Hvac & R Hands on Troubleshooting

HVAC & R Hands on Troubleshooting

Jose C. Jimenez

© Copyright 2015 Jose C. Jimenez.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN:

978-1-4907-6099-5 (sc)

ISBN:

978-1-4907-6101-5 (hc)

ISBN:

978-1-4907-6100-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015909126

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Contents

Introduction

A Refrigeration Experience

How My Interest in Refrigeration Started

EXPERIENCE 01-A

EXPERIENCE 02-A

EXPERIENCE 03-A

EXPERIENCE 04-A

EXPERIENCE 05-A

EXPERIENCE 06-A

EXPERIENCE 07-A

EXPERIENCE 08-A

EXPERIENCE 09-A

EXPERIENCE 10-A

EXPERIENCE 11-A

EXPERIENCE 12-A

EXPERIENCE 13-A

EXPERIENCE 14-A

EXPERIENCE 15-A

EXPERIENCE 16-A

EXPERIENCE 17-A

EXPERIENCE 18-A

EXPERIENCE 19-A

EXPERIENCE 20-A

EXPERIENCE 21-A

EXPERIENCE 22-A

EXPERIENCE 23-A

EXPERIENCE 24-A

EXPERIENCE 25-A

EXPERIENCE 26-A

EXPERIENCE 27-A

EXPERIENCE 28-A

EXPERIENCE 29-A

EXPERIENCE 30-A

EXPERIENCE 31-A

EXPERIENCE 32-A

EXPERIENCE 33-A

EXPERIENCE 34-A

EXPERIENCE 35-A

EXPERIENCE 36-A

EXPERIENCE 37-A

EXPERIENCE 38-A

EXPERIENCE 39-A

EXPERIENCE 40-A

EXPERIENCE 41-A

EXPERIENCE 42-A

EXPERIENCE 43-A

EXPERIENCE 44-A

EXPERIENCE 45-A

EXPERIENCE 46-A

EXPERIENCE 47-A

EXPERIENCE 48-A

EXPERIENCE 49-A

EXPERIENCE 50-A

EXPERIENCE 51-A

EXPERIENCE 52-A

EXPERIENCE 53-A

EXPERIENCE 54-A

EXPERIENCE 55-A

EXPERIENCE 56-A

EXPERIENCE 57-A

EXPERIENCE 58-A

EXPERIENCE 59-A

EXPERIENCE 60-A

EXPERIENCE 61-A

EXPERIENCE 62-A

EXPERIENCE 63-A

EXPERIENCE 64-A

EXPERIENCE 65-A

EXPERIENCE 66-A

EXPERIENCE 67-A

EXPERIENCE 68-A

EXPERIENCE 69-A

EXPERIENCE 70-A

EXPERIENCE 71-A

EXPERIENCE 72-A

EXPERIENCE 73-A

EXPERIENCE 74-A

EXPERIENCE 75-A

EXPERIENCE 76-A

EXPERIENCE 77-A

EXPERIENCE 78-A

EXPERIENCE 79-A

EXPERIENCE 80-A

EXPERIENCE 81-A

EXPERIENCE 82-A

EXPERIENCE 83-A

EXPERIENCE 84-A

EXPERIENCE 85-A

EXPERIENCE 86-A

EXPERIENCE 87-A

EXPERIENCE 88-A

EXPERIENCE 89-A

EXPERIENCE 90-A

EXPERIENCE 91-A

EXPERIENCE 92-A

EXPERIENCE 93-A

EXPERIENCE 94-A

EXPERIENCE 95-A

EXPERIENCE 96-A

EXPERIENCE 97-A

EXPERIENCE 98-A

EXPERIENCE 99-A

EXPERIENCE 100-A

EXPERIENCE 101-A

EXPERIENCE 102-A

EXPERIENCE 103-A

EXPERIENCE 104-A

EXPERIENCE 105-A

EXPERIENCE 106-A

EXPERIENCE 107-A

EXPERIENCE 108-A

EXPERIENCE 109-A

EXPERIENCE 110-A

EXPERIENCE 111-A

EXPERIENCE 112-A

EXPERIENCE 113-A

EXPERIENCE 114-A

EXPERIENCE 115-A

EXPERIENCE 116-A

EXPERIENCE 117-A

EXPERIENCE 118-A

EXPERIENCE 119-A

EXPERIENCE 120-A

EXPERIENCE 121-A

EXPERIENCE 122-A

EXPERIENCE 123-A

EXPERIENCE 124-A

EXPERIENCE 125-A

EXPERIENCE 126-A

EXPERIENCE 127-A

EXPERIENCE 128-A

EXPERIENCE 129-A

EXPERIENCE 130-A

My Railroad Work’s Experience - 1

My Railroad Work’s Experience - 2

My HVAC & R teaching beginnings

More than just R and A/C Experiences

Other School Teaching Experiences

EXPERIENCE 01-B

EXPERIENCE 02-B

EXPERIENCE 03-B

EXPERIENCE 04-B

EXPERIENCE 05-B

EXPERIENCE 06-B

EXPERIENCE 07-B

EXPERIENCE 08-B

