McQuay PFS-150B, PFS-170B, PFS-200B, PFS-215B, PFS-190B Installation Manual

Introduction

McQuay

StarGateTM

water-cooled chillers are completely assembled. factory wired. evacuated.
charged, tested and ready for installation. Each unit consists of a water-cooled condenser with
integral subcooler, multiple accessible semi-hermetic single screw compressors. replaceable tube
shell-and-tube evaporator. and complete refrigerant piping. Liquid line components included are
manual liquid line

shutoff valves. charging valves. filter-dryers. liquid line solenoid valves,

sightglass/moisture

indicators. and electronic expansion valves. Other features include compressor

heaters, and an advanced fully integrated microprocessor control system.

The electrical control center includes all safety and operating controls necessary for dependable
automatic operation. (the high and low pressure controls are external from the electrical control
center). Compressors are protected by solid-state overload protection and over temperature
protection.

Field

installed fused

disconnect Sw itch (furnished by

others) offers additional protection.

Receiving and Handling

Inspect the unit immediately after receipt for

possible

damage.

The unit is shipped FOB factory and

all claims for handling and shipping damage are

the

responsibility

of the

consignee. Leave the

shipping

skid

in place until the unit is in final position. This will aid in handling the equipment. Use
extreme care when rigging the equipment to prevent damage to the control center. or refrigerant
piping. See Dimensional Data for the center

of gravity of the

unit.

Lift the unit

by

fastening the ri

gging

hooks to

the

four corners of the evaporator where the rigging

eyes are located (see Figure I ). Use spreader bars between the ri

gging lines to prevent damage to the

control center.

Figure I, Rigging Eyes

Rigging eyes

Rigging eyes

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Installation

Installation must be performed by qualified personnel who are familiar with local codes
regulations, and experienced with this type of equipment

Start-up by

McQuayService

is included on all units sold for installation within North America

excluding Mexico. Two weeks prior notification of start-up is required. The contractor should obtain
a copy of the Start-up Scheduled Request Form from the sales representative or from the nearest
McQuayService office.

Location and Mounting

Mount the unit on a level concrete or steel base. Service clearance (at either end of the unit) is 14 feet
for units with

12-foot

long standard shells and 18 feet for units with

16-foot

long optional shells.
Evaporator and condenser tubes are rolled into the tube sheets to permit replacement. Clearance at all
other points, including the top, is 3 feet.

Make certain the floor or structural support is adequate to support the full operating weight of the
complete unit. Optional rubber-in-shear pads. or spring isolators can be ordered for use under each
corner of the base members.

It is not necessary to bolt the unit to the mounting slab or frame work:

although mounting holes are provided in the unit support at the four corners.

Compressor Condensation

Condensation occurs on the compressor surface when the temperature of the compressor surface is

lower than the ambient dew point temperature. Drain pans with drain connections are provided
underneath each compressor to collect the condensate. The compressor motor housing extends past
the drain pans. Install a floor drain close to the unit to collect condensate from motor housing and
condensate pans.

Vibration Isolators

Vibration isolator pads are shipped with the unit for field installation. These pads provide minimal

isolation. Vibration isolators are recommended on all upper level installations where vibration
transmission is a consideration. When vibration isolators are used. install springs under the main unit
supports. Adjust spring so the upper housing clears lower housing by at least

1/4"

(6mm) and not

more than

1/2"

(1

3mm).

If hold-down bolts are not used. install a rubber anti-skid under isolators.

Install vibration eliminators in water piping to reduce piping strain. vibration. and noise. Table

l

lists

spring and rubber-in-shear isolators for all PFS unit sizes

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IM 663

Evaporator and Condenser Water Piping

PFS evaporators and condensers are equipped with either victaulic or flange connections. The
installing contractor must provide matching connections.

Remove the solid-state temperature sensor and thermostat bulbs from the wells to prevent

damage to those components when welding on the victaulic or flange connections.

Connect the condenser with the inlet

water

entering at the bottom to maximize subcooling. The

condenser water will discharge from the top connection.

Support piping to reduce weight and strain on the fittings and connections. Be sure piping is

adequately insulated.Install a cleanable

20-mesh

water strainer in evaporator and condenser water

piping. install enough

shutoff

valves

to permit draining water from the evaporator or condenser

without draining the complete system.

CAUllUN

I

Freeze Notice: Neither the evaporator nor the condenser is self-draining. Both must be
blown out.

Include thermometers at the inlet and outlet connections and air vents at the high points of piping.
The water heads can be interchanged (end for end) allowing water connections to be made at either
end of the unit. Use new head gaskets when interchanging water heads. When water pump noise is
objectionable, use rubber isolation sections at both the inlet and outlet of the pump. Vibration
eliminator sections in the condenser inlet and outlet water lines are not normally required. Where
noise and vibration are critical, and unit is mounted on spring isolators, flexible piping connections
are necessary.

