Refrigerant reclamation is the act of processing used refrigerant gas which has previously been used in some type of cooling loop such that it meets specifications for new refrigerant gas. In the United States, the Clean Air Act of 1990 requires that used refrigerant be processed by a certified reclaimer, which must be licensed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the material must be recovered and delivered to the reclaimer by EPA-certified technicians. Coolant and refrigerants are found throughout the industrialized world, in homes, offices, and factories, in devices such as refrigerators, air conditioners, central air conditioning systems (HVAC), freezers, and dehumidifiers. When these units are serviced, there is a risk that refrigerant gas will be vented into the atmosphere, hence the creation of technician training and certification programs in order to ensure that the material is conserved and managed safely. Mistreatment of these gases has been shown to deplete the ozone layer and is suspected to contribute to global warming.

Reclamation of used refrigerant by an EPA-certified reclaimer is required in order to sell used refrigerant not originating from and intended for use with motor vehicle air conditioners and stationary equipment like air conditioners, refrigerators, central air conditioning systems (HVAC), and other cooling equipment. The EPA implemented a Code of Federal Regulations in 1995[3] in order to develop actions to meet the agreements defined in the Montreal Protocol.1 ton ac package unit Reclamation, as it refers to refrigerants, is one of three components in a refrigerant management process.ac units replacement cost The EPA defines refrigerant reclamation as "Reclaim refrigerant means to reprocess refrigerant to at least the purity specified in appendix A to 40 CFR part 82, subpart F (based on AHRI Standard 700–1993, Specifications for Fluorocarbon and Other Refrigerants) and to verify this purity using the analytical methodology prescribed in appendix A. how much is an old ac unit worth

In general, reclamation involves the use of processes or procedures available only at a reprocessing or manufacturing facility." EPA establishes rules and regulations that reclaimers must acknowledge, and they license these reclaimers to operate. In most cases wholesale distributors provide this service as an intermediary, since they have such great resources to manage distribution. 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. The final rule published on May 14, 1993, requires that refrigerant sold to a new owner be reclaimed to the AHRI Standard 700 of purity by a certified reclaimer (Sec. 82.154(g) and (h) referencing standard in Sec. 82.164 and the definition of reclaim found in Sec. 82.152). As discussed in the final rule, this requirement protects the purity of used refrigerant to prevent damage to air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment from the use of contaminated refrigerant.

Equipment damage from contaminated refrigerant would result in costs to equipment owners, in releases of refrigerant from damaged equipment through increased leakage, servicing and replacement, and in reduction in consumer confidence in the quality of used refrigerant. This reduction in consumer confidence could lead to the premature retirement or retrofit of CFC or HCFC equipment since consumers would no longer believe that a sufficient stock of trustworthy refrigerants was available. AHRI develops standards and manages third party testing and certification programs. AHRI oversees the ARI reclaimer program: Refrigerant Testing Laboratory Certification Find ARI Performance Certified Refrigerant Testing Laboratory Certification. The certification program includes verification for all participating refrigerant testing laboratories, performing ARI-700 testing on any new or reclaimed refrigerants. AHRI also works with many participants in the industry to ensure that the standards that reclaimers are expected to achieve are well defined and support the highest level of integrity so technicians can be confident in the materials they are using and installing.

Before reclamation can begin the material must be recovered and the EPA defines that as "Recover refrigerant means to remove refrigerant in any condition from an appliance and to store it in an external container without necessarily testing or processing it in any way." Some circumstances where the material is being put back into the system it was removed and not being transferred to a new system the material can be recycled and the EPA defines that as "Recycle refrigerant means to extract refrigerant from an appliance and clean refrigerant for reuse without meeting all of the requirements for reclamation. In general, recycled refrigerant is refrigerant that is cleaned using oil separation and single or multiple passes through devices, such as replaceable core filter-driers, which reduce moisture, acidity, and particulate matter. These procedures are usually implemented at the field job site." ^ Section 608 of the Clean Air Act of 1990 ^ Emissions of Greenhouse Gases Report by the US Department of Energy

