Repair of semi-hermetic Compressors
Construction
All typical refrigeration systems also work similarly: in a closed circuit, a compressor compresses the refrigerant, which in turn circulates in the cooling system and is cooled in the condenser. It then goes to the fan and thus cools the interior. This happens very quickly and countless times in succession, so that the coolant cools the air more and more on demand. The refrigeration process is, as already mentioned, a closed cycle. A traditional refrigeration system consists of various basic components such as compressors, condensers, expansion parts and evaporators. The compressor is the most important and also the most expensive component of any dapf compression refrigeration system, recognisable by its em boiler. The boiler stores the compressed air and thus reduces the number of times the drive and compressor have to be switched on and off. A high-quality compressor is most often driven by a belt, which reduces the speed of the compressor in a way that is gentle on the material and also makes the compressor quieter. There are also oil-free units, but these are considered more durable. Their disadvantage is a low oil input into the compressed air. Also noteworthy are compressors with universal motors, whose disadvantage is: high speed causes high noise pollution, which in turn is a reason for wear of motor carbons, which can only be remedied by repairing compressors.
Repair and Diagnosis
Basically, compressor repair is unavoidable in most cases of air conditioning damage. In all cases, it is also necessary to carry out a comprehensive check of the compressor so that the refrigeration unit can work fully again.
The faults that apply to your compressor depend on the individual equipment of the machine.
The instructions for safety and environmental protection given in the operating instructions as well as the rules and regulations for handling compressors must be observed.
Our service department has compiled an excerpt of all possible faults. But the first step in the event of a malfunction should always be to read the operating instructions!
Below is a list of the most common malfunctions of semi-hermetic compressors:
- Compressor does not start;
- Compressor starts with difficulty;
- Engine hums when switched on
- Engine becomes extremely warm/hot;
- Abnormal noises;
- Motor protection triggers after longer running time;
- Compressor runs constantly;
- Compressor delivers too little;
- Ultimate pressure is not reached;
- Compressor switches too frequently;
- Compressor switches off;
- Pressure switch does not relieve after switching off;
- Compressor consumes too much Oil/Refrigerant;
- Piston rings worn or damaged after a short time.
Costs for repairing semi-hermetic compressors: Repair or Replacement?
Repairing semi-hermetic refrigeration compressors can be expensive, but it does not always have to be. If you are not able to do it yourself, it is worth contacting a professional and trying your luck at repair. From experience, we can say that our customers prefer to have their compressors repaired than to dispose of the faulty unit and get a new one. But in recent years the ever-increasing seclusion of technical products has increasingly led to a tendency not to be able to repair defective units. On the other hand, there are hardly any specialised companies that can procure a repair. In refrigeration, too, people tend to dispose of rather than repair, even though most defective semi-hermetic compressors are repairable. In fact, it is only a very small number of refrigeration units that can no longer be disposed of, which can really only happen in the case of complete destruction of the housing and only applies to reciprocating compressors. The defective screw compressors are really difficult to repair: Housing and screw must both be functional. Scroll compressors are also almost impossible to restore if there is a defect in the mechanical section. However, if there is a defect in a reciprocating compressor, it may be beneficial for refrigeration engineers to consider repairing or using a replacement compressor.
When a remanufactured compressor is used by the professional instead of a new one, the customer benefits from about 40 % lower price than buying a new product, which also plays a role. Another convincing advantage is the situation when the refrigeration specialist can also obtain an identical replacement compressor for older models that are no longer available in the normal trade. In this case, the rest of the refrigeration system does not need to be modified.
If you systematically search for faults professionally and find them quickl, the costs can be kept as low as possible. It only gets really expensive when the compressor (the most important element of the system) stops working. As a rule, repair is unfortunately very often unproductive. Experience shows that only a refrigeration technician will replace the entire compressor with a new part. If you have any questions regarding repair or replacement, please do not hesitate to contact our service department using the corresponding form.
Please note that remote diagnosis is not possible with us, but an online enquiry via [email protected] or via WhatsApp, a phone call or fax to us is always worthwhile. We would be happy to advise you on your individual requests for compressor repair and testing.