A study by The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in the early 1990s found that on average, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems lose 7% cooling capacity the first year, 5% the second year, and 2% each year thereafter—reaching as high as 18% in just five years.
This loss will cause a five-ton system to produce only four tons of cooling and still consume five tons worth of energy.
Reduction in cooling is due to a buildup of refrigeration oil that forms a plaque-like insulating barrier inside the system’s heat exchanger coil surfaces. This insulating buildup can be completely reversed by adding a nanotechnology polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is a key component in the product called Cold-Plus.
On new systems, addition of the polymer will prevent oil fouling from ever occurring. Other benefits include a reduction in the startup electrical spike, which is when 80% of compressor wear occurs; a cooler operating compressor; colder evaporator temperature; better moisture removal; less run time; and less system maintenance.
Addition of Cold-Plus will increase refrigerant flow 5% to 8 % on new and older systems while using slightly less horsepower, and improving heat transfer and efficiency. Cold-Plus is a permanent, one time metal treatment that lasts the life time of the system and prevents restricted or plugged capillary tubes or sticky expansion valves.
The polymer in Cold-Plus is in the same family as polymers used on the surface of non-stick cookware. It is a combination of a superior refrigeration oil, etching agent, bonding agent, and a finely milled polymer thoroughly tested for performance and longevity for more than seven years. The manufacturer has been making and selling PTFE-based lubricants for the trucking industry for more than 35 years.
All systems should be checked to make sure they are operating properly before applying the Cold-Plus treatment. Installation requires that a HVAC professional with EPA certification perform the work. The installation can be done in less than 30 minutes. Increases in system performance of between 15% to 20% are common—and on some older systems approach 35%. Quick payback from ROI usually exceeds 500%.
For more information, e-mail Ken Thompson, Roland Engineering Services division of Certified Refrigerant Services, at [email protected].
