Decatur, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/08/2015 -- Thermal Migration is a condition by which refrigerant moves statically throughout a refrigeration system due to changes in the climatic conditions. The nature of the refrigerant is such that it will always flow to the coldest area and since conditions are static and the refrigerant has density then gravity has a minor influence. In most instances some or all of the following conditions must be met to create this undesirable condition:
-High Solar Load
-Large glass surface area
-High delta temperature between daytime and nighttime (low humidity ambient)
-Significant elevation differences between system components
-Vehicle is not operational for a period of time (days, weeks)
In most instances, Thermal Migration will not cause any issues with normal system operation nor compressor longevity. Under certain conditions it can be a very severe problem for a compressor.
After several compressor failures were reported by a customer who was shipping equipment to the Sudan, the following information was gathered:
-Most failures were immediate – within one hour of operation
-Compressors that were examined were found to have little to no oil in them
-There was no evidence of mechanical contact internally
-All internal components were clean and undamaged
T/CCI engineers worked closely with the customer to evaluate the conditions, the protocols, and the failure details in order to conduct a thorough evaluation of the situation. T/CCI was able to simulate the reported conditions in their advanced testing facilities and recreate the same outcomes as the customer. The experienced engineers were able to confirm their original suspicions and offer solutions. Based on the investigation the following conditions were found to be consistent among all reported failures in this region.
Upon reviewing the climate of the region and the related failure analysis, the T/CCI engineers determined that the root cause of the failure is "thermal migration" which has been documented to cause premature failures in Automotive, Heavy Truck and Agriculture HVAC applications.
About T/CCI Manufacturing
T/CCI (http://www.tccimfg.com) manufactures built to last quality, dependable, and environmentally safe compressors for a wide range of vehicle applications. Widely respected, ISO-certified T/CCI is a global leader with over 50 years' experience manufacturing heavy duty compressors and clutches for the mobile air-conditioning and refrigeration industries, including for a wide range of vehicles from construction and military to heavy-duty trucking and bus transit. This wide range of OEM heavy duty compressors supplies companies such as Caterpillar, CNH, Navistar, ThermoKing, and Carrier. Global customers recognize value of a well-respected HVAC supplier with advanced technologies including the custom LabView based acquisition system designed to protect the quality and accuracy of data.
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T/CCI Manufacturing
http://www.tccimfg.com
DCC Marketing
Julie Armstrong
Senior Account Executive
jarmstrong@dccmarketing.com
TCCIEuropePR@tccimfg.com
217-521-6675 / 217-421-7580 ext 109