EPA Study Guide
EPA Study Guide
EPA Study Guide
AMERICAN TRAINCO
2011, American Trainco, Inc. SGEPA 003 0711
www.AmericanTrainco.com
Table of Contents
About this Guide ................................................................................................................. 4 About EPA 608 Testing ...................................................................................................... 5 Preparing for the Test.......................................................................................................... 6 Strategies for Taking the Test ............................................................................................. 6 Core Section ................................................................................................................................... 8 Ozone ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Ozone Depletion ................................................................................................................. 9 Destruction Process of Ozone ............................................................................................. 9 Ozone Review Questions ............................................................................................... 11 Clean Air Act & Montreal Protocol ...................................................................................... 12 Clean Air Act .................................................................................................................... 12 Punishment for Violating the CAA................................................................................... 13 Montreal Protocol ............................................................................................................. 13 Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol Review Questions ............................................. 13 CAA Phase-out of CFCs and HCFCs ............................................................................... 14 CAA Venting .................................................................................................................... 14 CAA Disposal ................................................................................................................... 14 CAA Phase-Out, Venting, and Disposal Review Questions .......................................... 14 Refrigerant Oils ................................................................................................................. 15 Oil Types ........................................................................................................................... 15 Oil Properties .................................................................................................................... 15 Substitute Refrigerants ...................................................................................................... 16 Substitute Refrigerants and Oils Review Questions...................................................... 17 Refrigeration Process ........................................................................................................ 18 Refrigeration Review Questions ................................................................................... 19 General Service & Maintenance ....................................................................................... 20 General Maintenance Review Questions ...................................................................... 20 The Three Rs ..................................................................................................................... 21 The Three Rs Review Questions.................................................................................... 21 Recovery Techniques ........................................................................................................ 21 Recovery Techniques Review Questions ....................................................................... 23 Dehydration Evacuation.................................................................................................... 24 2011 American Trainco SGEPA 003 0711
EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide Dehydration Evacuation Review Questions.................................................................. 24 General Safety ................................................................................................................... 25 General Safety Review Questions ................................................................................. 27 Refrigerant Cylinders ........................................................................................................ 28 Refrigerant Cylinder Review Questions........................................................................ 29 Refrigerant Cylinder Shipping .......................................................................................... 29 Refrigerant Shipping Review Questions ....................................................................... 29 Type I ........................................................................................................................................... 30 Recovery Requirements .................................................................................................... 31 Recovery Requirements Review Questions ................................................................... 32 Recovery Techniques ........................................................................................................ 32 Recovery Techniques Review Questions ....................................................................... 34 Type II .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Leak Detection & Repair .................................................................................................. 37 Leak Detection and Repair Review Questions .............................................................. 37 Refrigeration ..................................................................................................................... 37 Refrigeration Review Questions ................................................................................... 39 Recovery Requirements .................................................................................................... 39 Recovery Requirements Review Questions ................................................................... 40 Recovery Techniques ........................................................................................................ 41 Recovery Techniques for Different Systems .................................................................... 42 Recovery Techniques Review Questions ....................................................................... 42 Type III ........................................................................................................................................ 44 Leak Detection And Repair .................................................................................................. 45 Leaks in a Low-Pressure System ...................................................................................... 45 Purge Units........................................................................................................................ 45 Visual Leak Inspection ..................................................................................................... 45 Leak Checking .................................................................................................................. 46 Leak Detection and Repair Review Questions .............................................................. 46 Recovery Techniques ........................................................................................................ 47 Water-Cooled Condensers ................................................................................................ 47 Oil Removal ...................................................................................................................... 48 Recovery Techniques Review Questions ....................................................................... 48 Recharging Techniques..................................................................................................... 48
EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide Recharging Techniques Review Questions ................................................................... 48 Recovery Requirements .................................................................................................... 49 Recovery Requirements Review Questions ................................................................... 49 Refrigeration ..................................................................................................................... 49 Refrigeration Review Questions ................................................................................... 50 Glossary ....................................................................................................................................... 51
EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide A technician may choose to take Core plus any combination of Type I, Type II or Type III. It is not required to take all four sections on the examination, however, much of the content from section to section relates to Core content, so once the Core content is mastered, reviewing for the other sections is much easier.
EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide Read every answer, even if you think the first one is correct. Many questions are missed because not all the answer options are read. Always look at the last answer to see if it is answer that contains multiple answers such as All of the above or A and B are correct. If you have to guess on one of these answers, choose All of the above as this answer is correct most often. Mark your answers on the sheet carefully. Completely fill in the circle indicating your choice, like this: If you need to erase an answer, remove as much pencil mark as possible. Skip over difficult questions and come back to them later. Place a mark next to the question so that you know to come back and answer the question. Answer all questions, even if you have to guess. Eliminate the answers that you think are least likely to be correct and choose between the remaining answers. Do not fill in multiple answers on the test. Each test question has only one correct answer. Filling in multiple answers on a question will automatically result in an incorrect answer. Spend extra time checking back over your answers before turning in your test. You can usually find a few mistakes by reading the questions over carefully again.
Core Section
The Core section of the exam contains 25 general knowledge questions covering: Ozone depletion Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol Section 608 regulations Substitute refrigerants and oils Refrigeration Three Rs Recovery techniques Dehydration evacuation Safety Shipping
Ozone
Ozone Depletion
Ozone is a naturally occurring gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms (O3). This gas occurs both in the Earths upper atmosphere and at ground level. At ground level, ozone is considered bad and is a pollutant that causes significant health risks as well as damaging vegetation. The ozone that occurs in the upper atmosphere or stratosphere is considered good ozone. This good ozone in the stratosphere is a layer that extends about 6 to 30 miles above earth and creates a protective shield for Earth from the suns harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Depletion of ozone allows more of the suns harmful UV rays to reach the earth resulting in the following problems: Increased temperature of the earth Increased cases of skin cancer Increased numbers of cataracts in the eyes Increased ground level ozone Crop and vegetation loss Reduced marine life
While the total amount of ozone in the stratosphere varies by location, time and season, the effect of ozone depletion is a global problem.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core It was known that oceanic and terrestrial ecosystems naturally emit chlorine and bromine, but it wasnt until the mid 1970s that it was discovered that some human-produced chemicals were being emitted into the air and quickly destroying ozone. These gases come primarily from CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons), which were once used in almost every refrigeration and air conditioning unit manufactured. A CFC is an organic compound containing carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. An HCFC contains carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and hydrogen. Despite being heavier than air, CFCs reach the stratosphere through wind motions that carry them upwards. Because CFCs will not dissolve in water or break down into compounds that dissolve in water, CFCs remain in the atmosphere and do not rain out easily, which allows them to reach the stratosphere over time. When CFCs and HCFCs reach the atmosphere, they are broken apart, releasing their chlorine atoms, starting the process of attacking ozone molecules. Proof that CFCs have reached the stratosphere comes from air samples taken in the stratosphere. Determining whether the chlorine emission was from naturally occurring instances like volcanoes or whether from refrigerants used to be debated, but scientific studies have shown than over 80% of the chlorine in the atmosphere is from human-made gasses. The supporting studies revealed the following: The rise in the amount of chlorine measured in the stratosphere over the past two decades matches the rise in the amount of fluorine, which has different natural sources than chlorine, over the same period. The rise in the amount of chlorine measured in the stratosphere over the past two decades matches the rise in CFC emissions over the same period. Samples of air taken from the stratosphere over erupting volcanoes show that volcanoes contribute a small quantity of chlorine to the stratosphere compared to CFCs. Ozone depletion potential (ODP) is the measurement of the ability of CFCs and HCFCs to destroy the ozone. CFCs have the highest ODP, followed by HCFCs. HFCs do not contain any chlorine and therefore do not have an ODP.
