AIR CONDITIONING
causing serious damage to the unit. Glycol levels should be checked regularly to ensure correct concentrations are maintained. This might only be seen as critical during the winter; however, depending on your location, it can also present a risk well into the ‘shoulder seasons’. Another key component in the chiller’s frost protection system is trace heating. These electrically-energised tapes supply low-level heat when required to ensure pipework does not freeze and cause damage. The tapes should be visually inspected to make sure they are intact and not subject to accidental damage or abrasion, due to operation of the chiller. It is a legal requirement under the F-Gas Regulation that chillers are checked regularly for leaks. The frequency of checks required will depend on the size of the refrigerant charge, the type of refrigerant, and other aspects of the chiller design and application. In addition to ensuring mandatory compliance and environmental protection, the level of refrigerant charge can have a big impact on chiller performance and efficiency. For example, a refrigerant charge reduction of 25% reduces chiller cooling capacity by around 20% and energy efficiency by 15 per cent, while at the same time requiring compressors and pumps to work harder, thus putting additional stress on the system. Maintaining the correct refrigerant charge level
in line with manufacturer’s recommendations ensures that the chiller will operate to its design capacity, prolonging operational life and minimising energy use.
To validate that the system is performing
as intended, data measurements are taken at key points around the chiller. These include temperatures and pressures in flow and return pipework and other key system components. Any significant deviation from the manufacturer’s reference profile for the chiller may indicate a problem that needs further detailed investigation. It goes without saying that if a chiller is
displaying fault codes, these need systematically following up. Some may be errors, of course, but until issues are pinpointed and resolved, they remain potential points of weakness that could develop into substantial and costly problems over time.
Carrying out basic maintenance on a regular basis will help prevent many of the problems that result in chiller under-performance or breakdown. It also ensures environmental protection, reduces running costs and minimises carbon emissions.
We apply these principles in the operation of our own hire chiller fleet. It is part of our commitment to customers that before a chiller is deployed, it is thoroughly inspected and serviced to ensure it will operate at peak performance as intended from the moment it is switched on.
This is particularly important given the often emergency nature of the situations we respond to.
In general, the older the machine, the greater the risk of technical issues. We constantly invest in our fleet to ensure the most modern and reliable machines are available across our UK network. This includes low noise models for use in sensitive applications such as hospitals and residential areas, plus compact high-capacity units for deployment where space is tight. Following good practice on preventative
maintenance can minimise the risk of chiller breakdown. However, if things do go wrong, you can be sure that our fleet of high performance, well maintained hire chillers are at your disposal, to keep buildings working and maintain vital process cooling in industry.
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www.acr-news.com September 2020 33
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