How are you operating your commercial building more efficiently?
For many commercial buildings, chillers are the largest single energy users and ensuring that they’re running efficiently should be a top concern. Due to advances in controls, refrigerants, and equipment design, chillers now have tighter operational tolerances. Maintenance and engineering managers should consider these steps for ensuring that the chiller is reliable and energy efficient.
Maintain a Daily Log
It’s important for facility operators to document chiller performance daily with an accurate log. This is the best way to compare data in order to detect problems or inefficient control setpoints early on. Maintaining a log allows the operator to assemble a history of operating conditions, which can be analyzed to determine trends.
Perpetuate Cleanliness
This sounds like a simple one, but that doesn’t undermine its importance. Chiller efficiency deteriorates as tubes become dirty over time with mud, algae, sludge, or contaminants. The rate of deterioration depends on the system type as well as on water quality, cleanliness, and temperature.
Test for Leaks
Moisture in a chiller can create acids that corrode motor windings, causing rust to form inside of the shell. These small rust particles are called “fines” and become trapped inside the heat-exchanger tubes. Fines decrease the unit’s heat-transfer effectiveness and overall efficiency. If proper maintenance isn’t performed, this could lead to costly tube repairs.
The best way to monitor leaks in a low-pressure chiller is to track purge-unit runtime and the amount of moisture accumulation at the purge unit. If the figures test as too high, then the unit could have leaks.
Analyze Oil & Refrigerant
An annual chemical analysis of oil and refrigerant can detect chiller contamination problems before they become a serious issue. A qualified chemical technician that specializes in HVAC equipment must perform the analysis to ensure proper safety measures are being practiced.
Crockett Facilities Can Help!
This is where Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI) can help. We service all types of HVAC equipment, including packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs), air handling units (AHUs), rooftop units (RTUs), chillers, boilers, heat pumps and mission-critical computer room air conditioners (CRACs).
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Over the years, we have fine-tuned and customized our preventive maintenance practices to ensure the best performance possible, extending the life of your HVAC equipment.
To learn more, please contact us at 202.600.2787 or sales@crockett-facilities.com. Our PM contract customers receive priority service with 24/7 emergency service in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.