171
YORK INTERNATIONAL
FORM 201.19-NM8 (804)
8
Slide Valve Control
The slide valve of each compressor can be moved 75 
steps, where “0” equals minimum capacity and fully 
load ed equals 75 steps. The amount of movement that 
occurs when the micro initiates changes may vary ac-
 cord ing to the error or deviation from setpoint and the 
rate of change of chilled liquid temperature. Each time a 
change is made, the incremental change may vary from 
1 to 10 steps as determined from the micro. In cases 
where internal limiting is not in effect due to pos si ble 
fault conditions, the micro will load the com pres sor with 
the lowest number of steps, alternating loading back and 
forth between compressors until both are fully load ed.
In some cases the micro will be required to make de-
 ci sions regarding loading under conditions where the 
temperature “er ror” and temperature “rate” confl ict. For 
example, the micro may elect to unload a compressor 
if the error is “0” (tem per a ture is at setpoint), while the 
rate of change of chilled liquid temperature is negative 
(falling). The micro may also elect to hold capacity when 
error is “+” (tem per a ture is above setpoint) because the 
rate of change of chilled liquid is “-”. Below is a chart 
which illustrates these conditions.
Load Timers
 
Fixed timers are set to minimize undershoot and over-
 shoot as a result of slide valve control. 
• Load Timers are always set at 10 seconds be tween  
changes. 
•    Unload Timers are set at 5 seconds between 
changes.
Slide Valve Position
A slide valve position (S V STEP), under the keypad 
system keys, of 75 indicates that the compressor is 
ful ly loaded. However due to the non-exact movement 
of the mechanism, a position less than 75, possibly 60, 
could also mean that the compressor is fully loaded.  A 
compressor may also be fully unloaded at step 35 and 
below.  Keep this potential indicator error in mind when 
attempting to de ter mine slide valve position versus actual 
com pres sor  capacity.
Compressor Starting & Loading Sequence 
If no compressors are running, the Daily Schedule 
per mits, all safeties and run permissives are satisfi ed, 
the anti-recycle timers have timed out, and the leaving 
liq uid temperature rises above the upper range limit of 
the Con trol Range, the lead compressor will be started. 
A 0VDC signal is sent to the compressor slide valve 
con trol solenoid to allow the internal spring to push the 
slide valve to a minimum loading position to assure it is 
fully unloaded at start. At the same time, the micro will 
energize (open) the pilot solenoid on the EEV.  After 
an ini tial period of 15 seconds, the micro will begin to 
load up the lead com pres sor to bring the chilled liquid 
tem per a ture  to  setpoint.
After 5 minutes of run time, if leaving chilled liquid 
temperature is  not within the Control Range, the micro 
will start the lag compressor. This is not dependent on 
slide valve position which after 5 minutes will typically 
be fully loaded at a S V Step of “75”. The lead compres-
sor will be reduced in capacity to a slide valve step of 
40. The lag compressor will then be load ed until it also 
reaches a slide valve step of 40 while the lead compressor 
is maintained at a constant load. At this point the com-
pressors will be alternately loaded with loading always 
occurring on the compressor with the lowest slide valve 
step until the leaving chilled liq uid is satisfi ed.
On 3 compressor chillers, if the two compressors can not 
bring the load under control within 10 minutes, the 
micro will maintain the lead compressor fully loaded 
at S V Step 75, unload the fi rst lag compressor to Step 
40, and bring on the 2nd lag compressor. The second 
lag compressor will load until it reaches Step 40. From 
this point the compressors will be alternately loaded, 
al ways loading the compressor with the least step of 
loading fi rst.
On 4 compressor chillers, loading will operate the same 
as a 3 compressor chiller with another compressor 
add ed to the sequence. If the load cannot be brought 
under control in 15 minutes, the 3rd lag compressor 
(com pres sor 4) will be started. Before starting the 3rd 
lag compressor, the lead and 1st lag compressor will be 
maintained at full load (S V Step 75) and the 2nd lag 
compressor will be unloaded to S V Step 40. If load 
continues to rise, the 2nd and 3rd lag compressor will 
be alternately loaded until the leaving chilled liquid 
temperature is satisfi ed.
  ERROR 
 Negative   Unload  Unload  Hold
 Zero   Unload   Hold  Load
 Positive  Hold   Load   Load
RATE
 Negative  Zero   Positive