Question: Are oil drain valves and service valves required to be plugged or capped when not in use? Answer: Yes. All shut-off valves connecting equipment or piping to the atmosphere must be plugged, capped, blanked, or locked closed when they are not in use. ANSI/IIAR 2-2021 §13.3.2.6 states “Shut-off valves connecting ammonia-containing equipment or piping […]
Summary In February 2024, the installation of a relief valve with the wrong set pressure resulted in the release of a small quantity of ammonia. Release calculations were not performed since the estimated release amount was below 100 lbs of ammonia. Incident Description Contractors were in the process of replacing relief valves throughout the system […]
Vibration analysis is a predictive maintenance task for rotating machinery that can help identify potential problems before they become a larger issue. Compressor manufacturers typically recommend that vibration analysis be performed on a semi-annual basis. For example, Frick recommends performing vibration analysis every six (6) months, and more frequently if vibration levels increase. Many refrigeration […]
Question: Why is it important to remove decommissioned pipes and valves from an ammonia refrigeration system? Answer: To prevent an accidental release due to a pipe or flange leak. Consider a scenario where a ceiling-suspended evaporator is removed from a system. The ammonia pipes are cut and capped, and the evaporator unit is removed from […]
This is an update to a blog that was originally posted on 5/25/15. You can read the original blog here. New Ammonia Refrigeration Systems For new ammonia refrigeration systems, all vessels and equipment (compressors, condensers, etc.) must follow the component marker requirements in ANSI/IIAR 2-2021 §4.2. The standard states the following in regard to component […]
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