Leak Detection Manual - Refrigeration Technologies
Contents
1. SPOTTING REFRIGERATION OIL RESIDUE Fortunately all refrigeration systems circulate com pressor oil internally Oil will blow off with refriger ant gas and mark the general areas of leakage Oil spots appear wet and have a fine coating of dust Determine that the wetness is oil and not con densate by rubbing the area with your fingers to feel for oil slickness The faint dark area on this vibration eliminator is evidence of oil refrigerant seepage 1 With the unit fully pressurized to equalization spray coat all oily areas with BIG BLU 2 Observe for bubble foam emission 3 Continue to observe the area for at least 10 minutes to allow time for micro leaks to build a cocoon of foam RELIABILITY OF OIL SPOTTING Oil spotting is the technician s first quick check but not reliable for the following reasons 1 Oil is always present at schraeder valves and access ports due to the discharging of refriger ant hose gauges Often these ports are falsely blamed as the main point of leakage 2 Oil blotches can originate from motors pumps or other sources 3 Oil residue may be the result of a previous leak 4 Oil is not always present at every leak site It may take many months even years of unit oper ation to cause enough oil blow off to accumulate on the outer side 5 Oil may not be present with micro leaks 6 Oil may not reach certain leak positions 7 Oil will not be present on new start ups TESTIN2. No pressurized machine is perfect THE IMPORTANCE OF SENSITIVITY Sensitivity is the measure of performance in leak finding devices High sensitivity means fine leak detection Low sensitivity is considered gross detection The advent of fine electronic sensing devices proves that microscopic leaks do in fact exist and leaks larg er than 0 5 oz yr can be detrimental to the operation of any refrigeration system Bubble testing is gross because only large leaks above 4 2 oz yr and leaks of proper position can be detected This can be demonstrated when a fitting is electroni cally sensed as leaking but secondary application of a bubble solution to confirm the site yields no bubble or foam formation The question immediately Ming tor T4 d confronting the technician 1s 1 Did the electronic give a false reading OR 2 Does the bubble solution lack the sensitivity to show the leak Refrigeration Technologies has conducted extensive studies investigating all the faults of bubble leak testing The failure of bubble solutions lies in their composi tion Most are based on shampoo bubble bath or dish washing soap and usually contain artificial thicken ers fluorescent dyes or glycerine that dramatically kill leak sensitivity THE SIX CLASSES OF LEAKS Refrigeration Technologies has determined six 6 types of leaks you will at sometime during your servicing experience come to know Class 1 Stan
3. a la i E 7 oe snid al i A p a rl ke Ai A n h r a F y j m i Ei i i r fe ie a f x i a 4 fees a i 3 Thon J w iF Fag s i a as F a Iy fi J a y n i E k a EER 1 A i Ere aoe t F O A BIG BLU is an exclusive composition of micro foaming compounds Foam Cocoons BIG BLU is the only gas leak detector that wet adhesives and coagulants The presence of dirt oil or water can reveal gas leakage down to 0 5 oz yr does not affect bubble production THE IMPORTANCE OF SENSITIVITY BIG BLU is the only fluid that can reveal gas leaks BIG BLU is an exclusive composition of esoteric far below 4 2 oz yr micro foamers coupled into a base of coagulants and wet adhesives BIG BLU the only K bubble detector capable of identifying gas leakage approaching the sensitivity of electronic sniffers Our solutions perform more effectively with the higher pressure HFC refrigerants and blends SUPER BLU is the most durable product of its kind Our temperature rating of 30 to 200 F is a true figure remaining fluid on the coldest of days while resisting evaporation on hot discharge lines This is our former Low Temp solution kicked up a few notches i to earn the A g title Super Blu a ae at Pa i The Professional Technician is very particular about his Leak Detector BRUSH ON BLU We redesigned the old dauber adding a h
