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PermaFrost Case Study: Chiller Test - September 2004
An Evaluation of the effects of PermaFrost treatment for
AMP Henderson's York Chillers
Prepared by Andrew Pang - September 2004
NOTE: The following is the executive summary of an 18-page report available at
AMP York Chiller Test: September 2004.
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this report is to examine the effects of a product known as PermaFrost upon
Chiller 2, York YT-D3-E3 centrifugal chiller at AMP Bourke Place, Melbourne, Victoria.
PermaFrostLiterature from the Polar Oil Company (which markets the product) states that refrigerant oil.
refrigerant oil.
It further states: "When PermaFrost’s Thermo-Conductive compound is added to the compressor, it blends with the oil and
moves through the system. As each molecule attaches itself to metal surfaces within the system, it displaces dirt, carbon
deposits, and stagnant oils, eventually forming a thin layer. As a result, the system can move more heat for the same amount of
compressor action. Energy demand and consumption can be reduced."
METHODOLOGY
The testing procedure included an analysis of the refrigeration system on two occasions:
To measure the performance of the refrigeration system, an "ETM" refrigeration system analyser was used to data log the
operating conditions of the system during the testing. For each test, the analyser collected the data on the following operating
conditions over a 2 to 3 days period at one minute interval:
The cooling capacity was calculated from the evaporator chilled water inlet and outlet temperature data based on the flow rate of
42.95 L/s obtained from the commissioning record. The coefficient of performance of the chiller was then calculated from the
cooling capacity and power input data.
TESTING
The refrigeration system of the chiller was first tested on December 11, 2003 before the product; PermaFrost was introduced
into the system and then on March 17, 2004 after the treatment. On both occasions the chiller was chosen as the lead machine
in order to obtain data on its performance at full load.
Due to variation in the ambient air temperature, the operating conditions of the chiller fluctuate. An increase in ambient air
temperature, resulting in the increase of the temperature of cooling water entering the condenser, will increase the condensing
pressure. The increase in condensing pressure will increase the power input and reduce the cooling capacity and hence the
COP.
It is normal practice to use the condensing pressure as the “yardstick” for comparing the performance of the refrigeration
systems by keeping the condensing pressure constant by maintaining the condenser cooling water inlet temperature as near
constant as possible.
On the pre-treatment test, when the chiller was running at full load the average temperature of the cooling water entering the
condenser was 21.49°C. On the post-treatment test, when the chiller was running at full load the average temperature of the
cooling water entering the condenser was 21.8°C. Hence, there was a slight increase of approximately 1.5% during the post-
treatment test.
RESULTS OF TESTING
Pre-treatment Test (December 12, 2003)
Cooling Capacity, Power Input & Coefficient of Performance
Refrigerant Liquid & Chilled Water Inlet & Outlet Temperatures
Discharge & Condenser Water Inlet & Outlet Temperatures
Post-treatment Test (March 13, 2004)
Cooling Capacity, Power Input & Coefficient of Performance
Refrigerant Liquid & Chilled Water Inlet & Outlet Temperatures
Discharge & Condenser Water Inlet & Outlet Temperatures
OBSERVATIONS
A number of observations can be made about the effects of PermaFrost on the chiller when it was running on full load:
CONCLUSION
The tests carried out on the chiller indicated a significant overall improvement in the system performance and a marked
decrease in the power input. During the post treatment test there was a slight increase in the inlet temperature of the condenser
cooling water. This increase will result in a slight rise of the condenser pressure and temperature. Any increase of the
condenser pressure and temperature would in normal circumstances reduce the system performance.
The significant increase in system performance and the marked decrease in power input attributed to the treatment
with Permafrost will result in substantial reduction in energy consumption by the chiller.
NOTE: The following is the executive summary of a 18-page report avail-able at AMP York Chiller Test: September 2004.
An Evaluation of the effects of PermaFrost treatment for
AMP Henderson's York Chillers
Prepared by Andrew Pang - September 2004
NOTE: The following is the executive summary of an 18-page report available at
AMP York Chiller Test: September 2004.
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this report is to examine the effects of a product known as PermaFrost upon
Chiller 2, York YT-D3-E3 centrifugal chiller at AMP Bourke Place, Melbourne, Victoria.
PermaFrostLiterature from the Polar Oil Company (which markets the product) states that refrigerant oil.
refrigerant oil.
