In: Electrical Engineering
(True or False) Recover, recycle and reclaim are the only three
legal ways refrigerant can be removed from an A/C or refrigeration
system
True :Recover, recycle and reclaim are the only three legal ways refrigerant can be removed from an A/C or refrigeration system
Types of Recovery Schemes:
The key to a quick recovery
procedure is to get the liquid out first, then get the remaining
vapor out. There are three different ways to remove refrigerant
from the system: push-pull recovery; liquid recovery; and vapor
recovery (the most common).
• Push-pull: This is a method of removing bulk
liquid from a system using the pressure differential created by the
recovery machine. It is commonly used on systems with a receiver
tank; those with greater than 20 pounds of refrigerant; or when
transferring refrigerant from one tank to another. Push-pull
generally does not work on smaller systems, because there is no
bulk liquid reservoir from which to create a siphon.
Before getting started using the push-pull recovery method, make
sure the system doesn’t have a reversing valve that will not allow
a solid column of liquid to form, and that it doesn’t have an
accumulator. If either of these components exists within the
system, the push-pull method cannot be used. You will need to use
the liquid or vapor recovery method.
• Liquid recovery: With the advent of oil-less
compressors and constant-pressure regulator valves, liquid recovery
has become the preferred method, recommended by most recovery
equipment manufacturers. Liquid recovery is performed the same way
as standard vapor recovery. The only difference is that you connect
to the high side of the system. Recovering liquid is ideal for
recovering large amounts of refrigerant, such as when you transfer
refrigerant, or if the system you are servicing allows you to
recover liquid.
After completing the transfer of liquid refrigerant between a
recovery unit and a refrigeration system, avoid trapping liquid
refrigerant between the service valves.
• Vapor recovery: Vapor is drawn from the
refrigeration unit into the recovery system. It passes through the
compressor to the condenser, where cooling occurs. Once cooled to a
sufficient temperature, the gas turns to liquid and proceeds into
the storage tank. Refrigerant recovery systems operate on a
temperature-pressure relationship. A lower temperature facilitates
a lower pressure, therefore allowing for faster and more efficient
operation.
Vapor recovery can be approximately 75-80 percent of the entire
recovery process. So it’s important to use a recovery machine with
a high vapor recovery rate, in addition to being good at recovering
vapor at high temperatures.