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ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core Gas CFC HCFC HFC Example R-11, R-12, R-500 R-22, R-123 R-134a Elements Chlorine, Fluorine, Carbon Hydrogen, Chlorine, Fluorine, Carbon Hydrogen, Fluorine, Carbon ODP Higher Lower None
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The EPA may ask technicians to demonstrate their ability to properly perform refrigerant recovery and recycling procedures. Those failing to demonstrate may lose their certification. An award of up to $10,000 is offered by the EPA to those individuals who supply information leading to a penalty against a technician that intentionally vents.
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (commonly known as the Montreal Protocol) is a treaty among nations designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and substantially amended in 1990 and 1992. The Montreal Protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform, were phased out by 2000 (2005 for methyl chloroform).
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CAA Venting
Since November 15, 1995, knowingly venting any refrigerant is a violation of the CAA. This includes CFC & HCFCs, CFC & HCFCs refrigerant substitutes. Only the de minimis release is allowed during service, maintenance or repair, which refers to the small amounts of refrigerants emitted unintentionally during good faith efforts to recover refrigerants, during the normal course of appliance operation or during the connection/disconnection to charge or service an appliance. Nitrogen that is used for holding charges or as leak test gases may be released; however, nitrogen may not be added to a fully charged system for the purpose for leak detection and then released. All CFCs and HCFCs must be recovered before opening a system for service or disposing of appliances.
CAA Disposal
The EPA has set standards for recovery of refrigerants prior to appliance disposal, including that all refrigerants in disposable containers have been recovered (0 psig or lower) and rendered useless before recycling the cylinder. Before disposing of any appliance containing a CFC or HCFC refrigerant, the refrigerant must be recovered. The person responsible for ensuring that refrigerants have been removed from household refrigerators before they are disposed of is the final person in the disposal chain.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core 5. Is it allowed to release nitrogen into the atmosphere? How about a mixture of nitrogen and refrigerant? 6. What must be done before scrapping a refrigerant container? 7. What must be done before disposing of an appliance containing CFCs or HCFCs? 8. Who is responsible for removing refrigerants from a system that is being disposed of?
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Refrigerant Oils
Due to the change in refrigerant use, you may encounter new refrigerants, old refrigerants, and blends of older refrigerants as well as different oils in the field. Mineral, or petroleum, oils include paraffin-based oils, napthene-based oils, and mixed oils (a combination of napthene-based and paraffin-based oils). Synthetic oils include silicate ester, silicone, neo-pentyl ester, dibasic acid ester, polyglycols such as polyalkylglycol (PAG), alkyl benzene (AB), and polyolyester (POE). Synthetic oils must be stored in metal containers. The ester oils are generally used with alternative refrigerants and are typically compatible with mineral oils and existing system components. Refrigerant oil must be miscible (able to be mixed) at low temperatures; it must lubricate even when it is diluted; it must have electrical insulating properties; it must maintain its stability; and it must provide a pressure seal.
Oil Types
Oil Type Mineral Oil Alkylbenzene Polyolester Polyalkylene glycol Polyalphaolefin Abbreviation MO AB POE PAG PAO Use CFC refrigerant systems R-22 and other refrigerant systems HFC refrigerant systems R-134a automotive systems R-717 (ammonia) refrigeration systems
Oil Properties
All refrigerant oils are hygroscopic (they attract moisture). All refrigerant oils have certain properties in common. The viscosity of an oil refers to its thickness, while the density of the oil refers to the composition of the oil at a given viscosity. An oils stability is its ability to lubricate 2011 American Trainco SGEPA 003 0711
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core without chemical breakdown; its solubility refers to its miscibility with various refrigerants. (Solubility of air refers to the air and moisture entrainment capacity of an oil.) Miscibility refers to the ability of an oil to be mixed; low temperature miscibility refers to the oils ability to remain mixed (in other words, not separate) at a low temperature. Foaming refers to the tendency of the oil to foam when it is subjected to pressure changes. Foaming will reduce the oils ability to lubricate. The dielectric strength of an oil is the threshold at which the oil conducts electricity. An oils oxidation value is its ability to resist sludge accumulation. Its boundary film-forming ability is its ability to separate high pressure and low pressure.
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Substitute Refrigerants
There is no drop-in replacement gas for R-12 systems; all replacement refrigerants require additional retrofit procedures. In particular, the new refrigerants are incompatible with the oils and lubricants used in R-12 systems and therefore, oils must be checked and changed out as part of the retrofit procedure. R-134A (also called HFC-134a) is the leading replacement option for retrofitting R-12 systems. The oils used in most R-134A systems are ester based oils and ester based oils do not mix with other oils. Leak check an R-134A system using pressurized nitrogen. Temperature glide is the difference in temperature that occurs when a refrigerant evaporates or condenses (changing from vapor to liquid or liquid to vapor) under constant pressure. This means the temperature in the evaporator and the condenser is not constant. Temperature glide can also be understood as the difference between the dew point and the bubble point. The dew point occurs when the saturation temperature in the evaporator causes the refrigerant to change from a liquid to a vapor. The bubble point occurs when the saturation point in the condenser changes the refrigerant from a vapor to a liquid. One problem with blended refrigerants is that since the different refrigerants in the blend have different vapor pressures, they leak from systems at uneven rates. Charging a blended refrigerant should be done as a liquid.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core Ternary blends are three-part mixtures. They are common types of refrigerant blends that contain HCFCs. Ternary blends are used with a synthetic alkylbenzene lubricant. Alkylbenzene lubricant is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs (takes on) moisture. A zeotropic (or non-azeotropic) refrigerant is a blend of components that change their composition and saturation temperatures as they evaporate or condense at constant pressure. In other words, the blend boils out at different temperatures (exhibits temperature glide) but at the same pressure. Zeotropes are blends of two or more refrigerants that retain the characteristics of each refrigerant. Because the components have different boiling points, they can leak at an uneven rate. Zeotropic mixtures should be charged as a liquid. An azeotropic refrigerant contains fluids that boil out at the same temperatures (do not exhibit temperature glide) and act as a single refrigerant. Azeotropes are blends of two or more compounds that act like a single compound. Azeotropic refrigerants can be charged as a vapor or a liquid. A blended refrigerant, or near-azeotropic mixture (sometimes referred to as NARM) contains refrigerants with different boiling points, but that act as one substance when they are in either a liquid or a vapor state. Near-azeotropic mixtures exhibit temperature glide when they change from vapor to liquid, or vice versa. However, the temperature glide is less than 10F. Near-azeotropic mixtures can exhibit fractionation (when the mixtures composition changes as a result of vapor charging) and may affect the leak ratio. Near-azeotropic mixtures should be charged as a liquid.