It further states: "When PermaFrost’s Thermo-Conductive compound is added to the compressor, it blends with the oil and
moves through the system. As each molecule attaches itself to metal surfaces within the system, it displaces dirt, carbon
deposits, and stagnant oils, eventually forming a thin layer. As a result, the system can move more heat for the same amount of
compressor action. Energy demand and consumption can be reduced."
METHODOLOGY
The testing procedure included an analysis of the refrigeration system on two occasions:
- Before the addition of PermaFrost,
- After the addition of the PermaFrost.
To measure the performance of the refrigeration system, an "ETM" refrigeration system analyser was used to data log the
operating conditions of the system during the testing. For each test, the analyser collected the data on the following operating
conditions over a 2 to 3 days period at one minute interval:
- Power input
- Compressor discharge temperature
- Liquid refrigerant temperature at condenser outlet
- Condenser cooling water inlet & outlet temperatures
- Evaporator chilled water inlet & outlet temperatures
The cooling capacity was calculated from the evaporator chilled water inlet and outlet temperature data based on the flow rate of
42.95 L/s obtained from the commissioning record. The coefficient of performance of the chiller was then calculated from the
cooling capacity and power input data.
TESTING
The refrigeration system of the chiller was first tested on December 11, 2003 before the product; PermaFrost was introduced
into the system and then on March 17, 2004 after the treatment. On both occasions the chiller was chosen as the lead machine
in order to obtain data on its performance at full load.
Due to variation in the ambient air temperature, the operating conditions of the chiller fluctuate. An increase in ambient air
temperature, resulting in the increase of the temperature of cooling water entering the condenser, will increase the condensing
pressure. The increase in condensing pressure will increase the power input and reduce the cooling capacity and hence the
COP.
It is normal practice to use the condensing pressure as the “yardstick” for comparing the performance of the refrigeration
systems by keeping the condensing pressure constant by maintaining the condenser cooling water inlet temperature as near
constant as possible.
On the pre-treatment test, when the chiller was running at full load the average temperature of the cooling water entering the
condenser was 21.49°C. On the post-treatment test, when the chiller was running at full load the average temperature of the
cooling water entering the condenser was 21.8°C. Hence, there was a slight increase of approximately 1.5% during the post-
treatment test.
RESULTS OF TESTING
Pre-treatment Test (December 12, 2003)
Cooling Capacity, Power Input & Coefficient of Performance
Refrigerant Liquid & Chilled Water Inlet & Outlet Temperatures
Discharge & Condenser Water Inlet & Outlet Temperatures
Post-treatment Test (March 13, 2004)
Cooling Capacity, Power Input & Coefficient of Performance
Refrigerant Liquid & Chilled Water Inlet & Outlet Temperatures
Discharge & Condenser Water Inlet & Outlet Temperatures
OBSERVATIONS
A number of observations can be made about the effects of PermaFrost on the chiller when it was running on full load:
- Cooling capacity difference between pre-treatment test and post-treatment test is an insignificant 0.9 %. This could be
attributed to a slight difference in the building heat load during the periods of testing. - Power input decreased by a significant 14.8 % in the post-treatment test. This indicates the system used less energy to
achieve the same cooling capacity. - The COP (a ratio of the cooling capacity and power input) increased by 16.3 % in the post-treatment test. This indicates
significant improvement in the overall system performance. - The compressor discharge temperatures decreased by 2.4 % in the post-treatment test, indicating a slight increase in the
lubricity of the refrigerant oil in the compressor. - The refrigerant liquid temperature leaving the condenser decreased by 2.8 % in the post-treatment test. This indicates an
increase in the subcooling of the liquid entering the evaporator, which is reflected in the increase the system performance. - The inlet temperature of the condenser cooling water was 1.4 % higher in the post-treatment test. However, the
temperature difference between the condenser cooling water inlet and outlet temperatures decreased by 20.7% indicating
a lower rate of heat rejection from the chiller. This is reflected in the lower power input by the compressor motor. - The inlet temperature of the chilled water was 4.4 % lower in the post-treatment test, indicating a slightly lower building
heat load.
CONCLUSION
The tests carried out on the chiller indicated a significant overall improvement in the system performance and a marked
decrease in the power input. During the post treatment test there was a slight increase in the inlet temperature of the condenser
cooling water. This increase will result in a slight rise of the condenser pressure and temperature. Any increase of the
condenser pressure and temperature would in normal circumstances reduce the system performance.
The significant increase in system performance and the marked decrease in power input attributed to the treatment
with Permafrost will result in substantial reduction in energy consumption by the chiller.
NOTE: The following is the executive summary of a 18-page report avail-able at AMP York Chiller Test: September 2004.
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