I've got a flash tank level sensor reading 0.1%. Only varies between 0.0 and 0.2% when running or idle. I've not changed out a sensor yet but expect I will soon. Any advice on what I'm up against would be greatly appreciated. Was told by a JCI tech that the complete charge has to be pulled. True?
To consider yourself experienced enough to perform this type service, you really should be able to look at the machine and determine for yourself how much of the charge needs to be removed. It may be a good idea on this first one if you had someone familiar with this type of equipment to assist you.
Are you sure the level sensor is the problem? It could be a feed valve not opening. Use yor history and your actual flash tank level to determine what is actually wrong. Also - you will probably end up recovering the full charge in order to correct your problem.
Thanks for the input. I'm pretty certain the problem is the level sensor. I've cycled the feed valve in the Service mode and have seen it open and close. I also checked the valve when the chiller was operating recently and could see refrigerant flowing in the valve sight glass. I've also observed the feed valve action in the System Data section while running and the % Open value does modulate. So I'm thinking sensor trouble.
you can pump it down there is a liquid line shut off valve and a discharge shut off valve, but you have to open feed and drain valve in sercive mode and then disconnect them so they will stay open, then pump down (make sure you have chilled flow) when you are down you have to drive feed and drain valve fully open and fully closed so they will recalibrate otherwise they wont know were they are...I believe this is a run on sentence.
Changing the level probe as decribed is the way to do it do you see any level in the tank at the sight glasses and are you getting any faults that lead to this conclusion other that not seeing a percent reading at the panel for the probe.
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Thanks to both of you for the advice. It sounds like a very good approach to changing out the sensor. I do see liquid in the sight glass for the level sensor and it is above the top of the sight glass. I'm not seeing any faults related to this but I noted last time it was running that the feed valve showed as being 100% open (drain valve was around 35 to 40 I think). It's as if the feed valve sensed the tank level as basically empty and was dumping refrigerant in as fast as it could. Suction SH is around 12 degrees. The unit was installed about 3 years ago. During the first year, one of the level sensors was replaced as well as a sight glass in one of the oil separators. Since then we have had occasional faults on both system 1 and 2 related to low suction pressure. Suction pressure on both systems is around 17 to 20 psig. Chiller is used to make ice in 2 thermal storage ice bins and leaving water temp during ice build is about 22 degrees. Thanks again for sharing your experience. It's very helpful to me.
Linear Mode
