Contaminated Refrigerant, Filling In The Recycling Bottle By Cooling: Notes

So that contaminated refrigerant can be filled by itself without corresponding devices in an evacuated recycling container, it must be strongly cooled.

To cool the evacuated recycling container use a insulated container and dry ice. Refer to the Parts Information.

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide (CO₂ ), that at - 78 °C (-108.4 °F) goes directly from a solid into a gas.

The majority of gas, which can be used as a refrigerant, have a very low temperature and only have a low vapor pressure (at -50 °C (-58 °F) smaller than 0.6 bar (87.02 psi) absolute pressure). If in a deeply cooled recycling container which is connected to a refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant becomes a liquid in a cold recycling container and the refrigerant circuit pressure goes under the ambient pressure. Refer to REFRIGERANT VAPOR PRESSURE TABLE .

The commercially available recycling containers are mostly made of universal steel, that are not designed for low temperatures (here up to -78 °C (-108.4 °F)) for this reason the only use these suitable recycling containers for this use and carefully warm the bottle to the ambient temperature (for example by placing the insulated containers with the recycling container in a secured well ventilated area on which the dry ice can safely vaporize).

Dry ice evaporates at ambient temperature from the insulated container (depending on the ambient conditions approximately 20 to 30 % a day). For this reason only order dry ice when all other necessary tools are present and the procedure can be performed just after receiving the dry ice (For example do not order dry ice on a Friday afternoon if not working on Saturday and Sunday).

Recycling bottles usually come from the gas supplier sealed and evacuated.

If the recycling bottle is not evacuated, then evacuate it if necessary using a vacuum pump or an A/C Service Station.

Recycling bottles are clearly identified as such, these are in contrast to refrigerant supply bottles do not have a check valve and can therefore be filled.

Recycling bottles are designed for international use, and this means that "O" on the hand wheel means "open" (for bottle vale open) and not "0" (zero for closed).

If the recycling bottle has an absolute pressure larger than 100 mbar (1.45 psi) but smaller than 900 mbar (13.05 psi) which can be measured, evacuate the recycling bottle with a vacuum pump (or a A/C Service Station) (residual pressure less than 50 mbar (0.725 psi)). Refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, EVACUATING .

If in the recycling bottle an absolute pressure greater than 900 mbar can be measured there are different possibilities. The hand shut-off valve was opened and not correctly closed or the recycling bottle was already used temporarily store refrigerant and then not correctly evacuated. Refer to A/C SERVICE STATION, DISCHARGING . (evacuating the recycling bottle). The recycling bottle has leaks (return the recycling bottle to the supplier).

If air is in the recycling bottle, it can be evacuated with an R1234yf - A/C Service Station. To do so remove the low pressure service coupling from the A/C Service Station filler hose and connect the filler hose directly with the adapter belonging to the Extractor (for Refrigerant R1234yf)- Dry Ice Box to the adapter on the recycling bottle.

If there is air in the recycling bottle and the R1234yf-A/C Service Station is not available the recycling bottle can also be evacuated with a R134a-A/C Service Station via the corresponding rinsing tank when using an Refrigerant Circuits - Adapter 38 :VAS6338/38  and the filler hose from the Extractor (for Refrigerant R1234yf)- Dry Ice Box.

Recycling bottles are pre-evacuated from the supplier, but it cannot always be ensured during storage that the vacuum can always remain.

In order to get a clear statement when analyzing the contaminated refrigerant about the type and content of the contamination of the refrigerant filled, the recycling bottle must be evacuated to a residual pressure less than 50 mbar (0.725 psi) before filling.

Because in the following procedure the contaminated refrigerant only the refrigerant from one vehicle is filled in the recycling bottle it can be excluded that a recycling bottle can be overfilled with a capacity greater than 3.0 kg (6.6 lbs).

If contaminated refrigerant for example from the A/C Service Station is filled in a recycling bottle, it must be ensured due to the usually large quantity that the recycling bottle is not overfilled. Use a recycling bottle with a sufficiently large permitted capacity and when filling check by weighing that the maximum permitted capacity is not exceeded.

Recycling bottles are designed for international use, and this means that "O" on the hand wheel means "open" (for bottle vale open) and not "0" (zero for closed).

When discharging the refrigerant circuit you can for example use a pressure gauge or the A/C Service Station pressure display.

If the displayed pressure after approximately 60 minutes is smaller than 0.3 bar (4.35 psi) absolute pressure it can be assumed that the refrigerant in the recycling bottle is liquid.

The complete evaporation of the contaminated refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit takes a certain period of time, after 60 min it can be assumed that the entire refrigerant is evaporated.

All of the information and documents about the analysis, processing (or disposal) can be received from the gas preparator/gas disposer.

The recycling bottle has a form fill this out accordingly and affix it to the recycling bottle.

If it is not possible weigh the recycling bottle before and after filling with contaminated refrigerant, for the applicable vehicle mark the specified capacity for the refrigerant as the refrigerant quantity, which can be filled in the recycling bottle. Only the refrigerant quantity from one vehicle may be filled in the recycling bottle.

Remove the recycling bottle -1- first from the insulated container -7-, when the dry ice is evaporated and the recycling bottle has taken the ambient temperature.

Then by evacuating the rest of the contaminated refrigerant, which could be attached to the refrigerant oil can be removed at an absolute pressure of less than 10 mbar.

The following procedures depend on the concern on the refrigerant circuit. Refer to REFRIGERANT GAS ANALYSIS, PERFORMING .

In the field "Miscellaneous notes" it can be for example indicated who receives the gas analysis and in which form this should be done.