By Tony Gonzales, CSME at Fieldpiece Instruments
Table of Contents
Smart Recovery
If you’re recovering refrigerant, here are some refrigerant best practices and a few tips to help the process go smoothly. For starters, always wear the proper PPE. This includes protective gloves, goggles and shoes. Also, before you start the process, turn off the power to the system at the breaker.
Inspect the Tank
The recovery tank is a pressurized vessel. Inspect it for damage or rust before using it. If you’re starting with an empty tank, pull it to a vacuum of 500 microns before beginning the recovery process to remove any particulates, moisture and non-condensable gasses from the tank. Using a scale, be sure calculate the maximum tank weight and only fill up to 80% of the maximum capacity.
Eliminate Restrictions
One way to make recovery go as quickly as possible is to eliminate all possible restrictions for refrigerant flow. First, use a valve core removal tool to remove the valve cores on both the high-side and low-side service ports. Also, use a shorter, larger diameter hose with the core depressors removed. If you’re using a Fieldpiece MR45 – Digital Refrigerant Recovery Machine, inspect the mesh filter on the inlet port to be sure it’s clear of debris. Another way to increase overall flow is to connect the discharge hose to the recovery cylinder at the vapor port. This eliminates the resistance of the internal dip tube that’s connected to the liquid port.
Flip Your Tank
Regardless if you’re recovering into a container that already has refrigerant in it or not, flip it upside down before starting the recovery process using the vapor port. This ensures that the liquid that you’re putting into the cylinder comes in contact first with the liquid that is already in the tank. If not, it could flash into a gas as it enters. This keeps tank pressure down and speeds up the process.
Self-purge when done
When complete, don’t forget to self-purge all remaining refrigerant in the recovery machine before removing any hoses. To do this, turn the dial to self-purge and press start. This process automatically shuts off after removing all refrigerant from the line-set and the machine. Before disconnecting the discharge hose from the cylinder, be sure to close the tank valve first. This ensures you don’t lose any refrigerant from the tank. Also, be cautious when disconnecting the discharge hose as it will be filled with refrigerant.
Refrigerant Best Practices: Pick up an MR45
Weighing just 22 pounds, the Fieldpiece MR45 Refrigerant Recovery Machine is the fastest, lightest, and easiest-to-use recovery machine on the market. It has a large digital screen that shows the system pressure and the tank pressure throughout the entire recovery process—making recovery quicker and more efficient than ever. It’s powered by a durable, variable speed, smart DC motor, and has a convenient single-dial control and easy-access ports.
Recovery can be simple and fast if you use these tips and follow established safety procedures.
About the author: Tony Gonzalez has over 20 years of HVAC experience with Fieldpiece Instruments and has been leading Fieldpiece training since 2020. Tony presents courses nationally at conferences, partners with leading industry organizations, and is recognized everywhere for his how-to videos. Tony is committed to sharing the best practices that make HVAC technicians’ jobs easier, faster, and better.
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