NA7.10    Refrigerated Warehouse Refrigeration System Acceptance Tests

The measurement devices used to verify the refrigerated warehouse controls shall be calibrated once every two years using a NIST traceable reference. The calibrated measurement devices to be used in these acceptance tests are called the "standard" and shall have the following measurement tolerances: The temperature measurement devices shall be calibrated to +/- 0.7°F between -30°F and 200°F. The pressure measurement devices shall be calibrated to +/- 2.5 psi between 0 and 500 psig. The relative humidity (RH) measurement devices shall be calibrated to +/- 1% between 5% and 90% RH.

NA7.10.1 Electric Resistance Underslab Heating System

NA7.10.1.1        Construction Inspection

Prior to functional testing, verify and document the following for all electric resistance underslab heating systems:

(a)  Verify that summer on-peak period is programmed into all underslab heater controls to meet the requirements of Section 120.6(a)2.

NA7.10.1.2        Functional Testing

Step 1: Using the control system, lower slab temperature setpoint. Verify and document the following using an electrical test meter:

(a)  The underslab electric resistance heater is off.

Step 2: Using the control system, raise the slab temperature setpoint. Verify and document the following using an electrical test meter:

(b)  The underslab electric resistance heater is on.

Step 3: Using the control system, change the control system’s time and date corresponding to the local utility’s summer on-peak period. If control system only accounts for time, set system time corresponding to the local utility’s summer on-peak period. Verify and document the following using an electrical test meter:

(c)  The underslab electric resistance heater is off.

Step 4: Restore system to correct schedule and control setpoints.

NA7.10.2 Evaporators and Evaporator Fan Motor Variable Speed Control

NA7.10.2.1        Construction Inspection

Prior to functional testing, document the following on all evaporators:

(a)  All refrigerated space temperature sensors used for control are verified to read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using a temperature standard.

(b)  All refrigerated space humidity sensors used for control are verified to read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using a humidity standard.

(c)  All refrigerated space temperature and humidity sensors are verified to be mounted in a location away from direct evaporator discharge air draft.

(d)  Verify that all fans motors are operational and rotating in the correct direction.

(e)  Verify that fan speed control is operational and connected to evaporator fan motors.

(f)   Verify that all speed controls are in “auto” mode.

NA7.10.2.2        Functional Testing

Conduct and document the following functional tests on all evaporators.

Step 1: Measure current space temperature or humidity. Program this temperature or humidity as the test temperature or humidity setpoint into the control system for the functional test steps. Allow 5 minutes for system to normalize.

Step 2: Using the control system, lower test temperature or humidity setpoint in 1 degree or 1% RH increments below any control dead band range until:

(a)  Evaporator fan controls modulate to increase fan motor speed.

(b)  Evaporator fan motor speed increases in response to controls.

(c)  Verify and document the above.

Step 3: Using the control system, raise the test temperature or humidity setpoint in 1 degree or 1% RH increments above any control dead band range until fans go to minimum speed. Verify and document the following:

(d)  Evaporator fan controls modulate to decrease fan motor speed.

(e)  Evaporator fan motor speed decreases in response to controls.

(f)   Minimum fan motor control speed (rpm or percent of full speed).

Step 4: Restore control system to correct control setpoints.

NA7.10.3 Condensers and Condenser Fan Motor Variable Speed Control

NA7.10.3.1        Evaporative Condensers and Condenser Fan Motor Variable Speed Control

NA7.10.3.1.1           Construction Inspection

Prior to functional testing, document the following:

(a)  Verify the minimum condensing temperature control setpoint is at or below 70°F.

(b)  Verify the master system controller saturated condensing temperature input is the temperature equivalent reading of the condenser pressure sensor.

(c)  Verify all drain leg pressure regulator valves are set below the minimum condensing temperature/pressure setpoint.

(d)  Verify all receiver pressurization valves, such as the outlet pressure regulator (OPR), are set lower than the drain leg pressure regulator valve setting.

(e)  Verify all condenser inlet and outlet pressure sensors read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using a pressure standard.

(f)   Verify all ambient dry bulb temperature sensors used by controller read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using a temperature standard.

(g)  Verify all relative humidity sensor used by controller read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using RH standard.

(h)  Verify all temperature sensors used by the controller are mounted in a location that is not exposed to direct sunlight.

(i)   Verify that all sensor readings used by the condenser controller convert or calculate to the correct conversion units at the controller (e.g., saturated pressure reading is correctly converted to appropriate saturated temperature; dry bulb and relative humidity sensor readings are correctly converted to wet bulb temperature, etc.)