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Refrigeration Process
The refrigeration process is essentially the transfer of heat from one place to another. In an air conditioning unit, for example, the heat is removed from inside the building and is deposited outside the building. The vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is a repeating cycle consisting of four main components: evaporator, compressor, condenser and metering device. The evaporator absorbs heat into the system from the space to be cooled (removes heat from the space). The absorption of heat into the refrigerant causes it to boil. Upon leaving the evaporator, the refrigerant is a low pressure, low temperature vapor. The compressor takes the low pressure, low temperature vapor and changes it to a high-temperature, high-pressure, superheated vapor and delivers it to the condenser. Because of the vapor pressure difference between refrigerant and oil, the refrigerant will migrate towards the compressor crankcase, while the oil will not. Hermetically sealed compressors are often found and they cannot be serviced as their shell is welded shut. Never operate a hermetically sealed compressor when there is a dehydration vacuum in the system. The condenser rejects the heat from the system and changes the refrigerant from a high-temperature, high-pressure vapor into a high pressure, high temperature liquid. The metering device reduces the pressure of the refrigerant and changes the high-pressure, high-temperature liquid into a low pressure, low temperature liquid. The refrigerant goes back to the evaporator, where the process starts all over again.
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The gauge manifold set (also known as a service manifold) is an important tool for the technician that measures pressure readings at different points in the refrigeration system. The compound gauge is usually blue and measures low pressure (psig) and vacuum (inches Hg). The high pressure gauge is usually red and measures the high side (discharge) pressure. The scale on the high pressure side is a continuous scale and is usually calibrated to read from 0 to 500 psi. The center port of the manifold is usually a yellow hose and can be connected to a recovery device, evacuation vacuum pump, or charging device.
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The Three Rs
The three Rs of refrigeration are: recover, recycle, and reclaim. To recover is to remove refrigerant in any condition from a system and store it in an external container without necessarily testing or processing it in any way. Recovery is done in order to have adequate supplies for service after production bans, prevent venting to the atmosphere, and prevent stratospheric ozone depletion. To recycle is to clean refrigerant for immediate reuse by separating the oil from the refrigerant and removing moisture and acidity from the refrigerant by use of products like filter driers. To reclaim is to process refrigerant to the level of new product specifications as determined by chemical analysis. Reclaimed refrigerant must meet the standard set forth in ARI 700 before it can be resold.
Recovery Techniques
All refrigerant recovery and/or recycling equipment now manufactured must be certified and labeled by an EPA-approved equipment testing organization to meet EPA standards. This covers all air conditioning and refrigeration equipment containing CFC and HCFCs. There are two basic types of recovery devices. System dependent devices capture refrigerant with the assistance of the compressor and/or the pressure of the refrigerant in the appliance from which refrigerant is being recovered. Self-contained devices have independent means to draw the refrigerant out of the appliance. The EPA requires a service aperture or process stub on all appliances that use a Class I or Class II refrigerant in order to make it easier to recover refrigerant. Schrader valves (which look like bicycle tire air valves) are common on both refrigerant systems and recovery equipment. When using Schrader valves, it is critical to:
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core Check the valve core for bends and breakage. Replace damaged Schrader valves to prevent leakage. Cap the Schrader ports to prevent accidental depression of the valve.
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Due to the increased charges for recovering refrigerants, consumers have complained about paying for the process. In order to handle these complaints, let the consumer know that: Recovery is the law. Recovery is necessary to protect human health and the environment. All professional service personnel are duty bound to follow the law and protect the environment. When recovering refrigerants, only put one type of a refrigerant in a tank and do not mix different refrigerant types into one tank. Mixed refrigerants in the same tank may be impossible to reclaim. When servicing a system that already has a mix of two or more refrigerants, the mixed refrigerants must be recovered into a separate tank. The longer it takes to recover the refrigerants, the higher chance of emissions of the refrigerants to the atmosphere. The following factors affect the time it takes to recover refrigerant. Size of refrigeration system and recovery equipment. The bigger the system, the longer the recovery process. The bigger capacity of the recovery equipment, the faster the recovery. Size of suction hose. The longer the suction hose and the smaller in diameter it is, the higher the pressure drop in the system and the longer it will take to recover refrigerants. Temperatures. The colder the ambient temperature, the longer the recovery process. If the refrigerant system is warmer than the recovery cylinder, the recovery process will go faster due to a higher pressure in the refrigerant system and a lower pressure in the recovery cylinder.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core Refrigerant Recovery Rate Variables Longer Smaller
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Slower
Colder Colder
Hose length Hose diameter Ambient temperature Refrigerant system compared to cylinder
Shorter Bigger
Faster
Warmer Warmer
Bigger
Smaller
If you smell a strong odor during the recovery process, it is likely that the compressor has burned out. When recovering refrigerant from a system that has a burned out compressor, watch for signs of contamination in the oil. After completing the transfer of liquid refrigerant between a recovery unit and a refrigeration system, avoid trapping liquid refrigerant between the service valves. Nitrogen may be used to flush debris out of the system after recovering refrigerant. The nitrogen may legally be vented to the atmosphere. A suction line filter-drier should be installed to trap any debris that may cause damage to the new compressor.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core 7. If you smell a strong odor during recovery, what is most likely the problem and what additional problems should you look for?
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Dehydration Evacuation
The purpose of dehydrating a refrigeration system is to remove water and water vapor. The presence of moisture in an operating refrigeration system can create highly corrosive and toxic acids. The recommended method for dehydration is evacuation. Before evacuating a system, it is important to first recover all refrigerant and attain the mandated vacuum level. The factors that affect the speed and efficiency of evacuation are: Size of equipment being evacuated. The larger the equipment, the longer it will take to evacuate. Ambient temperature. The warmer the temperature, the faster it will evacuate. You may heat the refrigeration system to decrease the evacuation time. Amount of moisture in the system. The more moisture in the system, the longer it will take to evacuate. Size (capacity) of vacuum pump and suction line. The bigger the capacity of the vacuum pump, the shorter the time. The piping connection to the pump should be as short in length as possible and as wide in diameter as possible. Vacuum lines (hoses) should be equal to or larger than the pump intake connection. For the most accurate readings during evacuation, the vacuum gauge should be located as far as possible from the vacuum pump. Measuring the vacuum of a system should be done with the system isolated and vacuum pump turned off. If the system will not hold a vacuum, then it has a leak. Dehydration is considered complete when the vacuum gauge shows that have reached and held the required finished vacuum. It is not possible to over-evacuate a system.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core 3. What must be done before starting evacuation? 4. What are the four factors that affect the evacuation time? 5. Can you increase the temperature of a refrigeration system for evacuation and if so, what purpose does it have? 6. How long and what diameter should the piping connection to the vacuum pump be? 7. How big should the vacuum hoses be in relation to the pump intake connection? 8. For accurate vacuum readings, where should the vacuum gauge be located? 9. When should the measurement of vacuum for a system be done and how do we know when dehydration is complete?
