Refrigerants are compounds used in cooling that can deplete the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol and Clean Air Act aim to phase out toxic refrigerants, and HVAC technicians must be certified for proper use. Recycling methods include oil separation and filtering, and proper installation prevents escape into the atmosphere. Safe disposal of appliances is also important.
The best methods for recycling refrigerant require an explanation of what refrigerant is and its role in the cooling cycle of refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and other appliances. Refrigerants are compounds used in cooling that are boiled from liquid to gas, then condensed back to liquid. In the 1980s, several of these compounds were found to be primarily responsible for ozone depletion. Since the Montreal Protocol (1987), countries around the world have been agreeing to phase out toxic refrigerants and other hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) with natural, environmentally friendly compounds.
The United States incorporated the Montreal Protocol by establishing the Clean Air Act (Title VI), which is enforced through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While there are no internationally binding agreements, the Kyoto Protocol aims to phase out the use and production of HCFCs. The United Nations climate change conferences provide an opportunity for world leaders to discuss the phasing out of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer as well.
Homeowners and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) companies and their employees are responsible for the proper use of the refrigerant. Technicians must also be certified for the purchase of refrigerants. In the past, compounds were vented into the air during service calls or installation. Current EPA regulations now require special equipment to perform the best methods for recycling coolant.
Section 608 of the Clean Air Act specifies the definitions of recovery, recovery or recycling. Recovery of a refrigerant involves reprocessing the compound until it reaches a certain level of purity. Recovery means removing a refrigerant from the appliance and storing it outside. Recycling refrigerant involves taking it out of the appliance and then cleaning it for reuse. Refrigerants can be cleaned for reuse in a couple of different ways.
Oil separation is a method of cleaning and then recycling refrigerant. The compound can also be filtered multiple times through a filter/drier device. This process reduces moisture, acids and particles in the coolant.
The power of the refrigerant to deplete ozone and contribute to global warming decreases when proper recycling methods are followed. One of the best ways to recycle refrigerant starts with installation. HVAC technicians must ensure that home systems that use refrigerant are installed correctly. This prevents HCFCs and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from escaping into the atmosphere in the first place.
Another goal of refrigerant recycling is the safe disposal of appliances that contain refrigerant. Homeowners and business owners should responsibly dispose of old refrigerators, air conditioners and freezers, as well as any other appliances or devices that use refrigerant. Many industrialized nations have requirements for the safe disposal of hazardous waste.
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