I recently encountered a failure of an evaporator on a water chiller due to the flow switch not operating properly when there was a significant decrease in water flow. It is surprising that such a critical component was entrusted to a third party, especially when the manufacturer boasts about the chiller's sophisticated controls. It would have been more prudent for the manufacturer to include a flow monitoring device within the chiller itself, in addition to any monitoring devices on the chilled water system. This would provide a double layer of protection against flow issues, which can have various causes. How do reputable suppliers address this critical feature in their chiller packages? Any insights on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
When it comes to process engineering design, incorporating flow switches is a key consideration. This can involve referencing specific codes and standards for guidance and compliance.
I completely agree with your point. As an HVAC engineer, I'd argue that it's always beneficial for chillers to have in-built flow monitors. While many reputable manufacturers do incorporate such features, there are still some that entrust third-party components for that task. Perhaps it's to reduce the production costs, but the reliability of the whole system should always take precedence. In-built flow monitors can work as redundancy in cases of third-party switch failure, providing a peace of mind to the system owners. I'd suggest taking this point up with suppliers during a preliminary discussion to ensure such features are included, or at least, offered as an add-on.
Absolutely agree with you. Any reputable manufacturer must ensure that critical parameters such as water flow are monitored within the chiller unit itself. Adding an internal flow switch could be a fail-safe mechanism to prevent any damage due to water flow issues. Some manufacturers who actually prioritize their customer's needs do have subsystem monitoring, and it is also applicable to third-party components. I've seen some leading suppliers including this feature in their new models. However, not all brands do this, and it is often up to us, the consumers, to request these additional safety checks. Definitely a point to consider during the procurement process; better to prevent than to repair.
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Answer: - Proper flow monitoring is crucial in preventing chiller evaporator failure because a decrease in water flow can lead to overheating and damage to the chiller components.
Answer: - If a flow switch malfunctions and fails to detect a decrease in water flow, it can result in the evaporator overheating, leading to potential system failure and downtime.
Answer: - Manufacturers can enhance flow monitoring in chiller systems by incorporating internal flow monitoring devices in addition to external monitoring devices on the chilled water system, providing a dual layer of protection against flow issues.
Answer: - Reputable suppliers often include sophisticated flow monitoring devices within their chiller packages to ensure early detection of any decrease in water flow, thereby preventing evaporator failure and ensuring the reliability of the chiller system.
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