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General Safety
Whenever handling or filling refrigerant cylinders, always make certain you are wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, butyl-lined protective gloves and safety shoes. Be certain to read and follow all equipment and product manufacturers safety precautions. When working with any solvent, chemical or refrigerant, read and understand the manufacturers MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) before handling. Refrigerants can be deadly if inhaled or allowed to be heated. Refrigerants are heavier than air and will displace oxygen in the room, leading to asphyxia (lack of oxygen and excess carbon dioxide in the blood caused by respiratory interference), unconsciousness and eventually death. Oxygen deprivation is the leading cause of refrigeration accidents that lead to death. In addition to oxygen deprivation, inhaling refrigerant vapors in the air can lead to heart irregularities and direct exposure to the skin can cause frostbite. Never try to siphon refrigerants by mouth. Always work with refrigerants in a well ventilated area to help avoid oxygen deprivation. In the event of a large leak, immediately vacate and ventilate the area or use Self Contained Breathing Aparatus (SCBA). ASHRAE standard 15-1994 requires a refrigerant sensor that will sound an alarm and automatically start a ventilation system in occupied equipment rooms where refrigerant (regardless of refrigerant type) from a leak will concentrate. The alarm will sound before the
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core TLV-TWA (Threshold Limit Value Time Weighted Average) is exceeded (oxygen deprivation level). Never expose refrigerants to open flame, live steam, glowing hot metal surfaces or excessive heat. Some refrigerants, when exposed to flames or steam, change into toxic materials such as hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, and halogen acids, as well as carbonyl halides, carbonyl fluorides, and phosgene gas. Because of this, never weld, cut or braze a refrigerant line on a charged system. Always evacuate all refrigerant from the system before using any open flame for repairs. Excessive heat applied to refrigerants causes an increase in pressure and can lead to an explosion. Refrigerant safety is addressed in ASHRAE Standard 15-1994, Safety Code for Mechanical Refrigeration. This standard specifies an oxygen sensor and alarm for A1 refrigerants, and a refrigerant detector for all other refrigerants, as well as specifying ventilation requirements, but may not prevent hazardous accumulations. Refrigerants are classified by a letter and a number; the letter indicates its toxicity and the number indicates its flammability. Refrigerants in the A category have a lower toxicity, while refrigerants in the B category have a higher toxicity. Similarly, refrigerants in the 1 category have no flame propagation (minimal flammability), while refrigerants in the 3 category have high flammability. Refrigerant mixtures are classified based on worst-case fractionation. ASHRAE Classification Higher Flammability Lower Flammability No Flame Propagation Lower Toxicity A3 A2 A1 Higher Toxicity B3 B2 B1
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When checking for leaks in a system, always use dry nitrogen to pressurize the system and never use oxygen or compressed air. Oxygen or compressed air, when mixed with refrigerants, can cause an explosion. When using dry nitrogen in service or installation, always charge through a pressure regulator (make sure the nitrogen cylinder has a regulator on it) and insert a relief valve downstream line from the pressure regulator.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Core All refrigeration systems must have safety relief valves. The valves must not be installed in series, and must be replaced if corrosion build-up is found within the body of a relief valve. To determine the safe pressure for leak testing a piece of equipment, read the design or test pressure information located on the data plate on the low-side pressure valve. Sight glasses used for visual inspection of the refrigerant can become dirty and/or iced up. If icing occurs on the sight glass, always use an alcohol spray to remove the ice. Never use a screw driver to chip at ice on the sight glass. Never energize a reciprocating compressor if the discharge service valve is closed.
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Refrigerant Cylinders
Disposable cylinders are used only for virgin refrigerant and should never be used for recovery. Before scrapping disposable cylinders, all refrigerant should be evacuated and the pressure on the cylinder should be at least 0 psig. Disposable cylinders use a one-way (check) valve. Disposable cylinders should be emptied of all contents using a refrigerant recovery device. Once emptied, the cylinders valve should be opened to allow air to enter, and the cylinder should be punctured with the valve still open (rendered useless). Never leave used cylinders with any residual refrigerant, either outdoors or at a job site. Used cylinders that have been rendered inoperable can be recycled with other scrap metal. The internal pressure of a cylinder with one ounce of liquid refrigerant is exactly the same as a full cylinder. An abandoned cylinder will eventually deteriorate and can explode if the cylinder wall weakens. Refrigerant cylinders are color-coded. The actual shade of color depends on the manufacturer and may change over time, so do not rely on color alone to identify a refrigerant. Recovery cylinders are specifically designed to be refilled. For safety reasons, only cylinders designated as refillable by the Department of Transportation (DOT) can be used for refrigerant recovery. DOT approved refrigerant recovery cylinders are easy to identify as they have yellow tops and gray bodies. Refillable cylinders must be hydrostatically tested and date stamped every five years. When checking or using refillable cylinders, make sure the cylinder has been tested within the last five years and is free of rust and damage. If the cylinder is damaged and requires scrapping, it should first be completely evacuated of all refrigerants and have a pressure of 0 psig or lower before scrapping. Cylinders should always be stored and moved in the upright position and secured so they wont fall over. Cylinders should never be stored by an open flame or in very hot areas. The excessive heat may cause the cylinder to explode, it may change the state of the refrigerant into a toxic material and/or the added pressure may cause the cylinder to leak refrigerant. When using vapor recovery, the fill level should never exceed 80% of its capacity by weight. Overfilled cylinders may rise in internal pressure when exposed to heat, resulting in an explosion. The fill level may be controlled by mechanical float devices, electronic float devices, or weight. Sight glasses are not an acceptable means for determining filling capacity.
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Certain states may have additional requirements. Please check with your state DOT before shipping refrigerant.