4. G FOR EVAPORATOR SECTION LEAKS Many leaks that go undetected are in the Evaporator Coil This is because evaporator sections are cabinet contained buttoned up or framed into areas that do not allow easy access In order to avoid time consum ing labor to strip off covers ducting blower cages or the unloading of product an easy electronic screen Sniff the outlet of the condensate drain pipe to confirm or rule out an evaporator leak ing method is outlined 1 Turn off all system power including evaporator fan motors 2 Pressurize system to equalization including de frosting of freezer coils 3 Warm up and calibrate an electronic sniffer to its highest sensitivity 4 Locate the evaporator drain outlet or down stream trap 5 Position the detector probe at the drain opening Be careful that the probe does not come in contact with any water 6 Sniff a minimum of 10 minutes or until a leak is sensed Recalibrate the device and test again Two consecutive POSITIVE tests confirms an evapora tor leak Two consecutive NEGATIVE tests rules out a detectable evaporator section leak Refrigerant gas is heavier than air and gravity will cause the gas to flow to the lowest point If the evaporator section tests positive we must expose the coil and spray coat ALL surfaces with BIG BLU TESTING FOR CONDENSING SECTION LEAKS Just as the electronic sensor was used to screen for evaporator leaks we have devised
5. L We are all intuitively equipped with basic leak detec tion tools With our ears we can hear large leaks With our nose we can smell certain gases With our fingers MICRO LEAK ETECTOR SOLUTION Po oP ee HAZARD OR DEATH SCONNECGTS gt EQUIPMENT M l MENT trigue 7 sures al fl mort alimenta ion de meni distance 1 1 OEM s and field installers should always conduct a PDL test before charging a system with refrigerant Nitrogen pressurization to 450 psi reveals a cracked receiver seam indicated by white micro foam REQUIRED TOOLS we can feel for oil residue which surrounds many leaks sites But the best leak confirmation comes by sight The verification of a leak by watching bubbles or foam actively brew at the point of leakage This manual describes a systematic method of search using common leak detection tools 1 An electronic halogen instrument having a sensitivity of at least 0 50 oz yr 2 Our BIG BLU Bubble Foam Promoter 3 An inspection mirror 4 A light source The electronic sensor shall be used as a screening tool to sniff which component is emitting gas BIG BLU will be used to spray coat ALL sur faces of the target component We shall then observe for any bubble foam emissions using when necessary an inspection mirror to view blind sides and a light source for illuminating dark areas BASIC LEAK DETECTION Field Testing for the Standing Leak SL
6. WERETAKING EAKDETECTION TO DEEN HIGHER LEVEL ti of a j L y _ MICRO LEAK IETECTOR SOLUTIO al onl Mees be il t FOOD GRADE Non Toxic Biodegradable Oxygen Safe Copyright 2008 Printed in USA REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGIES Guide to Basic and Advanced Refrigerant Gas LEAK DETECTION By reading understanding and practicing the techniques outlined in this manual the Refrigeration Service Mechanic will finally master the art of Leak Detection The most under taught skill in our trade PG ess ony lee VARI ye UIC ET A Sie capers eee eerie eer ee l Lesson 2 THE IMPORTANCE OF SENSITIVITY 2 Lesson THE SIX CCEASSESOFTEARS a aa 2 Lesson 4 REQUIRED TOOLS a aeee e ee eee 3 Lesson 5 BASIC LEAK DETECTION Tes ne tor the Standing Beak aae ee eee ee 4 Spotting Refrigeration Oil Residue n mace ee eres The Reliability of Oil Spotting 2 ee Testing for Evaporator Section Leaks n nananana 5 Testing for Condensing Seetonelwealkcsen ee a ee eee 3 Suction Liquid Eme Leak Test re aa a eee 6 Lesson6 ADVANCED LEAK DETECTION Testing for Pressure Dependent Leakage 1 Testing for Vibration Dependent Leakage nnnnnann 8 Testing for Temperature Dependent Leakage 8 Testing for Combination Dependent Leakage 2 Testing for Cumulative Micro Leaks 9 REFRIGERATION 2008 Refrigeration Technologies All sea
7. a quick method for determining condensing section leakage 1 Calibrate an electronic sniffer to its highest sensi tivity and place the probe at the base of the unit usu ally under the compressor Unit should be fully pressurized to equalization 2 Cover the condensing unit with a cloth tarp or bed sheet to serve as a barrier against any outside air movement and also trap re frigerant gas Do not use a plastic material 3 Monitor for leakage for ten 10 minutes or until a leak is sensed Re calibrate and test again Two consecutive positive tests confirm condensing section leakage Two consecutive negative tests rule out a detect able leak 4 Use the electronic sniffer to test for leak ing bellows on pressure controls Remove the control box cover and place the probe within the housing Cover the control tightly with a cloth barrier and monitor for ten min Cover the condensing unit or section on a package unit to pick up any refrigerant drift The cloth barrier utes as above 5 If the results are positive uncover the equipment and begin spray coating with BIG BLU If the results are negative continue to the Suction Liquid line leak test gt prevents air dilution Basic Leak Detection Continued SUCTION LIQUID LINE LEAK TEST The longer the tubing runs between the evaporator and condensing unit the greater the odds for defects Count on all possibilities whether it be a typical sight glass drier
