ACR Journal

23 The RAC Engineer’s Guide to Low GWP Refrigerants Recycled refrigerant A refrigerant that has been recycled is an uncertified product that is being returned for use on the same site and has not been moved between premises. It’s a used refrigerant that has gone through a basic, on site cleaning process, normally carried out by the contractor completing the work. Unprocessed refrigerant recovered from a system cannot be stored on site for longer than a year due to landfill issues. As soon as you move it from the site – unprocessed or recycled – it is classed as hazardous waste and must be sent, with the appropriate legal environmental paperwork, to a licensed facility for reprocessing or disposal. Reclaimed refrigerant A-Gas are reclaimed refrigerant specialists and don’t sell recycled gas at all. Reclaimed refrigerant is a gas that has been reprocessed by a licensed facility to the industry standard AHRI 700 to match that of virgin product. It is refrigerant that is purified, certificated and guaranteed. At our reclamation plants, used refrigerant undergoes chemical analysis, is cleaned of contaminants and goes through our separation plant to produce a product that matches that of virgin refrigerant requirements. Refrigerant analysis service Installers should act on the side of caution when looking to re-use recycled products that are not single component refrigerants. You should be aware that a product can change composition through its life if the system has experienced leaks. This is particularly true for blends of refrigerants, such as the R407 family. A-Gas offers a refrigerant analysis service at its custom-built lab in Portbury where it can confirm a refrigerant’s composition and purity – and in doing so, help relieve that uncertainty. Working together Our investment in reclamation facilities highlights the commitment we have to providing the industry with the capacity and infrastructure to support the F-Gas phase downs. Using certified reclaimed product is a way the engineer can help the industry and the customer in reducing the short-term impact of the F-Gas phase downs – bridging the gap to that time when a decision is needed on choosing a new generation refrigerant or natural alternative. Thorough cleaning process Reprocessed to AHRI 700 Standard Detailed chemical analysis Licensed facility Can be used in other systems RECLAIMED REFRIGERANT