Recovery for System Repair

Because R-23 has high working pressures, it must be recovered from the refrigeration circuit before any component, except the compressor, suction pressure gauge and discharge pressure gauge, can be repaired or replaced. Also, because of the high pressure in R-23 refrigerant bottles, the recovery of R-23 for re-use in the unit requires an empty refrigerant bottle at least 40 liters (42 quarts) in volume. The refrigerant bottle must be clean or dedicated to use with HFC refrigerants only.

Note Due to extremely high pressure in normal ambient R-23 cannot be reclaimed by use of reclaim station.

  1. Prepare an empty refrigerant bottle at lease 40 liters (42 quarts) in volume. Evacuate bottle if necessary to ensure it is clean.

  2. Connect a refrigerant hose from the bottle to the R-23 compressor discharge service valve.

  3. Midseat the discharge service valve. Then open the service valve on the bottle. Wait for 5-10 minutes to allow the pressures to equalize between the refrigeration system and the bottle. This will remove approximately 1/2 of the refrigerant charge from the unit.

  4. Start the unit and use the Manual Test function submenu of the controller to start and operate the R-23 compressor only for approximately 2 minutes. This will quickly transfer most of the remaining R-23 refrigerant charge to the bottle.

      Caution
    • Equipment Damage
    • Do not allow the compressor suction pressure to decrease below 100 kPa, 1.00 bar, 15 psig.
      Warning
    • Equipment Damage
    • Do not allow the pressure of the bottle to exceed 2500 kPa, 25 bar, 362 psig.

  5. After approximately 2 minutes of R-23 compressor operation, slowly close the compressor suction service valve. When the compressor suction pressure decreases below 100 kPa, 1.00 bar, 15 psig, stop the R-23 compressor and turn the unit OFF.

  6. Close the service valve on the R-23 recovery bottle.

  7. Backseat the discharge service valve. Disconnect the refrigerant hose from the discharge valve.

  8. With system pressures below 100 kPa, 1.00 bar, 15 psig, the R-23 system components can be serviced.

If necessary, set a recovery machine for vapor recovery. Connect the recovery machine to a separate, empty recovery bottle. Keep unit OFF and mid-seat the discharge service valve. Turn ON the recovery machine and open the service valve on the recovery machine. Operate the recovery machine until system pressures drop to 0 kPa, 0 bar, 0 psig pressure.

Parent topic: Recovering Refrigerant from System

R-134a Vapor Recovery

  1. Install a gauge manifold set on the R-134a refrigeration system. Attach the service line to the recovery machine and properly purge the lines. Set the recovery machine for vapor recovery.

  2. Keep unit OFF and mid-seat the discharge service valve.

  3. Turn ON the recovery machine and open (back seat) both gauge manifold and hand valves.

  4. Continue to operate the recovery machine until system pressures drop to 0 kPa, 0 bar, 0 psig pressure.

R-134a Liquid Recovery

  1. Install a gauge manifold’s low-pressure line to the Schrader suction service valve on the suction service valve of the R-134a compressor. Attach the manifold’s high-pressure line to R-134a receiver tank service valve port. Attach the service line to the recovery machine and purge the lines.

  2. Set recovery machine for liquid recovery and turn it ON.

  3. Open (back seat) high-pressure valve on gauge manifold.

  4. Operate the recovery machine until the unit system pressures reach approximately 0 kPa, 0 bar, 0 psig.