AN

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF

PERMAFROST TREATMENT FOR

ON A CARRIER 30 GB WATER CHILLER AT THE PCCW EXCHANGE BUILDING TAI PO MARKET, HONG KONG, SAR

Prepared by Andrew Pang

May 2004
Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia 1

INTRODUCTION
The aim of this report is to examine the effects of a product known as PermaFrost upon one of the refrigeration circuit of the air-cooled Carrier 30BG060012E water chiller at the PCCW Building, Hong Kong. PermaFrost has previously been claimed to enhance the performance of refrigeration and air conditioning systems elsewhere. Literature from the Polar Oil Company (which markets the product) states that PermaFrost a molecular technology that relies on highly activated thermal conductive compounds - will improve heat transfer on metal surfaces and increase lubricity of the refrigerant oil. It further states: When PermaFrosts Thermo-Conductive compound is added to the compressor, it blends with the oil and moves through the system. As each molecule attaches itself to metal surfaces within the system, it displaces dirt, carbon deposits, and stagnant oils, eventually forming a thin layer. As a result, the system can move more heat for the same amount of compressor action. Energy demand and consumption can be reduced.

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

METHODOLOGY
The testing procedure included an analysis of the refrigeration system on two occasions: 1) Before the addition of PermaFrost, and 2) After the addition of the product. To measure the performance of the refrigeration system, an ETM refrigeration system analyser was used to datalog the operating conditions of the systems during testing. For each test, the analyser collected the data on the following operating conditions over a 9 to 12 hour period at one minute interval: Power input Cooling capacity Coefficient of performance (COP) Suction superheat Liquid subcooling Compressor discharge temperature Evaporating temperature & pressure Condensing temperature & pressure

TESTING
The refrigeration system of the chiller was first tested on February 23, 2004 before the product, PermaFrost was introduced into the system and then on April 18, 2003 after the treatment. On both occasions the compressor was running at full capacity. In order to have the same yardstick for comparing the performance of the refrigeration system for the two tests, the data used in the analysis for both the pre-test and post test were for those steady state periods where the condensing temperature and pressure were approximately similar. Due to varying ambient conditions, the data used in the pre-test was taken during the night and for the post test during the day. The mean condensing temperature and pressure for the pre-test were 46.39C and 16.85 Bar respectively and for the post test were 46.40C and 16.86 Bar respectively

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

RESULTS OF TESTING
Detailed results of the operating conditions are provided in the following charts, all found in Appendix A: 1. Pre-treatment Test (February 23 - 24, 2004) Cooling Capacity, Power Input & Coefficient of Performance Discharge, Condensing, & Evaporating Temperatures, Superheat and Subcooling Evaporator & Condenser Pressures

Chart 1A: Chart 1B: Chart 1C: 2.

Post-treatment Test (April 18 - 19, 2004) Cooling Capacity, Power Input & Coefficient of Performance Discharge, Condensing, & Evaporating Temperatures, Superheat and Subcooling Evaporator & Condenser Pressures

Chart 2A: Chart 2B: Chart 2C:

Observations A comparison of the mean operating conditions for each of the tests are summarised in table below:
Test Results : Operating Mean Values Pre-treatment 88.66 31.10 2.85 93.42 -1.04 46.39 18.96 5.80 16.85 3.81 Post-treatment 102.41 31.08 3.32 96.30 -4.31 46.40 12.85 10.02 16.86 3.31 % change 15.5 -0.06 16.5 0.03 -314 0.02 -32.2 72.8 0.06 -13.1

Cooling Capacity (kW) Power Input (kW) Coefficient of Performance, COP Discharge Temperature (C) Evaporating Temperature (C) Condensing Temperature (C) Liquid Subcooling (K) Suction Superheat (K) Condensing Pressure (bar) Evaporating Pressure (bar)

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

From this table, a number of observations can be made about the effects of PermaFrost on the chiller: Cooling capacity increased by 15.5 % in the post-treatment test. This indicates a significant improvement in heat transfer in the evaporator. The COP (a ratio of the cooling capacity and power input) increased by 16.5% in the post-treatment test. This indicates a significant improvement in the overall system performance. The decrease in the evaporating temperature and pressure further indicates significant improvement in heat transfer in the evaporator. The decrease in the liquid subcooling and increase suction superheat in the tests do not appear to have impact on the system performance. The changes in power input and compressor discharge temperatures were insignificant.

CONCLUSION
The tests carried out on the chiller indicated an improvement in the cooling capacity of 15.5% and an overall increase in system performance of 16.5 % after treatment with PermaFrost. The increase in cooling capacity and system performance will result in the compressor using less energy to achieve the same cooling effect on the chilled water as prior to treatment with Permafrost. The decrease in energy usage by the compressor will correspond approximately to the increase in the system performance. This is achieved by a reduction of the compressor run time to produce the same cooling effect on the chiller. The salient results are summarised in the bar graphs in Appendix B.

