ALARMS AND FAULTS

ALARMS AND FAULTS

It is of critical importance to the long term health of the compressor that EVERY time a chiller is visited, or contacted via remote contact, there is a detailed review of the FAULTS and EVENTS logs from the chiller controller.

Any ALARMS or FAULTS being displayed must be examined to determine of the alarm or fault is the result of a routine event (such as a power failure) or is being generated due to some abnormal operating condition.

For most of the operating limits of the compressor, there is an ALARM limit and a FAULT limit.  Normally, when the compressor exceeds an ALARM  limit, the compressor controls will attempt to limit the compressor in some manner as to avoid getting to the FAULT limit and to return compressor operation to the point where it is no longer in ALARM.

Exceeding a FAULT limit will cause the compressor to shut down.

Of particular concern are FRONT RADIAL BEARING DISPLACEMENT FAULTS that are not associated with a power failure.  In the case where there are repeated FRONT RADIAL BEARING DISPLACEMENT FAULTS there is a significant probability that these faults were generated as a result of the compressor entering a ¨surge¨ condition.

Any fault that is occurring repeatedly bears detailed investigation to determine and eliminate the cause of the fault.

Clients should be routinely advised to report any ALARM or FAULT condition to a trained Turbocor Service Technician. 

Ignoring ALARM and/or FAULT conditions is opening the door to a potential compressor failure.