8. andle with a telescopic stem The new dauber transfers a flatter liquid free of counter indicating bubbles or foam Freeze resistant to about O F with a smooth and Approved silky viscosity for excellent hold Refrigeration Technologies Fullerton CA 92831 Ph 800 869 1407 Fax 714 526 4598 http www refrig com
9. connection leak to a poor solder joint hidden under pipe insulation 1 The suction line can be screened by cali lation Monitor at ten minute intervals while brating an electronic to it s highest sensitiv the system is at rest and fully pressurized to ity equalization It may be necessary to insert the 2 Tuck the probe underneath the pipe insu probe at several downstream points An insulated pipe being scanned for leakage It is important that the insulating material is not glued to the metal pipe and does not have any open gaps or tears 3 If a leak is sensed strip off insulation and 4 The liquid line almost always has oil resi apply BIG BLU to all pipe surfaces If no leak due as the result of leakage Coat all suspected was positively screened test liquid line liquid line connections with BIG BLU allow ing sufficient time 10 15 minutes for micro foam expansion ADVANCED LEAK DETECTION Leakage that avoids detection by the basic field test SL must be determined by Nitrogen pressurization PDL run vibration VDL or by adding heat TDL For advanced leak detection the electronic halogen detector cannot be used We shall rely on the super sensitive microfoamers unique to the BIG BLU fluid coating TESTING FOR PRESSURE DEPENDENT LEAKAGE PDL On newly connected field installations always proceed to the PDL Test The old habit of pressure checking with Refrigerant Gas besides being taboo is more expensi
10. ding Leaks SL are leaks that can be detected while the unit is at rest off and fully equal ized This shall include freezer evaporative coils warmed up by defrost SL leaks fortunately are the most common of all Class 2 Pressure Dependent Leaks PDL are leaks that can only be detected as the pressure is built Ni trogen is used to pressurize low sides to 150 psi and high sides to 450 psi Never use CO2 or Oxygen He lium or dry air is acceptable PDL testing should be conducted if no leaks are discovered by the SL test Class 3 Temperature Dependent Leaks TDL are leaks associated with the heat of expansion TDL usu ally occurs from high ambient air condenser block age or during defrost Class 4 Vibration Dependent Leaks VDL occur only during unit operation The mechanical strain of motion rotation refrigerant flow or valve actuation are all associated with VDL Class 5 Combination Dependent Leaks CDL are flaws that require two or more conditions in order to induce leakage For example tem perature vibration and pressure cause the discharge manifold on a semi hermetic compressor to ex pand and seep gas Class 6 Cumulative Micro Leaks CML are all the individual leaks that are too small to detect with standard tools The total loss over many years of operation slightly reduces the initial gas charge In practice a system having many fittings welds seams or gasket flanges the greater the amount of CM
11. e due to their large surface areas The next sequence begins with the discharge line across the condenser to the liquid line connection at the evaporator sec tion The evaporator section is the last and least desirable component to pressure test in the field This completes the PDL Test TESTING FOR VIBRATION DEPENDENT LEAKAGE VDL Leaks that only occur while the unit is in operation are some of the rarest leaks of all These are cracks that open and close from physical shaking Studies have shown that certain components and piping on refrigeration units will develop vibration leaks 1 The high pressure gas used during PDL should be dumped and the unit recharged with the proper refrigerant 2 Place the unit in operation and spray coat the following areas while viewing for Bubble Foam formation e All compressor bolts and gasket edges e Suction line connection at compressor e Suction line connection at evaporator e Discharge line connection at compressor e Discharge line connection at condenser e Vibration eliminators e Any joint or fitting on unsupported pipe runs e Expansion and solenoid valves e Cap tube connections e Sight glass This completes VDL Testing TESTING FOR PRESSURE DEPENDENT LEAKAGE PDL All mechanical connections expand when heated The connections on a re frigeration system are usually of soft metals such as copper brass or alumi num These metals actually warp when heated then contract a
