turbocor compressors
turbocor compressors
(OP)
does anyone have experience with the turbocor compressors? i'm currently looking for a project to use them but am a little cautious about useing it as it is a new product without a proven track record.
any comments please.
any comments please.





RE: turbocor compressors
RE: turbocor compressors
RE: turbocor compressors
RE: turbocor compressors
thanks for the info.
RE: turbocor compressors
What are " cold startup"????
RE: turbocor compressors
The reason for the failure within 24 hrs was a bad diode in the bearing sensor circuit causing it to fail. Turbocor had a new compressor the next day and its been fine since. I believe thier are about 200 currently in use in the US. The failure rate seems to be low.
I was just at a presentation by Turbocor. It was very interesting. A few of our members have installed them on retrofit jobs. The only real maintanence to them is the capacitor bank which needs to be replaced every 5 years. They are not field repairable except the electronics or guide vanes.
RE: turbocor compressors
How low are the ambient temperatures that caused problems on startup? I guess the problems weren't in australia? Any idea where they were exactly, and what do you mean by caused them to scramble (earlier post). Did they start up at all? Is this an ongoing problem as far as you are aware? Did they address this issue at the presentation they gave? I've heard the presentation they give at shows, and it doesn't cover this, was it at ASHRAE or ACCA that you heard it?
RE: turbocor compressors
I was talking with the Mammoth rep and he told me about the cold startup problems on some of the RTUs they were field testing using Turbocors. I dont know the specific details on the failure but they atributed it to being in the low ambient conditions. We are located in the North Eastern USA. I do not know if it was resolved but would have to think it has been as Turbocor is very interested in why their comps fail and resolving the issues. If I hear anything new I will post it.
RE: turbocor compressors
Basically their performance per dollar is less than existing technology. I expect that this product will improve as Turbocor gains field experience. They certainly made a good first attempt however.
RE: turbocor compressors
Great part load performance with decent full load performance within the 60-75 ton range.
Electronics are getting better with 3 in 1 board.
RE: turbocor compressors
The company I work for OK'D me to purchase 2 compressors for a retrofit, the 1st in the world. I designed the retrofit and used our in- house personnel to carry out the work. Both machines are operating flawlessly,one running 12 months, one for 7 months. Their performance is brilliant. They are remote aircooled on a Trane DX system with parallel chillers. There used to be 4x R600 compressors, now 2 Turbos. The backup and assistance from Turbocor, Boronia Technologies, and Multi Air Australia has been 2nd to none. We have since purchased 2 more compressors. If you want, come and have a look. We are in Newcastle NSW.
RE: turbocor compressors
I have to very strongly disagree with some of your comments, and am able to back up my comments with 18 months of personal experience with 2 of these machines, with 2 more currently being installed. Our aircooled turbos were commonly operating at around 190 suction, and up to 1500 discharge (R134A),down to 550 KPA. I forced our first compressor (artificially) to begin a surge,so it just shut down, and its monitoring program told me why and when.
Their onboard conrols will rectify surge situations before they occur, anyhow. As for low load performance, our machines regularly have long overnight runs down to 12- 13 amps/ Phase, leaving compressors 1/2 their size for dead.
RE: turbocor compressors
Can this compressor handle this? I have been to their website but their literature is a little fluffy.
Gracias,
Clyde
RE: turbocor compressors
I am glad you have had good performance with your machines. However, it is very difficult to perform a thorough evaluation on a unit installed in the field...you just don't have enough control over the operating conditions on the unit. Do you have calibrated water flow meters in the field installation? How are you determining their capacity is as claimed? How about the energy balance? Calibrated Power measurements? Testing on ARI certified test blocks is about the only way to put them through their paces in a controlled manner. McQuay has licensed their compressors. Perhaps a check with them would be enlightening. The onboard surge map of the compressor does keep it out of surge, but it limits the application range of the machine. It is a nice little compact unit, no one is denying that.
RE: turbocor compressors
We did, as a matter of fact, engage the services of some rather knowlegable people with some expensive- looking instruments to certify that both machines did, in fact perform as claimed. Completely satisfied, we then purchased 2 more.
I saw a McQuay compressor at the ARBS Exhibition in Melbourne recently, it was a cut away demo. Is this the model to which you refer?
RE: turbocor compressors
I know that McQuay has licensed the Turbocor compressor but I am not sure if they have started to display it at shows yet. McQuay has licensed other compressor technology from small companies before. For a while they were using a single screw design from Bernard Zimmer...perhaps they still are using it. What is the noise like on your Turbocor machines? I have never heard them in a field installation. I should think they would be very smooth and quiet. There is a small company in the US which is looking at the Turbocor machines...I think I heard that Mammoth Inc. may use the technology on its rooftops.
RE: turbocor compressors
The noise generated at full load is stated to be 70db@ 1 metre. I have used a mobile telephone 200-300 millimetres from the "noisy" side of of the machine. The person at the other end (of the phone) was unaware that the machine was operating. The noise is similar to that of a very quiet domestic vacuum cleaner. At loads up to,say,50%, the compressor is difficult to hear over the chilled water pump. Vibration in the compressor or discharge line is almost undetectable. I am in Australia, I dont know what is happening in America as far as who is using the machines, but, the more, the better.
Regards
Basenji
RE: turbocor compressors
Thanks for the information. It is always nice to hear from someone who actually uses the equipment rather than just the OEM. The user usually has an unbiased viewpoint. The OEM's always have some sort of agenda or propoganda to sort through.
Again Thanks..
Centrif