TYPE 1 (Small Appliances)

Recovery Requirements

• Definition of "small appliance"
• Evacuation requirements for small appliances with and without working compressors using recovery equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993
• Evacuation requirements for small appliances with and without working compressors using recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993

Recovery Techniques

• Use of pressure and temperature to identify refrigerants and detect noncondensables
• Methods to recover refrigerant from small appliances with inoperative compressors using a system-dependent or "passive") recovery device (e.g., heat and sharply strike the compressor, use a vacuum pump with non-pressurized recovery container)
• Need to install both high and low side access valves when recovering refrigerant from small appliances with inoperative compressors
• Need to operate operative compressors when recovering refrigerant with a system-dependent ("passive") recovery device
• Should remove solderless access fittings at conclusion of service
• 134a as likely substitute for 12

Safety

• Decomposition products of refrigerants at high temperatures (HCl, HFl etc)

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TYPE 2 (High-Pressure)

Leak Detection

• Signs of leakage in high-pressure systems (excessive superheat, traces of oil for hermetics)
• Need to leak test before charging or recharging equipment
• Order of preference for leak test gases (nitrogen alone best, but nitrogen with trace quantity of 22 better than pure refrigerant)

Leak repair requirements

• Allowable annual leak rate for commercial and industrial process refrigeration
• Allowable annual leak rate for other appliances containing more than 50 lbs of refrigerant

Recovery Techniques

• Recovering liquid at beginning of recovery process speeds up process
• Other methods for speeding recovery (chilling recovery vessel, heating appliance or vessel from which refrigerant is being recovered)
• Methods for reducing cross-contamination and emissions when recovery or recycling machine is used with a new refrigerant
• Need to wait a few minutes after reaching required recovery vacuum to see if system pressure rises (indicating that there is still liquid refrigerant in the system or in the oil)

Recovery Requirements

• Evacuation requirements for high-pressure appliances in each of the following situations:
• • Disposal
  • Major vs. non-major repairs
  • Leaky vs. non-leaky appliances
  • Appliance (or component) containing less vs. more than 200 lbs
  • Recovery/recycling equipment built before vs. after November 15, 1993
• Definition of "major" repairs
• Prohibition on using system-dependent recovery equipment on systems containing more than 15 pounds of refrigerant

Refrigeration

• How to identify refrigerant in appliances
• Pressure-temperature relationships of common high-pressure refrigerants (may use standard temperature-pressure chart--be aware of need to add 14.7 to translate psig to psia)
• Components of high-pressure appliances (receiver, evaporator, accumulator, etc.) and state of refrigerant (vapor vs. liquid) in them

Safety

• Shouldn't energize hermetic compressors under vacuum.
• Equipment room requirements under ASHRAE Standard 15 (oxygen deprivation sensor with all refrigerants)

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TYPE 3 (Low-pressure)

Leak Detection

• Order of preference of leak test pressurization methods for low-pressure systems (first: hot water method or built-in system heating/pressurization device such Prevac; second: nitrogen)
• Signs of leakage into a low-pressure system (e.g., excessive purging)
• Maximum leak test pressure for low-pressure centrifugal chillers

Leak repair requirements

• Allowable annual leak rate for commercial and industrial process refrigeration
• Allowable annual leak rate for other appliances containing more than 50 lbs of refrigerant

Recovery Techniques

• Recovering liquid at beginning of recovery process speeds up process
• Need to recover vapor in addition to liquid
• Need to heat oil to 130F before removing it to minimize refrigerant release
• Need to circulate or remove water from chiller during refrigerant evacuation to prevent freezing
• High-pressure cut-out level of recovery devices used with low-pressure appliances

Recharging Techniques

• Need to introduce vapor before liquid to prevent freezing of water in the tubes
• Need to charge centrifugals through evaporator charging valve

Recovery Requirements

• Evacuation requirements for low-pressure appliances in each of the following situations:
• • Disposal
  • Major vs. non-major repairs
  • Leaky vs. non-leaky appliances
  • Appliance (or component) containing less vs. more than 200 lbs
  • Recovery/recycling equipment built before vs. after November 15, 1993
• Definitions of "major" and "non-major" repairs
• Allowable methods for pressurizing a low-pressure system for a non-major repair (controlled hot water and system heating/pressurization device such as Prevac)
• Need to wait a few minutes after reaching required recovery vacuum to see if system pressure rises (indicating that there is still liquid refrigerant in the system or in the oil)

Refrigeration

• Purpose of purge unit in low-pressure systems
• Pressure-temperature relationships of low-pressure refrigerants

Safety

• Equipment room requirements under ASHRAE Standard 15 (oxygen deprivation sensor with all refrigerants)
• Under ASHRAE Standard 15, need to have equipment room refrigerant sensor for 123