Chapter 8

Refrigerant
Management
 Objectives
After completing the material in this
chapter, the student should be able to:
– List the desired properties for refrigerants.
– Explain the characteristics of hydrocarbons.
– Explain how a refrigerant becomes halogenated.
– Explain the chemical elements that make up
CFC, HC, HCFC, and HFC refrigerants.
– Differentiate between azeotropic, near-
azeotropic, and zeotropic refrigerant blends.
– Explain how ozone protects the Earth.
– Explain the difference between good and bad
ozone.
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 Objectives
After completing the material in this chapter,
the student should be able to:
– Explain how ozone is destroyed.
– Explain the concept of global warming.
– Interpret ozone depletion potentials (ODP) and
global warming potentials (GWP).
– Determine the proper oil to use with various types
of refrigerant.
– Differentiate between reusable and disposable
refrigerant cylinders.
– Obey laws regarding certification and refrigerant
handling.

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 Objectives
After completing the material in this
chapter, the student should be able to:
– Differentiate between Type I, Type II, Type
III, and Universal certification.
– Differentiate between refrigerant
recovering, recycling, and reclaiming.
– Demonstrate passive and active recovery
methods.
– Demonstrate methods to recycle
refrigerant.
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 Refrigerant Types
Environmentally friendly
Non-toxic
Non-flammable
Chemically stable
Recyclable
Relative low cost
Detectable at low concentrations

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 Ethane and Methane
Most refrigerants in use today
originate from one of these two base
molecules.
Methane and ethane are referred to
as pure hydrocarbons.
– Pure hydrocarbons contain only
hydrogen and carbon.
– Other hydrocarbons include propane and
butane.
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 Ethane and Methane
(A) Methane molecule (B) Ethane molecule

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 Classes of
Refrigerants in Use Today
Hydrocarbons (HC)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC)

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 Ozone Depletion
Skin cancer.
Eye-related issues, including
cataracts.
Decreased plant growth rates.
Compromised immune systems.

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 Ozone Depletion
Atmospheric
regions

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 Global Warming
Also referred to as the greenhouse
effect.
Earth’s inability to release heat by
radiation back to the atmosphere.

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 Ozone Depletion
Potential (ODP)
CFC refrigerants have high ozone
depletion potentials.
HCFC refrigerants have lower ozone
depletion potentials.
HFC and HC refrigerants have an
ozone depletion potential of zero.

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Global Warming Potential
(GWP)
CFC refrigerants have high global
warming potentials.
HCFC refrigerants have lower global
warming potentials.
HC refrigerants have low global
warming potentials.
HFC refrigerants have very low
global warming potentials.
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 Refrigerant Oils
Alkylbenzenes
Glycols
Esters

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Refrigerant Oils
A list of
refrigerants with
their appropriate
oils.

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 Refrigerant Cylinders
Disposable refrigerant cylinders
Reusable refrigerant cylinders
Recovery cylinders

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 Refrigerant Cylinders
Disposable refrigerant cylinder (Photo by Eugene
Silberstein).

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 Refrigerant Cylinders
Reusable refrigerant cylinders.

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 Refrigerant Handling
Always be thoroughly familiar with
surroundings.
Wear personal protection equipment
(PPE) including safety glasses,
gloves, and protective clothing.
Recovered refrigerant may be acidic.
BE CAREFUL.
Do not inhale refrigerant vapors.
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 Refrigerant Handling
When possible, work in well-
ventilated areas.
Refrigerant containers should never
be filled to more than 80% capacity.
Always secure cylinders before
transporting.
Properly label all refrigerant
cylinders.
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 Refrigerant Handling
Store tanks in a cool, dry place.
Always maintain equipment and tools
including recovery equipment, gauges,
hoses, and refrigerant cylinders.
Dedicate hoses for use with specific
refrigerants to reduce cross-
contamination.
Change oil and filters regularly on
recovery equipment.
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 EPA Type 608 Certification
Type I – Small Appliances
Type II – High-Pressure and Very-
High- Pressure Appliances
Type III – Low-Pressure Appliances
Universal – Type I, Type II, and Type
III

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 Refrigerant Recovery
Passive recovery:
– Uses the system compressor to pump
the refrigerant from the system to an
approved DOT refrigerant cylinder
Active recovery:
– When the system contains more than 15
pounds of refrigerant or if the system
compressor is inoperative

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 Refrigerant Recovery
Setup for passive refrigerant activity.

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 Recovered
Refrigerant Identification
Active
recovery setup
with moisture
indicator and
filter installed.

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 Summary
Refrigerants should be environmentally safe,
non-toxic, non-flammable, and chemically
stable.
Halogen refrigerants are created when some
hydrogen atoms are replaced with chlorine or
fluorine atoms.
Hydrocarbons (HC) contain only hydrogen
and carbon.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) contain only
hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) contain only
chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
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 Summary
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) contain
only hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
Blended refrigerants are mixtures of two or
more other refrigerants and can be
azeotropic, near-azeotropic, or zeotropic.
Stratospheric ozone protects the Earth from
ultraviolet radiation.
Ozone molecules are destroyed by chlorine.
Chemical substances are rated by their ozone
depletion potentials (ODP) and their global
warming potentials (GWP).
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 Summary
CFCs have high ODPs, while HFCs and HCs
have low ODPs.
Synthetic oils can be alkylbenzenes, glycols,
and esters.
Refrigerant cylinders are color-coded and can
be reusable or disposable.
The Montreal Protocol Act paved the way for
a number of regulations regarding refrigerant
handling.
Technicians must be certified as per EPA
Section 608 guidelines.
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 Summary
Refrigerant can be recovered, recycled, or
reclaimed.
Recovery involves the removal and storage of
the refrigerant.
Recycling involves the filtering of refrigerant
prior to reintroducing it to the system.
Reclaiming involves restoring the refrigerant
to ARI 700 standards.

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