Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Review

Now with R-1234yf

Re frig e ra nt Re c o ve ry a nd Re c yc ling

Review

Online Version

EPA- Appro ve d Se c tio n 609 Pro g ram fo r Mo to r Ve hic le Air C o nditio ning (MVAC ) Se rvic e

This b o o kle t is distrib ute d fre e o f c ha rg e a nd is no t to b e so ld.

Rpt. May 2019

Ta b le o f C o nte nts

The Ne xt G e ne ratio n o f Air C o nditio ning Se rvic e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Te rms and Ac ro ny ms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Re frig e rants and The ir Impac t o n He alth and the Enviro nme nt . . . . . . 5

R-12 ? Fro m Mira c le to Me na c e ............................................................................................5 Risks a nd Effe c ts o f Exc e ss UV Ra d ia tio n..............................................................................5 Fro m O zo ne De p le tio n to G lo b a l Wa rming .........................................................................6 Enviro nme nta l Imp a c t o f MVAC Re frig e ra nts.....................................................................6

EPA Re g ulatio ns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Se c tio n 609 o f the C le a n Air Ac t Ame nd me nts o f 1990 ....................................................8 Se c tio n 82.34 - Pro hib itio ns a nd re q uire d p ra c tic e s...........................................................8 Se c tio n 82.36 - Ap p ro ve d re frig e ra nt ha nd ling e q uip me nt ..............................................8 Section 82.42 - Certification, recordkeeping and public notification requirements ....10 Se c tio n 608 Pro g ra ms - Diffe re nc e s a nd O ve rla p ............................................................10 Ve nting Pro hib ite d ................................................................................................................10

Alte rnative Re frig e rants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Re frig e ra nt Sa le s Re stric tio n ................................................................................................11 SNAP O ve rvie w .....................................................................................................................11 SNAP Rule (Und e r Le g a l Re vie w) ........................................................................................11 Ac c e p ta b le Sub stitute s in MVAC .......................................................................................12 Una c c e p ta b le Sub stitute s ..................................................................................................13 Retrofitting .............................................................................................................................14 MVAC Syste m Ho se s.............................................................................................................14 Re frig e ra nt Fitting Size s.........................................................................................................15 Caution with Flammable Refrigerants, Including Hydrocarbon Refrigerants ...............15 Ne xt G e ne ra tio n Air C o nd itio ning Syste ms .......................................................................15

Re spo nsib le Re frig e rant Manag e me nt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Sa fe ty First ..............................................................................................................................17 Re c o ve ry/ Re c yc ling / Re c ha rg e Eq uip me nt......................................................................17 Be st Pra c tic e s fo r Wo rking with Re frig e ra nt Syste ms ........................................................18 Use d R-134a Re frig e ra nt fro m No n-Mo b ile So urc e s..........................................................19 C he c king Re c yc le d R-12 a nd R-134a Sto re d in Po rta b le C o nta ine rs............................19 Ho w to Re c o ve r Re frig e ra nt o n R-12 a nd R-134a Syste ms ..............................................20 Po rta b le C o nta ine r Pre ssure C ha rts ...................................................................................21 Se rvic e Ho se s ........................................................................................................................22 R-1234yf Syste ms a nd R-744 Syste ms ..................................................................................22 Ke y R-744 Sa fe ty Po ints fro m J2845.....................................................................................23 Refrigerant Identification and Preventing Cross-Contamination ...................................23 Le a ks a nd Le a k De te c tio n...................................................................................................24

Lo c a ting a nd Re p a iring MVAC Re frig e ra nt Le a ks .......................................25 Refrigerant Cylinder Identification and Fitting Size.......................................27 Re frig e ra nt C ha rg ing .......................................................................................27 Syste m C ha rg e C a lc ula tio ns...........................................................................28

Re frig e rant Re c o ve ry and Re c y c ling Quiz . . . . . . . . . . . Inse rt

C o pyrig ht 2019 Na tio na l Institute fo r Auto m o tive Se rvic e Exc e lle nc e

The Ne xt G e ne ra tio n o f Air C o nditio ning Se rvic e

Tim o thy A. Zilke Pre side nt, ASE

We've com e a long way since the discovery of the infam ous ozone hole over Antarctica. Due in part to your valiant efforts as a service technician, NASA now forecasts that the ozone layer will likely return to its early 1980 s status around 20 65. It's a big step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, all this progress comes with a side-effect. With roughly two decades of R-134a serving as R-12's successor, we've learned that R-134a poses its own threat as a greenhouse gas. With environmental emphasis now changing, we're at the forefront of another refrigerant transition.