EXPERIENCE 09-B

EXPERIENCE 10-B

EXPERIENCE 11-B

EXPERIENCE 12-B

EXPERIENCE 13-B

EXPERIENCE 14-B

EXPERIENCE 15-B

EXPERIENCE 16-B

EXPERIENCE 17-B

EXPERIENCE 18-B

EXPERIENCE 19-B

EXPERIENCE 20-B

EXPERIENCE 21-B

EXPERIENCE 22-B

EXPERIENCE 23-B

EXPERIENCE 24-B

EXPERIENCE 25-B

EXPERIENCE 26-B

EXPERIENCE 27-B

EXPERIENCE 28-B

EXPERIENCE 29-B

EXPERIENCE 30-B

EXPERIENCE 31-B

EXPERIENCE 32-B

EXPERIENCE 33-B

EXPERIENCE 34-B

EXPERIENCE 35-B

EXPERIENCE 36-B

EXPERIENCE 37-B

EXPERIENCE 38-B

EXPERIENCE 39-B

EXPERIENCE 40-B

EXPERIENCE 41-B

EXPERIENCE 42-B

EXPERIENCE 43-B

EXPERIENCE 44-B

EXPERIENCE 45-B

EXPERIENCE 46-B

EXPERIENCE 47-B

EXPERIENCE 48-B

EXPERIENCE 50-B

EXPERIENCE 51-B

EXPERIENCE 52-B

EXPERIENCE 53-B

EXPERIENCE 54-B

EXPERIENCE 55-B

EXPERIENCE 56-B

EXPERIENCE 57-B

EXPERIENCE 58-B

EXPERIENCE 59-B

EXPERIENCE 60-B

EXPERIENCE 61-B

EXPERIENCE 62-B

EXPERIENCE 63-B

EXPERIENCE 64-B

EXPERIENCE 65-B

EXPERIENCE 66-B

EXPERIENCE 67-B

EXPERIENCE 68-B

EXPERIENCE 69-B

EXPERIENCE 70-B

EXPERIENCE 71-B

EXPERIENCE 72 B

EXPERIENCE 73-B

EXPERIENCE 74-B

EXPERIENCE 75-B

EXPERIENCE 76-B

EXPERIENCE 77-B

EXPERIENCE 78-B

EXPERIENCE 79-B

EXPERIENCE 80-B

EXPERIENCE 81-B

EXPERIENCE 82-B

EXPERIENCE 83-B

EXPERIENCE 84-B

EXPERIENCE 85-B

EXPERIENCE 86-B

EXPERIENCE 87-B

EXPERIENCE 88-B

EXPERIENCE 89-B

EXPERIENCE 90-B

EXPERIENCE 91-B

EXPERIENCE 92-B

EXPERIENCE 93-B

EXPERIENCE 94-B

EXPERIENCE 95-B

EXPERIENCE 96-B

EXPERIENCE 97-B

EXPERIENCE 98-B

EXPERIENCE 99-B

EXPERIENCE 100-B

EXPERIENCE 101-B

EXPERIENCE 102-B

EXPERIENCE 103-B

EXPERIENCE 104-B

EXPERIENCE 105-B

EXPERIENCE 106-B

EXPERIENCE 107-B

EXPERIENCE 108-B

EXPERIENCE 109-B

EXPERIENCE 110-B

EXPERIENCE 111-B

EXPERIENCE 112-B

EXPERIENCE 113-B

EXPERIENCE 114-B

EXPERIENCE 115-B

EXPERIENCE 116-B

EXPERIENCE 117-B

EXPERIENCE 118-B

EXPERIENCE 119-B

EXPERIENCE 120-B

EXPERIENCE 121-B

EXPERIENCE 122-B

EXPERIENCE 123-B

EXPERIENCE 124-B

EXPERIENCE 125-B

EXPERIENCE 126-B

EXPERIENCE 127-B

EXPERIENCE 128-B

EXPERIENCE 129-B

EXPERIENCE 130-B

Formulae & Other Calculations

Introduction

HVAC & R Hands-On Troubleshooting

By the time I decided to start writing this book, I had worked in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC & R) industry for more than forty-five years. In this span of time, I had worked as a service technician in an NYC service company, and as a trade instructor in several schools.

I have written books and works, among them refrigeration, air-conditioning, and electric (RAC & E) test books, preparation for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Refrigerants usage certification, and the Refrigerating Machine Operator (RMO) License for the NYC Fire Department, which had been used in the schools in which I worked.

Regardless of the years that had passed, the refrigeration system used in air conditioning systems as well as in commercial refrigeration, domestic refrigeration, and in the equipment in general used today contains the same mechanical-electrical components as then.

