When is it time for chiller repair?

Operating used chillers call for more attention that new ones, naturally. A refrigerator at home is an example. Like any other thing, they also age and the wear and tear may be visible depending on how it is handled. Chiller maintenance also plays a great role in the efficiency of used chillers and its ability to maximize its optimum potential. When all else fails, chiller replacement for process chillers is the last step to be considered. But we all know that chillers aren’t small, inexpensive things. Chillers cost a lot of money thus replacement shouldn’t be done in haste. There are times when the only thing needed to get your process chillers running again is repair.

When can you tell if your used chiller calls for a repair?

- An excess vibration is a sign that there is an extreme wear on the bearings of the chiller. If this is the case, a technician who specializes on chillers should be asked to remove and check the bearings.

- An increase in Refrigerant approach temperature is one of the first signs that a chiller is not operating well. In these cases, a repair is likely needed. A technician should be contacted to check and investigate the problem that may have caused this.

- An obvious refrigerant leak is a sign that the chiller is in need of a repair. Even if the leak isn’t obvious but the refrigerant level is low, it’s still a cause for alarm. Chiller maintenance should be called for to avoid a loss in refrigerant and to avoid inefficiencies.

Should you replace your industrial chillers?

Chillers are big ticket items which mean they cost more than other equipments. Industrial chillers are examples of this. The purchase of an industrial chiller is a big cost to the company’s finances thus taking good care of it should be done properly and regularly. Minor defects could bring down the entire system’s maximum efficiency and when that happens, you’re paying more for a lesser performance. Because industrial chillers are expensive, replacing them should be done with utmost care and thorough decision making.

Here are some tips and tricks on how to evaluate your used chillers to see if they need any replacement:

• The age of the used chiller should be taken into consideration. For air cooled chillers, typical life span is about 12 years while it can be more than 20 years for water cooled chillers. If they chiller’s age is near or beyond these numbers, a replacement is better than repair.
• The major repairs done on the chillers should be given much weight. It may be cost effective to buy a new one rather than paying for repair over and over.
• The noise level should be checked. If you need chillers that aren’t noisy, the new chillers have lower decibel ratings compared to that of before.
• The efficiency rating of the chiller should also be checked. New chillers nowadays have improved efficiency ratings.
• The size of the chiller is also important especially for limited places. There are new chillers released that are small, compact and just as powerful and efficient than big chillers.

Before buying a new replacement, ponder over the things mentioned above. They might come in handy so you can end up in a decision you won’t regret.

Taking Care of You Chiller Unit

If you own a water cooled chiller or any other chiller unit, then for sure you want it to run at its best. In keeping up with your chiller maintenance you will extend the life of your chiller and will also help keep the amount of money to run the unit down. Not having the right maintenance can have its consequences. The machine can start to rust sooner than you expect and you’ll end up spending more money repairing it than having it checked out every few months.

Keeping a daily log on how the recirculating chiller is running is one thing you can do to make sure that the unit is running smoothly. In the long run, doing this can also make you save money because it gives you a basis of how the chiller normally works and this is also good because if something starts to go wrong with the machine, then you would know about it before the chiller breaks down. This is especially important if you purchased a used chiller.

Something else you can do to ensure that your industrial chiller will be running its best is to make sure that all the wiring is efficient and up to date. Old wiring can cause your electricity bill to surge and giving attention to this can also confirm that there are no kinks in the wiring and that the wires are not all tangled up. Purchasing a chiller that’s just the right size can keep your cost down as well. It’s a common thing for people to buy the wrong type of chiller and this can cause the chiller’s life to shorten.

Taking note of simple things like this can help you in maintaining a good chiller. J5NPHMMXKQBD

How Chillers Work

In every water cooled chiller, the liquid is separated from the refrigerant by sealed tubes or coils. Water is then passed through a series of sealed tubes in and around a compressed refrigerant of ammonia or Freon. The heat from the warmer water is passed through the metal sealing tubes and into the gas of the refrigerant which is then sucked off through the vessel by a compressor.

Air cooled chillers range in different sizes from the common cold drinking fountain to large industrial chillers that can accommodate thousands of gallons of liquid. Regardless of the size, water chillers all have the same function, which is to remove unwanted heat and cool down the liquid to a desired temperature. After removing the unwanted heat, the cooled chiller will discharge it elsewhere.

The refrigerant enters the heat exchanger in the form of a liquid and it comes in contact with the sealed tubes that contain the water and while this happens, it flashes into a gas. The flashing of the refrigerant happens when the heat is exchanged from the warmer water through the metal tubes and into the recirculating chiller. The heat, which is now in gas form, gets carried away by the suction of the compressor.

Through the operation of a fan, the machine’s condenser releases heat that was captured by the gas into the air. The gas then turns back into a liquid or condenses as it cools and then exits the condenser. The liquid refrigerant is then forced back into the heat exchanger vessel to perform the same work of removing heat from the warm water. This is the same process that is used on a refrigerator.

Always remember that proper maintenance on the chiller is needed to lengthen the appliance’s lifespan.