CONTROLS AND INSTRUMENTATION
to at least 100 microns. Lower is better – and from as high a level as possible. Newer gauges sometimes even give a fairly good indication from atmospheric levels down.
Leak prevention and detection
With newer refrigerants being more or less toxic or flammable, and more expensive, the prevention of leaks is more vital than ever. Prevention can largely be accomplished by training, training and more training. Brazing is a skill that needs to be learned through education and practice. Flameless connections are making a new inroad in the industry, and are especially significant for those applications where flammable or toxic refrigerants are concerned. Older equipment can benefit from the use of chemical leak sealants, which can both seal micro leaks and prevent new ones from developing.
Leak detection is of course a legal requirement for almost all static systems containing an F-Gas, and this has to be done at intervals from three months to 1 year depending on the amount of F-Gas in the system. If your equipment contains F-Gas equivalent to more than 500 tonnes of CO2
, then you must fit a leak detection system. Installation and maintenance of these static detectors offers additional income to contractors. UV leak detection has some distinct advantages, making it one of the most effective and durable methods of pinpointing refrigerant leaks. Once treated, the UV-fluorescent dye works 24 hours a day, leaving behind it a fluorescent trace at any leak source. This even allows you to locate irritating intermittent micro leaks, even if they do not actually leak when you do the test. The past reservations of some component manufacturers about using UV-fluorescent dye additives have largely been set aside by the experience of 30-plus years of successful and safe usage in every type of commercial, industrial, marine and mobile acr system. The compact size of contemporary LED-powered tracer lights takes up little space in the engineer’s tool box.
Meanwhile, their lower cost means a modest impact on the wallet. Ultrasonic instruments can help with locating leaks too. They offer the added bonus of helping to identify refrigerant flow irregularities, compressor bearing faults, electrical corona discharges and many other nascent faults before they become more serious. Ultrasonics also can help leak location in conjunction with pressure and vacuum testing procedures. The latest electronic ‘sniffer’ leak detectors use heated sensors or infrared, giving greater accuracy and fewer false alarms. These are also now
available for detecting the Nitro-Trace gases used in pressure testing. The older corona discharge sensors are no longer considered the best way to find leaks electronically. Verify the type you carry and, as with all tools, it is wise to have them verified for accuracy on an annual basis. Several service providers offer this service at a reasonable cost.
All in all, we will face a host of challenges in the near future. However, change is the mother of opportunity, and when we address them correctly we should all be better off.
Watkins Hir
re has unrivalled knowledge and capabilities in the field Watkins Hire pplications including:
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