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Air
Conditioning and Refrigeration systems that use
air-cooled condensers will greatly benefit from a
scheduled maintenance program. Planned maintenance
saves both the service provider and the customer
time and money.
One of the
most important tasks in a planned maintenance program
is to inspect and clean the condenser coils. (Refer
to pic. 1) A large amount of dirt in and on the
condenser coil will increase the operating discharge
pressure. (Refer to pics. 2 & 3) When a system
is running with a higher-than-normal discharge
pressure, the life of the compressor and its
refrigeration capacity will decrease. Also, a dirty
condenser coil will consume much more energy.
As the
operating discharge pressure increases, so does the
electricity consumed by the compressor. With a
sufficient increase in discharge pressure, expect to
see a 10% to 30% increase in energy consumption. The
actual pressure will vary depending on the type of
compressor, its application, and the refrigerant used.
For the actual in crease in discharge pressure, you
will need to refer to the compressor’s data sheet.
When the
refrigeration capacity is reduced, the system will need
to operate much longer to refrigerate the same load. As
the system runs longer, thus more power is being
consumed. With the effect of longer run time and the
increase in power consumption, it is now easy to see
the importance of keeping the condenser coil clean and
its operating discharge pressure within normal
operating parameters.
When
cleaning a condenser coil, it is very important not to
damage the fins or the coil surface. It is easy to
damage the coil, and that could restrict the airflow
through the coil, resulting in even higher discharge
pressures than before the coil was cleaned.
Some
condenser coils will require a type of acidic or
alkaline-based chemical to clean them. (Refer to pic
4) If this is the case, the technician should
carefully follow the directions from the chemical
manufacturer. The technician should make sure the coil
has been properly flushed of all chemical with fresh
water. Chemicals that are left on the coil could easily
deteriorate the fins’ surface and possibly the coil
tubing.
With the
importance of energy usage today, it is a necessity to
keep the condenser coil clean, not only to reduce
energy consumption, but also to extend the life of the
equipment.
-
Joe Marchese, “Cleaning Air-Cooled Condenser Coils,”
Air Conditioning Heating Refrigeration News, June
2001:23.
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