York Centrifugals

[rotaryfrk]

Anyone with any ideas on why (2) York 250 ton centrifugals would get water in the refrigerant(R-123) both within about 6 months. Both are approximately 10 years old. Tear down is beginning on the most recent failed chiller. First one that let go seems to have extensive corrosion and water damage, which were trying to avoid by tearing the most recent one apart before that happens again.
My coworker that runs the plant is being told that the condenser tubes let go and this is common with this machine. Has anyone ever heard of this before?

[steward]

I've heard of some from the approx. time period your talking about. When the machines were repaired they put in a condenser tube with a thicker wall to help prevent failure in the future. Good luck.

[chiller rob]

try to figure out if it is the condenser (most likely) or the cooler... when you have the machine down... take a close look at the discharge diffuser plate that runs along the top of the tube bundles the length of the machine... we have seen the diffuser split and land on the top of the tubes causing the rupture... good luck...

[absrbrtek]

Eddy current test will determine whare the failure is and the type of failure, go from there. You should have the machines eddy current tested every 2 to 3 years IMO. The costs of the repairs your going to see getting the water out are going to far exceed the costs of the eddy current trests that were not performed. JMHO

As far as tube leaks being common it depends on a few factors, water treatment, water flows, and most importantly the routine maintanence performed on the machine.

[rotaryfrk]

Drying out will not be a problem, I believe one chiller will be changed out soon and the other later. We have in place of the first failure a 130 ton air cooled machine.

I heard that they stuck the closest tonnage air cooled machine in place of it due to power restraints. So if they stick another 130 in place of the second failure they have (2) chillers that can do the job but no back up. And this building is occupied 24/7 by 750 plus occupants, depending crime waves!