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Maintenance of the condenser, one of the four key components of industrial chillers: Over time, the condenser can develop a thick layer of dirt on its heat transfer surfaces. Dirt has an extremely low heat transfer capacity, which creates resistance to the heat dissipation of refrigerant vapor through the heat transfer walls of the condenser, thereby raising the condensation temperature of the refrigerant. Therefore, regular maintenance to remove condenser dirt is necessary. Next, a brief introduction to the methods for removing fouling from condensers is provided. I. Methods for removing dust accumulation on air-cooled condensers Air-cooled condensers use air as the cooling medium, and the air in the environment always contains dust. Over time, a layer of dust accumulates on the heat transfer surfaces of these condensers, preventing the heat transfer tubes and fins from exchanging heat effectively with the cool air surrounding them. We should regularly blow away this dust using compressed air. II. Methods for removing fouling from water-cooled condensers The cooling water used in water-cooled condensers contains impurities, which over time settle inside the cooling tubes and form scale. This scale hinders the flow of cooling water, deteriorates heat transfer, and raises the condensation temperature of the refrigerant. To this end, scale should be removed regularly (usually every 2 to 3 years; if the cooling water is from deep wells or mountain streams, it should be done annually). Common methods for removing scale are as follows: (1) Scrubbing with a wire brush. Remove the cast-iron end caps (water covers) of the shell-and-tube condenser, insert a spiral wire brush into the cooling tubes and scrub back and forth, then push a round steel rod with a diameter close to that of the tubes inside the cooling tubes and pry repeatedly, while flushing with pressurized water. This descaling method is simple and easy to implement, but it requires a lot of physical effort. (2) Scrape with a special scraper. Remove the water covers at both ends of the shell-and-tube condenser, attach a special scraper to a flexible shaft, connect the other end of this shaft to the motor shaft, insert the scraper into the cooling tubes, and start the motor to enable scraping. Water also needs to be sprayed to cool the scraper and wash away the scale removed from inside the pipe. This method works well, but it is only applicable to steel cooling tubes, not to copper cooling tubes. (3) Salt-acid dissolution method. The equipment required for the acid dissolution method using salt includes acid-resistant pumps and acid-resistant tanks. The operation steps are as follows: ① Extract all the refrigerant from the industrial chiller system, or pump it into the liquid storage tank. ②Close the water inlet valve of the condenser and remove its inlet and outlet pipes. ③Connect the inlet and outlet connectors of the condenser to the pickling system using water pipes of the same diameter. After descaling using the above method, a pneumatic leak test should be conducted on the refrigerant side of the condenser to check whether the cooling tubes were damaged during descaling and are leaking. After leak detection is complete, reconnect to the original system and carry out tasks such as vacuuming and trial operation. It should also be noted that waste acid solutions (or descaling solutions) must be discharged into the sewer system; they must never be poured into septic tanks, nor spread on lawns or crops, as these solutions are harmful to plant growth. III. Methods for cleaning cooling towers and evaporative condensers: First, calculate the actual amount of water stored in the cooling water system (reservoirs, tanks, pipes, etc.), and prepare the appropriate amount of chemicals needed for cleaning scale. Then perform the following steps: ① Empty the water storage tank and thoroughly rinse it or clean it manually to remove all sediment and dirt. ②Close the discharge pipeline while keeping the circulation pump running, so that the water tank is filled with clean water up to the lowest level. ③While the water is circulating, the prepared amount of descaling chemicals is gradually added, usually from the water storage tank. ④Fill the system with clean water again. This treatment should be carried out regularly every year for the best results. Ayida is a professional chiller manufacturer with 15 years of experience in the production and development of chillers. It offers customers screw-type chillers, water-cooled chillers, air-cooled chillers, and constant temperature machines. If you have any needs or would like to learn more about industrial chillers, please call our national service hotline at 0755-84074988 or visit our company’s website at http://www.aydzl.com.