Water treatment

If unit is operating with a cooling tower, clean and flush cooling tower.

Make sure tower “blowdown”

or bleedoff is operating. Atmospheric air contains many contaminants which increases the need for

water treatment. The use of untreated water may result in corrosion, erosion, sliming, scaling, or
algae formation. A water treatment service is recommended.

McQuay

International is not

responsible for damage or faulty operation from untreated or improperly treated water.

Head pressure control, tower system

The minimum entering water temperature to the condenser must not be lower than 70°F (2

I _

1°C).

Use a three-way bypass valve around the tower to modulate the condenser water flow.Figure 6 shows
a three-way pressure actuator water regulating valve used for cooling applications. This regulating
valve will assure an adequate condensing pressure if the inlet condenser water temperature falls below
70°F). An optional

AOX-4

board located in the

MicroTech

panel will control a cooling tower bypass

valve or a varible speed condenser pump.

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Head pressure control, well water system

When using city or well water for condensing refrigerant, install a normally closed direct acting water
regulating valve in the outlet piping of the condenser. This regulating valve will assure an adequate
condensing pressure if the inlet condenser water temperature falls below 70°F. The condenser service
valve provides a pressure tap for the regulating valve. The valve can modulate in response to head
pressure. On shutdown. the valve closes. preventing water from siphoning out of the condenser.
Siphoning causes condenser waterside drying and accelerates fouling. If a valve is not used, Figure 7

illustrates the recommendation of a loop at the outlet. Size the loop height (H) to offset the negative

pressure caused by the siphoning effect. A vacuum breaker may be required.

Figure 6, Bypass valve

Figure 7, Well Water System

Loop required when no
regulating valve is used

/

V-d

Service
valve

H

Kl-

Y

r-

ld

T

From main

+ condenser

f

pump

To drain

Direct acting water
regulating valve

Relief Valve Piping

Follow the requirements of ANSUASHRAE Standard 15- 1994 for relief valve piping. The condenser
relief valve assembly consists of a tree valve and two relief valves. The tree valve must be fully front
or back seated to ensure only one relief valve is available for discharge.

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IM 663

Temperature and Water Flow Limitations

PFS units are designed to operate in conditions from

2 1

“F

(-8.9”C)

to 55°F (1O’C) leaving water

temperature on the evaporator side and 70°F (2 I. 1 “C) to 95°F (35°C) entering water temperature on
the condenser side.

Glycol in the evaporator is required on all applications below 40°F (4.4”C) leaving evaporator

fluid temperature. The maximum allowable water temperature to the cooler in a non-operating cycle

is

10j°F (40.6”(Z).

The non-operating leaving condenser water temperature maximum is 115°F

(46.1 “C).

Flow rates below the minimum values may cause freeze-up problems, scaling and poor
control. Flow rates above the maximum values will result in unacceptable pressure drops. excessive
nozzle and tube erosion and possibly cause tube failure.

Evaporator Freeze Protection

When freeze protection is a concern, do the following:

1. If the unit will not be operated during the winter. drain and flush the evaporator and chilled water

piping with glycol Drain and vent connections are provided on the evaporator.

2.

When using a cooling tower, add glycol solution to the chilled water system. Freeze point should

be approximately 10°F

(5.6”C) below minimum design ambient temperature.

Note: Freeze damage is not considered a warranty failure and is not the responsibility of
McQuay

International.

3.

Insulate field water piping. especially on the chilled water side.

Condenser Protection and Design Considerations

If pond or river water is used as a condensing medium and the water valves leak, the condenser and
liquid line refrigerant temperature could drop below the equipment room temperature on the

“off
cycle. This problem occurs when cold water continues to circulate through the condenser and the unit
remains off due to satisfied cooling load.If this occurs:

1.

Cycle the condenser pump off with the unit.

2.

Verify the liquid line solenoid valves are operating properly.

Chilled Water Thermostat

The PFS water-cooled chiller is equipped with the MicroTech leaving water controller. Be careful
when working around the unit to avoid damaging lead wires and sensor cables. Check lead wires
before running the unit. Avoid rubbing the lead wires on the frame or other components. Verify the

lead wires are firmly anchored. If the sensor is removed from the well for servicing. do not wipe off

the heat conducting compound supplied in the well.

Refrigerant Charge

All units are designed for use with HCFC-22 and are shipped with a full operating charge. The

operating charge for each unit is shown in the Physical Data Table.

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