What is a probable cause of large amounts of water being collected by a centrifugal chiller's purge unit?

A centrifugal chiller's purge unit is designed to remove non-condensable gases and moisture from the refrigerant system. When large amounts of water are collected by the purge unit, one probable cause is leaky tubes within the chiller. If there are leaks in the evaporator or condenser tubes, it can allow water from the cooling water system or from a water source to mix with the refrigerant or to infiltrate the system, leading to an increase in the amount of water collected by the purge unit.

Leaky tubes can also cause the chiller to operate less efficiently and may create additional operational issues, as the presence of water and non-condensable gases can impede overall performance.

While high humidity levels can contribute to increased moisture in the surrounding air, it is not the most direct cause of water being collected by the purge unit compared to leaky tubes. Similarly, faulty electrical components or insufficient refrigerant charge may lead to other performance issues but are less likely to be the root cause of excessive water accumulation in the purge unit.