RECYCLING CYLINDER, FILLING WITH CONTAMINATED REFRIGERANT USING Extractor:VAS 581 007
- So that contaminated refrigerant can be filled by itself without corresponding devices in an evacuated recycling cylinder, it must be strongly cooled.
- 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 (8.7 psi) absolute pressure). If in a deeply cooled recycling cylinder which is connected to a refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant becomes a liquid in a cold recycling cylinder and the refrigerant circuit pressure goes under the ambient pressure. Refer to REFRIGERANT VAPOR PRESSURE TABLE .
- The commercially available recycling cylinders 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 cylinders for this use and carefully warm the cylinder to the ambient temperature (for example by placing the insulated containers with the recycling cylinder in a secured well ventilated area on which the dry ice can safely vaporize).
Special tools and workshop equipment required
- Minimum dimension 10 kg (22.05 lbs) dry ice (as pellets or granulate) - commercially available.
- Evacuated recycling cylinder for contaminated R1234yf, which is suitable for low temperatures (for example with a permitted capacity higher than 3.0 kg (6.61 lbs)). Commercially available from gas supplier. Recycling cylinders not made of light metal alloy, because chemical reactions with refrigerant components are possible.
- Extractor:VAS 581 007 . Refer to the Parts Information.
- 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.
Risk of frostbite or suffocation due to dry ice.
Frostbite of the skin and other body and suffocation as a gas is possible.
- Wear safety gloves.
- Wear protective eyewear.
- Only work with the dry ice in well-ventilated areas.
- Never work near basement staircases or other low-lying areas.
Risk of explosion due to improperly stored dry ice.
When dry ice evaporates the pressure in the container increases. Unsuitable containers can explode.
- Transport and store dry ice only in the containers designed for it.
Fill the refrigerant in a supercooled recycling cylinder.
-- Remove the recycling cylinder seal and remove the closure cap from the connection.
- Recycling cylinders usually come from the gas supplier sealed and evacuated.
- Recycling cylinders are clearly identified as such, these are in contrast to refrigerant supply cylinders do not have a check valve and can therefore be filled.
-- Connect the A/C Service Station to the recycling cylinder. 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:VAS 581 007 to the adapter on the recycling cylinder.
-- Carefully open the recycling cylinder hand shut-off valve to check the vacuum and check the vacuum in the cylinder.
- Residual pressure in the recycling cylinder less than 50 mbar (0.73 psi) absolute pressure.
-- If necessary evacuate the recycling cylinder using the A/C Service Station.
- If the recycling cylinder 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 cylinder with a A/C Service Station (residual pressure less than 50 mbar (0.73 psi)). Refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, EVACUATING .
- If the recycling cylinder has an absolute pressure greater than 900 mbar (13.05 psi) either the manual shut-off valve was opened and not closed correctly or the recycling cylinder is leaking. Contact the gas supplier and if necessary change the recycling cylinder.
-- Close the recycling cylinder hand shut-off valves.
-- Switch off the ignition.
-- For good ventilation of the work space switch on the workshop ventilation equipment if equipped.
There is a risk of explosion due to overfilling refrigerant cylinders.
Refrigerant can expand and the refrigerant cylinder can explode due to overfilling.
- Use a refrigerant cylinder with a safety valve.
- Never exceed the permitted capacity of the refrigerant cylinder.
Chemical reaction due to contaminated refrigerant. When mixing gases of unknown composition different chemical reactions can occur.
Injury is possible.
- Never mix refrigerant of different origins.
-- Connect the service coupling for refrigerant R1234yf -5- to the filler hose -4-.
-- Connect the filler hose -4- with the connection piece -3- (and seal -2-) on the recycling cylinder -1-.
-- Position the spacer -6- in the insulated container -7-.
-- Cover the bottom of the insulated container -7- with dry ice.
-- Position the recycling cylinder -1- in the insulated container -7-.
-- Fill the remaining dry ice in the insulated container -7-.
-- Cool the recycling cylinder -1- with dry ice (approximately 15 minutes).
-- Connect the recycling cylinder -1- via the service coupling -5- on the vehicle refrigerant circuit.
-- Open the recycling cylinder hand shut-off valve -1-.
- Recycling cylinders are designed for international use, and this means that "O" on the hand wheel means "open" (for cylinder vale open) and not "0" (zero for closed).
-- Connect the pressure gauge to the refrigerant circuit (or the use the A/C Service Station pressure gauge) and check the refrigerant circuit pressure.
-- Carefully open the service coupling -5- on the filler hose to the recycling cylinder and let the refrigerant flow slowly in the recycling cylinder -1-.
-- Wait until the refrigerant in the recycling cylinder -1- is liquid (pay attention to the pressure indicator on the connected pressure gauge).
- When emptying a refrigerant circuit a pressure gauge or the A/C Service Station pressure indicator can be used.
- 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 cylinder 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.
-- Close the service coupling -5- and the recycling cylinder hand shut-off valve -1-.
-- Remove the filler hose -4- and connection piece -3- from the recycling cylinder -1- and close the recycling cylinder connection with the closure cap.
Risk of bursting of the recycling cylinder due to repeated impacts or thrusts when in frozen state.
- Prevent impacts and thrusts when frozen.
- Recycling cylinders which were subject to repeated impacts and thrusts must not be reused.
- The supplier of the recycling cylinder must be informed and further action must be coordinated with the supplier.
-- Place the insulated container -7- with the recycling cylinder -1- and the dry ice in a secured, well ventilated area outside of the building.
-- Open the cover of the insulated container -7- or remove and let the dry ice completely evaporate.
-- Remove the recycling cylinder -1- from the insulated container -7-.
-- Evacuate the refrigerant circuit with the A/C Service Station for at least one hour. Refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, EVACUATING .
- 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 (0.15 psi).
-- Fill out the supplement data sheet for the recycling cylinder with contaminated refrigerant and secure on the recycling cylinder.
-- Return the filled recycling cylinder using the method of delivery for the recycling cylinder, while paying attention to the applicable laws.