When leak testing a low pressure centrifugal with nitrogen, what is the maximum test pressure

10 psig
While leak testing a low-pressure chiller with nitrogen, the maximum pressure should not exceed 10 psig. If it exceeds 10 psig, the rupture disc will burst open.

What is the lowest access point on a low-pressure centrifugal air-conditioning appliance?

The evaporator charging valve is the lowest access point on all centrifugal chillers and air-conditioning appliances.

Where is the rupture disc located on a centrifugal chiller?

25 Cards in this Set

Where should the discharge from a rupture disc be piped for venting? Outdoors
Where is the rupture disc located on a centrifugal chiller? Evaporator
A hydrostatic tube test kit will; Determine if a tube leaks.

How do low-pressure chillers operate?

A chiller works on the principle of vapor compression or vapor absorption. As the heat-transfer takes place, the refrigerant evaporates, changing from a low-pressure liquid into vapor, while the temperature of the process coolant reduces. The refrigerant then flows to a compressor, which performs multiple functions.

When adding nitrogen to a system for leak detection What is the maximum pressure that should be applied to the system?

2. Pressure-dependent leaks:Pressure-dependent leaks are leaks that can only be detected as the system pressure increases. Nitrogen is used to pressurize the low sides of systems to around 150 psig, and high sides to 450 psig. Never use air or pure oxygen.

What is the maximum pressure that should be used for leak testing a refrigeration system with a hermetic compressor?

The low side should not be pressurized above 150 psig and the high side above 450 psig. In the field, the entire system should be limited to 150 psig while looking for leaks.

Which of the following safety precautions should be adhered to for low-pressure systems?

Which of the following safety precautions should be adhered to for low pressure systems? -Do not syphon refrigerant by mouth. -Avoid spilling refrigerant on the skin. -Use gloves and safety goggles when working with liquid refrigerant.

What is the most efficient method for leak checking a charged low-pressure refrigeration unit?

The most efficient method of leak checking a charged low- pressure refrigeration unit is to pressurize the system by the use of controlled hot water or heater blankets. When controlled hot water or heater blankets are not feasible, use nitrogen to increase pressure. When pressurizing a system, do not exceed 10 psig.

How is a nitrogen tank used for pressure testing?

To begin testing a component, a nitrogen tank or on-site nitrogen generator will be connected to the component. Nitrogen will be released to elevate the pressure within the test component to a low pressure while forcing any air, debris, or other substances out of the component.

How is a nitrogen leak test carried out?

A nitrogen leak test follows an orderly set of steps which varies depending on the nature of the equipment to be checked. The process typically requires channeling a steady stream of gaseous nitrogen through the selected pipes, vessels, or vats under increasing amounts of pressure.

How is nitrogen used in the petroleum industry?

While best known is its use in the petroleum industry for pressure testing pipelines and containment vessels, nitrogen is also popular for leak testing in a range of other industries. There are several advantages to using nitrogen for leak detection.

What is the purpose of a leak test?

Leak testing is a method of analyzing industrial storage and transport equipment (vessels, tubing, and pipelines) for defects. Leak testing is done to ensure that newly installed systems can withstand the temperatures and pressures associated with normal operations.

When using recovery and recycling equipment manufactured AFTER November 15, 1993, technicians must evacuate low-pressure appliances to the following level before disposing of the appliance:

EPA 608 Type 3 Chapter 2

Get your EPA 608 Certification for FREE

Leaks in Low-Pressure System

In this module, we will learn about leaks in low-pressure systems. We will see the different indicators of a leak and the common areas that can leak in a Type 3 system. Skip to quiz!

Recall that any matter flows from a high to low pressure. If you come across a leaking water pipe, you can see the water coming out of it from an opening. But, this is not the case with low-pressure appliances.

Recall that a low-pressure system operates below atmospheric pressure under a vacuum. The vacuum in Type 3 appliances wants to suck everything inside it like a vacuum cleaner. This is why Type 3 appliances need to be sealed tight to avoid the sucking of outside moisture into the system.

Recall that there is water flowing in the chiller systems’ evaporator and condenser. This water leaks into the refrigeration system to mix with the refrigerant. Apart from this leak, the outside air that contains non-condensables can also leak into the system.

