What is recycling of refrigerant?
“Refrigerant recycle refers to the reduction of used refrigerant contaminants using devices that reduce oil, water, acidity, and particulates,” writes DuPont. “Recycle is usually a field or shop procedure with no analytical testing of refrigerant.
What is the difference between recycling refrigerant and reclamation of refrigerant?
Reuse is restricted to the system that it was recovered from, or in any other system owned by the same equipment owner. A recycled refrigerant has been extracted and cleaned for reuse WITHOUT being tested for compliance with the stringent AHRI Standard 700 purity specifications required for reclaimed refrigerant.
Why is the recovery and recycling of refrigerants important?
It’s beneficial for the environment, as it reduces the amount of harmful refrigerants entering it. As supplies of R-22 continue to diminish, HVAC/R businesses can sell the refrigerant they recover to reclamation companies, adding to their revenues.
What is the difference between recovering and reclaiming refrigerant?
The EPA requires that refrigerant be reclaimed when a certified technician recovers refrigerant and puts it in a special DoT container and has no intention of putting it back in the same system from which it was recovered.
Can I use recovered refrigerant?
Yes, technicians have a few options when using recovered refrigerants: This recovered, recycled refrigerant may only be recharged into equipment belonging to the owner of the equipment from which the refrigerant was recovered. The technician may send the recovered material to an EPA-certified reclaimer.
Are refrigerants recyclable?
The entire refrigerant recycling process is highly technical and prone to many hazards. This is why only licensed technicians can handle equipment that recycles refrigerants. The equipment used for refrigerant recycling must be approved and certified by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
Is recovered refrigerant reused?
A technician may recover refrigerant from an owner’s equipment and recharge equipment belonging to that same owner with the recovered material. The technician can also recycle the recovered refrigerant, which involves extracting and cleaning it for reuse without meeting the requirements for reclamation.
Where does used refrigerant go?
First, the refrigerant is sent to a compressor that sucks the refrigerant out of its original container. Then it gets sent to various types of equipment that dries and filters it. The driers take out any moisture that could damage the cooling system of your HVAC equipment.
Can you recycle r22 refrigerant?
Yes. Because this is a California program, the cans must have the California deposit symbol and wording indicating that a $10 deposit was paid for the can at the time of purchase.