Old Ammonia compressor still working

[RamHernan]

Hello guys:
We still have some old compressor working in an ice factory, this is due the fact we still use a waterfall and a turbine, so the speed range is very broad to be used by modern and more delicate compressors.
This howe Compressor, i ignore its model, have some time in reserve but I still have a York 9X9 giving some problem and I need to put this Howe Compressor at work, problem is my father was the only one that knows how to purge and start it bur sadly he passed away later last year and we have no manuals or any useful infor about it and i wonder if one of you knows this machine and you may give me some input about? where to find a manual, info about how to purge it and start it?
thank you so much in advance for any help you may give me in this regard

[josef]

YORK or Frick?

[RANGER1]

RamHernan,
Do not know, but maybe these people can help you.

https://arescorefrigeration.com/howe-corporation-2/

[RamHernan]

Thank you so much for your answers!
RANGER1; i will look there, thank you so much
Josef; the compression in the photo is a HOWE compressor, i ignore the model, its not specified in the plate.

[josef]

I'm sorry, I only know Frick HDI.
Josef.

[NH3LVR]

Just curious. I do not recall seeing a machine with two sets of suction ports. Can someone explain this?

[RANGER1]

I can’t explain, but these type of machines can have a lot of configurations that I have not seen, only in manuals.
Dual suctions that can run at different pressures due to porting in cylinder
economiser connections, similar to above.
Unload one cylinder with bypass valve.
Valves so yo can reverse flow to pump out discharge line, or condenser.
Probably more!
Pretty smart, inventive, pioneering people.
That why hard to come up with new mechanical ideas, as has mostly been done before.

[RamHernan]

Hello NH3LVR
In fact this compressor have 2 suction ports, i remember my dad call it "booster" ; hence my trouble figuring out how to set up, it have a very complex manyfull . the first suction is located at the botom of the cylinder and the second one goes at mid way. I ignore if the "booster" is opening both suction ports at the same time??
I imagine, as RAGER1 says, it have someting to do with wotking the compressor at half capacity
You can see it in the images attached in the OP.

[NH3LVR]

I started out working on these old machines. Unfortunately my old employer retired a couple of years ago. He had the manuals for all the old machines.
If we had a model number would help. Perhaps the nameplate has been painted over?
My best guess is since your Dad called it a booster that it was set up to run as a first (Booster) AND a second stage. If you make a diagram of the system we might be able to sort this out.

[knighty]

not much help to you.... but this is powered via a water wheel?

do you have any more photos? I'm very interested in this :-)

[NH3LVR]

Many years ago I saw an old and very large machine powered by a water source. Wish I could see it again. It was at Diamond Fruit in Hood River Oregon. There was no crankcase and I understand a liquid slug made things quite exciting in the engine room.

[RamHernan]

Thank you so much for you interest! NH3LVR, i will try to make a diagram about the entire system, meanwhile let me show you the nameplate, it says almost nothing:16092
and for you guys, let me share you some more images, from the turbine (not a water wheel) and the other compressors we have and we need to find spare parts suppliers in special the 7X7 frick
16093

[RamHernan]

16094
16095
16096
Something i cant get it well, i get a valve and a pipe seems to be the crankcase pump out system but it seems to connect the intake and the exaust lines!, how this can be?
16097
And about the manifold, do you know how this works? ir have tons of valves and pipes interconnectig all!
16098

Thank you so much in advance for all your help!

[NH3LVR]

I was hoping the original poster would come back to this thread. I found it quite interesting.
Image 1269a is of a relief valve between the Suction and Discharge, in case of high pressure.
1254b is the one that I find interesting. I have never seen a setup like this.

[RANGER1]

I was hoping the original poster would come back to this thread. I found it quite interesting.
Image 1269a is of a relief valve between the Suction and Discharge, in case of high pressure.
1254b is the one that I find interesting. I have never seen a setup like this.

NH3LVR, found these interesting links, off the subject I know

https://www.coolingpost.com/features/iconic-refrigeration-frozen-in-time/

https://www.rses.org/assets/serviceapplicationmanual/620-88.pdf

[NH3LVR]

RANGER1:
Love it. Learned on old machines and never got over them.
Used to hand-lap valves and scrape bearings.
Sadly most are gone now. Expensive to fix and many parts are too worn out to save.