For the above reasons, I hope my experiences here related could be used to troubleshoot, to diagnose, and to serve any one of these systems.

I know that all the methods I used in the past are without any doubt the same ones being used today. Of course, each method (procedure) could be varied (considering the changes that have appeared in the HVAC & R industries)—tools, components, oils, refrigerants, etc.—in different forms, as it was used then.

The problems found then (with some small variations) are the same ones that can be found today. Therefore, the same remedies, changes, and repairs used then can continue being used today.

I am aware that nobody wants to learn by the experience of others, but anyhow I think—hope—that by reading these experiences, a reader may find valuable knowledge that can be applied to make some advances in his or her trade.

Perhaps the information given here may not be important to everyone, and may create in some people controversy, but this is a recounting of my HVAC & R working-teaching experiences. So according to these, let us try something:

In every one of these short service histories and experiences, I will take you (the reader) with me so we can start applying our knowledge and together we will troubleshoot every system or complaint. See Experience 32.

The experiences written here are presented in two segments, A and B:

A

a) Complaint, according to the dispatcher’s information.

b) Information provided by the customer or person in charge of the equipment.

c) Equipment’s mechanical, electrical, or other characteristics.

d) Others.

Some questions related to points a, b, c, and d above.

B

a) Analysis of complaint.

b) Calculations, when necessary to make clear the problem and solution.

c) Diagnosis of the problem.

d) Procedures carried out to verify the problem.

e) Solution to the problem.

f) Recommendations, when necessary.

g) Others.

Thought: I always knew, and I had no doubt, that we are thinking humans, not robots.

For this reason, whenever we were, or are ordered to perform some work-job, we may have the right to verify what we were told, in order to reach a perfect job’s end!

This, in a short or long time, will give everyone a clearer idea of what we are doing or what we are trying to do.

In every one of the experiences related here (and many of them seem unbelievable), I only limited myself in applying my knowledge and experience as I learned, and through it found, the problem. In addition, in every one of the experiences, I express what I had observed and what the customer told me.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––—––––––––––––––—––

In any service call, there are three important steps that we must complete to overcome the problem or complaint.

First step. Compile from the customer or person in charge of the equipment as much information as possible.

He or she may give us the insides and history of the problem or complaint.