Initially, it appeared that R-1234yf would become the refrigerant heir-apparent to R-134a, due to R-1234yf's low global warming potential (GWP). Then, other alternatives appeared on the refrigerant landscape such as R-744 (CO ) and R-152a, along with regulatory initiatives from both the U.S. and the European Union. This global 2combination of regulations, along with continued research on alternative refrigerants, presents the possibility of multiple alternatives to R-134a when all is said and done.

Refrigerants aside, air conditioning systems themselves are going through an unprecedented transformation. What was once a simple creature comfort for upscale motorists, air conditioning systems of today are true thermal management systems, providing not only occupant comfort, but also providing essential cooling to battery packs and onboard com puters in hybrid vehicles. It's also possible that other A/C system designs may enter the marketplace, such as secondary-loop systems, so stay on top of the latest developm ents.

All this uncertainty has also created the perfect breeding ground for counterfeit refrigerants. Rogue refrigerant blends have surfaced in the industry, often convincingly packaged as pirated versions of those from reliable brands and suppliers. Be vigilant with all refrigerants that enter your shop by using a refrigerant identifier. It's your best defense. See the information in this training material for details on refrigerant identification.

The world of alternative refrigerants is changing rapidly, so it's wise to keep a close eye on industry journals for news of other alternatives that may be listed as acceptable, under certain use conditions, by the EPA under its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP). Also, be sure to check state and local regulations as they may differ from federal requirements.

Make a commitment to yourself and your customers to stay informed on any news affecting the world of air conditioning service. Just drop by the ASE website at for major developments. You can access information from the EPA on motor vehicle air conditioning on the web at . m vac.

Thanks for being part of the next generation of air conditioning service.

Timothy A. Zilke President, ASE

Re frig e ra nt Re c o ve ry a nd Re c yc ling : Re vie w a nd Q uiz 3

Te rm s a nd Ac ro nym s Use d In This Tra ining Ma te ria l

C la ss I Sub sta nc e

O zo ne -d e p le ting c he mic a l with a n o zo ne -d e p le tio n p o te ntia l g re a te r tha n 0.2 (i.e . C FC s)

C la ss II Sub sta nc e

O zo ne -d e p le ting c he mic a l with a n o zo ne -d e p le tio n p o te ntia l le ss tha n 0.2 (i.e . HC FC s)

C FC s

Chlorofluorocarbons such as CFC-12 (R-12)

HC FC s

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons such as HCFC-22 (R-22)

HFC s

Hydrofluorocarbons such as HFC-134a (R-134a)

HFO s

Hydrofluoroolefins such as HFO-1234yf (R-1234yf)

MVAC

Mo to r Ve hic le Air C o nd itio ning

MVAC -like a p p lia nc e

O DS

A syste m use d o n a ve hic le sub sta ntia lly id e ntic a l to a n MVAC . This typ e o f syste m use s a me c ha nic a l va p o r

compression, open-drive compressor to cool the driver's or passenger's compartment of a non-road vehicle, including

a g ric ultura l a nd c o nstruc tio n ve hic le s.