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Type I
The Type I section of the exam contains 25 questions covering Recovery requirements Recovery techniques
Type I may also cover information found in Core content, such as: Substitute refrigerants and oils General service and maintenance Recovery techniques General safety Refrigerant cylinders Refrigerant cylinder shipping
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Recovery Requirements
According to the EPA, a small appliance is one that is manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory and contains five pounds or less of refrigerant. A pressurized terminal air conditioner (PTAC) is a common name used for a hermetically sealed air conditioning system. MVAC or motorized vehicle air conditioning systems do not fall under the small appliance regulations. Technicians that handle refrigerant during service, maintenance, or repair of small appliances must have a Type I or Universal certification. The sales of CFCs and HCFCs are restricted to certified technicians. If the EPA changes regulations after the technician is certified, it is the responsibility of the technician to comply with any future changes in the law. Refrigerant Recovery Requirements for Small Appliances Before November 15, 1993 After November 15, 1993 Operating compressor 80% or 4" of vacuum 90% or 4" of vacuum Non-operating compressor 80% or 4" of vacuum 80% or 4" of vacuum Fittings Low-loss required Low-loss required Approvals None specified EPA Laboratory-Approved
Recovery equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993 must be capable of recovering 80% of the refrigerant whether or not the compressor is operating or achieve a 4 inch vacuum under conditions of ARI 740. Recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993 must be capable of recovering 80% of the refrigerant without the compressor operating or achieve a 4 inch vacuum under conditions of ARI 740; be capable of recovering 90% of the refrigerant with the compressor operating or achieve a 4 inch vacuum under conditions of ARI 740; and must be approved by an EPA approved third-party laboratory. Recovery equipment fittings must be equipped with low-loss fittings which can be manually or automatically closed when disconnecting hoses in order to prevent refrigerant loss. All appliances must have a service aperture valve for recovering and charging refrigerants. For small appliances, the service aperture valve is typically a straight piece of tubing that is entered with a piercing access valve. 2011 American Trainco SGEPA 003 0711
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type I When servicing a small appliance, it is not mandatory to perform a leak repair; however, it should be done whenever possible.
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Recovery Techniques
Before beginning the refrigerant recovery process, you should always know the type of the refrigerant in the system first. One way to identify the refrigerant is by using the temperature/pressure chart (see back page). Never mix refrigerants in a recovery cylinder. If a reclamation facility receives a tank of mixed refrigerants, they may either refuse to process the refrigerant and return it at the owners expense or they may destroy the refrigerant, but charge a substantial fee. For small appliances, the technician may use either a self-contained recovery device or use a system dependent recovery system. Self-contained (active) recovery equipment uses its own power to recover the refrigerant from systems and is capable of reaching the required recovery rates with or without the compressor
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type I operating. The recovered refrigerant in a self-contained system is stored in a pressurized recovery tank. Before operating a self-contained recovery device, make sure the tank inlet valve is open and that the tank does not contain excessive air or non-condensables. Not opening the tank inlet valve or having excess air will cause higher discharge pressures. Checking for air or non-condensables can be done by checking the pressure inside the recovery tank. References to the pressure/temperature chart are only valid if the temperature is known; therefore, when checking for non-condensables inside a recovery cylinder, allow the temperature of the cylinder to stabilize to room temperature before taking a pressure reading. Refer to the recovery equipment instructions in order to purge air and non-condensables. All refrigerant recovery equipment should be checked for oil level and refrigerant leaks on a daily basis. A system-dependent (passive) recovery process captures refrigerant into a non-pressurized container. The system-dependent equipment uses the systems compressor, an external heat source, or a vacuum pump to recover the refrigerant. A vacuum pump can only be used as a recovery device in combination with a non-pressurized container and can not be used with selfcontained recovery equipment (pressurized container). When using a system-dependent recovery process with an operating compressor, run the compressor and recover from the high side of the system. Normally, one access fitting on the high side will be enough to reach the required recovery rate as the compressor should be able to push the refrigerant to the high side. When using a system-dependent recovery process with a non-operating compressor, it may be necessary to access both the low and high side of the system to achieve the required recovery level and it will speed the recovery. In order to release the trapped refrigerant from the compressor oil, it will be necessary to heat and tap the compressor with a mallet several times and/or use a vacuum pump. If the appliance has a defrost heater as commonly found in domestic refrigerators, operating the defrost heater will help to vaporize any trapped liquid refrigerant and will speed the recovery process.
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ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type I When filling a graduated charging cylinder, refrigerant that is vented off the top of the cylinder must be recovered if it is a regulated refrigerant. When installing an access fitting onto a sealed system, the fitting should be leak tested before proceeding with recovery. It is generally recommended that solderless piercing type valves only be used on copper or aluminum tubing. These fittings tend to leak over time and should not be left on appliances as a permanent service fixture. After installing an access fitting, if the system pressure is 0 psig, do not start the recovery process. Small appliances used in campers or other recreational vehicles may use refrigerants not covered in Section 608, such as ammonia, hydrogen or water and therefore, should not be recovered using current EPA-approved recovery devices. Similarly, systems built before 1950 may have methyl formate, methyl chloride, or sulfur dioxide as refrigerants and require special recovery equipment.
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ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type I 8. When should piercing type valves be used? What is a common problem with these valves? 9. What are some other small refrigeration systems that contain other types of refrigerants? Should these refrigerants be recovered with standard EPA equipment?
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Type II
Type II certification is primarily for equipment using a high-pressure refrigerant such as HCFC-22. The equipment includes residential air conditioners and heat pumps, supermarket refrigeration and process refrigeration. The Type II section of the exam contains 25 questions covering: Leak detection and repair Refrigeration Recovery requirements Recovery techniques
Type II questions may also cover information included in Core content, such as: Refrigeration process General safety
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Refrigeration
The most common refrigerant used before 1995 was R-22, but with the variety of refrigerants in the market, the technician should always read the nameplate to determine the type of refrigerant used in the system. Filter-driers are designed to remove moisture from the refrigerant in a system; however, in order to remain effective, these must be replaced on a routine basis or any time a system is opened. In addition to helping identify what type of refrigerant is in the system, using the sight 2011 American Trainco SGEPA 003 0711
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type II glass can also help determine if there is excess moisture in a system by looking for color changes of the refrigerant. Always use an alcohol spray to clean the sight glass. The use of a large vacuum pump can cause trapped water to freeze. During evacuation of systems with large amounts of water, it may be necessary to increase pressure by introducing nitrogen to counteract freezing. Where there is a risk of freezing, liquid charging of an R-12 refrigeration system should begin with vapor from a vacuum level to a pressure of approximately 33 psig followed by a liquid charge through the liquid-line service valve. This is also the proper method to charge a system that contains a large quantity of refrigerant. Refrigerant in the oil will cause oil foaming in the compressor at start-up. A crankcase heater (compressor heater) is often used to prevent refrigerant from migrating to the oil during periods of low ambient temperature. Vacuum can be measured in either microns or inches of mercury (inches Hg). The more accurate and preferred method of measuring a deep vacuum is in microns. When evacuating a vapor compression system, the vacuum pump should be capable of pulling 500 microns (or 29.90" Hg) of vacuum. Never start a hermetic compressor when under a deep vacuum as the motor winding could be damaged if energized.
