Prepping process equipment for winter’s colder temperatures can help identify potential problems and optimize operations ahead of coldest season of the year. Goodway Technologies recommends performing maintenance and cleaning on chiller systems after their shutdown.

Performing chiller maintenance as early in the winter as possible allows plant managers to find any major damage and repair it before the chiller needs to be back in operation in spring. Goodway recommends a four-step approach to chiller maintenance:

• Maintain a daily operating log. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) recommends updating the log four times a day to monitor key operating parameters. Regular monitoring will help indicate if any problems are developing.
• Keep tubes clean. Fouling and scale can reduce efficiency. Some manufacturers offer calculators to estimate how much money is being expended due to scale or fouling in chillers.
• Ensure a leak-free unit. Leaks can affect the efficiency and operation of the system while releasing hazardous refrigerants. Refrigerant levels should stay within the manufacturer’s recommended levels.
• Sustain proper water treatment. Between cleanings, it is important to implement a water treatment program. Water treatment helps to prevent the buildup of contaminants on heat-transfer surfaces that can lead to loss of efficiency and also lead to the growth of harmful bacteria.

Get more advice and access Goodway’s chiller fouling calculator here.