Open-drive chiller maintenance helps keep leakage to a minimum
In the United States, about one-third of the centrifugal water-cooled chillers sold use open-drive motors as opposed to semi-hermetic motors that are sealed and serviceable.
However, these open-drive chillers tend to have the highest leak rates in the industry. Leaking refrigerant not only costs building owners money each year, but also exposes them to liability for environmental contamination, unsafe conditions, and EPA violations.