How to Avoid Downtime: Air Cooled Industrial Chiller Maintenance

When it comes to process operations, no one likes surprises. Unplanned downtime can be disastrous to production schedules and budgets alike. The statistics are shocking: an overwhelming 82% of companies have experienced at least one unplanned downtime incident over the past three years, with most suffering two or more. Overall, unplanned downtime costs industrial manufacturers as much as $50 billion a year.¹

Whether you call them Industrial Chillers or Process Chillers, one thing we can all agree on is that they are essential components of many operations. These chillers remove heat from the process water, helping to keep equipment at the right temperature for more reliable and continuous operation. MTA Process Chillers are purpose-built for a variety of process applications and are known for helping to maintain operational continuity through their reliable performance in tough industrial environments.

How to maintain your MTA chiller

One of the key features of MTA industrial chillers is their ease of maintenance. Once installed, very little effort is needed to keep them running smoothly.

The key maintenance task, in addition to annual check-ups, is cleaning the filter screens in front of the air-cooled condenser. The air-cooled condenser uses ambient air to cool and condense the hot refrigerant gas into a liquid. The concept is very similar to the air conditioning unit you have in your home; the filter must be cleaned to be efficient.

Without a clean filter allowing proper airflow through the condenser, you risk the chiller not running optimally or, in severe cases, not working at all because the condensing pressure is too high.

The good news is that the filter screens are easy to clean, in a few simple steps:

• Remove the filters in front of the condenser.
• Spray them with a cleaning product and let sit for a few minutes.
• Rinse with a low-pressure water stream (similar to the pressure of a garden hose).
• Avoid pressure washers, as they can damage the filter.

The frequency of cleaning depends on the installation and the specific process application. Some geographical areas and applications have more particulates in the air and residue from the process, which may clog your filter quicker than other applications.

You may also need to clean the filters more frequently in the summer. When the air temperature is higher, your process chiller will have to work harder to cool.

Figuring out how often the filters need to be cleaned will require a bit of investigation. If the residue is not easily removed from the filter with a low-pressure spray, try cleaning the filter more often. You may also want to keep a spare filter on hand for quick replacement, leaving time for more thorough cleaning.

Developing a chiller maintenance schedule

You can also record the occurrence of pressure alarms during the first year of ownership. The MTA Chiller has a high refrigerant pressure alarm that activates when the compressor shuts off due to excessively high pressure, which may result from the filter not allowing enough airflow.

By recording the condition of the condenser and filters during the pressure alarm events, you can develop a good idea of a chiller maintenance schedule. As always, if you have questions or need assistance Trane’s nationwide service network is there to help.

Conclusion

In conclusion, maintaining your air cooled industrial chiller is important for avoiding unplanned downtime and promoting the longevity and efficiency of your equipment. Regularly cleaning the condenser filters and monitoring the pressure alarms can help reduce the risk of unexpected shutdowns and costly repairs. Remember, a little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your operations running smoothly. If you need further assistance or have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our team of experts.

By taking these proactive steps, you can help your industrial chiller continue to perform reliably, helping to maintain operational continuity and avoid the financial impact of unplanned downtime.

Have additional questions about Process Chiller maintenance? Reach out to our Process Chiller experts.

1. Unplanned Downtime Costs More Than You Think, Forbes