Heat Pump

[NorPwr]

Here is my situation; Computer Server room in center of building, heat pump located over servers above t-bar. This is a water cooled unit, water and computers not good. My thought was that I could remove the water condenser and re-route refrigerant lines up through the deck to a roof top radiator style condenser. However I am not sure if this is a good idea.

Regards

 

[walkes]

You should probably just get a ductless split air-conditioner, an air-cooled condensing unit connected to a fan-coil, instead of bastardizing the existing heat pump. You would then at least have a warranty on the equipment.

 

[NorPwr]

That would be the ideal situation, however when you are hard up for cash you do what you gotta do. A new unit would have been my choice as well.

 

[CountOlaf]

Your idea about installing a "radiator style condenser" is basically the same thing as Walkes is talking about. The difference is, both the indoor and outdoor components will then be new and will be provided by the same manufacturer (say Liebert or Trane) and the equipment will be specifically designed to work together. If you try to "bastardize" it as Walkes has said, it probably won't work. Your idea calls for a new air-cooled condenser or air-cooled condensing unit (compressor and condenser) anyway in addition to the refrigerant line sets and control and power wiring, so the only thing left to purchase is the indoor fan-coil portion (blower and dx coil).

Other items: I don't know the logistics/physical layout of your project, but normally there is a practical limit on how far you can run refrigerant lines, somewhere around 100 ft. So your roof location for the condenser/condensing unit may be too far anyway.

If the roof deck is right above the computer room drop ceiling, you could put a new packaged air-cooled heat pump type "roof-top unit" and simply duct down through the roof into the plenum space and reconnect to the air distribution system (assuming it was ducted).

If the Onwer really hasn't enough money for a new system, perhaps some sheet metal-field-fabricated drain pans beneath the water lines in the computer area will do the trick. If there's an opportunity to re-pipe the condenser water in this area, there are also double-containment pipe systems available where leak detection can be put in the interstitial space for early leak detection. This could cost too however depending on the pipe sizes involved.

 

[MintJulep]

Where does the water come from? Even if you disconnect the water to the heat pump, are you able to terminate the water lines outside the server room? Are then any other water, sprinkler or drain lines running over the room?

How about just moving the heat pump so it is not over the server room and running some duct work? Much simpler than trying to build a Frankenstien system.

 

[ClydeMule]

Sure it will work!
But...

*You will have less capacity than you did before.
*Need more refrigerant
*Need to run power to the condenser.
*Need considerations for head pressure control depending on where you are.

If this is something you are doing yourself, it will be cheaper than a new install. And if it doesn't work right, no one's fault but your own.

If you don't know what you are doing, and you have to hire someone, it may be kind of pricey, and not that much more than a new unit anyway. Plus a lot of guys may not touch it because they don't want to "own" a modified system.

If you have not done something like this before don't even try, it won't be worth it.

How big of a unit is this?

Clyde