Most chillers operate pretty close to manufacturer's
specifications if the condenser and evaporator water temperatures and flow
are reasonably close to design conditions. Therefore, these are the first
things to check if a chiller is either not delivering expected capacity or
using more energy than expected. Since the condenser is often exposed to the
elements and thereby subject to fouling and deterioration, this is the first
area to check. Common problems here include:
- Poor cooling tower performance (including everything from broken fill
to poor water distribution over tower fill),
- Hydraulic and/or air flow problems (where inadequate water is being
sent to active towers, air flow to the tower is restricted, or air leaving
the tower is being drawn back into the tower).
- Condenser fouling due to improper cooling tower treatment or
inadequate filtration.
Most of these problems can be identified simply by observing tower
operation.
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