water chiller piping considerations

[chillyblue]

Hi can anybody give me any information re process water cooling.

I.E.
differences between closed and open systems, advantages\disadvantages.
problems with height differences, water draining back etc.
basic piping layout considerations.

I have a water chiller(shell and tube) which is 5 mtrs higher than the buffer tank, i believe it to be an open system as the water is pumped out of the buffer tank (which are both on the floor) the water is pumped up to the water chiller which is 5mtrs higher on the roof.
When first started the outlet pipe line from the water chiller to the buffer tank was sucking in air!!
What will happen to the water when the water pump is turned off??, will it all drain back to the buffer tank??

are there any piping layout considerations that i should be aware of??

Cheers CB

[Tesla]

Hi chillyblue
There should be non return valves installed in the pipe work which keeps the cooler full of water. As for the pump sucking in air on start up.
You say on first start up it was sucking air - if this was the very first time it is normal.

[Iceman1956]

http://www.mcquay.com/mcquaybiz/literature/lit_systems/AppGuide/AG_31-003-1.pdf

This may help you a little, to understand the piping considerations.
Phil L

[joe-ice]

Thanks great pdf

[chillyblue]

Thanks for the link iceman.
Tesla, yes it was pulling air in on the outlet leg from the chiller returning to the buffer tank, in the end we had to shut down the inlet valve to the buffer tank to backup the water and stop air being pulled in.

CB