SERVICE & MAINTENANCE For polyvalent chillers, this is particularly important because


operating conditions can change rapidly as the machine switches between heating, cooling and recovery modes. A good log helps ensure those transitions are happening smoothly and as intended.


Heat exchangers are key to effi ciency Heat transfer effi ciency is fundamental to chiller performance, and that starts with clean heat exchanger tubes/plate heat exchanger surfaces. Condensers and evaporators should be inspected and cleaned regularly. Even relatively small levels of fouling can have a disproportionate impact on effi ciency and energy consumption.


The hidden enemies Non-condensibles and moisture ingress remain two of the biggest effi ciency killers in any refrigeration system. Even the smallest compromise by non-condensibles can have a signifi cant eff ect on effi ciency, and where refrigerant is doing both heating and cooling in a polyvalent chiller, this loss is multiplied. Moisture can be even more damaging, reacting with refrigerant to form acids that attack motor windings and bearings, while also encouraging internal corrosion. Corrosion particulates can circulate within the system and lodge in


heat exchanger pathways, further reducing heat transfer eff ectiveness. Water treatment is equally critical. Appropriate chemical


treatment reduces scale, corrosion and biological growth, all of which undermine system performance. Working with a specialist water treatment provider who understands local water conditions is essential. Strainers should be cleaned regularly, typically every three months, to maintain design fl ow rates.


Specialist maintenance is not optional One of the most concerning trends I see is clients taking chances with who maintains their chillers (whether polyvalent or otherwise). Standard chillers, by virtue of their relative simplicity, can sometimes be maintained adequately by general air conditioning or VRF engineers. With polyvalent machines, that approach is especially misguided. A wrongly set control parameter, a misinterpreted fault code, or a poorly executed repair can lead to simultaneous failures of heating and cooling. When that happens, the small saving made on maintenance quickly becomes irrelevant. Polyvalent chillers demand specialist knowledge, not only of the machine itself but of the system it serves. Anything less signifi cantly increases the risk of catastrophic failure.


"The biggest mistake we see is a polyvalent system being treated as though it


were simply a slightly more advanced version of a standard chiller or heat pump - it is neither of these things."


FANS


RS-51 (R470B)


NEW LOW GWP DROP- IN REPLACEMENT FOR R404A & R507 GWP BELOW 750


GWP more than 80% below R404A & ca half R448A & R449A


Non-flammable & low toxicity


Lowest GWP replacement for R404a & R507 on the market Similar performance to R404A & R507 Lower discharge pressure than R448A & R449A Compatible with R404A & R507 lubricants


Minimal changes needed to equipment when replacing R404A or R507 Suitable in OEM & retrofit applications


RS-51 can replace R404A and R507 in many of the applications where these refrigerants are found including supermarkets, cold stores, freezers, ice machines, refrigerated transport, beer cellars, freezer cabinets, transportation of foodstuffs, freeze dryers & others


RS-53 (R470A)


THE ONLY NON- FLAMMABLE DROP-IN REPLACEMENT FOR R410A ON THE MARKET


R410A split air-conditioning unit converted to RS-53 & operating satisfactorily without any problems


Low direct GWP (less than half) Drop-in replacement for R410A in existing equipment


Non-flammable & low toxicity Similar energy efficiency to R410A Minimal changes to hardware during retrofitting Close match for R410A in cooling capacity


Similar discharge pressure & temperature to R410A


Compatible with lubricants commonly used with R410A


RS-20(R480A) LOW GWP


REPLACEMENT FOR R134a


GWP BELOW 300 No changes to equipment required GWP below 300 & 80% less than R134a Non-flammable & low toxicity Similar performance to R134a


An almost perfect performance match to replace R134a in vehicle air conditioning Similar discharge pressure & temperature Equivalent cooling capacity


Suitable to replace R134a across the board of applications including, but not restricted to, refrigerated transport, cold stores, supermarkets, cellar cooling, dairy chillers, vending machines etc


www.refsols.com Refrigerant Solutions hp ACR Mar25.indd 1 Download the ACR News app today 25/2/25 11:00 www.acr-news.com • May 2026 19


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