TROUBLESHOOTER'S GUIDE TO REFRIGERATION PROBLEMS. ‘Symptoms Trouble: Probable Cause “ompressor "Short-Cycles' Recommended Action 10. 1" 12, 13, Normal operation ex- ep! too frequent slop- ping and starting Normal operation ex- ‘cept too frequent stop- ping and starting Valve may hiss when closed. Also tempera- ture change in refrige- rant line through valve Reduced airflow a. Diny air fiters b. Broken fan belt ©. Fan belt tension im- properly adjusted Excessively high discharge pressure High discharge pressure Normal operation except too frequent stopping and starting on low-pressure con- trol switch High discharge pressure High discharge pressure Suction pressure too low and frosting at strainer Motor starts and stops rapidly Compressor cuts off on high pressure cutout Compressor cuts off on high pressure cutout a. Nowater b. Spray nozzles Intermittent contact in electrical control circuit Low-pressure control- ler differential set too close Leaky liquid line sole- noid valve Diy or iced evapora- tor Faulty condensing Overcharge of retrige- rant or nonconden- sable gas Lack of refrigerant Water-regulating valve inoperative or restricted by dir, or water tempo- ralure too high Water piping restricted or supply water pres- sure too low Restricted liquid tine strainer Faulty motor Fouled shell-and-lube ‘condenser Faulty operation of evaporative condenser 1. Repair or replace faulty electrical control 2. Reset differential in accordance with proper job conditions 3. Repair or replace 4, Clean or detrost ova: orator. Check fillers and fan drive 5. Check for water failure or evaporative conden- ser trouble 6. Remove excess refri- gerant or purge non- Condensable gas 7. Repair refrigerant leak and recharge 8. Clean or repair water valve 9. Determine cause and correct 10. Clean strainer 11. Repair or replace motor 12, Clean condenser tubes 18, Determine cause and correct a. Fill with water b. Clean spray 291clogged Water pump not operating nozzles cc. Repair faulty pump d. Coil surface diny 4. Clean coil @. Air inlet or outlet |e. Remove obsiruc- obstructed tion f. Fan not operating 1. Repair Trouble: Compressor Runs Continuously High temperature in 1. Excessive load 1. Check for excessive conditioned area Low temperature in conditioned area Low temperature in conditioned space Bubbles in sightglass High discharge pressure Compressor noisy or operating at abnor- mally low discharge pressure or abnormal- ly high suction pressure Air-conditioned space 100 cold, 2. Thermostat controlling | 2 at too low a tempera- ture 3. ‘Welded” contacison | 3. electrical controls in motor short circuit 4, Lack of refrigerant 4 5. Overcharge of refri- 5 gerant 6. Leaky valves in 6 ‘compressor 7. Solenoid stop valve iz, stuck open or held open by manual lift stern fresh ait or infitration. Check for inadequate insulation of space Reset or repair thermostat Repair or replace faulty control Repair leak and charge Purge or remove excess Overhaul compressor Repair valve or restore to automatic operation Trouble: Compressor Loses Oil Oil level too low Oil level gradually drops Excessively cold suction Excessively cold suc- tion. Noisy compressor operation Too frequent starting and stopping of ‘compressor il around compressor base and low crank- case oil level 1. Insufficient oil charge 1 2. Clogged strainers or 2 valves 3. Loose expansion 3 valve or remote bulb 4, Liquid flooding back 4 to compressor 5. Short cycling 5. 6. Crankcase fitings 6 leak oil ‘Add sufficient amount of proper compressor oil Clean or repair and replace Provide good contact, between remote bulb and suction line Readjust superheat seiting or check remote bulb contact Defrost; check pres- sure cutout Repair oil leak and add proper refrigerant oilCoupling bolts loose ‘Trouble: Compressor Is Noisy 4. Loose compressor Tighten coupling and ‘drive coupling check alignment 2. Compressor cuts out | 2. Lack of oil 2. Addoil ‘on oii failure contact 3. Squeak or squeal 3. Dry or scored seal 3. Cheok oil level when compressor runs 4. Compressor knocks 4. Internal parts of com- | 4, Overhaul compressor pressor broken 5. Abnormally cold suc- | 5. Liquid "flood back" 5. Check and adjust tion line. Compressor superheat. Valve may knocks be too large or remote bulb loose on suction line. Air entering eva- orator too cold for complete evaporation ot liquia 6, Water valve chatters 6. Dirty water regulating | 6. Clean water regulating or hammers valve, too high water valve. Install air cham- pressure or intermittent ber ahead of valve water pressure 7. Abnormally cold suc- | 7. Expansion valve stuck | 7. Repair or replace tion fine. Compressor in open position knocks 8. Compressoror motor | 8. Compressor or motor | 8. Tighten motor or com- jumps on base loose on base pressor hold-down bolts ‘Trouble: System Short of Capacity 1. Expansion vaive 4. Flash gas in liquid 1. Add refrigerant hisses line 2 Temperature change | 2. Clogged strainer or 2. Gleanor replace in rofrigerant line solenoid stop valve through strainer or solenoid