^ Code of Federal Regulations: Protection of Stratospheric Ozone ^ Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Supplemental Rule Regarding a Recycling Standard Under Section 608 (Proposed) of the Clean Air Act ^ Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Direct-Final Rulemaking Temporarily Extend the Existing RequirementsOne of the most common tasks a service technician will perform when maintaining or repairing HVAC systems is refrigerant recovery. Understanding the different recovery methods will help you perform this important task as efficiently as possible. Plus, when you follow proper refrigerant recovery procedures, you’ll prevent harm to both you and the equipment while getting the job done right the first time. One of the most important aspects of refrigerant recovery is safety. You must have the proper equipment for the type of refrigerant you‘re recovering. For example, systems charged with R-410A operate under significantly higher pressures than R-22 systems. This means you need equipment made to handle the higher pressures associated with R-410A.

The first thing you’ll need is a pair of safety goggles and a good set of gloves to prevent frostbite. Most technicians use a manifold set with two center utility ports — ¼-in. for recovery, and 3/8-in. for vacuum — in addition to the blue and red low- and high-side ports. Make sure the manifold gauges are rated for the refrigerant pressure you’re working with. You’ll also need a set of charging hoses with ball valve ends. It’s important to ensure both the hoses and the assemblies are UL recognized. And be sure to check the condition of your hoses prior to use. It’s best if you can use the shortest hoses possible for a given job, making for more efficient recovery and reducing the impact on the environment. Obviously, you’ll also need a quality recovery unit. Look for one with a large condenser, a compressor protection regulator (CPR) valve, and a high-pressure cutout switch rated for at least 510 psi. Some manufacturers offer a subcooling feature, which is an excellent way to increase your rate of recovery in high ambient conditions.

Finally, you’ll need the appropriate recovery tank. When recovering R-410A, you need to use a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) 400 recovery tank. A standard DOT 350 tank will not safely handle the high pressures of R-410A. So be sure you have the right tank for the job and that you don’t fill it beyond 80% capacity (a DOT regulation). Another DOT regulation requires a recertification of the tank every five years, so be sure to check the date on your tank. When recovering refrigerant, there are three basic methods: liquid, vapor, and push-pull. In the liquid recovery method, you are able to transfer refrigerant while it’s still in the liquid state. This method is especially good for transferring refrigerant from one container to another. Of the three recovery methods, liquid recovery is the fastest. So, why wouldn’t you use it? Because it’s simply not possible with all HVAC systems. In those cases, you’ll have to use the vapor recovery method. Vapor recovery is slower than liquid recovery but also the most common method.

It simply transfers refrigerant in the vapor state. The process for liquid recovery and vapor recovery are very similar. The only differences are the state of the refrigerant and some settings on the refrigerant recovery unit. The push-pull method of recovery quickly removes liquid refrigerant, but it’s a two-step process: Once all the liquid is removed in the first step, you have to change hose connections to recover the vapor. In general, you’d only use the push-pull method if you have more than 10 pounds of refrigerant in a system. In the liquid recovery method, refrigerant is transferred while still in the liquid state. Let’s walk through the process.   When you’re ready to start, make sure the system you are servicing is turned off. Check that the recovery machine’s selector knob is set to off and all valves on your manifold are closed. Connect the manifold to the system being serviced: high-side to the liquid port, and low-side to the vapor port. Next, connect a ¼-in. utility hose from your manifold to the suction port of the recovery machine.

Finally, connect a hose from the liquid side of the recovery cylinder to the discharge port. Make sure that the ends of the hoses with the shut-offs are used at the suction and discharge ports. This is required by law. Before beginning the recovery, purge all hoses of non-condensables. Now, open the liquid valve on the recovery tank and you’re ready to turn the recovery unit on. Turn the selector valve on the recovery unit to “liquid.” Open the high-side valve and the utility port on the manifold. The unit will recover until the low pressure switch shuts down the unit and the lamp indicates “recovery complete.” Now you can turn the system switch off, and turn the selector valve clockwise to off. You need to purge the recovery system after every service. Turn the system switch on and turn the selector valve to “purge.” Purging clears the recovery unit of refrigerant, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and prolonging the life of your equipment. In vapor recovery, the refrigerant is removed an HVAC system in a vapor state.

