The Process Chiller Pro

Today is the day I sit down with Mike Millard about his patented product called SweepClear that can help end-users who use process fluid systems and service providers who work on these systems. 

I found Mike’s product SweepClear amazingly simple and appears to be very effective at getting air out of process fluid systems.

After doing some research on SweepClean, I thought this might be something the Process Chiller Pro techs and contractors may be interested in hearing about for both new installs and even perhaps retrofits on existing sites when fluid-related issues start popping up.

Let's face it, walking into a process chiller controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller or PLC, or just about any other PLC controlled mechanical equipment you run into in the field with a PLC can cause some initial anxiety, right?

Especially if you are walking up on a machine that you are unfamiliar with.

What should you do when you have ruled out all of the obvious mechanical issues and everything points to the PLC as the source of the problem?

And if you are thinking, well, I will just call the equipment manufacture, we all know that can add hours that you don't have onto your service call. 

When your customer is down, the last thing they want to see you do is to sit on hold on their dime.

This episode is part of a series I am doing on PLCs that will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed when faced with needing to get a PLC-controlled machine up and running that you are not familiar with.

Let's take a few minutes today to take the first step to determine what type of PLC you are working on. 

This is the first step in your PLC troubleshooting process that we will take on in this episode of the process chiller pro podcast. 

CLICK THIS LINK TO ACCESS THIS EPISODE IN BOTH AUDIO-ONLY AND VIDEO FORMATS. 

 https://bit.ly/3EFNwVL

This episode introduces a multi-part series covering programmable logic controllers (also known as PLCs). 

These episodes covering PLCs will help technicians who work on process chillers, rooftop package HVACR gear to residential furnaces, and everything in between. 

Like most technicians, you probably service multiple types and brands of chillers and other equipment each week, so understanding PLC work will dramatically speed troubleshooting without needing to lean hard on the equipment manufacturers. 

Learning how PLC’s work and troubleshooting more accurately and faster will make you more valuable as a technician to your customers and employer.

The topic covered in this episode of the PCP podcast is a foundational component of my skilled trade’s success process that you see here.  

 We have a sign-up for a free five-day Mini-Course (coming soon) where I will share the four key elements of a success process that makes it possible (and I would argue likely) for you to become a millionaire working in skilled trades. 

 TO ACCESS THE PCA RESOURCE PAGE AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SKILLED TRADES CAREER SUCCESS PYRAMID

 https://bit.ly/3vW5L6t 

One of the most frustrating, and costly I will add, challenges you can have and a process chiller system has an incorrectly sized chiller pump. Too small means you can’t get the flow and pressure your process needs, and too large can damage your process equipment, such as broken tank jackets. 

The last episode will cover how to properly size your chiller pump to meet the needs of your process.

 We will be looking into:

 1. The best way to layout a process chiller fluid distribution system.

2. What information do you need to collect on your initial site survey.

3. Use the PCA Systemsyzer tool to calculate the right pump size for your application quickly. 

 Once your calculations are done, you will have data to provide to your process chiller manufacturer to ensure that you have the right pump installed into your chiller for the job. 

 The information I will cover in this episode will help the service contractors out there when you are asked to diagnose chiller process fluid flow or pressure issues for your customers.  

This episode is the second installment of a two-part series covering process fluid issues that can lead to costly downtime. 

I covered how rust can form in a process chillers' fluid loop in the last episode. If you have not checked that out, I will provide a link to that episode in this episode's show notes. 

 In this episode, I will look at the formation of algae. 

When it comes to process chillers, your system fluid should always be clear, or if you are using colored glycol, whatever that color is. 

If you see any unexpected coloration, your system fluid is not healthy, eventually heading for a shutdown. 

My goal for this series on process fluid is to help my chiller pro’s out there quickly identify what is going so you can help your customer stave off costly shutdowns and potential equipment damage. 

CLICK THIS LINK TO ACCESS THIS EPISODE IN BOTH AUDIO-ONLY AND VIDEO FORMATS. 

 https://bit.ly/3IYLZ0d

 The topic covered in this episode of the PCP podcast is a foundational component of my skilled trade’s success process that you see here.  

 We have a sign-up for a free five-day Mini-Course (coming soon) where I will share the four key elements of a success process that makes it possible (and I would argue likely) for you to become a millionaire working in skilled trades. 

 TO ACCESS THE PCA RESOURCE PAGE AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SKILLED TRADES CAREER SUCCESS PYRAMID

 https://bit.ly/3vW5L6t  

Most process chiller startup techs will use city water to fill the systems. For the most part, it’s cheap, accessible and the supply is pressurized so you can fill your system easily. 

