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temperature pressure chart
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When a compressor fails, the reason
for the failure can usually be identified by looking at the
valve plate. This statement is true, since approximately 80%
of all failures are classed as a type of "lack of lubrication".
"Lack of lubrication" could be described as any time
the oil or refrigerant is not where it belongs in its normal
physical condition. These conditions might be as follows:
- Oil returning to the compressor as
a slug,
- Refrigerant returning to the compressor
as a slug,
- Refrigerant returning to the compressor
as a liquid,
- Oil excessively hot,
- Loss of oil,
- High operating temperature
Don't jump to any hasty conclusions. Some things
you see may be the result and not the cause. An example is broken
discharge reeds, carbon on the valve plate and copper plating.
One might say acid caused the failure, but this would not be
the cause. Rather, it is the result of oil and/or refrigerant
slugging causing the reeds to break - which caused excessive
temperature - which caused the carbon and formation of acid.
What do you look for on a valve plate?
- Is there breakage?
- Discharge reeds,
- Suction reeds
- Is there carbon?
- With breakage,
- Without breakage
- Is there copper plating?
- With breakage,
- Without breakage
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With this much of a review, we now try to analyze the system
from what we know of past service calls and what we see.
With the valve plate visible, we can see whether the damage
is broken reeds or whether it is temperature without broken
reeds. Remember, broken reeds cause temperature, but temperature
seldom breaks reeds. If the reeds are broken, we are then
looking for slugging - whether it be refrigerant, oil or
a combination of both. If the valve plate damage is temperature,
we must locate the device that is malfunctioning to cause
this high temperature condition. |
| Refer to
our 'Troubleshooting
Chart' and 'Temperature
Pressure Chart' for more details. |
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