New York Screw Chillers. Thoughts?

[allstar08]

What do you guys think about the new York screw chillers? I have a engineer that has sold a customer on these chillers over a Smardt Turbocor. His main reason is they can go from 0 to fully loaded in 60 seconds. I have never seen a screw build oil pressure that fast, has anybody ever witnessed this?

[KnewYork]

If you are referring to the YVWA or water cooled variable speed screw machines I agree with the engineer. This technology was proven in the air cooled version. The performance difference between a Turbocor equipped chiller is negligible. The difference in first cost cannot be recouped in the life cycle of the chiller.

[allstar08]

What about the maintenance costs over the life of the chiller? How fast do they load?

[KnewYork]

What about the maintenance costs over the life of the chiller? How fast do they load?

Maintenance costs probably the same as any other chiller. The Turbocor selling point of no oil for some reason makes everyone think they are trouble free. When even the McQuay guys can't seem to troubleshoot them I say that is problematic. Danfoss is selling compressors to an OEM, yet the OEM service guys seem befuddled by them. We are seeing more and more failures of Turbocor compressors that are approaching five years. Not a very good track record IMHO, especially when you see the cost of the replacement compressors.

Can't answer how fast the York YVWA loads. I suspect it's like any other chiller. The speed of loading is relatively proportional to the degree of offset from set point.

[klove]

You talkin' about the YVW's or the YMC's?

[KnewYork]

You talkin' about the YVW's or the YMC's?

Who me? Or the OP? The OP was comparing Smardt chillers with the new York screw chillers. The only new one I'm aware of is the YVWA, which is the VS water cooled screw in the 200-300 T. range.

[klove]

Who me? Or the OP? The OP was comparing Smardt chillers with the new York screw chillers. The only new one I'm aware of is the YVWA, which is the VS water cooled screw in the 200-300 T. range.

OP

[allstar08]

I was told 240 ton air cooled York that is screw and can load in 60 seconds, and is also quiet.

As a side note I have had good luck with the Turbocor product as it relates to Smardt chillers, both water and air cooled. I have had problems with them when they are installed in other companies pieces of equipment. Most of the issues due to comissioning and lack of knowledge.

[Entropie]

Then you probably refer to the YVAA (air cooled vsd driven screw).

[KnewYork]

Then you probably refer to the YVAA (air cooled vsd driven screw).

The OP never stated if it's air cooled or water cooled. If it's air cooled then it's a YVAA. If it's water cooled it's a YVWA.

Both machines employ the same VSD screw technology. The YVWA fits a niche market York had trouble being competitive in (200-300 T. water cooled).

[Nuclrchiller]

Thanks for the link, KnewYork. Nice looking machine. As a former Trane guy, I've always been jealous and frustrated that the Yorks have oil level sight glasses while the Tranes don't. Still.

[allstar08]

It is the YVAA. How fast can this thing load and just how quiet is it?

[sargent york]

A centrifugal compressor in air cooled chiller in the deep south not a good idea, I am big fan of turbocour flooded chillers however. As far as price of turbocour replacement as opposed to a JCI supplied screw compressor, tubocour from OEM is priced a little under, installation is a lot easier as the turbocour comes in at apoximately 300 to 400 Lbs as opposed to >1k for screw compressor. But air cooled in our high ambient/humidty will run too high head for centrifugal. All that being said the varible speed screw is a good product.