End bell divider rotted!!!

[moshmont]

I gotta York YCWS chiller that we took apart to punch the condensing tubes.
The end bell with the divider has the dividing plate 1/4" eaten away across the entire edge of the divider. What's that all about? I told my boss that I think he may be over doing the chemicals a bit & he got a little ticked off & said it had nothing to do with it. What else WOULD eat it away?
I'm a bit confused....
He had one of the guys put a bead of silicone across it with some thin pieces of flat stock & said it should be O.K.
I dunno what to make of it!

[Nuclrchiller]

Could be erosion, from the water flow. The possibility of this is even more likely if the chiller has marine water boxes. You may want to verify the water flow rate is not excessive. However, it is possible with proper flow. It's better to replace damaged plates. They can be fabricated in the field. Also, the channels the plate slides into are often damaged, and need replacing. They are field fabricated, too.

[KnewYork]

I don't know how to say this gently...your boss is a hack. Silicone and flat stock won't repair a damaged pass divider.

Pass dividers can get eaten away be a couple of means. Under deposit corrosion can cause it. Erosion (as previously mentioned) can cause it. I have seen far more corrosion problems than erosion problems.

Corrosion is generally caused from not applying the proper chemicals in the proper amounts. Water chemistry is a specialized field and requires accurate testing and monitoring. Sounds like that isn't being done on the chiller in question.

[Peztoy]

Why would the divider plate on a marine water box corrode faster?

[Nuclrchiller]

Why would the divider plate on a marine water box corrode faster?

Erode, not corrode. With a marine water box, water enters the head at a steep angle relative to the divider plate (from the side), where without a marine water box the water enters parallel to (in line with) the plate. You can probably visualize in one case the water "blasts" against the plate, and in the other water flows "along" the plate. I've seen a handful of plate failures in marine water boxes, and don't recall any in standard water boxes.

[steveoo]

that flat stock is now beating your tube sheet to death.

[york56]

I do believe all those division plates on a York are welded in place there is more work involved to repair , improper water treatment doesn't help , a anode can slow this process from happening and should be inspected and or replaced per season.

[Nuclrchiller]

that flat stock is now beating your tube sheet to death.

And if "thin" also means narrow.... pieces of it may be inside a tube(s), beating it (them) to death! Leading to death of the chiller!

[zw17]

Your boss has no business touching chillers. He sounds like a complete idiot.

[RichardL]

Your boss has no business touching chillers. He sounds like a complete idiot.

Bold words for one that packs a lil' 10mm....How about his boss is "Absolutely a Complete Idiot" and should stick to the office part of his job..

[DITAW]

on the positive side as long as there are people like that we will always have a job....Just had one on a mquay corrode though most of the plate at the weld, cut it out replace it with new metal and have it coated as already mentioned

[moshmont]

I feel better now. thanks

[milkyway]

remove and replace.,

A small piece of stock???

You boss needs some schooling.,