07/24/2025
**Chilled Water Coil System Diagnosis**
@ In a multi-coil chilled water air handling unit, diagnosing a unit that has been leaking or causing condensate water to exit the drain line can be challenging. I would like to present two methods for diagnosing this issue.
During the summer months, the cooling system works very hard, making it difficult to determine whether the chilled water is leaking. My preferred method for diagnosis involves isolating the chilled water and the condensate water.
To begin, I would close the supply water valve to all the coils in the large air handling unit and monitor the temperature difference between the mixed air temperature and the supply air temperature over a certain period. As the system operates, the supply air temperature will rise to match the mixed air temperature and may even increase slightly above that point. This rise indicates that the mechanical energy is contributing to the supply temperature, while the coil is receiving the same air temperature as the chilled water inside.
During this monitoring period, if we observe that the drain line gradually slows down and the water temperature decreases almost like a heartbeat, this suggests that the coil has no leaks. This method allows us to check multiple coils simultaneously. By stopping the circulation, no additional condensation is created from the water unit, making it easier to identify any leaks or condensation issues.
In this method, we have shut down only one side of the circulation service valve. The water trap inside is not receiving frequent temperature changes, resulting in no circulation, no thermal changes, and no condensed water. The system already maintains pressure within the chilled water loop. If there are any leaks, we would expect to see more water exiting instead of just a slow drop like a heartbeat.