dkarlberg
24-09-2012, 04:22 PM
We need some help getting our plate freezing system working correctly. We bought a slightly used plate freezing system that needed some work. We hired a firm to complete the work, but the machines does not perform as it should.
Now we have the machine in a remote Alaskan location, and have to figure out the correct engineering before this next salmon processing season (June 2013)
This system is extremely hard to start when beginning freezing, and when it gets really cold and freezing is complete it also is hard starting. The machine is causing power interruptions in the community where it is located.
To even get the machine running, one has to close the King valve manually and continue to "bump" the electric motor until the crankcase pressure falls below 110psi, and then finally open the king valve fully. Sometimes this process takes hours.
The unit is powered by a Carlyle 5H120 with a 75hp electric motor. This machine has a 120 gallon high pressure tank, and a 120 gallon low pressure tank. It has 15 36" x 72" Jackstone plates and is a flooded system running on R404a. (aprox 1200 lbs of R404a)
The condenser is a Keeprite air condenser model KHC 1A12 027-A-TAC-1697. I believe it is rated at approx. 33 tons at a 30 degree temp differential. Take this with a grain of salt, though as I am a fisherman, and not a refrigeration engineer.
The system is unstable and the hot gas does not work. The compressor has air cooled heads.
We just need some good engineering to make this unit perform efficiently, and would eternally grateful for any good advice to solve our problems.
We suspect that this system was not engineered correctly to begin with and have run out of money for head-scratching.
You can contact me offline at douglaskarlberg at yahoo dot com
Now we have the machine in a remote Alaskan location, and have to figure out the correct engineering before this next salmon processing season (June 2013)
This system is extremely hard to start when beginning freezing, and when it gets really cold and freezing is complete it also is hard starting. The machine is causing power interruptions in the community where it is located.
To even get the machine running, one has to close the King valve manually and continue to "bump" the electric motor until the crankcase pressure falls below 110psi, and then finally open the king valve fully. Sometimes this process takes hours.
The unit is powered by a Carlyle 5H120 with a 75hp electric motor. This machine has a 120 gallon high pressure tank, and a 120 gallon low pressure tank. It has 15 36" x 72" Jackstone plates and is a flooded system running on R404a. (aprox 1200 lbs of R404a)
The condenser is a Keeprite air condenser model KHC 1A12 027-A-TAC-1697. I believe it is rated at approx. 33 tons at a 30 degree temp differential. Take this with a grain of salt, though as I am a fisherman, and not a refrigeration engineer.
The system is unstable and the hot gas does not work. The compressor has air cooled heads.
We just need some good engineering to make this unit perform efficiently, and would eternally grateful for any good advice to solve our problems.
We suspect that this system was not engineered correctly to begin with and have run out of money for head-scratching.
You can contact me offline at douglaskarlberg at yahoo dot com