Moisture is an impurity and is known as non-condensable in the system. Recall that air, moisture, and nitrogen are considered non-condensable gases in any system. Any problem in sealing low-pressure systems causes the outside air and moisture to leak inside the system.

Head pressure is also called high side pressure or discharge pressure. Recall that the discharge side of a system consists of liquid refrigerant. We can confirm the presence of non-condensable gases if the discharge side pressure in the refrigeration system is higher than normal.

The reason for a higher discharge pressure is;

  1. The gases remain in the vapor phase and do not convert to liquid.

  2. This exerts pressure on the refrigerant liquid, increasing its pressure on the discharge side of the appliance.

Recall that the purge unit performs the purge unit's function is to remove the moisture collected in the refrigeration cycle. Excessive moisture collection in the purge unit or excessive running of a purge unit could act as an indicator that the system is leaking.

Excessive moisture collection in the purge unit could indicate that the condenser or the chiller barrel tubes are leaking and drawing water into the system. Recall that there is water flowing in the chiller barrel and condenser. Water tubes in the chiller that suffer from leaks may need extensive repairs.

In a belt-driven non-hermetic system, the compressor motor and the compressor are in different structures and connected by a rubber belt. Unlike the hermetic type, it does not have its components in a single shell. This type of system can be seen mostly in industrial refrigeration systems.

A Rotating shaft seal is used at the junction where the metallic shaft connects to the compressor. Rotating shaft seals have rubber seals for the purpose of sealing. If a system is non-working for several months, the rubber seals become hard and cannot perform sealing, causing leaks in the system.

To reiterate the whole concept:

  1. A Rotating shaft seal is used at the junction where the metallic shaft connects to the compressor.

  2. In a belt-driven non-hermetic system, that has not been used for many months, the rotating shaft seal is most likely to leak.

Fittings generally mean any part of the piping that is joined to the refrigerant tubing. All nuts, joints, bends, elbow joints, etc., pieces of refrigerant pipings are called fittings. Leaks can be due to improper assembly of the fittings or timely damage to the fittings.

A gasket is a ring of rubber or other material. Common examples of gaskets are those seen in pressure cookers. Gaskets seal the joint between two surfaces in any appliance and can leak if they are worn out.

A water box is generally fixed to the chiller barrel, and gaskets are used to seal them perfectly. Also, the compressor parts use gaskets to provide sealing. Gaskets and fittings are common components that can cause a leak.

Leak Detection

In this module, we will learn about the methods to detect leaks in low-pressure systems. Skip to quiz!

Vacuum testing is the process of using a vacuum pump to create a vacuum inside the system and test for leaks. Recall that a vacuum pump is the same equipment used during evacuation of a system. We will discuss evacuation in the upcoming topics.

Generally we vacuum a chiller system to 1 mm of Hg. This vacuum is held for a few minutes to see if the vacuum pressure rises. ASHRAE Guidelines 3 states that if the pressure in the system rises from 1 mm Hg to a level above 2.5 mm Hg during vacuum testing, the system should be further leak checked.

A hydrostatic test is a method used to detect leaks in oil pipelines, gas cylinders, boilers, chillers and fuel tanks. In the process of the hydrostatic test, the tube of the chiller is filled with coloured water. The water is pressurized above the operating pressure of the equipment.

The pressurized colored liquid is held there for a set time. Any leaks in the system will cause the water to ooze out of the leaking gaps or holes. The colored dye leaves a mark and helps in detecting the location of the leaks visually.

To summarize the process,

  1. Colored water is pumped into the chiller tubes.

  2. The water is held for some time.

  3. Leaks are detected by searching for colored watermarks outside the tubes.

A leak detector probe is a device used to sense the presence of refrigerant outside the system. It is placed near the opening of the drain valve of the water box of the chiller to check for refrigerant gas leaks. If the refrigerant has leaked into the water system, it can be detected at the drain valve.

Once the water in the system is drained, there should be nothing coming out of the drain valve. If there is a leak, the leaked refrigerant will somehow find its way to the drain valve This can be detected by holding the leak detector probe near the valve.