(j)   Verify that all fan motors are operational and rotating in the correct direction.

(k)  Verify that all condenser fan speed controls are operational and connected to condenser fan motors to operate in unison the fans serving a common condenser loop.

(l)   Verify that all speed controls are in “auto” mode.

NA7.10.3.1.2           Functional Testing

Note: The system cooling load must be sufficiently high to run the test. Artificially increase evaporator loads or decrease compressor capacity (manually turn off compressors, etc.) as may be required to perform the Functional Testing.

Step 1: Override any heat reclaim, floating suction pressure, floating head pressure and defrost functionality before performing functional tests.

Step 2:

(a)  Document current outdoor ambient air dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures, relative humidity and refrigeration system condensing temperature/condensing pressure readings from the control system.

(b)  Calculate and document the temperature difference (TD), defined as the difference between the wet bulb temperature and the refrigeration system saturated condensing temperature (SCT).

(c)  Document current head pressure control setpoint.

Step 3: Using the desired condenser fan motor cycling or head pressure control strategy, program into the control system a setpoint equal to the reading or calculation obtained in Step 2. This will be referred to as the “test setpoint.” Allow 5 minutes for condenser fan speed to normalize.

Step 4: Using the control system, raise the test setpoint in 1 degree (or 3 psi) increments until the condenser fan control modulates to minimum fan motor speed. Verify and document the following:

(d)  Fan motor speed decreases.

(e)  All condenser fan motors serving common condenser loop decrease speed in unison in response to controller output.

(f)   Minimum fan motor control speed (rpm or percent of full speed).

(g)  If the refrigeration system is already operating at minimum saturated condensing temperature/head pressure, reverse Steps 4 and 5.

Step 5: Using the control system, lower the test setpoint in 1 degree (or 3 psi) increments until the condenser fan control modulates to increase fan motor speed. Verify and document the following:

(h)  Fan motor speed increases.

(i)   All condenser fan motors serving common condenser loop increase speed in unison in response to controller output.

Step 6: Document the current minimum condensing temperature setpoint. Using the control system, change the minimum condensing temperature setpoint to a value greater than the current operating condensing temperature. Verify and document the following:

(j)   Condenser fan controls modulate to decrease capacity.

(k)  All condenser fans serving common condenser loop modulate in unison.

(l)   Condenser fan controls stabilize within a 5 minute period.

Step 7: Using the control system, reset the system head pressure controls, fan motor controls and minimum condensing temperature control setpoint to original settings documented in Steps 3 and 6.

Step 8: Restore any heat reclaim, floating suction pressure, floating head pressure and defrost functionality. Reset the minimum condensing temperature setpoint to the value documented in Step #6.

NA7.10.3.2        Air-Cooled Condensers and Condenser Fan Motor Variable Speed Control

Conduct and document the following functional tests on all air-cooled condensers.

NA7.10.3.2.1           Construction Inspection

Prior to functional testing, document the following:

(a)  Verify that the minimum condensing temperature control setpoint is at or below 70°F.

(b)  Verify that the master system controller saturated condensing temperature input is the temperature equivalent reading of the condenser pressure sensor.

(c)  Verify all drain leg pressure regulator valves are set below the minimum condensing temperature/pressure setpoint.

(d)  Verify all receiver pressurization valves, such as the outlet pressure regulator (OPR), are set lower than the drain leg pressure regulator valve setting.

(e)  Verify all condenser inlet and outlet pressure sensors read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using a pressure standard.

(f)   Verify all ambient dry bulb temperature sensors used by controller read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using temperature standard.

(g)  Verify all temperature sensors used by the controller are mounted in a location that is not exposed to direct sunlight.

(h)  Verify that all sensor readings used by the condenser controller convert or calculate to the correct conversion units at the controller (e.g., saturated pressure reading is correctly converted to appropriate saturated temperature, etc.)

(i)   Verify that all fan motors are operational and rotating in the correct direction.

(j)   Verify that all condenser fan speed controls are operational and connected to condenser fan motors to operate in unison the fans serving a common condenser loop.

(k)  Verify that all speed controls are in “auto” mode.

NA7.10.3.2.2           Functional Testing

Note: The system cooling load must be sufficiently high to run the test. Artificially increase evaporator loads or decrease compressor capacity (manually turn off compressors, etc.) as may be required to perform the Functional Testing.

Step 1: Override any heat reclaim, floating suction pressure, floating head pressure and defrost functionality before performing functional tests.

(a)  Papachristou Papachristou Document current outdoor ambient air dry bulb temperature and refrigeration system condensing temperature/condensing pressure readings from the control system.

