Options for Used chillers

Industrial chillers age after quite some time.  Its efficiency and effectiveness when it comes to performance begins to falter especially when these chillers have been used over long periods of time and carrying heavy loads. Despite the efforts done in chiller maintenance, a chiller also reaches a stage where a replacement is needed.

Used chiller replacement isn’t easy because there are a hundred different options to choose from with varied capabilities and specifications. Looking for a new chiller and reviewing the characteristics of each one takes a lot of time and intense concentration if you want to get the value for your money. But keep in mind that in looking for new process chillers, it is important to know what it can do for you.

Aside from replacement, conversion is also another option for used chillers. Conversion is modifying the type of refrigerant that the chiller is designed to use. However, this could get complicated because you need to find the original design conditions of the used chiller to be able to help the manufacturer decide which refrigerant to switch to. Energy efficiency of industrial chillers when conversion is done gets better on a KW per ton basis.

Another option is retrofit which is the process of replacing certain parts of the used chiller but keeping the existing condenser and evaporator heat exchangers. The motor, compressor, starter and control panel are changed. This is recommended only if there’s no easy access to a chiller area.

When used chillers falter, replacement isn’t the only solution you can run to. Whichever option you choose, always seek professional help as they know and understand chillers better.

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.

The truth about chiller replacements

Industrial chillers are great equipments that bring in a lot of great benefits to industries. But they’re also expensive. In fact, they may be the most expensive equipment in other companies.  This is the reason why it is important to observe chiller maintenance and make sure that chillers aren’t abused. Chillers need to be taken cared of if industries want them to perform and serve them for a long period of time. But all good things must come to an end. However with industrial chillers, caution and thorough decision should be done before making a choice.

The biggest mistake in chiller usage is thinking that just because chillers, no matter how used, are still operating mean that they are still ok. Used chillers are still operating but not efficiently anymore and the overall cost for electricity charges may be more than the initial cost of actually buying a new one. However, one must think of all the factors before getting a replacement for used chillers.

A chiller’s condition is important and how old it already is. Changes have been made over the years and if the chiller started operating 10 years ago with a specific set of load, chances are they have changed as well. This may have caused an oversizing of the chiller. You can do a review of the load profile of your current building and re-evaluate the maximum cooling load that the chiller needs to meet. If it can’t be met, it’s a good sign for the chillers to be replaced but it still needs to be evaluated thoroughly.

How do you keep chiller efficiency high?

Since industrial chillers are greatly needed for certain industries, it is important to keep them effectively and efficiently performing at all times. Despite what type of industrial chiller is used, only one thing remains certain: regular maintenance for chillers should be observed.

Chiller maintenance is an important part of a chiller’s life. In order to keep your chiller’s efficiency high, you have to take time to check it regularly. You need to check the tubes, the controls, refrigerant charge optimization and regular oil changes.

In cleaning the tubes, you need to inspect the heat exchanger tubes and flow devices. A tube’s condition will determine how to clean the tubes in the future and it also tells you if the water used is good for the tubes or not. Cleaning the tubes help greatly in the efficiency of used chillers.

Refrigerant charge is important in optimizing used chillers’ performance and energy efficiency. Too much of it can cause a carryover which can cause a reduced capacity and excess power consumption among other damages. Not enough supply can also lead to trouble. This is why it is important for the refrigerant charge to be just enough.

Oil is also critical in chiller efficiency. It is important to do an oil analysis once a year. You should also do oil and filter change after a year. Particles in the oil tell you what type of wear problem is happening inside the chiller. The oil level must also be observed closely.

Like any other equipments, regular checkups and maintenance is needed to keep chiller efficiency as high as possible.