Water Chiller Evaporator Leaks

[Whisty]

Has anyone else experienced an excessive amount of shell and tube evaporator failures lately? I haven't seen one for quite a while and now I have had 2 in 6 weeks. I have pulled the bundle from one machine and found two pinholes in the same line within a foot of each other. No sign of freeze up etc, it just looks like poor quality copper has been used.

Regards

Whisty

[US Iceman]

Hi Whisty,

Where were the holes in the tubes?

Close to the tube sheets?

[slingblade]

No, not done one for a while. does remind me of two chillers around the 300 kw size piped to a bulk tank which a company flushed with acid. only problem was the flush was supposed to be 24 hours but for some reason they left it in for 2 months, the result was very amusing indeed, and costly.

[Whisty]

There were no known "water treatment" issues and the tube has pinholed midway between baffles.

I only ask since there have been rumours circulating lately that copper quality on some manufacturers chillers has been suspect due to cost cutting.

Whisty

[abdulazman]

Hi Whisty,

Conduct proper Eddy Current Inspection on those vessels.