Trane oil pooling problem?...

[irvedwmac]

Hi Guys,
We're working with a Trane Chiller CCACD101RFNKR623ACDFHRT

The unit is 35 years old.

We're having a problem with Circuit 2 on the chiller.

We're seeing oil pooling in the sight glass. The amp draw on the compressor is lower than that on Circuit 1. The oil is not returning fast enough to the compressor in Circuit 2, especially when 4 of the 6 cylinders are un-loaded. The compressor has just been replaced. We can not be running it in this condition. What we have done is replaced the expansion valve and rebuilt the LLS valve. Replaced filter drier cores. Oil in the sight glass stops pooling when compressor runs fully loaded. Seems like there is a restriction which is impeading the flow and oil return of R-22 refridgerant.

Any thoughts?

[ehsx]

Which sight glass?
Unit remote condenser piping layout?
Hot gas bypass?
Ssh?
Evap approach?
Chill water flow/ delta? Loaded/unloaded?

[irvedwmac]

Which sight glass?
Unit remote condenser piping layout?
Hot gas bypass?
Ssh?
Evap approach?
Chill water flow/ delta? Loaded/unloaded?

piping layout is good. other compressor is identical and has no problem. it is the 2nd circuit, 2nd siteglass. each circuit has hot gas. cant leave circuit run long enough because oil gets to low in the compressor. hard to get any accurate readings. chilled water flow looks good on pressure drop chart for this chiller. this is 1 of 2 100 ton chillers used as backup for a process. both chillers are piped identical on both circuits. out of 4 total compressors i am only having this problem on chiller 1 circuit 2. each compressor has 2/3 unloading capability along with hot gas.

[ehsx]

Compressor oil level? Ssh?
Calculate evap capacity based on flow & dt.
Turn off or restrict hgby and recheck. Evap capacities below 10% or low discharge velocities to cond will cause oil log.

[irvedwmac]

Compressor oil level? Ssh?
Calculate evap capacity based on flow & dt.
Turn off or restrict hgby and recheck. Evap capacities below 10% or low discharge velocities to cond will cause oil log.

What would cause evap capacity to go below 10%, water flow?

[ehsx]

Hgbp over size/feed, low compressor capacity.
Low water flow/load may cause floodback if txv is not turning down.

[irvedwmac]

do you know if there is baffling inside the evaporator that directs the correct gpm per circuit

[irvedwmac]

will check hot gas first and make sure its not leaking by, holding back my refridgerant feed.

[ehsx]

[QUOTE=irvedwmac;26010145]do you know if there is baffling inside the evaporator that directs the correct gpm per circuit[/QUOTE

Should be common on water side.

[remanworld]

What is the compressor model number?

[triggerhappy]

Maybe remanworld is headed in this direction.

Is this a remanufactured compressor and does it have oil driven unloading of the cylinders

You may have unloader issues ….it doesn't sound like it is ever fully loading.

But it has been about 35 yrs since I rebuild a old E or F compressor which is what I am assuming you may have on your hands.

[remanworld]

I believe it is an 8 cylinder E model and not loading correctly, but we can't tell for sure without a model number.