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How does refrigerant get contaminated?

How does refrigerant get contaminated?

Motor vehicle air conditioner (MVAC) refrigerants can become contaminated in a number of ways, including from outside elements (air, dirt) or by other refrigerants from improper servicing. The information below can help technicians identify, recover, and dispose of contaminated refrigerants.

What causes refrigerant restriction?

Liquid line restrictions can be caused by a restricted filter-drier, a restricted thermostatic expansion valve screen, a kinked liquid line, a bent lower condenser coil, or an oil-logged capillary tube. An evaporator that is starved of refrigerant will house a starved compressor and condenser as well.

How to eliminate the worst refrigerant contaminants?

CFC Refimax of Marietta, GA offers a portable decontamination system they call the RPS that also removes air from the refrigerant side of chillers and refrigeration systems. Visit www.refimax.com. For an example of a condensable or non-condensable purger, check out the OAM Purger from Redi Controls. Visit www.redicontrols.com.

Can a solvent be used in a refrigeration compressor?

Use only the appropriate refrigerant, proper recovery equipment, component parts, tools and lubricants. Do not inject the solvent into the compressor itself. In fact, the compressor should be removed or bypassed. Only the supporting refrigeration system should be flushed.

What causes a refrigeration system to become contaminated?

The most common such failure is a compressor burnout. During such an event, the refrigeration system becomes contaminated with large quantities of disintegrating particulate, sludge, acids, carbon residues, and possibly moisture. All of these contaminants must be removed before the system is returned to duty.

Can a air conditioner be contaminated with refrigerant?

Most folks are shocked to learn their air conditioner system is contaminated. “How could this happen,” is a common response. Many refrigerant products, sold to consumers, contain things other than pure refrigerant. Air conditioner components need an almost sterile environment to survive.

CFC Refimax of Marietta, GA offers a portable decontamination system they call the RPS that also removes air from the refrigerant side of chillers and refrigeration systems. Visit www.refimax.com. For an example of a condensable or non-condensable purger, check out the OAM Purger from Redi Controls. Visit www.redicontrols.com.

Use only the appropriate refrigerant, proper recovery equipment, component parts, tools and lubricants. Do not inject the solvent into the compressor itself. In fact, the compressor should be removed or bypassed. Only the supporting refrigeration system should be flushed.

The most common such failure is a compressor burnout. During such an event, the refrigeration system becomes contaminated with large quantities of disintegrating particulate, sludge, acids, carbon residues, and possibly moisture. All of these contaminants must be removed before the system is returned to duty.

What happens to the oil when the a / C fails?

With the internal parts coming apart and failure of them, it spreads dangerous metal particles through the system and this leads to a more expensive repair bill for customers or consumers. The fragments stick to the oil in the Freon and further damage the compressor with debris.

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Ruth Doyle