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21-08-2009, 04:10 PM #1
burst pipework explosion with pics
My boss has emailed me pics of a coil that has exploded at 1 of our sites in England.
The “blown” pipe is in the condenser coil on the discharge side of the compressor, it would appear that the HP switch may have failed and caused the condensing unit to run whilst in a high pressure condition, I would have expected the compressor to fail before the pipework, but it is an extremely old system.
Has anybody any other views / ideas on the cause of this?
Thanks in advance
Rob
The pics :
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21-08-2009, 05:56 PM #2
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
Is there not any safety valves etc?
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21-08-2009, 07:38 PM #3
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22-08-2009, 07:44 AM #4
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
This looks like a daikin?
We have got a couple of these and the motor frams is very poor and distorts. This leads to the belts shredding and either going very loose or shedding completely.
I have seen loads and loads of systems running without condenser cooling -either from the above or a faulty fan motor etc- and not seen an 'explosion' like that. Most compressors would usually lift their internal release valve before then.
The first picture looks like it's been kicked in rather than blown out.Last edited by multisync; 22-08-2009 at 07:56 AM.
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22-08-2009, 03:17 PM #5
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
What was this attached to?
What refrigerant was in the system?
The piping looks pretty thin-walled...Engineering Specialist - Cuprobraze, Nocolok, CD Technology
Rarefied Technologies ( SE Asia )
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22-08-2009, 05:11 PM #6
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
I don't think a faulty high pressure switch could make refrigeration system ends with an explosion in the event of condenser fan motors failurs.usually compressor relief valve releases the pressure if the pressure increased up to the 450 psi and as compressor temp. getting high the thermall protecter will react to safe the compressor. I would only assume that the said explosion was a result of accessive pressure being put to the system. Like using unregulated nytrogen in the event of pressure leak testing.
Last edited by Shibhrac; 22-08-2009 at 07:08 PM.
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22-08-2009, 10:46 PM #7
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
Looks like the end of a spun filter.
Brian - Newton Abbot, Devon, UK
Retired March 2015
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23-08-2009, 12:44 AM #8
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
Looks like more than one safety failed here. Just guessing it was possible that the system was excessivly overcharged. Asides the HP were any other faults found?
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23-08-2009, 02:06 AM #9
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
Looks like a serious screw-up on someones part, agree with Brian_UK that system overcharged. Possibly installed by a non-refrig tech.
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23-08-2009, 02:18 AM #10
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
Engineering Specialist - Cuprobraze, Nocolok, CD Technology
Rarefied Technologies ( SE Asia )
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23-08-2009, 02:05 PM #11
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
When I was much younger and still learning, I was working on a system with a blocked TEV and assumed it was short of gas - so I started putting more and more gas in. Luckily I had high and low gauges fitted. I noticed in about 10 seconds the HP gauge went to the end of the scale. I quickly turned unit off and relieved some pressure from the high side. It was like a hydrostatic pressure build up. Very very lucky. We learn by our mistakes. With the other units on site where the one above had an explosion it would be prudent to remove gas from a few of them to check charge by weight. Also find out ( if overcharged) who did it and educate that person.
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23-08-2009, 07:40 PM #12
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
I'm guessing here but I suspect it's lost it's gas charge by now so the chances of getting anyone to either admit they did or worse actually know they overcharged it and kept carrying on is unlikely in the extreme.
I think we need to know at what stage did this happen.Was it during normal operation, without an engineer being present, or during some repairs. More info needed for sure
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23-08-2009, 08:50 PM #13
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
Someone has been doing hot work in the last picture, maybe they changed the fan motor and damaged the coil in the process, bodged a repair together, and then later the repair blew.
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24-08-2009, 08:46 AM #14
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
If its on R410 it could be the copper wasn't suitable for the job too.
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24-08-2009, 01:29 PM #15
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
i would tend to agree with contactor... last guy at it seems to have hit the condensor also i dont think that unit is designed to be ducted .. there for higher heads etc etc
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24-08-2009, 01:37 PM #16
Re: burst pipework explosion with pics
No way a compressor can burst a pipe on vapour compression. It can only happen for liquid hit or improper nitrogen testing.
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24-08-2009, 05:41 PM #17
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