Guiding Your Way To Correct Chiller Piping
Guiding Your Way To Correct Chiller Piping
Guiding Your Way To Correct Chiller Piping
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resistance to the system, thereby allowing the pump to perform at its optimum point on
the curve. Never throttle the water flow on the return line to the chiller because it will
cause pump cavitation and overheating.
Expansion Tank
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System Venting
The single most common problem in chiller piping installations is lack of chilled-water
flow caused by inadequate system venting. The result is repeated flow alarms when the
flow switch that is installed in the chiller opens the control circuit, stops the chiller and
sets the alarm. These chillers are closed-circuit systems and normally are not open to
atmosphere, which means that air remains in all local high points when the system
initially is filled with water.
A local high point is any point in the piping that can be described as an inverted "U."
More clearly defined, if the piping rises vertically anywhere and at any elevation in the
system, travels horizontally for any distance, and then drops again vertically, the
inverted "U" section is a permanent air lock and must be vented. Venting is required at
all local high points and on both the supply and return pipes.
Vents can be either manual or automatic. Automatic vents always should be installed
with an isolation valve for future service access, repair or replacement. Automatic vents
are particularly susceptible to drawing air into the return chilled-water piping close to
the chiller if the suction side of the chilled water pump is allowed to fall into a vacuum.
Positive Pressurization
It is good practice to maintain a slightly positive pressure in a closed-loop cooling
system to:
Prevent air being drawn into the system at vent locations close to the chiller, which is
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can only be filled as fast as the air can escape. Be patient and do not overpressurize the
system. After initial operation, check that all air is vented. After operating the system for
several hours, all vents should be checked again to ensure that all entrained air has
escaped.
If the piping is installed in accordance with these guidelines, the closed-loop cooling
system should operate satisfactorily. Most importantly, the chilled water flow should be
at the optimum curve of the circulating pump without problems. PCE
Graham Whitmore
Graham Whitmore is president of Motivair Corp., Amherst, N.Y., a manufacturer of portable and system
chillers. For more information from Motivair, call (716) 689-0222 or visit www.motivaircorp.com.
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