Second step. Familiarize yourself with the electrical, mechanical, and general characteristics of the equipment.

Third step. Be aware of what the system or components are supposed to do and what they are doing at the time of service.

Usually, I believe the system or component tries its best to inform us of the trouble. The problem is that sometimes we use the wrong language with the system/component and we do not understand it.

Then, by using the above information, our common sense, the appropriate tools, the procedures, the electrical meters, etc. we can appropriately diagnose and fix the problem/complaint.

Collected here, there are one hundred and thirty service experiences; they appear, in no chronological order. This work has being elaborated with the idea, of encouraging the use of appropriate procedures in the service of these technical branches.

With the purpose of obtaining, through the reading of this book, the greatest possible benefit, please read separately each experience. First part A, then part B of that experience.

To facilitate the understanding of some A/C & R systems operations; beginning on page # 521 we have shown some Formulae and other calculations.

A Refrigeration Experience

In the beginning, it was more wondering than interest.

I believe it was in the middle of February. Once the ship’s propeller repair was performed (a problem happened on the last trip), we were prepared to sail. Like it was customary in the morning of the day previous to the trip, the refrigeration system was started up in order to get it ready to receive the meat, vegetables, and other foods requiring refrigeration. The foods were expected to arrive at about 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. I was the electrician on duty. Among other functions, I had to take hourly data of the refrigeration system (operating pressures and temperatures). To accomplish it, I didn’t have to know anything about refrigeration.

At this time the head of the electrical department (in charge of the equipment) was a master chief with the last name Moreno. This particular day, he went on liberty at 4:30 in the afternoon. At about 5:00 p.m., I went to the refrigeration machine room to fulfill my duty and I found that the system it was not operating and temperatures were rising. I didn’t know what to do, so I went to the gangway to report the problem to the officer (a lieutenant) on duty.

In view of such emergency, the officer called a police patrol and gave them the order to go and look for chief Moreno. It seems that he had said where he was going to be, because the police on patrol went directly to a brothel at the tolerance district (Tesca); there they found him, in between two women, embracing them both.

I was pending—awaiting the chief’s arrival. When that happened, he (with a mocking smile) asked me, What happened, couldn’t repair the refrigeration system? I obviously answered no.

I followed him to the refrigeration machine room, eager to know what had caused the problem. When we arrived there, he asked me for a screwdriver; I left flying to bring it; when I returned to the machines room, the equipment was already working. I asked him what had been the problem, and (as always, with the mocking smile on his lips and a lot of sarcasm) he answered me, Someday you will know what was the problem.

Then, I suspected—but some time later, I was sure—that the chief Moreno prepared the problem, so that everything happened as it did. Years later, I had him as a refrigeration instructor. Truthfully, he never convinced me about his knowledge in R and A/C.

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How My Interest in Refrigeration Started

In this year (1958), in the middle of the month of June, we weighed anchors again, this time, in Panama’s direction. We passed the channel and we went south, once again to Buenaventura, a Colombian port in the Pacific Ocean.

In this trip, it happened, or better, it began—perhaps the most important experience or stage of my life.

The ship Admiral Padilla (a frigate), where I was assigned, was supplied-prepared (as it was customary for a long trip). By that effect, were stored in the two refrigeration rooms.

In the low-temperature room (freezer), there were eight heads of cattle (approximately six thousand pounds of meat), and in the other room, at medium temperature, were the rest of foods requiring refrigeration.

We left port, and everything went well until the fifth day of the trip (according to my calculations, about 1,500 miles from Buenaventura) when the refrigeration system broke down. Nobody in the electrical department who was in charge of this equipment or in the entire ship knew how to fix it. Then, I did not know anything about refrigeration.

Then I asked myself how it was possible that in a ship with a crew of more than two hundred men, nobody knew anything about fixing this piece of equipment.

It gave me pain to see that thousands of pounds of meat were hurled by the hut because the meat already began to get spoiled and of course to smell.