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Systems using thermal expansion valves will have a receiver/tank on the outlet side of the condenser, designed to hold liquid refrigerant. When leaving the condenser directly or the receiver, the refrigerant remains a high pressure/high temperature liquid until it goes to the
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type II metering device. The line between the condenser and the metering device is also referred to as the liquid line.
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Recovery Requirements
Recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993 must be certified by an EPA laboratory, be equipped with low-loss fittings, and must meet stringent vacuum standards. System-dependent recovery equipment cannot be used on appliances containing more than 15 pounds of refrigerant.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type II Required Level of Evacuation (Except for Small Appliances & MVAC) Manufactured before 11/15/93 Type of Appliance HCHF-22 appliance* < 200 lbs. refrigerant HCFC-22 appliance* > 200 lbs. refrigerant Other high-pressure appliance* < 200 lbs. refrigerant Other high-pressure appliances* >200 lbs. refrigerant Very high-pressure appliance Low-pressure appliance *or isolated component 0 4 4 4 0 25 Manufactured after 11/15/93
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Inches Hg 0 10 10 15 0 25
After reaching the desired vacuum, the technician should wait a few minutes to see if the system pressure rises, indicating that there is still refrigerant in liquid form or in the oil. EPA has established limited exceptions to its evacuation requirements for: 1. Repairs to leaky equipment. Appliances can be evacuated to atmospheric pressure (0 psig) if leaks make evacuation to the prescribed level unattainable. 2. Non-major repairs. Under EPA regulations, a major repair means any maintenance, service or repair involving the removal of any or all of the following components: the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator or an auxiliary heat exchanger coil. A nonmajor repair would not fall into any of these categories. Repairs that are not major and that are not followed by an evacuation of the equipment to the environment must be evacuated to at least 0 psig before it is opened if it is a high or very high pressure appliance, or must be pressurized to 0 psig before it is opened if it is a low-pressure appliance.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type II November 15, 1993? Equipment before 11/15/1993? What about other appliances under the same conditions? 3. What does the EPA consider major repairs? 4. What exceptions are there for evacuation for non-major repairs? 5. What can you do if you cant reach the required evacuation levels on leaky equipment?
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Recovery Techniques
Before using a recovery unit you should always: Check the service valve positions. Check the oil level of the recovery unit. Evacuate and recover any remaining refrigerant from the units receiver. Evacuate an empty recovery cylinder before transferring refrigerant to the cylinder.
On a routine basis, you should always: Check both the oil and filter on a refrigerant recycling machine as recovered refrigerants may contain acids, moisture, and oil. Use quick couplers, self-sealing hoses, or hand valves should be used to minimize refrigerant release when hoses are connected and disconnected. Both recycling and recovery equipment using hermetic compressors have the potential to overheat when drawing a deep vacuum because the unit relies on the flow of refrigerant through the compressor for cooling, so be aware of this problem. Before charging a new system with refrigerant, technicians working with multiple refrigerants but the same recovery equipment must: Purge the recover/recycle equipment by recovering as much of the first refrigerant as possible. Change the filter. Evacuate.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type II The only exception to this rule is for technicians working with R-134A, who must provide a special set of hoses, gauges, vacuum pump, recovery/recycling machine, and oil containers to be used with R-134A only. In order to reduce recovery time and thereby reduce chances for refrigerant emissions, the technician may choose to: Pack the recovery cylinder in ice and/or apply heat to the appliance. Recover as much as possible in the liquid phase. In order to recover liquid refrigerant, you must connect one hose to the systems liquid line. After recovering liquid refrigerant, any remaining vapor is condensed by the recovery system. After recovery, refrigerant may be returned to the appliance from which it was removed or to another appliance owned by the same person without being recycled or reclaimed, unless the appliance is an MVAC or MVAC-like appliance.
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ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type II 4. What maintenance task should you take to help limit the damage of contaminated oils? 5. Why might recovery equipment using hermetic compressors overheat? 6. If switching from recovering one refrigerant to another, what three steps must be taken before recovering the new refrigerant? What if the refrigerant is R-134A? 7. Describe two ways to speed up recovery. 8. Under what circumstances can recovered refrigerant be reused? 9. Where should you remove the refrigerant in a system that has a condenser below the receiver? 10. How must you recover refrigerant from a parallel system? Why?
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Type III
Type III certification is for equipment using low-pressure refrigerant. The Type III section of the exam contains 25 questions covering: Leak detection and repair Recovery techniques Recharging techniques Recovery requirements Refrigeration
Type III may also include information found in Core content, such as: Refrigeration process General safety
Type III may also include information found in Type I content, such as: Recovery techniques identifying refrigerants
Type III may also include information found in Type II content, such as: Leak detection and repair Recovery requirements
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Purge Units
Because low pressure systems will suck in non-condensables and moisture, the systems have purge units to vent the unwanted properties. The purge unit prevents the accumulation of noncondensable substances (air and moisture) in order to keep the system clean and maintain efficiency. The purge unit removes air and moisture to prevent reduced condenser surface area, increased head pressure, compressor surge, increased pressure differential, and system corrosion. A centrifugal systems purge unit takes its suction from the top of the condenser, removes the air from the system, and returns the refrigerant to the evaporator. A high efficiency purge system will expel very little refrigerant along with the air, while an inefficient purge unit will continue to leak refrigerants. In order to reduce refrigerant loss through the purge unit, the technician should leak test and repair the chiller.
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Leak Checking
The most efficient method of leak checking a charged low-pressure refrigeration unit is to increase the pressure in the system by the use of controlled hot water or heater blankets. If using hot water or heater blankets is not possible, use nitrogen to increase the pressure. Do not exceed 10 psig when pressurizing with nitrogen, as this can cause the rupture disc to fail. When leak testing a water box, be certain the water has been removed, then place the leak detector probe in through the drain valve. To leak test a tube, use a hydrostatic tube test kit. Controlled hot water can be used to pressurize a system for the purpose of opening the system for non-major repair. Under EPA regulations, a major repair means any maintenance, service or repair involving the removal of any or all of the following components: the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator or an auxiliary heat exchanger coil. A non-major repair would not fall into any of these categories/ EPA leak repair requirements are the same as Type II. EPA leak repair requirements state that a system containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant must be repaired if: The leak rate exceeds 15% in comfort cooling appliances. The leak rate exceeds 35% in all commercial and industrial process refrigeration.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type III 8. What are two ways you can increase the pressure in the system? 9. What can happen if you exceed 10 psig while pressurizing the system? 10. How should a water box be leak tested? 11. What equipment should be used to test a tube? 12. What are the leak repair requirements for comfort cooling appliances and commercial appliances containing 50 pounds or more of refrigerant?