(b)  Calculate and document the temperature difference (TD), defined as the difference between the dry bulb temperature and the refrigeration system saturated condensing temperature (SCT).

(c)  Document current head pressure control setpoint.

Step 3: Using the desired condenser fan motor cycling or head pressure control strategy, program into the control system a setpoint equal to the reading or calculation obtained in Step 2.

(d)  This will be referred to as the “test setpoint.” Allow 5 minutes for condenser fan speed to normalize.

Step 4: Using the control system, raise the test setpoint in 1 degree (or 3 psi) increments until the condenser fan control modulates to minimum fan motor speed. Verify and document the following:

(e)  Fan motor speed decreases.

(f)   All condenser fan motors serving common condenser loop decrease speed in unison in response to controller output.

(g)  Minimum fan motor control speed (rpm or percent of full speed).

(h)  If the refrigeration system is already operating at minimum saturated condensing temperature/head pressure, reverse Steps 4 and 5.

Step 5: Using the control system, lower the test setpoint in 1 degree (or 3 psi) increments until the condenser fan control modulates to increase fan motor speed. Verify and document the following:

(i)   Fan motor speed increases.

(j)   All condenser fan motors serving common condenser loop increase speed in unison in response to controller output.

Step 6: Document current minimum condensing temperature setpoint. Using the control system change the minimum condensing temperature setpoint to a value greater than the current operating condensing temperature. Verify and document the following:

(k)  Condenser fan controls modulate to decrease capacity.

(l)   All condenser fans serving common condenser loop modulate in unison.

(m) Condenser fan controls stabilize within a 5 minute period.

Step 7: Using the control system, reset the system head pressure controls, fan motor controls and minimum condensing temperature control setpoint to original settings documented in Steps 3 and 6.

Step 8: Restore any heat reclaim, floating suction pressure, floating head pressure and defrost functionality. Reset the minimum condensing temperature setpoint to the value documented in Step 6.

NA7.10.4 Variable Speed Screw Compressors

Conduct and document the following functional tests on all variable-speed screw compressors.

NA7.10.4.1        Construction Inspection

Prior to functional testing, document the following:

(a)  Verify all single open-drive screw compressors dedicated to a suction group have variable speed control.

(b)  Verify all compressor suction and discharge pressure sensors read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using a standard.

(c)  Verify all input or control temperature sensors used by controller read accurately (or provide an appropriate offset) using temperature standard.

(d)  Verify that all sensor readings used by the compressor controller convert or calculate to the correct conversion units at the controller (e.g., saturated pressure reading is correctly converted to appropriate saturated temperature, etc.).

(e)  Verify that all compressor speed controls are operational and connected to compressor motors.

(f)   Verify that all speed controls are in “auto” mode.

(g)  Verify that compressor panel control readings for “RPMs,” “% speed,” “kW”, and “amps” match the readings from the PLC or other control systems.

(h)  Verify that compressor nameplate data is correctly entered into the PLC or other control system.

NA7.10.4.2        Functional Testing

Note: The system cooling load must be sufficiently high to run the test. Artificially increase or decrease evaporator loads (add or shut off zone loads, change setpoints, etc.) as may be required to perform the Functional Testing.

Step 1: Override any heat reclaim, floating suction pressure, floating head pressure and defrost functionality before performing functional tests.

Step 2: Measure and document the current compressor operating suction pressure and saturated suction temperature.

Step 3: Document the suction pressure/saturated suction temperature setpoint. Program into the control system a target setpoint equal to the current operating condition measured in Step #2. Allow 5 minutes for system to normalize. This will be referred to as the “test suction pressure/saturated suction temperature setpoint.”

Step 4: Using the control system, raise the test suction setpoint in 1 psi increments until the compressor controller modulates to decrease compressor speed. Verify and document the following:

(a)  Compressor speed decreases.

(b)  Compressor speed continues to decrease to minimum speed.

(c)  Any slide valve or other unloading means does not unload until after the compressor has reached its minimum speed (RPM).

Step 5: Using the control system, lower the test suction setpoint in 1 psi increments until the compressor controller modulates to increase compressor speed. Verify and document the following:

(d)  Any slide valve or other unloading means first goes to 100 percent before compressor speed increases from minimum.

(e)  Compressor begins to increase speed.

(f)   Compressor speed continues to increase to 100 percent.

Step 6: Using the control system, program the suction target setpoints back to original settings as documented in Step 3.

Step 7: Restore any heat reclaim, floating suction pressure, floating head pressure and defrost functionality.