 The downside you get elements from nature that, if not addressed, can cause damage to your chiller and piping systems. 

 This episode is part one of a two-part series covering process fluid issues that can lead to costly downtime. 

 In this episode, I will look at the formation of rust or chipping that can occur in a process chiller system. 

 I will explain the two most common ways rust is formed in process chiller systems, what to do about it and how to prevent it from coming back. 

CLICK THIS LINK TO ACCESS THIS EPISODE IN BOTH AUDIO-ONLY AND VIDEO FORMATS. 

 https://bit.ly/3DTHQXT

 The topic covered in this episode of the PCP podcast is a foundational component of my skilled trade’s success process that you see here.  

 We have a sign-up for a free five-day Mini-Course (coming soon) where I will share the four key elements of a success process that makes it possible (and I would argue likely) for you to become a millionaire working in skilled trades. 

 TO ACCESS THE PCA RESOURCE PAGE AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SKILLED TRADES CAREER SUCCESS PYRAMID

 https://bit.ly/3vW5L6t 

In this Process Chiller Pro episode, I uncover the real benefits of evaporator hot-gas bypass in a process chiller. 

I will also be covering how to properly set up and calibrate the hot-gas bypass system for water only and water-glycol process chillers. 

Incorrect setup of a process chillers hot-gas bypass system can significantly impact a chillers cooling capacity or, worse, an evaporator freeze-up that can lead to a catastrophic chiller failure.

 CLICK THIS LINK TO ACCESS THIS EPISODE IN BOTH AUDIO-ONLY AND VIDEO FORMATS. 

 https://bit.ly/3DpvbLR

 The topic covered in this episode of the PCP podcast is a foundational component of my skilled trade’s success process that you see here.  

We have a sign-up for a free five-day Mini-Course (coming soon) where I will share the four key elements of a success process that makes it possible (and I would argue likely) for you to become a millionaire working in skilled trades. 

 TO ACCESS THE PCA RESOURCE PAGE AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SKILLED TRADES CAREER SUCCESS PYRAMID

 https://bit.ly/3vW5L6t 

In this PCP episode, I cover a brewery plagued with evap freeze-up issues. When service techs are running around with their hair on fire trying to process as many calls as possible each day, we don’t take the time, unfortunately, to take a closer look at root causes to repeat or intermittent process chiller shutdowns that inevitably leads to unhappy customers. 

 To check out the diagnostic steps I took to figure out the root cause of this customer’s evap freeze-ups and improve your process chiller skills, use the link below to check out this episode making your way towards technical excellence. 

In this episode, I will first share a real-life situation when I had a process fluid flow problem on a multi-million dollar MRI system I was doing a startup on. I figured out the problem by performing a field process chiller run-out test, really saving the day for my customer and myself. 

Knowing how to perform a process chiller system pump run-out test can save you a LOT of time in ruling out the chillers system pump as the cause of the issue. 

 Without knowing how to perform a pump run-out test, you may have to tear down the pump and perform a visual inspection.

To access this episode in both video and audio-only versions, click on the link provided below to jump over to this episode's page on the Process Chiller Academy website. 

 CLICK THIS LINK TO ACCESS THIS EPISODE

 https://bit.ly/30JEvwT

 Important note: The topic I will cover in this episode of the Process Chiller Pro podcast falls under the “Technical excellence” or foundational component of my skilled trade’s success pyramid.

 If you want to get more information on my skilled trades career success pyramid, pop into the Process Chiller Academy site, resource page, link below. 

 TO ACCESS THE PCA RESOURCE PAGE AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE SKILLED TRADES CAREER SUCCESS PYRAMID

 https://bit.ly/3vW5L6t

In this episode of the Process Chiller Pro Podcast, I have an in-depth conversation with Greg Fox of Fox Family Heating and Cooling about his relatively late start in HVAC and his nothing short of an amazing all-American Journey to becoming a successful family business.  Yes, the American Dream is still alive and well in America. 

It's never too late to start in HVAC if you are willing to work hard, stay true to your brand and follow your instincts. Starting a business is hard. Just getting started, there are hundreds of major decisions to make. The main takeaway from my chat with Greg is how he leveraged his past business experiences, especially when it comes to people, to help him make smart choices when selecting employees. 

To access this episode in both video and audio-only versions, click on the link provided below to jump over to this episode's page on the PCA website. 

 CLICK THIS LINK – https://bit.ly/3op7ZYy