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Recovery Techniques
A rupture (safety) disc is typically welded to the cylinder shoulder. If cylinder pressure exceeds the safety-relief pressure, the disc will burst and the cylinder content will vent and prevent an explosion. The rupture disc on a low pressure system is set for 15 psig while the recovery units high pressure cut-out is typically set for 10 psig in order to help prevent damage to the low pressure. When recovering refrigerant from a system using R-11 or R-123: Remove the liquid first. Recover remaining vapor.
A substantial amount of vapor will remain in the appliance after all liquid is removed. For instance, an average 350-ton R-11 chiller at 0 psig still contains 100 pounds of vapor after all the liquid has been removed. A heater on the recovery vessel side will help to evacuate the vapor faster.
Water-Cooled Condensers
Most low-pressure recovery machines use a water-cooled condenser that is connected to the municipal water supply. When recovering refrigerant, the system water pumps, the recovery compressor, and the recovery condenser water should all be on. Water must be circulated through the tubes when evacuating refrigerant in order to prevent freezing the water. If a chiller is suspected to have tube leaks, the water sides of the evaporator and condenser should be drained prior to recovering the refrigerant.
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Oil Removal
A temperature of 130F should be attained when removing oil from a low-pressure system, as less refrigerant is contained in the oil at higher temperatures.
Recharging Techniques
Never introduce liquid refrigerant into a system that is in a deep vacuum. Introducing liquid refrigeration into a deep vacuum will cause the refrigerant to boil and may lower the temperature enough to freeze the water in the tubes. To charge a low pressure system: Charge through the evaporator charging valve as this is the lowest point on a low pressure system. First charge the system with vapor until the refrigeration saturation temperature reaches 36 F or the vapor pressure reaches 16.9" Hg vacuum. Complete the charge with liquid refrigerant.
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type III 2. At what point in the system should you charge a low pressure system and what should you start the charge with? 3. How can a technician determine when it is safe to start charging with liquid refrigerant?
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Recovery Requirements
As with all refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, the equipment must be EPA-approved by third party, have low-loss fittings and meet evacuation levels more stringent than equipment made prior to that date. Required levels of evacuation for low-pressure systems are: 25" Hg for equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993. 25 mm Hg absolute for equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993.
Once the required vacuum has been achieved, the technician should wait a few minutes to monitor the system pressure. If the pressure rises, this indicates that there is still refrigerant in the system (liquid or trapped in the oil) and the recovery process must be repeated. When leaks in the system make evacuation to the required level unattainable, the system should be evacuated to the lowest attainable level before a major repair.
Refrigeration
In a centrifugal system, the rupture disc is located on the evaporator and discharge from the disc should be vented outside. Charging a centrifugal system should be done through the evaporator charging valve. 2011 American Trainco SGEPA 003 0711
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Type III The use of a large vacuum pump can cause trapped water to freeze. During evacuation of systems with large amounts of water, it may be necessary to increase pressure by introducing nitrogen to counteract freezing. Make certain not to exceed 10 psig. When a system is sitting idle (not in use), the pressure of the system should be increased to slightly above atmospheric pressure in order to prevent air accumulation in the system.
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Glossary
This glossary is intended to highlight some terms important for comprehension of EPA 608 regulations. It does not cover all terms used in the study guide. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers): An international organization that advances heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration; among other things, they developed a standard for classifying the safety of refrigerants. Blended refrigerant: Also called a near-azeotropic mixture (sometimes referred to as NARM), a blended refrigerant contains refrigerants with different boiling points, but that act as one substance when they are in either a liquid or a vapor state. Near-azeotropic mixtures exhibit temperature glide when they change from vapor to liquid, or vice versa. However, the temperature glide is less than 10F. Near-azeotropic mixtures can exhibit fractionation (when the mixtures composition changes as a result of vapor charging) and may affect the leak ratio. Near-azeotropic mixtures should be charged as a liquid. Azeotrope: A blend of two or more components whose equilibrium vapor phase and liquid phase compositions are the same at a given pressure. These refrigerants are given a 500 series ASHRAE designation and behave like a single refrigerant. They can be charged as a liquid or vapor. Disposal: The process leading to and including any of the following: The discharging, depositing, dumping, or placing of any discarded appliance into or on any land or water. The disassembly of any appliance for discharging, depositing, dumping, or placing of its discarded component parts into or on any land or water. The disassembly of any appliance for reuse of its component parts.
(Refrigerant added/Total charge) x (365 days/year/D) x 100% where D = the shorter of: # days since refrigerant last added or 365 days Filter-Drier: An accessory that filters the refrigerant and protects it from dirt and moisture, as well as acids. 2011 American Trainco SGEPA 003 0711
ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Glossary Fractionation: The separation of a liquid mixture into separate parts by the preferential evaporation of the more volatile component. Halocarbon: A halogenated hydrocarbon containing one or more of the three halogens: fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. Hydrogen may or may not be present. High-Pressure Appliance: (prior to March 12, 2004, referred to by the EPA as higher-pressure appliance) An appliance that uses a refrigerant with a liquid phase saturation pressure between 170 psia and 355 psia at 104F. This definition includes but is not limited to appliances using R-410A, R-22, R-401B, R-402A/B, R-404A, R-407A/B/C, R-408, R-409, R-411A/B, R-502 and R-507A. Hydrocarbon: A compound containing only the elements hydrogen and carbon. Leak Rate: The rate at which an appliance is losing refrigerant, measured between refrigerant charges or over 12 months, which ever is shorter. The leak rate is expressed in terms of the percentage of the appliances full charge that would be lost over a 12-month period if the current rate of loss were to continue. The rate is calculated using the following formula: Low-Loss Fitting: Any device that is intended to establish a connection between hoses, appliances, or recovery/recycling machines, and that is designed to close automatically or to be closed manually when disconnected to minimize the release of refrigerant from hoses, appliances, and recovery or recycling machines. Low-Pressure Appliance: (definition unchanged by the EPAs March 12, 2004 rule change): An appliance that uses a refrigerant with a liquid phase saturation pressure below 45 psia at 104F. Evacuation requirements for the low-pressure category apply to these appliances. This definition includes but is not limited to appliances using R-11, R-113, and R-123. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a form with data regarding the properties of a particular substance. An MSDS provides workers with physical data and information about handling that substance in a safe manner. Major Repair: Maintenance, service, or repair that involves removal of the service or repair appliance compressor, condenser, evaporator, or auxiliary heat exchanger coil. Medium-Pressure Appliance: (prior to March 12, 2004, referred to by the EPA as highpressure appliance) An appliance that uses a refrigerant with a liquid phase saturation pressure 2011 American Trainco SGEPA 003 0711
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ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Glossary between 45 psia and 170 psia at 104F. R-114 appliances are at the low-pressure end since the saturation pressure of R-114 at 104F is slightly above 45 psia. This definition includes but is not limited to appliances using R-12. R-114, R-124, R-134A, R-401C, R-406A and R-500. Mixture: A blend of two or more components that do not have a fixed proportion to one another and that no matter how well blended, still retain a separate existence (oil and water, for example). Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner (MVAC): Mechanical vapor compression refrigeration equipment used to cool the driver or passenger compartments of any motor vehicle. This definition is NOT intended to encompass the hermetically sealed refrigeration system used on motor vehicles for refrigerated cargo or the air conditioning systems on passenger buses. Section 609 certification is required for working on MVAC systems, while either Section 608 Type II or Section 609 certification is required for MVAC-like A/C systems (e.g. farm equipment and other non-roads vehicles). Section 608 certification is required for working on hermetically sealed refrigeration systems used on motor vehicles for refrigerated cargo or the air conditioning systems on passenger buses. Non-Azeotropic Refrigerant: A synonym for zeotropic, the latter being the preferred, though less commonly used term. Zeotropic: blend with multiple components of different volatilities that, when used in refrigeration cycles, change volumetric composition and saturation temperatures (exhibit temperature glide) as they evaporate (boil) or condense at constant pressure. These refrigerants are given a 400 series ASHRAE designation. Normal Charge: The quantity of refrigerant within the appliance or appliance component when the appliance is operating with a full charge of refrigerant. Person: Any individual or legal entity, including an individual corporation, partnership, association, state, municipality, political subdivision of a state, Indian tribe, and any agency, department, or instrumentality of the United States and any officer, agent, or employee thereof. Process Stub: A length of tubing that provides access to the refrigerant inside a small appliance or room air conditioner that can be resealed at the conclusion of repair or service. psia: The absolute pressure in pounds per square inch, where 0 psia corresponds to 29.9 inches of mercury vacuum and 14.7 psia corresponds to 0 psig (pounds per square inch gauge).
