The TU-155WT Industrial Refrigeration Trainer from iConnect Training offers HVAC instructors a versatile tool to teach students the fundamentals and advanced principles of refrigeration. This dual evaporator refrigeration system provides hands-on training, allowing students to explore real-world applications, troubleshoot complex systems, and practice essential maintenance skills. Here are key lessons and concepts HVAC instructors can teach using the TU-155WT, providing a well-rounded educational experience for students.
Lesson 1: Understanding Condenser Types and Heat Rejection
Key Focus: Coaxial vs. Tube-and-Shell Condensers
Objective: Students will learn how water-cooled condensers operate and compare two types of condensers: coaxial and tube-and-shell.
- Activity: Use the TU-155WT’s isolation valves to switch between the coaxial and tube-and-shell condensers. Instruct students to observe how each condenser performs under various operating conditions.
- Discussion: Explain the role of water-cooled condensers in refrigeration systems and how heat is rejected using water. Highlight differences in design, efficiency, and maintenance needs between the two condenser types.
- Hands-On Learning: Have students adjust the water regulating valve to maintain proper head pressure in the system, allowing them to see firsthand how water flow affects condenser efficiency.
Lesson 2: Exploring Refrigeration Cycle Control Mechanisms
Key Focus: Evaporator Fans, Solenoid Valves, and Hot Gas Bypass
Objective: Teach students how to control different components of a refrigeration system, emphasizing the operation of evaporator fans, liquid line solenoid valves, and hot gas bypass systems.
- Activity: Use the TU-155WT’s control center to adjust evaporator fan speeds and operate the liquid line solenoid valve and hot gas bypass valve.
- Discussion: Explain how each of these controls impacts the system’s temperature regulation and performance. Introduce the concept of hot gas bypass for defrosting and maintaining consistent evaporator performance.
- Group Task: Have students manually operate the defrost time clock, teaching them how to program both electric defrost and hot gas bypass defrost. Discuss the importance of defrost cycles in refrigeration systems and how they impact energy efficiency.
Lesson 3: Component Identification and Maintenance
Key Focus: Semi-Hermetic Compressors, Oil Separators, and Accumulators
Objective: Familiarize students with key refrigeration components and teach them essential maintenance and troubleshooting techniques.
- Activity: Guide students through the various components of the TU-155WT, including the semi-hermetic compressor, oil separator, liquid line filter dryer, and four-pipe accumulator.
- Hands-On Task: Allow students to disassemble and reassemble the semi-hermetic compressor, teaching them the importance of the compressor’s internal mechanisms and its role in the refrigeration cycle.
- Discussion: Explain the functions of the oil separator and accumulator, and their impact on the efficiency and longevity of the refrigeration system.
- Maintenance Training: Demonstrate how to flush a tub-and-shell condenser and coaxial condenser, and explain routine maintenance procedures that ensure optimal system performance.
Lesson 4: Teaching Multi-Evaporator Systems and EPR Valves
Key Focus: Dual Evaporator Refrigeration and Pressure Regulation
Objective: Students will learn to configure and balance multi-evaporator systems using Evaporator Pressure Regulating (EPR) valves.
- Activity: Set up the TU-155WT’s dual evaporator system to simulate both a medium-temperature refrigeration system (e.g., walk-in cooler) and a low-temperature freezer.
- Group Task: Instruct students to observe how the system manages different temperature zones by utilizing the EPR valve. Demonstrate how the EPR valve maintains pressure in the medium-temperature coil while allowing the compressor to lower the temperature in the freezer coil.
- Discussion: Explain the importance of pressure regulation in dual evaporator systems, especially in maintaining efficient and stable refrigeration performance across different zones.
Lesson 5: Introducing Water-Cooled Systems and Cooling Towers
Key Focus: Cooling Towers and Water-Cooled Refrigeration
Objective: Teach students how a cooling tower integrates with water-cooled refrigeration systems and how to manage heat rejection effectively.
- Activity: If your TU-155WT is equipped with the optional cooling tower, use it to demonstrate how water-cooled systems remove heat from the refrigerant.
- Discussion: Explain the role of cooling towers in large-scale refrigeration systems and how they improve efficiency by rejecting heat to the atmosphere through water circulation.
- Real-World Application: Discuss how these concepts translate to chiller systems, often used in industrial and commercial refrigeration. Have students work with the system’s centrifugal pump to learn how it circulates water through the system.
Lesson 6: Advanced Troubleshooting and System Diagnostics
Key Focus: Diagnosing System Issues and Performing System Adjustments
Objective: Equip students with skills to troubleshoot and diagnose common refrigeration system problems using various control and diagnostic tools.
- Activity: Simulate system failures or operational inefficiencies by adjusting components such as the differential pressure switch, liquid line solenoid valves, and hot gas bypass valve.
- Group Task: Have students work in teams to diagnose the issue and propose a solution based on their understanding of the refrigeration cycle and system components.
- Discussion: Discuss how to identify common refrigeration system issues, such as high head pressure, low suction pressure, or compressor short cycling, and the importance of preventative maintenance.
Lesson 7: Teaching the Importance of Expansion Valves
Key Focus: External Bypass Expansion Valves
Objective: Teach students how to manage expansion valves in refrigeration systems, focusing on external bypass valves in multi-circuited systems.
- Activity: Use the TU-155WT’s external bypass expansion valve on the freezer coil to show students how the valve functions in a multi-circuited system.
- Discussion: Explain the role of expansion valves in controlling refrigerant flow and ensuring proper system balance, especially in complex refrigeration setups.
Prepare Students for Real-World Success
The TU-155WT Industrial Refrigeration Trainer offers a wide range of teaching opportunities for HVAC instructors, from basic refrigeration principles to advanced system diagnostics and maintenance. By incorporating hands-on learning with real-world components and scenarios, instructors can prepare students for the challenges they will face in the HVAC/R industry. Whether teaching water-cooled systems, multi-evaporator setups, or troubleshooting techniques, the TU-155WT is an invaluable tool for any refrigeration program.
For more information on integrating the TU-155WT into your curriculum or to schedule a demonstration, contact iConnect Training today.
What Is the TU-155W Industrial Refrigeration Trainer?
The TU-155W Industrial Refrigeration Trainer from iConnect Training is a hands-on educational unit designed to help students and professionals understand and troubleshoot large-scale refrigeration systems. This trainer simulates real-world industrial refrigeration processes, allowing users to engage in practical exercises involving compressor controls, refrigerant flow, and system diagnostics. Built with industrial-grade components, the TU-155W is ideal for both foundational learning and advanced skill development in HVAC/R programs, providing a safe environment to gain experience with complex refrigeration technology.
