Operation. Maintenance. Service. Fault-finding. Training

33 Operation. Maintenance. Service. Fault-finding. Training 

A large proportion of refrigerating and air-conditioning equipment is now fully automatic in operation, but that does not absolve the user from the responsibility of understanding how it operates and being able to observe this operation. If this is not done, or if there is no other way of monitoring performance, the plant may run abnormally for some time before a fault is noticed, by which time considerable damage may have occurred. 

The initial requirement is for the equipment to be fitted with sufficient pressure gauges and other monitoring devices to indicate the conditions under which it is working. It is helpful to mark these with the normal working limits when commissioning the plant. 

Where the switching of plant is purely manual, the plant instructions should specify the limits of control, and not leave these to the shift operator, who may not be sufficiently skilled to take the correct decisions. Standby plant is often fitted, and it is part of the operation discipline to change over machines to ensure that they get even wear and keep all sets in running order. All operation staff should be aware of the method of bringing standby plant into use in an emergency. Where refrigerant valves need to be opened or 

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