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Old 11-02-14, 06:34 AM   #71
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Don't go too slow or you may bugger up your pot with poor oil return.

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Old 11-02-14, 07:42 AM   #72
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Oil return issues are highly unlikely on such a small package unit.

That bad scroll does sound like incorrect phasing. If you still have it, give it a try with phase order reversed.
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Old 11-02-14, 11:32 AM   #73
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Default 5 Ton build is now 6.25 Ton operational

NiHaoMike wrote:

"That bad scroll does sound like incorrect phasing. If you still have it, give it a try with phase order reversed."

I've done my do diligence with that compressor. I'm not new to the 3ph motor care and feeding.

I will give it a proper burial. It will tip the scales nicely at the scrap yard. It just didn't pump any volume of refrigerant. The 6.25 ton went into the same machine and once the rotation and charge were right, it went straight to work. Making lots of heat.

I had entertained the thought of cutting it apart to see what the issue was. But as I had mention I've enough time invested and lots more projects that need me.

I've had to let my solar wall winter over once. I'd like to try to get it up before that white stuff again. To-date one panel is in place about 6 ft. I have about 8 ft. worth of risers soldered ready for the bottom and top manifolds. I may be able to get at least half the solar wall operational before the bone cracking cold.

OOOOHHH free heat. Just for the collecting.

Randen


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Last edited by Daox; 11-03-14 at 09:13 AM..
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Old 11-03-14, 08:53 AM   #74
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Default 5 Ton build is now 6.25 Ton operational

Monday morning

The work day in the shop is about to begin so we started the heat-pump. I still have to do some control work, the system is still all manual. I will still be supervising the system closely as I would not like anything crazy to happen.

As seen in the photos 9:00am and the shop is starting out at 11 Deg. C The heat pump is reduced to 35 Hertz and 6.8 amp and the coolant temp to the air handler in the shop is climbing through 36 Deg.C Using the input of 1428 watts this equates to 1.9 Ton and from what I've seen so far the temp to the air-handler will settle out to 45 Deg.C which is plenty.

A quick calculation utilizing a operational time of 10hrs /day is approx. $90.00 per month. NICE!!

In the photos you will see the current draw temps. and the frost on the copper line out of the TXV.

I have on order some HI/LOW limit switches as well as some additional relays. I'm also going to put a cold control on the suction to prevent an accidental freezing of the HX.

Randen















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Last edited by Daox; 11-03-14 at 09:16 AM..
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Old 11-03-14, 12:35 PM   #75
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A quick update:

The shop temp. at 12:00 so 3 hrs. operation netted 19.7 Deg. C The temp of the coolant to the air handler was 40.4 Deg.C at 1400 watts. 1.9 Ton

To put this into proper prospective. That's heating my shop 1600 sq ft from 11 Deg.C to 20 Deg.C with the power of a hair-dryer. THIS IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT.!!

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Old 11-03-14, 12:53 PM   #76
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If you upsize the radiator in the air handler, you'll get better efficiency.
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Old 11-03-14, 02:37 PM   #77
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The air handler actually has a 3 speed motor. Its currently on the lowest setting. The higher speeds are a little noisier and windy underneath being there is no ductwork.

I'm thinking its working well looking at the heating its doing with the power used. If more heating is required I can turn-it up!! But for now I'm quite pleased.

Its been a butt load of work to get here!

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Old 11-21-14, 09:42 PM   #78
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Default 5 Ton GSHP Build

In Ontario Canada winter is starting to set in. This morning long before my first coffee the thermostat in the shop started the DIY Geothermal heat pump. At exactly 6:00 am the system was call to heat the shop to 20 Deg.C from a set back temp of 16 Deg.C

The Outside temp as seen in the photo is -14.7 Deg. C This wall clock is on the outside wall that has two large garage doors that although are quite effective for keeping the cold at bay. The indicated inside air temp (14Deg C) isn't accurate to the actual shop air temp. The more accurate temp is 17 Deg. C as seen on the thermostat. By about 8:00am the shop is at a comfortable temp to start the day 18-19Deg.C.

The DIY Heat-pump is a success. It's heating the shop quite effectively and in-expensively, 1428 watts, LESS THAN A HAIRDRYER.

How did we get here from there??


The quest started July 2011. If we are going to DIY an Geo-thermal unit we will need a loop field. Lets get the messy stuff done first. With the experience gained with my home GSHP, I had gleaned that I would require 3 Tons of capacity for a not so tight shop. I like to oversize a little for my projects just in-case!! A 4 ton ground loop was installed which or our area is 2400 ft. of HDPE tubing. There is no down side to a little extra tubing in the ground, the system will be a little more efficient. Found tubing at a closing business very reasonably priced. The excavator was able to allow me to install the loop in 2 days.

The tubing is placed in the ground 6 ft. deep and no closer than 16" from the adjacent run.

In the photos you will see the work involved. But without a proper loop field the system will not perform.

Randen


















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Last edited by Daox; 11-21-14 at 10:09 PM..
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Old 11-21-14, 09:54 PM   #79
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Randen,

You did it!

-AC
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Old 11-21-14, 11:23 PM   #80
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Default 5 Ton GSHP Build

Chronicling the build this post describes the converting of the air handler. This had occurred prior to the ground loop (April of 2011) The air-handler was a reclaimed unit from the scrap pile. It has two HXs one a slant-coil for air-conditioning and another for heating with hot water.

The capillary tube is removed and a water manifold is soldered in. The two HX used in tandem will only increase the capacity and efficiency. The fan is a squirrel-cage with a 3 speed motor. The motor is currently running on the lowest RPM.

The air handler was given a fresh coat of paint and hoisted to a central location on the shop ceiling and fasten. It is plumbed with a motorized valve and check valve that will eventually manage heat from the future solar (hot water collector) as well as the heated water from the GSHP.

The shop area will be heated & cooled with the air-handler. The GSHP can also supply chilled coolant to provide air-conditioning for the summer.

Coolant, I should explain. For several reasons its required. The ground loop enters the building above grade so it is possible that the exposed tube could have the liquid freeze during the cold Canadian weather when the GSHP is cycled off. The liquid could also freeze inside the GSHPs HX. Ask me how I know???
The coolant of choice is a food grade Propylene Glycol mixed with water.

The office area sports a heated concrete floor. This is indeed the holy grail of space heating. The floor can be heated using low temp. water providing a uniform comfortable heat. This was my beta test (1992 install) as I was planning to use the system for my new home in the future.

The heated water was originally provided by a oil-fired hot water tank. The photo is the manifold supplying the tubes in the concrete. (Kitec) The temp. of the floor is 24-28 Deg. C to be comfortable. (photo of office thermostat) Thermistor remove from circuit board and place in a shallow hole drilled in the concrete.

As with the air-handler the floor can also receive its heat via the solar wall. With the future completion of the solar collector the shop could receive its daily heat requirement with the sun.
Randen










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Last edited by Daox; 11-22-14 at 01:31 PM..
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