One of the main claims of this "snake oil" is that the "polarized molecules" of the additive bond to the heat transfer surfaces and improve boiling heat transfer performance by removing oil fouling from the tubes. To my knowledge, this physics has never been demonstrated in any controlled tests.
If there is "oil fouling" on our tubes, we would see a degradation in LTD over time as the chiller "fouls" with oil. However, we have never observed this. The tubes in the machines DO NOT FOUL WITH OIL, and hence, this benefit is non-existent.
The other claims these folks make about added lubrication benefits for the compressor are so outlandish that they have to be total nonsense. I have seen claims of improving mechanical efficiency to greater than 100%.
Most of theses additives contain chlorine as part of the chemical compounding. Would you want additional chlorine running around the unit? My guess is that it will start to break down the oil eventually, increasing the acid levels in the unit, and after a few years, eat away some of the bearing materials.
__________________
Tight is tight, Too tight is broke.
Stay away from the snake oil. You'd have a hard time finding the improvement, if indeed there really is any.
The greatest improvement to be found is in clean heat exchangers, correct flow rates for the application, well tuned AHU economizers, and not running the chiller when you really don't need to. If you're in part-load country, then add VFD compressors to the list, too.
I recently observed a 700 ton Carrier 19XRV making 54% tonnage at 38% KW.
The tower was running full out, though.
__________________
"I started with nothing. Now, many years later, I still have most of it left"
1000 bucks an oz so even with my bad math thats a 96,000$ oil change. Im in the wrong buisness ????? Seriously if they claim a 19% increase in efficiency and the stuff was that good I think Trane would be using it . Also if the claims are real the "snake oil " manufacturer should be willing to put the stuff in for nothing and you can pay for it when you see your 19% payback . Yeah right..... I bet if you suggested that they wait for payment as soon as you see your 19% effeciency gain they would soon be singing a different tune . Ask them to put there claims in writing and if you dont see your 19% gain you dont pay ???????? good luck with that too .
Oil film on the tubes ...........what a complete bunch of BS these people clearly do not understand centravacs or the solvent cleaning properties of
R11 or R 123 .
Whats next the TV infomercial only $19.95 and if you call within the next 20mins we will double your order???????????
Only one thing left to say to that chiller owner ... SUCCCCCKKKKKERRRRRRRR
__________________
You bend em" I"ll mend em" !!!!!!!
I"m not a service tech.. I"m a thermodynamic transfer specialist !!!!!!!!
Another summer gone!!!!!!time to think about putting my toys to bed for winter
unbeleaviable we at york had a customer put some of this snake oil in his machine with all the same claims almost 1 year later to the day machine scrambled complete tear down$$$$ thanks I agree though with some earlier post the engineers at the factory spend big money and time just to see 1% improvements but I have some ocean front property in Arizona any takers
Linear Mode