The captain decided to interrupt the trip. We returned to Panama; there, the ship was taken to the shipyard to see if they could repair the refrigeration system. I guess that according to the received information, the commander preferred to return to Cartagena port and to repair it in the shipyards there.

Throughout the return trip, the first thing that I did was to go to the ship’s library to look for and to begin to read all available books and information related to refrigeration, or anything that I could find in the ship’s bookstore.

From then on, I spent whole hours, with a dictionary’s help, translating from English to Spanish (The U.S. Navy’s Manual, Chapter 59) and, with the obtained information in the refrigeration equipment room, watching and trying to figure out not only the system’s operation but also each of its mechanical-electrical components.

I believe that learning the refrigeration system operation became an obsession to me; I put myself (literally) inside the system, within the pipes, components, etc. I tried to figure out what happened within to the refrigerant in each one of the system’s mechanical-electrical components.

This was the way I started seriously getting interested in this trade.

And I had to do it all by myself, because I did not have anybody to ask about it. I put into practice all the mechanical knowledge that I acquired in St. Antony (my youth school) as well as in my five years’ work in the railroads, in addition to my good common sense. It was as much my desire to know the operation of the system so that everybody in the ship realized it and that when they needed me, they knew where they could find me.

I came to understand something about the system’s operation, but I knew that I needed much more. I believe that the information that I found on board was good but under no point of view sufficient.

=================================================

EXPERIENCE 01-A

On the last days that I served in the Colombian Navy, I remember some incidents. The one related here was very important to me:

The U.S. Navy sent three Coast Guard vessels to serve in Hawaii. These ships sailed from Mobile, Alabama, and each ship was equipped with a twenty-five-ton air-conditioning system. Two of these systems did not work. The ships were taken to Coco Solo, Panama’s shipyard, where they determined that the machines had refrigerant leaks, but these leaks could not be located. Because it was proximate, the vessel’s captain communicated with the U.S. naval mission in Barranquilla, Colombia.

They could take the boats back to Mobile, Alabama, or they could take the boats to this city, which was much closer. In the naval mission, Lieutenant Johnson decided to call me to troubleshoot the problem. I remembered my old man always said, A good soldier neither offers nor refuses. I decided to do my best and prepared some questions for him to ask the captains of both ships. From their response, I had an idea of what the problem was. I explained to him the procedure that could be carried out. Both the captains and Lieutenant Johnson agreed with my plan.

I had taken some training courses in the USA, and was thankful for my education; I saw this as my opportunity to give back something from that knowledge. They took me to the ships to carry out an inspection. As we were down to the lower decks of the ship, I remember bringing some leak-detection tools. I was introduced to both captains and both engine room chiefs, who showed me the two systems that were leaking.

Note. Since the two vessels were of the same type, and used the same R-12, the exact same leak testing procedure was to be performed in both of them.

Before starting any procedure, we also verified the lead fingers (four in total) located at the condenser’s heads. These pieces of metal are used to minimize the corrosion effect caused on the condenser’s metals by the galvanic currents induced by water friction when flowing through the condenser. They were found at about 85% of their efficiency.

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Questions

1. If you were called for a problem similar to this, what would your idea be as to where the refrigerant’s leak is?

2. What question should you ask the captain or the engine room chief?

3. What would be the first procedure you should perform?

4. What tools do you need to carry out the procedure?

5. What should the test pressures be?

6. What should be the operating pressures in the system?

=================================================

EXPERIENCE 02-A

This experience was relevant in my life after leaving the Colombian Navy. In this experience, as in other experiences in the future, we should study the complaint or problem, and through the analysis and applying our knowledge, the system should be repaired.

Somebody in the naval base told me that in the cafeteria this particular beverage cooler (property of the Beverages Factory) used to promote its products and lend their customers these commercial refrigeration units, which weren’t working well. In those days, the beverage company had a private refrigeration service company to take care of the maintenance and repair of those units.

According to the person in charge, for the last several days the device was not cooling properly. The mechanics they sent all had problems in repairing the unit. He enumerated to me what the mechanics did on the three visits:

1. The first mechanic’s visit was due, of course, to a poor cooling of the device. He installed the gauges and worked in the equipment for a while. After about fifteen minutes he said the system was OK. And he left.