12. led systems leak The leak could be at 1 lb per second or as slow as l oz every million years Every pressure system has leaks because flaws exist at every joint fitting seam or weld These flaws may be too small to detect even with the best of leak detection instru ments But given time vibration temperature and environmental stress these flaws become larger detectable leaks D EVERYTHING LEAKS A LEAK IS NOT Some arbitrary read ng on a meter Gas escapes at different times and at different rates In fact some leaks cannot be de tected at the time of the test Leaks may plug then re open under pecu liar conditions A LEAK IS A physical path or hole usually of irregular dimen sions The leak may be the tail end of a weld fracture a speck of dirt on a gasket or a microgroove between fittings SS rna An ae T z a lean TR Ree F Tn magnification shows actual metal separa joint Note the crack lines and other impurities of the melted metal tion The leak rate was measured to be 0 00003 oz yr R 22 gas After 1 year of system operation the cracks opened to 0 00016 oz yr It is incorrect to state that a unit has no leaks All equipment has leakage to some degree A sealed system which has operated for 20 years without ever need ing a charge is called a tight system The equipment still has leaks but not enough leakage to read on a guage or affect cooling performance
13. nd seal when heat is removed 1 Place the unit in operation and raise the op erating temperature by partially blocking the condenser air intake 2 Spray coat all metal connections one at a time and observe for leakage Re wet any extremely hot surface with water to keep the fluid from evaporating too quickly 3 When testing Evaporator components you may induce heat by placing the unit into de frost TESTING FOR COMBINATION DEPENDENT LEAKAGE CDL CDL testing is overlapped by the PDL VDLand TDL 1 A valve or fitting is subjected to high pressure procedures CDL can only be determined by merging 2 Spray coat the valve or fitting at least two possibly all three procedures into one 3 Tap the component repeatedly with a rubber mallet The CDL test requires the highest order of skills and to induce vibration If no leakage observation techniques Each suspected component 4 Gently add heat to the component If no leakage must be isolated and tested in the following manner continue on to another component This completes a labor intensive CDL test TESTING FOR CUMULATIVE MICRO LEAKS CML CML are measured using a Helium Mass Spectrom CML is considered an acceptable amount of leakage eter Such super fine leak testing is beyond the normal in our industry at this point in time operations of the Refrigeration Service Mechanic i d k S a F k 4 r a Se s a Fi e xi a s 4 ae ne ea 7 iy i S A r b n r
14. ve more time consuming and less reliable On existing systems the technician must properly remove and store any re frigerant charge 1 Pressurize the low side to 150 psi and the high side to 450 psi using dry Nitrogen Heli um or dry air If the high and low sides cannot be split by way of isolation valves pressurize the entire system to about 350 psi 2 Always conduct proper bubble testing by thoroughly saturating all surfaces with BIG BLU Allow up to 15 minutes reaction time for the microfoamers to expand into visible white cocoon structures Use an inspection mirror to view undersides and a light source for dark areas 3 Starting at the compressor coat all suspect ed surfaces Continue to coat all suction line connections back to the evaporator section 4 Spray coat all fittings starting with the dis charge line at the compressor to the condens er coil Spray coat all the soldered condenser coil U joints 5 From the condenser continue to spray coat all liquid line connections including the re ceiver valves seams pressure taps and any mounting hardware Continue the liquid line search back to the evaporator section 6 Any control line taps to the sealed system must be spray coated the entire length of their run all the way back to the bellow device 7 Expose the evaporator section and coat all connections valves and U joints Our first sequence of search started with the compressor and suction lin
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