Compressor Burnout and Acid Management: HVAC 101

[@manschool4992]

BTW, hang in there with the great content. YT algorithms just kicked in to show me your channel. I'm on YT daily studying and found you guys because I'm studying ahead for the VRV Daikin Install class next month. That's how you showed up. Once the techs get ahold of you your views and subs will explode. Takes time I guess.

[@tom24057]

I echo this. Algorithm sent it my way this week. Great Daikin content. Thankyou 🇬🇧

[@jasonjohnsonHVAC]

Another important point.....weigh and compare the volume of oil removed from failed compressor. A factory installed compressor will have x amount of oil. The service compressor will have less oil in it. I just went through this. The original compressor had 42oz of POE....i weighed the oil and had 19oz of oil out in the system....i removed the txv....used flush and boat load of nitrogen. New compressor had 28oz of oil. I pumped in 10oz of new POE. Used an HH drier and acid scavenger. Tested the oil a week later.....i didn't show any remaining acid ( granted it was one of those 2 second quick checks, so reliability of the test has some error built in ) i feel confident i did my job to the best of my abilities

[@manschool4992]

Great vid. Lot to unpack and yes, I took notes. But I don't want to assume what a triple vac is. Does that mean getting down to below 300 microns, releasing the vac, then do the same thing again two more times?

[@garypoplin4599]

11:29 - On a burnout repair I could justify replacing the liquid receiver, also. How else would you get the burned oil out of the receiver?

[@marknasri1201]

Thx

[@xraybravo7180]

What about black stuff or discoloration inside the pipes p On package heat pump unit ? I had burn out it wasn't severe but suction pipe was pretty dark carbon so I just installed newel suction dryer.

[@MAINTMAN73]

I'm working on a Daikin oil cooler with a sever burnout. When I did the flush I got chunks of mystery material and green oil / flush. After about 3 gallons of flush ( yes 3 gallons ) the flush slowly turned from light blue to clear. I am assuming that is a chemical reaction to the acid attacking the copper in the condenser. I was flushing the condenser BTW. The evaporator cleaned up really quick with the same type of contamination. Does anyone else have an idea about when the green color came from? I know it wasn't dye. the oil was so acidic that it burned the skin on my fingers. Oh ya that stuff smells awful and is about imposable to get off of your fingers.

[@xraybravo7180]

Will any of it stay in evap after flush of nitrogen? I have fear micro channel evap condenser or etc

[@MAINTMAN73]

@@xraybravo7180 honestly, I I use acetone to flush out evaporators and condensers and then follow that up literally with a flesh of compressed air. Then a flush with dry nitrogen before the vacuum pump. The best advice I can give is to pull a good hard vacuum if you can and then change your oil repeat a couple times. I did have a unit one time that in hindsight I don't think I got all the acetone out like I thought I did but it boiled out into the vacuum pump oil and I wondered why I couldn't get the vacuum down. After changing the oil a couple times I got all the acetone to flash out of the system and got a good hard vacuum going. But it was a little bit of a head scratcher trying to figure out why it wouldn't make a solid vacuum down to about 200 microns or less. If you're solvent is still evaporating off you probably won't get below about 2000 microns.

[@jasonjohnsonHVAC]

What are your thoughts on the Sporlan vs Nu Calgon ( phase 3 ) test kits?

[@MAINTMAN73]

Nu Calgon is my vote.

[@DavidRatliff]

Can you get all the acid out of the system if there is a compressor burnout? Such as in a GeoThermal unit.

[@MechanicalPros]

Hey David! Yep, as long as you follow proper cleanup procedures and use new refrigerant you should be able to remove all of the acid from the system.

[@MAINTMAN73]

Yes, you should be able to absolutely get all the acid out of the system I have had some small Daikin chillers that burned out so badly I had to isolate the evaporator and condenser flush them with a neutralizing chemical and then flush all the chemical out with solvent then try the system Purge with nitrogen and Vac as usual. You can also use a high acid suction dryer if you're using a system large enough that the capacity of the suction dryer won't affect your total charge and performance. The system I'm talking about only held about 4 lb of r407c

[@epicone2449]

Severe burn out is when all the oil comes out black