2. The equipment continued with the same problem. The following day he called the beverage company and another mechanic showed up. This time the mechanic worked a little bit longer and finally said the same as the other mechanic, then left.

3. On the third day, the equipment still failed to work properly. He called the beverage company again. And another mechanic was sent. This one connected the manifold gauges and said that he added some refrigerant and made some adjustments.

This time the cooler worked a little bit better, but it was not enough.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––—––––––––––––––—––

The system had the following characteristics:

a. It used a 1/3-hp air-cooled hermetically sealed condensing unit, equipped with a packing gland suction service valve attached to the compressor.

b. It used a 1/9-hp condenser fan motor.

c. Low-pressure control. Actual settings = Cut-in. 35 psig; Differential = 25 psig (*)

d. Both motors (working), compressor and condenser fan, used the same electrical characteristics: 115 volts, single phase, 60 Hz.

e. The system used refrigerant 12.

f. It used a capillary tube as a liquid control.

g. Ambient temperature at the equipment location: 80°F.

h. The FLA, discharge, and suction operating pressures, as well as the suction line and the liquid line’s temperatures, were a bit too high.

The beverages required a temperature of 40°F.

-––––––––––––––––––––––––––-

Let’s see what we can find.

Questions

1. What do you think the problem was?

2. What are supposed to be the operating pressures?

3. What should we do?

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EXPERIENCE 03-A

This experience took place sometime later than Experience 02. The lieutenant aggregate of the naval mission was transferred back to the United States. Thus, he had to get rid of some things, among them an 18,000 Btu Carrier air conditioner. He had the bad luck of the equipment failing to work when he gave it to the new owner.

A/C’s characteristics:

a. It was a 1 1/2-hp sealed rotary-type compressor.

b. It used a 1/2-hp, three-speed, double-shaft fan motor.

c. Selector switch. Thermostat. Thermal overload.

d. Both motors, compressor and condenser fan, were of the PSC type. Both had the same electrical characteristics: 230 volts, single phase, 60 Hz.

e. Used refrigerant 22.

The lieutenant got in touch with me and told me the problem; he asked me if I could check the device. Thus:

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Questions

1. What do you think the problem was?

2. What test or tests should you carry out to verify this equipment?

3. What should you recommend?

=================================================

EXPERIENCE 04-A

I continued working with the beverage factory (cited on Experience 02) without any problems. Being aware that I needed some spare replacement parts, I talked to the company’s manager and suggested he buy several spare parts, which would be needed for stock instead of ordering one at each time. He did it, and stored them in the factory’s warehouse.

On this occasion, I had one problem; when only two compressors were left in the warehouse, the person in charge suggested to me to remove them, and hold them in my shop. I accepted and took them with me. I used one of them immediately and later on (about two months), when I installed the other, and I went to start it, it did not work.

Motor’s characteristics: 115 volts, single phase, 60 Hz.

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Questions

1. What do you think the problem was?

2. What test or tests should you carry out to verify the problem?

3. What would you recommend?

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EXPERIENCE 05-A

While working for a Colombian Technical Company ——, one of the various works that I remember was in Santa Marta City, on a 10-ton A/C system that had been operating for several years in the Clinic of Social Insurances. According to the person in charge, the equipment had lost little by little its cooling efficiency. For a while now, it’s getting to the point where the evaporator, regardless of what they did (*), it was frozen all the time.

(*) According to the building’s service engineer, in a span of about four years, these are some of the works that they and outside service companies performed on this A/C equipment:

1. Cleaned the evaporator with steam on a monthly basis.

2. Changed air filters on a weekly basis.

3. Changed the fan-blower to increase airflow through the evaporator.

4. Changed the evaporator fan motor (direct drive) with one of a higher speed.

5. Changed the evaporator fan motor type for an indirect drive (belts-pulley-flywheel).

6. Remove the refrigerant from the system and perform a deep vacuum to clean the system internally. This last procedure was performed several times.