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Pre Treatment Test

February 23-24, 2004
Appendix A

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Chart 1A - Carrier Chiller at PCCW: Operating Cooling Capacity, Power Input & COP ( Pre- treatment )
100.00 Cooling Capacity [ Mean value: 88.66 kW ] 90.00

80.00

70.00

60.00 Value

50.00

40.00 Power Input [ Mean value: 31.10 kW ] 30.00

20.00

10.00 COP [ Mean value: 2.85 ] 0.00 0:02 0:16 0:30 0:44 0:58 1:12 1:26 1:40 1:54 2:08 2:22 2:36 2:50 3:04 3:18 3:32 3:46 4:00 4:14 4:28 4:42 4:56 5:10 5:24 5:38 21:00 21:14 21:28 21:42 21:56 22:10 22:24 22:38 22:52 23:06 23:20 23:34 23:48 5:52

Feb 23 - 24, 2004

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Chart 1B - Carrier Chiller at PCCW: Operating Temperatures ( Pre- treatment )

95 Discharge Temp [ Mean value: 93.42C ] 85

75

65

Temperature [C]

55 Condensing Temp [ Mean value: 46.39C ] 45

35

25 Subcooling [ Mean value: 18.96C ] 15 Superheat [ Mean value: 5.80K ] 5 Evaporating Temp [ Mean value: - 1.04C ] -5 0:02 0:16 0:30 0:44 0:58 1:12 1:26 1:40 1:54 2:08 2:22 2:36 2:50 3:04 3:18 3:32 3:46 4:00 4:14 4:28 4:42 4:56 5:10 5:24 5:38 21:00 21:14 21:28 21:42 21:56 22:10 22:24 22:38 22:52 23:06 23:20 23:34 23:48 5:52

Feb 23 - 24, 2004

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Chart 1C- Carrier Chiller at PCCW: Operating Pressures ( Pre- treatment )

18 Condensing Pressure [ Mean value: 16.85 Bar ] 16

14

12 Pressure [Bar]

10

6 Evaporating Pressure [ Mean value: 3.81 Bar ]

0 0:02 0:16 0:30 0:44 0:58 1:12 1:26 1:40 1:54 2:08 2:22 2:36 2:50 3:04 3:18 3:32 3:46 4:00 4:14 4:28 4:42 4:56 5:10 5:24 5:38 21:00 21:14 21:28 21:42 21:56 22:10 22:24 22:38 22:52 23:06 23:20 23:34 23:48 5:52

Feb 23 - 24, 2004

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Post Treatment Test

April 18-19, 2004
Appendix A

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Chart 2A - Carrier Chiller at PCCW: Operating Cooling Capacity, Power Input & COP ( Posttreatment )

100.00

Cooling Capacity [ Mean value: 102.41 kW ]

80.00

Value

60.00

40.00 Power Input [ Mean value: 31.08 kW ]

20.00

COP [ Mean value: 2.85 ] 0.00 4:43:01 5:01:01 5:19:16 5:37:21 5:55:16 6:13:16 6:31:16 6:50:11 7:08:46 7:27:26 7:46:11 8:05:01 8:22:06 8:40:45 8:59:26 9:17:25 9:35:45 9:53:41 10:11:31 10:29:46 10:48:06 11:05:46 11:24:11 11:41:51 11:58:51 12:16:10 12:33:56 12:51:56 13:09:36 13:26:16 13:43:51 14:01:31 14:18:51 14:36:31 14:53:36 15:10:51 15:28:16 15:45:56

April 18 - 19, 2004

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Chart 2B - Carrier Chiller at PCCW: Operating Temperatures ( Post- treatment )

95

Discharge Temp [ Mean value: 96.30C ]

75

Temperature [C]

55 Condensing Temp [ Mean value: 46.40C ]

35

15

Subcooling [ Mean value: 12.85C ] Superheat [ Mean value: 10.02 K ] Evaporating Temp [ Mean value: - 4.31C ] 4:43:01 5:01:01 5:19:16 5:37:21 5:55:16 6:13:16 6:31:16 6:50:11 7:08:46 7:27:26 7:46:11 8:05:01 8:22:06 8:40:45 8:59:26 9:17:25 9:35:45 9:53:41 10:11:31 10:29:46 10:48:06 11:05:46 11:24:11 11:41:51 11:58:51 12:16:10 12:33:56 12:51:56 13:09:36 13:26:16 13:43:51 14:01:31 14:18:51 14:36:31 14:53:36 15:10:51 15:28:16 15:45:56

-5

April18 - 19, 2004

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Pressure [Bar] 10 12 14 16 18 20

April 18-19, 2004

Chart 2C - Carrier Chiller at PCCW: Operating Pressures ( Post - treatment )

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Evaporating Pressure [ Mean value: 3.31 Bar ]

Condensing Pressure [ Mean value: 16.86 Bar ]

4: 43 5: :01 01 5: :01 19 5: :16 37 5: :21 55 6: :16 13 6: :16 31 6: :16 50 7: :11 08 7: :46 27 7: :26 46 8: :11 05 8: :01 22 8: :06 40 8: :45 59 9: :26 17 9: :25 35 9: :45 5 10 3:4 :1 1 10 1:3 :2 1 10 9:4 :4 6 11 8:0 :0 6 11 5:4 :2 6 11 4:1 :4 1 11 1:5 :5 1 12 8:5 :1 1 12 6:1 :3 0 12 3:5 :5 6 13 1:5 :0 6 13 9:3 :2 6 13 6:1 :4 6 14 3:5 :0 1 14 1:3 :1 1 14 8:5 :3 1 14 6:3 :5 1 15 3:3 :1 6 15 0:5 :2 1 15 8:1 :4 6 5: 56

Performance Comparison
Pre: February 23-24, 2004 & Post: April 18-19, 2004
Appendix B
Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Comparison of Cooling Capacity resulting from treatment with PermaFrost

105
Cooling Capacity (kW)

100

Cooling Capacity (kW)

95

90

85

80 Pre-treatment
Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Post-treatment

Comparison of COP resulting from treatment with PermaFrost

3.4
Coefficient of Performance, COP

3.3

3.2 Coefficient of Performance, COP

3.1

2.9

2.8

2.7

2.6 Pre-treatment
Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Post-treatment

Comparison of Performance of Chiller resulting from treatment with PermaFrost

120
Pre-treatment Post-treatment

100

80

Value

60

40

20

0 Cooling Capacity (kW) Power Input (kW)

Copyright: enACon Limited, Hong Kong Polar Oil Company, Australia

Coefficient of Performance, COP