stop valve 3. Reduced airflow 3. Iceordint onevapo- | 3. Clean coil or defrost. rator : 4, Short-cycting or con- 4. Expansion valve stuck | 4. Repair or replace tinuous running or obstructed expansion valve 5. Superheat too high 5. Excess pressure drop | §. Check superheat and in evaporator reset thermostatic expansion valve 6. Shortcycling or 6. Improper superheat 6. Adjust expansion Continuous running agjustment valve. Check super- heat and reset ther- mostatic expansion valve 7. Short-cycling or con 7. Expansion valve im- 7. Replace with correct tinuous running properly sized valve ‘Trouble: Disharge Pressure Too High SU eccameinntee Ae 2931. Excessively warm 1, Toolitle ortoowarm — | 1. Provide adequate coo! water leaving condenser water + water, adjust water- condenser regulalting valve 2, Excessively cool 2. Fouled tubes in shel | 2. Clean tubes water leaving and-tube condenser ‘condenser 3. Low air or spray 3. Improper operation 3. Correct air or water water volume. Scaled of evaporative flow. Clean coil surface condenser surface 4, Exceptionally hot 4. Air or non-condensa- 4, Purge condenser and exces- ble gas in system sive discharge pressure 5. Exceptionally hot con- | 5, Overcharge of 5. Remove excess or denser and excessive refrigerant purge discharge pressure Trouble: Discharge Pressure Too Low 1. Excessively cold water | 1. Toomuch condenser | 1. Adjust water-regulating leaving condenser water valve 2. Bubbles in sightglass | 2. Lack of refrigerant 2. Repair leak and charge 3. Suction pressure rises | 3. Brokenor leaky com- | 8. Remove head, examine faster after pressure pressor discharge valves, replace faulty shutdown than § Ib/min valves ones 4. Low discharge pres- 4. Leaky relief bypass 4. Inspect valve to deter- ‘sure and high suction valve mine it replacement is pressure necessary Trouble: Suction Pressure Too High 1. Compressor runs 1. Excessive load on Check for excessive continuously evaporator fresh air or infiltration, poor insulation of spaces 2. Abnormally cold suc- 2. Overteeding of expan- | 2. Regulate superheat tion tine, Liquid flood- sion valve setting expansion ing to compressor valve, see remote bulb OK on suction line 3. Abnormally cold suc- 3. Expansion valve stuck | 3. Repair or replace valve tion line. Liquid flood- open ing to compressor 4. Abnormally cold suc- 4. Expansion valve too 4, Check valve rating, tion line. Liquid flood- large replace if necessary ing to compressor 5. Noisy compressor 5. Broken suction valves | 5. Remove head, examine in compressor valves, repaii faulty ‘ones Trouble: Suction Pressure Too Low 1 294 Bubbles in sightglass. 1. Lack of refrigerant 1 Repair leak, thencharge system 2. Compressor shor- 2. Light load on evapo- 2, Not enough refrigerant cycles rator 3. Temp, change in refri- | 3. Clogged liquid-tine 3. Clean strainer ‘gerant line through strainer strainer or solenoid stop valve 4. No flow of retrigerant 4. Expansion-valve 4. Replace expansion through vaive power assembly has valve power assembly lost charge 5. Loss of capacity 5. Obstructed expansion | §. Clean valve or replace valve itnecessary 6. Conditioned space 6. Contacts on control 6. Repair thermostat or too cold thermostat stuck on replace if necessary closed position 7. Compressor short- 7. Compressor capacity | 7. Reset compressor cycles Control range set too ‘capacity control range low 8. Lack of capacity 8. Expansion valve too 8. Check valve rating small table for correct sizing and replace if necessary 9. Too high superheat 9. Too much pressure 9. Check for plugged drop through evapo- extemal equalizer tor AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM: Factors affecting both physical and chemical conditions of the atmosphere within a structure can be controlled by air-conditioning systems. They are temperature, humicity, motion of air air distribution, air pressure, dust, bacteria, odors, toxic gases, and ionization These are known under the acronym of HVAC (heating, ventilating, air conditioning). Q. What factors affect the conditioning load? A. Agroup of complex factors affect the conditioning load. They are (1) heat transmis- sion, (2) solar radiation or sun effect, (3) people, (4) light and power equipment, (5) ventilation air or infiltration, (6) product load, and (7) miscellaneous. What is meant by heat transmission? Heat transmission is the heat flow through walls, floors, windows, ceilings, and root. lt comes about from a temperature difference between the inside air-conditioned space and the outside atmosphere. Heat flows in when the temperature is higher outside. This unwanted heat must be removed by cool air. >o Q. What should be known about outside temperatures? A. Weather conditions make up most of the heat transmission load in conditioned spaces. Local weather bureaus forecast valuable information on this subject. An operating engineer can use forecasts to plan operations ahead. Insulating spaces or buildings against transmission loads reduces the load on air-conditioning equipment. 295