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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Digital Cinema Forum   » Pressurized cooling system in Barco Series 1 projectors

   
Author Topic: Pressurized cooling system in Barco Series 1 projectors
Mattias Mattsson
Film Handler

Posts: 90
From: Göteborg, Sweden
Registered: May 2007


 - posted 01-10-2015 07:34 PM      Profile for Mattias Mattsson   Email Mattias Mattsson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
As I understand the reason for the pressurized cooling circuit in Barco series 1 projectors is to allow them to be mounted upside down?

In my experience the pressure falls to zero (or near zero) over a couple of months even if the circuit is not leaking.

If the projector is not mounted upside down, is there a reason to re-pressurize the system?

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999


 - posted 01-11-2015 11:18 AM      Profile for Steve Guttag   Email Steve Guttag   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Not really other than to ensure no air is in the system. It will definitely function without the pressurization. I repressurize the systems I service as part of our regular maintenance. However, I don't stop what I'm doing because I see the pressure gauge has fallen (even to zero).

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Buck Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 894
From: St. Joseph MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2010


 - posted 01-11-2015 05:49 PM      Profile for Buck Wilson   Email Buck Wilson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Our 3 DP2000s ran at 0psi for years. Even now, only one of the 3 is charged, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's lost some or all of its pressure since we charged it a few months ago.

Still doesn't keep them from leaking [Cool] Hahaha

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Mattias Mattsson
Film Handler

Posts: 90
From: Göteborg, Sweden
Registered: May 2007


 - posted 01-11-2015 07:10 PM      Profile for Mattias Mattsson   Email Mattias Mattsson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Steve, Buck, Thanks for your answers!

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000


 - posted 01-11-2015 08:02 PM      Profile for Steve Kraus     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
How does the pressure fall if it's not leaking?

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Buck Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 894
From: St. Joseph MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2010


 - posted 01-11-2015 09:45 PM      Profile for Buck Wilson   Email Buck Wilson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Something something It has an air-charged accumulator something something.

IE the accumulator pressure could bleed off without loosing coolant.

Steve could tell you more.

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Dave Macaulay
Film God

Posts: 2321
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Apr 2001


 - posted 01-12-2015 03:29 PM      Profile for Dave Macaulay   Email Dave Macaulay   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I find they just leak down. No trace of liquid anywhere visible. The accumulator air volume is unchanged. This is, of course, impossible as the coolant didn't teleport out - but I have spent plenty of time trying to find a leak, and failed. Sometimes the pump leaks (it should be replaced at 4 or 5 years, can't recall for sure) and there's signs of fluid under it. But even after pump replacement the pressure goes from normal to zero in six months.

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Buck Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 894
From: St. Joseph MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2010


 - posted 01-13-2015 03:40 PM      Profile for Buck Wilson   Email Buck Wilson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
In my experience, it seeps at the light engine connections but doesn't go anywhere because it immediately burns off. You can typically see a dried trail an inch or so long. YMMV

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000


 - posted 01-13-2015 04:21 PM      Profile for Steve Kraus     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Is this strictly a BARCO issue?

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Dave Macaulay
Film God

Posts: 2321
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Apr 2001


 - posted 01-13-2015 06:07 PM      Profile for Dave Macaulay   Email Dave Macaulay   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Other projectors do lose coolant, but I think the old Barcos are the only ones with a sealed and pressurized liquid cooling system. There's a pressurizer, it takes about 100cc of coolant added to go from zero to 0.5 Bar (spec pressure). They all lose some pressure over time but 100cc of fluid should be very visible.

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Pete Naples
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1565
From: Dunfermline, Scotland
Registered: Feb 2001


 - posted 01-14-2015 05:42 AM      Profile for Pete Naples   Email Pete Naples   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've seen a number of Christies suffer air ingress due to the couplers failing after a number of years.
I gleaned from the OEM manufacturer that those couplers used in Series 1 cooling circuitsn on Christie and Barco are not rated for use in high UV environments... Draw your own conclusions on that.

Christie won't supply the couplers, only the complete cooling system which is an expensive way of replacing couplers. However if you know where to go you can purchase the couplers stand alone. At least you can in the UK.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999


 - posted 01-14-2015 06:42 AM      Profile for Steve Guttag   Email Steve Guttag   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The couplers are available easily in the USA too. You can get them in all of the sizes and orientations (straight, 90-degree) too. Note, you can also get the newer style which are MUCH better too. I've been debating to change them over since the newer ones that are used in series 2 projector don't "piss" when disconnected like the older style.

Same with the hoses. I think some of the problem with the series 1 are those whitish hoses. The black ones in the series 2 seem like a notable improvement that should have been retrofitted into the series 1 systems.

Barco Info-T 1143 discusses checking the female connector on series 1 projectors for signs of cracking (impending disaster). My guess is that the UV is breaking it down. I note in their first picture, the connector looks like it is on a black hose but in subsequent pictures the hosing looks correct of the period (white and discolored to brown/yellow).

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Dave Macaulay
Film God

Posts: 2321
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Apr 2001


 - posted 01-14-2015 08:19 AM      Profile for Dave Macaulay   Email Dave Macaulay   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I've had the most trouble with the big Christie CP2000S type projectors, specifically the coolant connectors in the bottom of the light engine chassis (down into the lower cabinet). On disconnection when replacing coolant, the guts of the things shoot out towards the ethernet switch and bounce to who knows where. They won't seal on disconnect any more - no big deal - the problem is that the guts are needed to open the sealing valve on the mating hose connector. So... the spring and spindle have to be found and poked back in or you have no coolant flow. I don't know how/why they fail, the spindle pulls the sealing o-ring right out through its orifice.
This has occurred on many of the old monster Christies I have the pleasure of servicing. The projectors themselves are troopers, they just keep on going.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999


 - posted 01-14-2015 11:46 AM      Profile for Steve Guttag   Email Steve Guttag   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
For those looking for the fittings. They are made by CPC (both the older white ones and the newer grey ones). The white ones are part of their "PLC" family. You'll want the PLCD for the kind that have the shut off built into them.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99


 - posted 01-15-2015 06:37 PM      Profile for Mark Gulbrandsen   Email Mark Gulbrandsen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Haven't had a single issue with any of the NEC's cooling loops. They also keep the quick couplers well away from any UV.

Mark

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