If your business uses an industrial ammonia refrigeration system, it’s important to keep it in good condition and follow all safety rules and regulations. In fact, if impurities enter your, refrigerant, it can create a host of problems. Here are ways that contamination can happen and what you can do to prevent it.
How Contamination Occurs
Ammonia (NH3) refrigerant is anhydrous, which means it doesn’t contain water. However, NH3 attracts water easily. In fact, moisture readily enters a system and mixes with the refrigerant. Here are some of the ways this happens:
* System charging – it’s easy to experience contamination when you add industrial ammonia refrigeration to a system. For example, you have to open valves for charging, and it’s vital to remove all air from the system before charging.
* Leaks – any leaks in the system can cause contaminants from the air to enter, and this includes moisture.
* Valves – if valves have packing, it’s a source of potential contamination.
* System repairs – when you make repairs to the refrigerant system, you run the risk of contamination and leaks.
* Refrigerant breakdown – Over time ammonia can breakdown.
Hazards of Contamination
If your industrial ammonia refrigeration system gets too much moisture content, it can lead to freezing because water’s freezing point is lower than NH3. Also, a contaminated refrigerant isn’t efficient, and your system has to work harder. This leads to greater energy consumption and added stress on components.
Contamination can accelerate corrosion. This can cause stress cracks and leaks.
Solving Contamination Issues
Here are steps for contamination prevention:
* Better employee training
* Allow only authorized employees system access
* Maintenance safety procedure awareness
* Scheduled preventative maintenance – contact your ammonia refrigeration specialists about preventative maintenance programs. They can give you cost-effective plans to make sure your system stays in good condition.