Then the vapor is condensed into a liquid by the recovery unit and, finally, transferred to the recovery cylinder. The basic process is the same as liquid recovery to a certain point. When you’re ready to start, make sure that the system you are servicing is powered off. Check that the recovery machine’s selector knob is also set to off and all valves on the manifold are closed. Connect your manifold to the system being serviced: high-side to the liquid port, and low-side to the vapor port. Connect the ¼-in. utility hose of your manifold to the suction port of the recovery machine. You’ll want to be sure that the ends of the hoses with the shut-offs are used at the suction and discharge ports. Before recovering refrigerant into the recovery cylinder, purge all hoses of non-condensables. Turn the recovery unit on and turn the selector valve on the unit to “vapor.” Open the utility port and the low-side valve on the manifold. The unit will recover until the low-pressure switch shuts down the unit and the lamp indicates “recovery complete.”

When recovery is complete, turn the system switch off and turn the selector valve clockwise to off. Again, you must purge after every recovery, so turn the system switch on and turn the selector valve to “purge.”  When the unit again shuts down and the lamp indicates “recovery complete,” your vapor recovery process is finished. The push-pull recovery method is used for transferring large volumes of liquid refrigerant. The recovery unit “pulls” vapor from the recovery cylinder and produces high-pressure discharge gas that “pushes” liquid out of the HVAC system and back into the recovery cylinder. You should NOT use the push-pull method if : • the system contains less than 10 pounds of refrigerant • the system is a heat pump or other unit with a reversing valve • the system has an accumulator between the service ports used in liquid recovery, or if the refrigerant system does not allow for the formation of a solid column of liquid. Because of the different set up, you’ll need extra equipment when performing a push-pull recovery: An extra hose, a recovery cylinder with no more than five pounds of refrigerant, and a sight glass rated for the pressure of the refrigerant you’re using.

Once you have everything you need, you’re ready to get started. Connect a hose from the discharge port of the recovery unit to the vapor side of the HVAC system. Then, connect another hose from the liquid side of the HVAC system to the sight glass and on to the liquid side of the recovery tank. Finally, connect a hose from the vapor side of the recovery tank to the suction port of the recovery unit. Once all connections are hooked up, purge the hoses of non-condensables before starting recovery. Open the valves on the recovery tank. Turn the selector valve on your recovery unit to “vapor,” and turn the recovery unit on. While recovery is in progress, closely watch the sight glass. When the passing liquid is no longer visible through the sight glass, or when the scale reading stops going up, the first step of the  recovery is complete. When it’s complete, close the vapor valve on the recovery tank and let the recovery unit run until the lamp indicates “recovery complete.” When recovery is complete, turn the system switch “off” and turn the selector valve clockwise to “off.”

At this point, you must purge the lines to prevent refrigerant loss. When the unit again shuts down and the lamp indicates “recovery complete,” the purge is complete. Turn your recovery unit off, and close the “liquid” valve on your recovery tank. Now you can reconnect your hoses as in a standard vapor recovery. As mentioned earlier, push-pull is very fast when you have the right set up for it, but it is a two-step process, so it’s not always the appropriate method to use. Once the hoses are reconfigured for vapor recovery, turn the selector valve to “vapor” and run the vapor recovery process, continuing until the unit shuts off. Purge once more before you begin servicing your HVAC system. This final purge clears the recovery unit of refrigerant, reducing the risk of cross contamination and prolonging the life of your equipment. Remember, you must purge after every service!    The information in this article was provided by Ritchie Engineering Co., Inc. — YELLOW JACKET Products Division, Bloomington, MN, manufacturers of a complete line of YELLOW JACKET recovery machines.