Long Lineset Piping Application Guide (PDF) ↗ Reference · Residential Bosch / YORK R-454B Long Lineset — Residential Only (PDF)
Equipment Category filters the unit list below
Auto-hides liquid sizes with total press. loss ≥ 40 psi or velocity < 150 FPM, and suction sizes with friction loss ≥ 10 psi or velocity < 300 FPM.

Liquid Line Rules

  • Minimize pressure drop — 40 psi is the max PD (liquid can flash to gas above 40 psi).
  • Minimize velocity — 500 FPM recommended max (300 FPM for residential).
  • Total liquid line pressure drop cannot exceed 50 psi.

Suction Line Rules

  • Minimize pressure drop — 5 psi recommended max (≈1% capacity loss per psi above 5).
  • Velocity must be above 1,000 FPM for vertical rises, 800 FPM for horizontal runs.
  • Minimize velocity for noise — less than 3,000 FPM ideal, up to 3,500 FPM acceptable if friction stays ≤5 psi.

Liquid Line Calculations

DPL 0.76VL 0.90CL 0.93
Show Sizes:
Line Size Total Press. Losspsi Liq. Line VelocityFPM Actual Lengthft # Elbows Total Equiv.
Lengthft		 AC Rel. to Evap Selection CapacityMBH Friction Losspsi Liq. Line Chargeoz
Under limit Near limit Over limit

Suction Line Calculations (Max Cap)

DPS 0.92VS 1.09CS 0.78
Show Sizes:
Line Size Friction Losspsi Suct. Line VelocityFPM Actual Lengthft # Elbows Total Equiv.
Lengthft		 AC Rel. to Evap Selection CapacityMBH Ref. Chargeoz
Under limit Near limit Over limit

Suction Line Calculations (Min Cap)

DPS 0.92VS 1.09CS 0.78
Show Sizes:
Line Size Friction Losspsi Suct. Line VelocityFPM Actual Lengthft # Elbows Total Equiv.
Lengthft		 AC Rel. to Evap Selection CapacityMBH Ref. Chargeoz
Under limit Near limit Over limit

YORK R-454B Model Specifications

Component KE090 KC120 KD120 KC150 KD150 KC180 KD180 KC240 KD240 KC300 KD360 KD480 KD600
Nominal Tonnage 7.5101012.512.51515202025304050
Refrigerant
Refrigerant type R-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454BR-454B
Operating charge1 — System #1 (lb) 11.8816.0010.2520.3812.6323.2515.3834.2518.3837.5033.7543.3850.50
Operating charge1 — System #2 (lb) ——9.50—12.75—15.50—20.63—33.5043.3850.50
Holding charge Nitrogen
Dimensions (in.)
Length 59.159.159.159.159.159.159.159.159.159.1128.5128.5128.5
Width 31.931.931.931.931.964.164.164.164.164.188.588.588.5
Height 44.550.050.050.050.044.544.550.050.050.037.557.757.7
Weight (lb)
Shipping weight 3874354645195128188479359301069185322332345
Compressors2
Type Single scrollSingle scrollSingle scrollTandem scrollSingle scrollTandem scrollSingle scrollTandem scrollSingle scrollTandem scrollTandem scrollTandem scrollTandem scroll
Quantity 1121212121222
Nominal capacity — System #1 (ton) 7.510512.56157.5201025152025
Nominal capacity — System #2 (ton) ——5—6.3—7.5—10—152025
Capacity stages — System #1 2212121212222
Capacity stages — System #2 ——1—1—1—1—222
Unit capacity steps — Stage #1 (%) 6067———————————
Unit capacity steps — Stage #2 (%) 100100———————————
  1. 1 Includes matched indoor blower unit with 25 ft of piping.
  2. 2 All compressors include crankcase heaters.

R-454B Charge Add Calculator

For lines exceeding the 25 ft included length
Linear Line Length — ft
Add Charge Based on Length
(add'nl charge based on linear piping length minus 25 ft) — ft
Additional Charge to Add PER CIRCUIT — lb — oz
Grand Total Refrigerant Charge SELECT MODEL — — lb — oz

R-454B Line Charge*

Refrigerant per linear foot of pipe · commercial
Suction oz./ft. Liquid oz./ft.
1/2 0.021/4 0.16
5/8 0.045/16 0.29
3/4 0.053/8 0.44
7/8 0.071/2 0.87
1-1/8 0.125/8 1.42
1-3/8 0.193/4 2.13
1-5/8 0.267/8 3.83
2-1/8 0.461-1/84.83
2-5/8 0.71— —
  1. * Charges are based upon 40°F suction temperature and 105°F liquid temperature.
— Step 2 —

Commercial DX Specialties Selector

Auto-fills from your unit selection above. Finish the rest below to generate your DX piping accessory list.

System Configuration
A
B
D
E
F

Required Accessories

0 items
i
Select all six configuration options to generate the required DX accessory list for this system.

Reference Piping Drawings

York sample layouts · click to enlarge
7.5–25 ton · CU above / level with evapMatch
7.5-25 ton CU above evap drawing
7.5–25 ton · CU below evapMatch
7.5-25 ton CU below evap drawing
30–50 ton · CU above / level with evapMatch
30-50 ton CU above evap drawing
30–50 ton · CU below evapMatch
30-50 ton CU below evap drawing

Suction Line Accumulator Sizing

Refrigeration Research models · cfm reference

Use the filters below to look up the right accumulator model, or scroll through the full reference grid. Models tagged H are horizontal (48" long).

Full reference grid
Equivalent length · 80'
BTUHModel
60,0003700
90,0003700
120,0003700
150,0003706
180,0003706
240,0003704
300,0003704
Equivalent length · 100'
BTUHModel
60,0003700
90,0003700
120,0003706
150,0003706
180,0003706
240,0003704
300,0003704
Equivalent length · 120'
BTUHModel
60,0003700
90,0003700
120,0003706
150,0003706
180,0003706
240,0003704
300,0003839H
Equivalent length · 140'
BTUHModel
60,0003700
90,0003700
120,0003706
150,0003706
180,0003704
240,0003839H
300,0003839H
Equivalent length · 160'
BTUHModel
60,0003700
90,0003706
120,0003706
150,0003706
180,0003704
240,0003839H
300,0003839H
Equivalent length · 180'
BTUHModel
60,0003700
90,0003706
120,0003706
150,0003704
180,0003839H
240,0003839H
300,0003839H
Equivalent length · 200'
BTUHModel
60,0003700
90,0003706
120,0003704
150,0003704
180,0003839H
240,0003839H
300,0003839H
Accumulator Specs
Model Min Tons Max Tons R-410A Cap. (lbs) Piping Conn ID
37000.809.4511.501 1/8"
37062.1017.8015.601 3/8"
37042.0019.9020.101 5/8"
38395.0961.9036.802 1/8"

Source: Refrigeration Research published data, cfm Distributors reference (rev. 3/10/09). Horizontal models (H) are 48" long. Always verify final selection against current manufacturer literature.