Maintenance Of A 1.5 Hp Split Unit Air-Conditioner

ABSTRACT

Residential and commercial space cooling demands are increasing steadily throughout the world as what once was considered a luxury is now seemingly a necessity. In the school of engineering Imo State Polytechnic there are many split unit system, but is not all that is functioning well. This is as a result of lack of maintenance, which is aprove in the breakdown of the split unit system. The quality and effectiveness of the materials were checked very well a referred to the split unit system maintenance. In the course of the maintenance, suitable tools such as manifold gange and the quality of equipment were put into consideration.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                          INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Air condition is a system for controlling the temperature and humidity of the air in a building. Controlling the temperature is being able to heat and cool or is the treatment of air so as to simultaneously control its temperature, moisture content, cleanliness, odour and circulation, as required by occupants, a process, or products in the space, while maintenance are actions necessary for retaining a piece of equipment, machine  or system to the specified operative condition to achieve its maximum useful life. It can be seen that researchers and studies of air conditioning constitutes thermal comfort to individuals have identified air temperature, humidity, and air cleanliness as the important control, parameters, it is also seen that these parameters needed to control the system functions basically on thermodynamic law and analysis, but this research is concerned primarily on the maintenance of the split unit air conditioner.

There  are four basic components of the split unit air conditioning system the compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator, if any of these basic components get spoilt the split  unit air conditioning system will not be efficient. Actually we were informed that our predecessor had worked on this faulty split unit air conditioning system before and because of lack of technical knowhow, they were unable to tackle the problem of the faulty split unit air conditioner. They following faults were detected;

• Bad capacitors, both the motor fan and that of the compressor
• They was leakage in the dryer strainer, the whole system was dirty due to the lack of maintenance
• No refrigerant in the compressor.

Most of these components are very delicate, needs not to be rough handles or handled carelessly. If there is occurrence of fault, unskilled labourer (non-expatriate) in the profession of air conditioning and refrigeration should not handle it. Our predecessor who handled this project succeed in the maintenance of the system, because they were able to replace these faulty, components.

But they didn’t check for leakage in the system before concluding their project work. After the defense the system  was no longer efficient, it was no longer cooling again and this is as a result of improper check of faulty in the system. The dryer strainer which was having leakage during the check was brazed instead  of replacing with a brand new one. As a result of this leakage refrigerant was no longer flowing to the evaporator efficiently, rather causing an escape of refrigerant through the point of leakage in the metering tube (Dryer Strainer). A Split Unit air condition system maintenance suppose to be sound both internal and external. Broad speaking other condition that added to the breakdown was as a result of poor maintenance.

1.2 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY   

1. To ascertain the maintenance procedure of the split unit air conditioner
2. To keep the system in good operating condition
3. To prevent the future occurrence of fault in the split unit system.
4. To prevent the future occurrence of fault in the split unit system

1.3. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

1. To conduct a study to determine the maintenance procedure of a 1.5 Hp split unit air conditioner
2. To conduct an engineering cost analysis
3. Specification of a 1.5Hp split unit system

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

These were sub-divided, therefore this project completely covers the service of job done in other to arrive at a meaningful remedy to the problem of breakdown of the split unit system.

Firstly the basic procedures used in checking fault and leakage was followed sequentially with the manifold gauge, leak detector and soup solution, and it was properly done. Also the whole system was flushed out using a vacuum pump in all we have acquired a broad knowledge on the maintenance of the split unit air conditioner.

1.5 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM  

Due to the high level of poor maintenance of the split unit system to operate more efficiently. We took up the project which is concerned primarily on maintenance of the split unit air conditioner to keep it in a good operating condition.