2020 RETA Breeze Jan-Feb

Basic Preventative Maintenance Activities to Perform Regularly 5

BY DAVID PILLER INNOVATIVE REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS, INC P reventative Maintenance (PM) is critical to the function and lifespan of all industrial refrigeration systems. Without a proper PM schedule, maintenance becomes reactive instead of proactive. Compared to reactive maintenance, PM increases uptime and extends the life of equipment, saving businesses time and money in the long run. The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) sets the standards of PM for ammonia refrigeration, but there are other basic PM measures one should take on any industrial refrigeration system 1. Compressor Maintenance In refrigeration, the compressor is the single most important piece of equipment. On top of the standard IIAR inspections, it’s important to also follow Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance recommendations, perform vibration analysis, oil analysis, and oil filter changes regularly. Vibration analysis determines the conditions of the bearings and other internal components of the compressor. Routine vibration analysis catches issues before they manifest into a more serious problem. A certified Vibration Specialist performs this analysis after review of logged data to determine if there has been a change in normal operating parameters. Oil analysis involves pulling a sample of oil from the compressor and testing it to check for oil quality. Testing will tell the contaminants and viscosity of the oil.

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