DEVELOPMENT OF RECOVERY AND REUSE SYSTEM FOR OZONE DEPLETING CHLOROFLUORO REFRIGERANTS

Abstract

The awareness to safeguard the environment from the chlorofluorocarbon and hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerants which cause the depletion of the ozone layer in the stratosphere when released in the atmosphere and leads to the global warming of the atmosphere, has motivated scientists and the engineers to recover and recycle the CFC and HCFC. These chemicals and replacements hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants may also contribute to global warming. The international organisation for standardisation (ISO) and others are developing standards or guidelines for the refrigerant recovery. Service techniques, proper handling and storage and possible mixing of refrigerants are of concern. The present work aimed to study the recovery and recycle system and develop the train for the same and to carry out the sampling and the chemical analysis of the contaminated and recycled R-12 refrigerant. The selection of recovery unit has been done after through review of the literature and the data supplied by refrigeration lab of I.I.T, Delhi and by a private company. The main components of this unit are compressor, condenser, recovery cylinder and a filter drier. The largest potential for the service related emissions of refrigerants occur during recovery. The emissions consist of refrigerant left in the system and losses due to service connections. The key to reduction of emissions is proper recovery equipment and techniques.