COMPRESSORS
A classic remake… T
he expense and disruption caused by a large compressor failure could be catastrophic for the facility in which it operates. Getting
the HVAC system up and running again as quickly as possible after such an event is critical and this essentially means taking one of three options – replacement, repair, or remanufacture (also known as ‘remanning’).
Replacement tends to be expensive, and
repair provides no guarantees of reliable long- term operation. That’s why the best option is remanufacturing; as well as offering compressors a new lease of life, it also offers a host of environmental, financial, and other business benefits.
Remanufacturing is a rigorous process that typically involves stripping down the compressor, giving it a thorough inspection, and checking and remeasuring each component which is then either reinstalled or replaced. The result is a compressor that leaves the remanufacturing facility as good as, if not better than, new. Remanufacture – particularly of reciprocating, centrifugal, and some screw compressors – is environmentally friendly because it reduces the need to dispose of so much metal and componentry. What can’t be used again is removed in a green way and this decreases the carbon footprint of the installation and increases its sustainability.
But the benefits of remanufacturing don’t end
there. Another of its big advantages is that it can be done very quickly. In emergencies, for example, my own company can remanufacture a machine in as little as 48 hours. Buying new, on the other
26 May 2022 •
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hand, could involve waiting for four weeks or more for delivery; indeed, if it is an old compressor, you could be in for a considerably longer delay, maybe up to three months.
Remanufacturing also saves money – a
remanned compressor can be less than 50% of the cost of a new machine. Furthermore, remanufacturing offers the same (or sometimes better) consistency in terms of performance, dependability, and durability as a new compressor. After all, the failure rate of new components is lower in a remanned compressor because parts that are liable to fail relatively easily will have been replaced with more durable and reliable parts.
Reliability is also strengthened by the extensive testing process to which remanufactured compressors are subjected. LH-plc’s remanufactured compressors, for example, are run-tested on our unique refrigerant circuit test rig. This produces a detailed print out of the main parameters on a real-time basis throughout the test.
This test allows us to test the correct operation of unloaders, oil pumps and other peripheral devices fitted to the remanufactured compressor. At the end of the test, a valve test is performed, and the results recorded. A copy of the test print is issued, providing a valuable check and assurance to the engineer on site in addition to our standard warranty. We offer the same warranty as it as a manufacturer of a new compressor will give you – 12 months on the unit. All these reasons make a compelling case for compressor remanufacture, but a word of warning
before you embark on this course: Do ensure you team up with a tried and trusted partner. X
www.lh-plc.co.uk
Types of refrigeration and air conditioning compressors Compressor types in size order from the smallest to the largest are: QRotary compressors – positive displacement ma- chines. Unlike reciprocating compressors, rotary compressors don’t use valves to move the gas through the machine. Rather, they compress the gas via rotation of an internal component.
QScroll compressors (sometimes called spiral compressors) – taking over the lower end of the market, previously mainly the domain of recipro- cating machines, these compressors employ two interleaving scrolls to compress the refrigerant gas.
QReciprocating compressors – positive-displace- ment machines that employ pistons driven by a crankshaft to deliver high pressure gas. The only reciprocating machines still manufactured tend to be bespoke machines made for specific appli- cations such as for high pressure CO2
or for particular refrigerants such as propane.
QScrew compressors – use rotating screws to compress the refrigerant gas. Rotary screw compressors compress air continuously without pulsation because the gas compression process is a continuous sweeping motion.
QCentrifugal compressors – sometimes referred to as radial compressors, raise the pressure of the refrigerant gas by adding energy to its continu- ous flow through the rotor or impeller.
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We have become a throwaway society in many areas, but this doesn’t have to apply to refrigeration and air conditioning compressors. Roberto Mallozzi, managing director of LH-plc, explains how remanufacturing can help.
equipment,
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