Servicing Water-Cooled Condensers

When considering a water-cooled condenser:

• Water removes heat from metal surfaces about 15 times more rapidly than air.
• Therefore, water cooled condensers are much smaller than air cooled condensers.
• A common problem with water cooled condensers, however, is formation of deposits from water on the tubing walls.
• These scale deposits act as an insulating layer, causing lack of proper heat transfer for condensing of refrigerant.
• This causes high refrigerant discharge pressures and loss of refrigeration capacity.
• When condenser tubes have hard lime or iron scale they may be cleaned with an acid solution.

The procedure is as sketched as below:

• Mix warm water and acid according to container instructions (usually 10 parts water to one part acid).
• Circulate acid mixture through condenser for 15-30 minutes.
• Remember acid is corrosive so do not circulate longer than 1 hour.
• A ‘tee’ fitting could be installed in the inlet and outlet of the condenser water circuit for future condenser cleaning.

Caution:

• Always wear goggles and rubber gloves when using an acid solution.
• The pump must be designed for acid solutions (see figure 2).
• Use of plastic pipe or tubing is recommended. Warm solutions will work best, but do not heat above a warm temperature.

For more information about Cleaning Water-Cooled Condenser call the Advantage Service Department at 317-887-0729.