Troubleshooting
Are you having trouble with your ammonia refrigerators?
*The refrigerator has adequate ventilation (0 clearance on sides and 0 on bottom and top).
*The refrigerator must be level.
*The refrigerator must have the correct heat. It is always best to check on electric.
If these three things are correct, the cooling unit should work and work well, we recommend
checking the following:
*Check to see if there is a smell of ammonia in or around the refrigerator. This indicates the unit has a leak.
*Is there a yellowish or greenish powder around the insulation pack, at the back of the refrigerator at
burner? This indicates the cooling coil has a leak and needs to be replaced.
*Do you hear a loud gurgling sound about five minutes after you turn the refrigerator on? This means the
cooling unit has lost pressure and the coil needs to be repaired.
*Is the coil in the rear of your refrigerator hot and the box not cold? This indicates your unit needs replacing.
When checking this, please be careful because these coils can get extremely hot.
Check to see if the door gaskets are secure, there are no air leaks and check the thermostat.
Are you having trouble with your ammonia refrigerators?
*The refrigerator has adequate ventilation (0 clearance on sides and 0 on bottom and top).
*The refrigerator must be level.
*The refrigerator must have the correct heat. It is always best to check on electric.
If these three things are correct, the cooling unit should work and work well, we recommend
checking the following:
*Check to see if there is a smell of ammonia in or around the refrigerator. This indicates the unit has a leak.
*Is there a yellowish or greenish powder around the insulation pack, at the back of the refrigerator at
burner? This indicates the cooling coil has a leak and needs to be replaced.
*Do you hear a loud gurgling sound about five minutes after you turn the refrigerator on? This means the
cooling unit has lost pressure and the coil needs to be repaired.
*Is the coil in the rear of your refrigerator hot and the box not cold? This indicates your unit needs replacing.
When checking this, please be careful because these coils can get extremely hot.
Check to see if the door gaskets are secure, there are no air leaks and check the thermostat.
The Absorber System
The rich solution leaves the leveling chamber and passes through the liquid heat exchanger to the pump tube. By
adding heat (by means of gas or electricity) the temperature of the solution rises. This temperature increase causes
ammonia and some water vapour to be driven out of the solution, forming vapor bubbles, which push columns of
liquid up the pump tube. This liquid, now a weak ammonia solution, falls downward through the generator and flows
through the external shell of the liquid heat exchanger and enters the top of the absorber coil at a reduced
temperature.
The ammonia / water vapor passes through the rectifier whose reduced temperature causes any water vapour to
liquefy and join the weak solution in the generator. The rich ammonia vapor enters the condenser and is changed to
hot liquid ammonia. The liquid ammonia enters the tubular coil of the low and high temperature evaporators and
wets the internal surface of the tubes. As the hydrogen passes over the wetted tube surface, the liquid ammonia
evaporates into the hydrogen. During this process heat is extracted from the evaporator and therefore from the
inside of the refrigerator.
The weight of the hydrogen and ammonia mixture is heavier than that of pure hydrogen. Consequently, it falls
through the gas heat exchanger into the top of the leveling chamber. From this point it enters the bottom of the
absorber coil. As the mixture travels up through the absorber it contacts the weak solution entering the top of the
absorber from the generator. As the weak solution drops through the absorber it absorbs the ammonia from the
ammonia / hydrogen mixture. The relatively pure hydrogen passes through the hydrogen circuit to the evaporator
and now the rich solution falls to the bottom of the leveling chamber where the cycle starts again.
The rich solution leaves the leveling chamber and passes through the liquid heat exchanger to the pump tube. By
adding heat (by means of gas or electricity) the temperature of the solution rises. This temperature increase causes
ammonia and some water vapour to be driven out of the solution, forming vapor bubbles, which push columns of
liquid up the pump tube. This liquid, now a weak ammonia solution, falls downward through the generator and flows
through the external shell of the liquid heat exchanger and enters the top of the absorber coil at a reduced
temperature.
The ammonia / water vapor passes through the rectifier whose reduced temperature causes any water vapour to
liquefy and join the weak solution in the generator. The rich ammonia vapor enters the condenser and is changed to
hot liquid ammonia. The liquid ammonia enters the tubular coil of the low and high temperature evaporators and
wets the internal surface of the tubes. As the hydrogen passes over the wetted tube surface, the liquid ammonia
evaporates into the hydrogen. During this process heat is extracted from the evaporator and therefore from the
inside of the refrigerator.
The weight of the hydrogen and ammonia mixture is heavier than that of pure hydrogen. Consequently, it falls
through the gas heat exchanger into the top of the leveling chamber. From this point it enters the bottom of the
absorber coil. As the mixture travels up through the absorber it contacts the weak solution entering the top of the
absorber from the generator. As the weak solution drops through the absorber it absorbs the ammonia from the
ammonia / hydrogen mixture. The relatively pure hydrogen passes through the hydrogen circuit to the evaporator
and now the rich solution falls to the bottom of the leveling chamber where the cycle starts again.
Ammonia Refrigerators
If you are still unsure, you can contact the RV Refrig. Repair Co. 256-784-5097
(toll-free: 1- 888-483-7586)
info@rvrefrigeratorrepair.com
(toll-free: 1- 888-483-7586)
info@rvrefrigeratorrepair.com