In this test, the pressure of the chiller is increased while it is working to detect any leaks in the system. To increase the system pressure in a controlled way, we use hot water or electric heating blankets. Recall that as the temperature increases, the pressure increases too.

Electric heating blankets produce warmth by passing electricity through it. The gradual increase in temperature avoid temperature shock to the evaporator. Hot water is circulated throughout the system in a controlled manner to increase the pressure of the system.

The hot water also increases the pressure in the system. The increased pressure causes the liquid to ooze out of the leaking areas if present and they can be detected. The rupture disc on the evaporator may open if the pressures are raised too high so this process must be done in a controlled manner.

An electronic leak detector can then be used to detect any refrigerant leaks outside the system.

Recall that in a nitrogen pressure test, also known as standing pressure test, nitrogen gas is filled in the system to check for leaks. There is a drawback of using dry nitrogen to increase the pressure of the system for leak detection. Recall that nitrogen gas cylinders are highly pressurized.

While leak testing a low-pressure chiller with nitrogen, the maximum pressure should not exceed 10 psig. If it exceeds 10 psig, the rupture disc will burst open. So the nitrogen pressure test has to be done in a very controlled manner that requires highly trained technicians.

Question #1: Continuous excessive moisture collection in which component of a low-pressure refrigeration system could indicate a leak?

  1. Water Box

  2. Purge Unit

  3. Drain Valve Outlet

  4. Pressure Relief Valve

Scroll down for the answer...

Answer: Purge Unit

Excessive moisture collection in the purge unit could indicate that the condenser or the chiller barrel tubes are leaking and drawing water into the system.

Question #2: Which part of a belt-driven non-hermetic compressor is most likely to leak if the compressor has not been used for several months?

  1. Suction service valve

  2. Rotating shaft seal

  3. One or both of the king valves

  4. Head gasket on discharge side

Scroll down for the answer...

Answer: Rotating shaft seal

If a belt-driven non-hermetic compressor has not been used for several months, rubber seals in the rotating shaft seals become hard. A hard seal cannot perform its function of sealing the system. Insufficient sealing will let the refrigerant oil leak out of the system.

Question #3: On low-pressure chillers, water is most like to leak into the refrigerant system through;

  1. air leaks in the rupture disc assembly.

  2. tube leaks in the evaporator.

  3. leaks from areas with gaskets or fittings.

  4. leaks from the charging service valve.

Scroll down for the answer...

Answer: leaks from areas with gaskets or fittings.

Gaskets and fittings are common components that can cause a leak.

Question #4: According to ASHRAE Guideline 3, the system should be checked for leaks if during a standard vacuum test the pressure in a system rises from 1 mm Hg to a level above;

  1. 1.5 mm Hg.

  2. 2.0 mm Hg.

  3. 2.5 mm Hg.

  4. 3.0 mm Hg.

Scroll down for the answer...

Answer: 2.5 mm Hg.

ASHRAE Guidelines 3 states that if the pressure in the system rises from 1 mm Hg to a level above 2.5 mm Hg during vacuum testing, the system should be further leak checked.

Question #5: A hydrostatic tube test kit will;

  1. determine if a tube leaks.

  2. blow all water out of tubes.

  3. remove water from a machine.

  4. vent refrigerant to the atmosphere.

Scroll down for the answer...

Answer: determine if a tube leaks.

A hydrostatic test is a method used to detect leaks in chiller tubes.

Question #6: A leak detector probe to check gas leaks into the water box with water removed should be placed;

  1. At the rupture disc seal.

  2. Around the vent valve.

  3. Around a test plug

  4. In the drain valve opening.

Scroll down for the answer...

Answer: In the drain valve opening.

If there is a leak, the leaked refrigerant will somehow find its way to the drain valve. This can be detected by holding the leak detector probe near the valve.

Question #7: Leak testing a low-pressure refrigeration system with nitrogen in excess of ____ psig could cause the ____ to fail.

  1. 30; Condenser tubes

  2. 30; Purge unit shells

  3. 10; Rupture disc

  4. 20; Evaporator tubes

Scroll down for the answer...

Answer: 10; Rupture disc

While leak testing a low-pressure chiller with nitrogen, the maximum pressure should not exceed 10 psig. If it exceeds 10 psig, the rupture disc will burst open.