The system had the following characteristics:

a. A self-contained system with a 10-ton semi hermetic unit, equipped with suction-discharge packing gland service valves type, attached to the compressor.

b. Shell and tube water-cooled-type condenser.

Water from cooling tower, temperature 80°F.

c. Used a 5-hp cooling tower fan motor.

d. Controls: High and low pressure, water-regulating valve. Pump-down (thermostat—liquid line solenoid valve. Thermostat’s sensing bulb located at the evaporator’s return airflow).

e. The evaporator’s fan motor was of 5 hp. All the motors and the compressor, cooling tower, and evaporator fan had the same electrical characteristics 440 volts, three phases, 60 Hz.

f. The system used refrigerant 22.

g. The thermostatic expansion valve was of the external equalizer type.

h. The sight glass in the liquid line was full.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––—––––––––––––––—––

The system’s operation was observed and the following were all lower than normal:

1. The suction and discharge pressures.

2. The suction and liquid line temperatures.

3. The running amperage.

4. The condenser’s water temperature difference.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––—––––––––––––––—––

After hearing the detailed explanation from the person in charge,

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––—––––––––––––––—––

Questions

1. What do you think the problem may be? Keep in mind the system is old and money is not in abundance in this place.

2. What are supposed to be the operating pressures?

3. What are supposed to be the suction and liquid lines temperatures?

4. Why is the running amperage so low?

5. What should be our recommendations?

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EXPERIENCE 06-A

At one time, I performed some refrigeration work for a man who was retired from the navy. He had a restaurant called La Canada (The Gorge). The work to be performed was in a freezer. This was a self-contained unit, located in the pantry with the refrigeration unit positioned at the end of the cabinet.

The equipment had these characteristics:

1. It was a 1/2-hp air-cooled sealed condensing unit, equipped with a packing gland service valve attached to the compressor’s suction side.

2. It used a 1/8-hp shaded pole-type condenser fan motor.

3. Both motors, compressor and condenser fan, used the same electrical characteristics: 115 volts, single phase, 60 Hz.

4. The system used refrigerant 12.

5. The device had a capillary tube as a liquid control.

6. Temperature at the equipment’s location was about 85°F.

7. The frozen products to be stored required a temperature of 10°F.

The freezer’s compressor, although working, was not cooling, and if touched it passed current. The equipment was de-energized, the entire electrical installation was reviewed and although the compressor worked, it was grounded.

After installing the low side gauge, I found that the system did not have any refrigerant.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––—––––––––––––––—––

Questions

1. Up to this point, what do you think the problem was?

2. What tests should we recommend?

3. What do you think can be done?

4. What are supposed to be the operating pressures in this device?

=================================================

EXPERIENCE 07-A

At this time, I had a call from a Panamanian ship’s captain who said that he had heard of me and wanted me to inspect the refrigeration equipment on board his ship. He confided to me that he had gone to Panama’s shipyards and the only thing that they had recommended was the purchase of a new compressor. That was a greater problem.

According to the captain, the compressor was of European origin. It was of the open W type, with 6 pistons and with a capacity of about 20 tons. Due to the compressor’s age and origin, it was not easy to obtain.

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Questions

1. What component parts should we recommend to be checked in this device?

2. What do you think can be done?

3. Any other suggestions to the captain?

4. Can we intent the compressor’s repair?

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EXPERIENCE 08-A

One day a retired sergeant major of the Colombian marines whose last name was Arias it came to my shop. He told me that he got some R and A/C works and asked me for help (in some way) to carry them out. He didn’t have any mechanical experience.

The first work that he got was in the City of Cartagena, to repair a commercial refrigeration (walk-in box) used to store and freeze seafood products. The owner of this equipment bought the product from the fishermen. He stored it, and later he supplied it to the restaurants throughout the city.

We went to the place and inspected the equipment:

The repair was similar to one that I did on the boat (Experience 07); the only difference was that this equipment was on land.

The characteristics and