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ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Glossary psig: The gauge pressure in pounds per square inch, where 0 psig corresponds to atmospheric pressure (14.7 psia). A positive psig value indicates the pressure in pounds per square inch above the ambient pressure. Reclaim: To reprocess refrigerant to at least the purity specified in the ARI Standard 700, Specifications for Fluorocarbon Refrigerants, and to verify this purity using the analytical test procedures described in the Standard. Recovery Efficiency: The percentage of refrigerant in an appliance that is recovered by a unit of recycling or recovery equipment. Recover: To remove refrigerant in any condition from an appliance and to store it in an external container without necessarily testing or processing it in any way. Recycle: To extract refrigerant from an appliance and to clean refrigerant for reuse without meeting all of the requirements for reclamation. In general, recycled refrigerant is refrigerant that is cleaned using oil separation and single or multiple passes through devices such as replaceablecore filter dryers, which reduce moisture, acidity, and particulate matter. Refrigerant: The substance used for heat transfer in a refrigeration system. A refrigerant absorbs heat during evaporation at low temperature and pressure, and releases heat during condensation at a higher temperature and pressure. Refrigerant: Any class I or class II substance used for heat transfer purposes, or any substance used as a substitute for such a class I or class II substance by any user in a given end-use, except for the following substitutes in the following end uses: Ammonia in commercial or industrial process refrigeration or in absorption units. Hydrocarbons in industrial process refrigeration (processing of hydrocarbons). Chlorine in industrial process refrigeration (processing of chlorine and chlorine compounds). Carbon dioxide in any application. Nitrogen in any application. Water in any application.
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ATMT0511EPAU197 EPA 608 Technician Certification Study Guide: Glossary Self-Contained Recovery: Recovery or recycling equipment that is capable of removing refrigerant from an appliance without the assistance of components contained in the appliance. Small Appliance: Any of the following products that are fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with five pounds or less of refrigerant: refrigerators and freezers designed for home use, room air conditioners (including window air conditioners and packaged terminal air conditioners), packaged terminal heat pumps, dehumidifiers, under-the-counter ice makers, vending machines, and drinking water coolers. Substitute: Any chemical or product substitute, whether existing or new, that is used by any person as a replacement for a class I or II compound in a given end-use. System-Dependent Recovery Equipment: Recovery equipment that relies upon the compressor in the appliance and/or the pressure of the refrigerant in the appliance. System-Dependent: Recovery equipment that requires the assistance of recovery components contained in an appliance to remove the refrigerant from the appliance. Technician: Any person who performs maintenance, service, or repair that could reasonably be expected to release Class I (CFC) or Class II (HCFC) substances into the atmosphere, including but not limited to installers, contractor employees, in-house service personnel, and in some cases, owners. Technician also means any person disposing of appliances except for small appliances. Very-High-Pressure Appliance: (definition unchanged by the EPAs March 12, 2004 rule change) An appliance that uses refrigerants with a critical temperature below 104F or with a liquid phase saturation pressure above 355 psia at 104F. This category includes but is not limited to appliances using R-13, R-23, R-503.
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AMERICAN TRAINCO
Refrigerant Temperature / Pressure Chart Bring this chart to the test with you. Temperature (F) -100 -90 -80 -70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 R-11 29.8 29.7 29.6 29.4 29.2 28.9 28.4 27.8 27.0 26.0 24.7 23.1 21.1 18.6 15.6 12.0 7.8 2.8 1.5 4.9 8.8 13.1 18.3 24.0 30.4 37.7 Pressure PSI Red numbers = inches Hg Black numbers = psig R-12 27.0 25.7 24.1 21.8 19.0 15.4 11.0 5.4 0.6 4.4 9.2 14.6 21.0 28.4 37.0 46.7 57.7 70.2 84.2 99.8 117.2 136.4 157.7 181.0 206.6 234.4 R-22 25.0 23.0 20.2 16.6 12.0 6.2 0.5 4.9 10.2 16.4 24.0 32.8 43.0 54.9 68.5 84.0 101.3 121.4 143.6 168.4 195.9 226.4 259.9 296.8 337.2 381.5 R-123 29.9 29.8 29.7 29.6 29.5 29.2 28.9 28.5 27.8 27.0 26.0 24.7 23.0 20.8 18.2 15.0 11.2 6.6 1.1 2.6 6.3 10.5 15.4 21.0 27.3 34.5 R-134A 27.8 26.9 25.6 23.8 21.5 18.5 14.7 9.8 3.8 1.8 6.3 11.6 18.0 25.6 34.5 44.9 56.9 70.7 86.4 104.2 124.3 146.3 171.9 199.4 230.5 264.4 R-500 26.4 24.9 22.9 20.3 17.0 12.8 7.6 1.2 3.2 7.8 13.3 19.7 27.2 36.0 46.0 57.5 70.6 85.3 101.9 120.4 141.1 164.0 189.2 217.0 247.4 280.7 R-502 25.3 20.6 17.2 12.8 7.2 0.2 4.1 9.2 15.3 22.6 31.1 41.0 52.4 65.6 80.5 97.4 116.4 137.6 161.2 187.4 216.2 247.9 282.7 320.8 362.6 408.4
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