No visible level in refrigerant site glass.

[piewie]

We recently delivered a brand new YVAA air cooled chiller to a big site locally. After the delivery the main contractors representative called to say there must be a leak on the chiller and we must come immediately and have a look. His reasoning being that he could not see a refrigerant level in the sight glass (Level Glass) mounted on the side of the evaporator. Our glorious leader went down to have a look. The chiller is far from complete no power or even water connections so he fitted a set of gauges took a reading, measured the ambient visually looked over the chiller for possible leaks,oil etc. He then told them that there did not appear to be any problems. However when the BDM went around to talk about payment for delivery they kept insisting that the chiller was not complete as there was no gas inside it as they could not see a level.

We are not really worried as we are quite confident that when we commission all will be revealed but as things here are very slow here it could quite possibly be a year before that happens.

Has anyone ever come across such a problem before? What sort of answers were given (please remember builders know everything).


Thanking everyone in advance!

[HVACRsaurus]

Pity it's not ammonia - give them a squirt in the face then ask 'em if there is any gas in..

Request documentation from manufacturer saying that chiller is supplied with refrigerant?

[Magoo]

Any excuse by construction company to delay progress payment for equipment delivered to site, is a common problem.

[Brian_UK]

Sight glass is to show that refrigerant is dry, it is not a level gauge and if it was it would only be correct when it is running.

Tell them that if they do not pay up then the chiller will be removed from site and the client told that any delays are due to their contractor being in breach of contract terms.

[piewie]

Theoretically we are the manufacturer, or rather there knowledgeable local agent

[piewie]

Hello Brian

This is not the liquid line sight glass but rather the Level Glass on the side of the cooler(evaporator).

[Grizzly]

Hi Piewie.
I work on a site where one of our customers has got one of these. Someone does not know what they are looking at!

The sight glass is in the side of the evaporator (Shell and Tube Falling Film) purely to be able to adjust the charge once the chiller is operational.
From memory these are more like a Centrif where the liquid refrigerant boils off across the tube bundle.

Tell then to stop wasting time and power up the unit. All then will be revealed!!

The refrigerant is not necessarily short just because it is not liquefied and at ambient temperature.
Someone is trying to be a smart arse!

In short a level is only visible when operational and loaded correctly!
Grizzly

[monkey spanners]

Could you weigh the charge out and back in again? (or kick them in the nuts)

[frank]

I would ask to see the qualifications of the main contractors representative to see if he is qualified to make such comments/assumptions.