Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Cleaning Tubing
Contaminants such as minerals, scale, algae, and mud can build up in chilled water system tubing, reducing
heat transfer efficiency. Approach temperatures may indicate contaminated tubing, as higher approach
temperatures indicate a drop in heat transfer efficiency.
Cleaning tubing is an important aspect of water cooling maintenance. Tubes should be cleaned every three
years in closed systems. For open systems, periodic inspection is required. Follow the guidelines in the chilled
water system design and operation manufacturer’s guide.
Tube cleaning includes mechanical and chemical cleaning processes. Mechanical cleaning requires physically
brushing the interior of the tubing to remove mud, sludge, and algae, and then flushing the tubes. Chemical
cleaning removes scale, and must be tailored to match your local water conditions. Mechanical cleaning is
necessary after chemical cleaning to remove loosened scales.
Newer chiller models have taken much of the work out of cleaning tubing. Such systems include automatic tub
brushing, where small, nylon brushes flow through the tubes. Older systems can be retrofitted to include
integrated cleaning systems, a cost that typically pays for itself within two years.
Non-Condensable Contamination
Air and moisture can leak into chillers, causing a decrease in system efficiency and the risk of corrosion and
rust. As little as 1 psi of air in a condenser reduces system efficiency by three percent. Moisture can create
corrosive acids that damage motor windings and rust the inside of the chiller shell.
Regular purging during water cooling maintenance controls non-condensate contamination, and all system
strainers should be cleaned every three months to maximize their ability to maintain clean water.
Compressor Oil
Once a year, maintenance staff should take a sample of the system’s lubrication oil while the chiller is
operating. This sample should be sent to the lab for spectrometric analysis. Low pressure systems will require
more frequent sampling.
Compressor oil should only be replaced if the lab results indicate the need. Oil filters should be checked for
pressure drop and replaced if the oil is replaced.
New magnetic-bearing frictionless chillers have eliminated oil from their systems.
Leaks, air, moisture, and oil can all adversely affect refrigerant. It’s not unheard of for refrigerant to contain
ten percent oil in old model chillers, resulting in a twenty percent decrease inefficiency.
Installing variable frequency drives on chiller motors can reduce the system’s electrical load by matching the
motor efficiency to the load. VFDs also act as soft starters and reduce the mechanical shock associated with
starting large motors, increasing the life of the chiller system.
Understanding how a chilled water system works greatly increases the lifespan of your cooling system. TPC
Training offers an online course on absorption chillers, covering the most important aspects of water cooling
maintenance.