O zo ne -d e p le ting sub sta nc e

N o te : The ASE Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Review and Quiz is an EPA-approved program that meets Section 609 regulations as set forth in Section 609 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This program is intended only for technicians servicing MVACs and MVAC-like appliances. Under no circumstances should this program be considered as acceptable for Section 608 compliance, a separate requirement that applies to the servicing of stationary refrigeration and air conditioning systems, such as those used in commercial and residential applications. Furthermore, some state and local jurisdictions have adopted their own requirements for credentials, so check with your state and local authorities for details. Certification earned as a result of a passing score on the enclosed quiz is only deemed as certification in the context of the U.S. EPA. This credential is not the equivalent of technical certification from the main ASE testing and certification program. For more information, refer to the ASE website at or call ASE Customer Service at 1-800-390-6789 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through F r id a y. Th is 2 0 19 ve rs io n o f th e ASE Re frige ran t Re co ve ry an d Re cyclin g Re vie w an d Quiz supersedes all previous versions of the program .

4 Re frig e ra nt Re c o ve ry a nd Re c yc ling : Re vie w a nd Q uiz

Re frig e ra nts a nd The ir Im pa c t o n He a lth a nd the Enviro nm e nt

R- 12 ? Fro m Mira c le to Me na c e

When CFC-12, or R-12 (also referred to by its brand name, Freon) made its debut in 1930, the industry hailed it as a miracle chemical. It was nonpoisonous, easy and cheap to manufacture, and stable. The first in a family of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) yet to come, R-12's stability and low cost m ade air conditioning the creature com fort of the 20 th century.

Unfortunately, scientists believe that CFCs like R-12, have contributed to depletion of the earth's protective ozone layer located in the stratosphere. Located about 10 to 30 miles above the earth's surface, this precious layer filters out m ost of the sun's harm ful ultraviolet radiation. While ozone is bad near the earth's surface, in the stratosphere it's essential to our survival. The ozone layer acts as a sunscreen, protecting humans, plants and animals from the harmful effects of excessive ultraviolet radiation.

The stability of CFCs, the quality which proved so beneficial to mankind, also makes them a threat to the ozone layer. Once CFCs are released into the atmosphere, they travel high into the stratosphere where they can linger for a hundred years or more. CFCs destroy the ozone in the stratosphere through chemical reaction. Scientific concern about the ozone layer escalated during the 1970s, but it wasn't until 1985 that scientists confirmed their suspicions with solid data. This was when the infamous ozone hole over Antarctica first appeared, prompting international agreement for action on ozone-depleting chemicals. This formal agreement became known as the Montreal Protocol and was signed in 1987.

Ozone is a chemical compound consisting of three oxygen atoms in each molecule. Ozone molecules are similar to oxygen molecules because they contain oxygen atoms. However, the oxygen

m olecules that sustain our lives contain two

oxygen atoms (O ), whereas the ozone molecules 2

that poison the atmosphere contain three

souxnygliegnhta,taomchslo(Ori3n)e.

Under the influence of atom is released from a

CFC

molecule and reacts with one of the oxygen atoms

in the ozone to produce chlorine monoxide and free

oxygen. Neither of these can filter out the sun's

ultraviolet radiation the way ozone can. For each one percent of ozone reduction, 1-1/2 to 2 percent more UV radiation reaches the surface of the earth.

The EPA mandated the phase-out of R-12 because of its ozone-depleting characteristics. By the 1994 model year, manufacturers had completed their transition away from R-12 and to its successor HFC-134a, commonly known as R-134a. Nonetheless, CFCs like R-12 pose a lingering threat to the ozone layer due to their long atmospheric lifespan. The good news is that the unified efforts to ban CFCs have paid off. NASA estim ates that the ozone layer will likely return to

its early 1980 s state around 20 65.

Risks a nd Effe c ts o f Exc e ss UV Ra dia tio n The EPA assessed and detailed some of the key risks associated with excess UV radiation. These include increased reports of skin cancer, negative effects on the body's immune system, an increase in the number of eye cataracts, damage to vegetation, adverse effects on sea life, and an increase in ground-level ozone (a contributor to higher smog levels).

Research indicates that vegetation, particularly crops, can also be adversely affected by increased UV radiation. Combined with a bad growing season such as a drought, severe crop reductions could have a devastating effect on the world's food and bio-fuels supply.

Re frig e ra nt Re c o ve ry a nd Re c yc ling : Re vie w a nd Q uiz 5

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