In 9 months, I have lost 3 condenser coils for a 55 tons Carrier Aqusnap chiller to cracked joint at where the aluminum high pressure line joints the tube sheet. They are the microchannel coils which are very expensive. The condenser coil has 3 high pressure lines coming out from the tube sheet.
The first time it happened was at the middle line, my chiller tech just replaced the whole coil with another. After one week, the joint on the new one cracked. Second time, my chiller tech said it was machine vibration so he put in vibration absorbers on the copper lines leading to those high pressure lines to the coil. After less than one week, the the latest one failed/cracked at the top joint. My tech plans to try it for the fourth time this week; this time he said he will do his best to minimize straining those joints and put braces if needed to minimize cracking at those joints...
Anybody has similar experiences with such failure? I can't afford to have the chiller down so many times and so many expensive coils wasted. Your advice on how to avoid this failure is greatly appreciated.
The first time it happened was at the middle line, my chiller tech just replaced the whole coil with another. After one week, the joint on the new one cracked. Second time, my chiller tech said it was machine vibration so he put in vibration absorbers on the copper lines leading to those high pressure lines to the coil. After less than one week, the the latest one failed/cracked at the top joint. My tech plans to try it for the fourth time this week; this time he said he will do his best to minimize straining those joints and put braces if needed to minimize cracking at those joints...
Anybody has similar experiences with such failure? I can't afford to have the chiller down so many times and so many expensive coils wasted. Your advice on how to avoid this failure is greatly appreciated.
