EPA Type 2 Refrigerant Concepts

Questions and Answers

What should you look for when inspecting a hermetic system known to be leaking?

Traces of oil

Which gas should be used to help locate a leak when a trace gas becomes necessary?

Nitrogen with a trace amount of system design refrigerant

What leak rate requires repair for a chiller containing 50 pounds or more of R 123 starting in 2019?

10%

How many days do you have to repair a leak in a comfort cooling appliance containing 50 pounds or more of R 22?

30 days Signup and view all the answers

How long must owners and operators keep records of leak inspections and verification tests?

3 years Signup and view all the answers

What happens to any remaining vapor after refrigerant liquid has been recovered from an appliance?

Removed by the recovery system Signup and view all the answers

Why could a recycling or recovery machine with a hermetic compressor overheat during a deep vacuum?

The motor relies on the flow of refrigerant through the compressor for cooling Signup and view all the answers

What should be done before transferring refrigerant to an empty cylinder?

The cylinder should be evacuated first Signup and view all the answers

What steps should be taken before using a recovery unit to remove a charge?

Check service valve positions and recovery oil level Signup and view all the answers

When should refrigerant be removed from the condenser outlet?

When the condenser is below the receiver Signup and view all the answers

What should you do when servicing a unit with a receiver storage tank?

Refrigerant should be pumped down to and isolated in the receiver Signup and view all the answers

How long must an HVAC servicing company keep records for each disposed appliance with a charge of between 5 and 50 pounds?

3 years Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about recycling and recovery equipment is false?

Training is not necessary for operating recovery equipment Signup and view all the answers

Which part of a belt-driven non-hermetic compressor is most likely to leak if not used for several months?

Rotating shaft seal Signup and view all the answers

What should be done after reaching the required recovery vacuum on an appliance?

Wait for at least a few minutes to see if the system pressure rises Signup and view all the answers

Before making a major repair, to what level must a technician evacuate an appliance containing more than 200 pounds of R 410 A?

10 inches of HG vacuum Signup and view all the answers

When can appliances containing refrigerants be recovered to atmospheric pressure?

When leaks in the appliance make recovery to the prescribed level unattainable Signup and view all the answers

Which repairs would be considered major under EPA regulations?

Replacement of evaporator coil, compressor, condenser, and auxiliary heat exchanger Signup and view all the answers

When is it against EPA regulations to use system dependent recovery equipment?

When the appliance contains over 15 pounds of refrigerant Signup and view all the answers

What is the evaporation temperature of R 134A at 0 psi G?

-15°F Signup and view all the answers

What is a reason to take an oil sample in a hermetic refrigeration system?

The unit has had a compressor burn out Signup and view all the answers

What are refrigeration and air-conditioning compressor heaters used for?

To reduce the amount of refrigerant in the oil Signup and view all the answers

When dehydrating by the triple evacuation method, what is required to use dry nitrogen?

A pressure regulator Signup and view all the answers

What must every refrigeration system be protected by?

A pressure relief device Signup and view all the answers

How can pressure relief valves only be installed?

In parallel Signup and view all the answers

What phase is the refrigerant removed to save recovery time when starting recovery?

Liquid phase Signup and view all the answers

Where must you connect the hose to recover liquid refrigerant?

The liquid line Signup and view all the answers

Recovering refrigerant from a system in vapor phase will minimize the loss of what?

OIL Signup and view all the answers

How can you speed up the removal of the refrigerant charge from a system?

Cooling the recovery cylinder to lower its pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is the state of the refrigerant leaving the receiver in a refrigeration system?

High pressure subcooled liquid Signup and view all the answers

What is the best method to charge a system with both an air-cooled condenser and evaporator with a charge of 80 pounds?

Liquid charge through the liquid line service valve Signup and view all the answers

How would you remove moisture from refrigerant in a system?

Use a filter dryer Signup and view all the answers

For what refrigerant is an equipment room refrigerant detector not required under ASHRAE standard 15?

R 717 Signup and view all the answers

When could a reciprocating compressor be damaged if energized?

When the discharge service valve is closed Signup and view all the answers

At what leak rate do EPA regulations require that leaking commercial and industrial process refrigeration be repaired?

30% Signup and view all the answers

What is the component directly following the condenser in a refrigeration system using a TXV?

The receiver Signup and view all the answers

What can you do with the refrigerant recovered from an air conditioning system held in a refillable cylinder?

Can probably be charged back into the system Signup and view all the answers

Recovering refrigerant in the vapor phase will minimize the loss of what?

OIL Signup and view all the answers

Where should recovery first occur when an air-cooled condenser is on the roof and the evaporator is on the first floor?

From the liquid line entering the evaporator Signup and view all the answers

What can happen when using a large vacuum pump to evacuate a system?

Water in system can freeze Signup and view all the answers

When can appliances containing CFCs be evacuated to atmospheric pressure?

When leaks make evacuation to the prescribed level unattainable Signup and view all the answers

What may recovered refrigerant contain?

Acids, moisture, oil Signup and view all the answers

To start liquid charging off an R 410 A refrigeration system with a risk of freezing, what pressure should you begin with?

110 PSIG Signup and view all the answers

What could happen to the hermetic refrigeration compressor motor windings when under a deep vacuum?

Could be damaged if energized Signup and view all the answers

What should be used to remove ice from a sight glass?

Isopropyl Alcohol Signup and view all the answers

What should you visually look for when inspecting a hermetic system known to be leaking?

Traces of oil Signup and view all the answers

Which refrigerants can be mixed?

None Signup and view all the answers

What is an indicator of a leak in a high-pressure system?

Excessive superheat Signup and view all the answers

Starting in 2019, what is the maximum leak rate for chillers containing more than 50 pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerant that must be repaired?

10% of the charge per year Signup and view all the answers

For what refrigerant is an equipment room refrigerant detector not required under ASHRAE standard 15?

R 717 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Traces of Oil

Inspect hermetic systems for leaks by looking for traces of oil.

Leak Detection

Use nitrogen containing a trace of refrigerant to locate leaks when necessary.

EPA Leak Rate

Starting in 2019, chiller systems with over 50 pounds of R 123 must be repaired if the leak rate exceeds 10%.

Repair Timeline

For comfort cooling appliances with R 22 leaking above threshold, repairs must occur within 30 days unless an extension is granted.

Record Keeping

Owners of appliances with over 50 pounds of HCFC refrigerant must maintain leak inspection records for 3 years.

Refrigerant Recovery

After recovering refrigerant liquid, any remaining vapor is removed by the recovery system.

Compressor Cooling

A hermetic compressor may overheat during a deep vacuum, as it depends on refrigerant flow for cooling.

Transferring Refrigerant

Before transferring refrigerant to an empty cylinder, first evacuate the cylinder.

Pre-Use Checks

Check service valve positions and recovery oil levels before operating recovery units.

Refrigerant Removal Timing

Remove refrigerant from the condenser outlet when it is located below the receiver.

Refrigerant Isolation

For systems with a receiver, refrigerant should be pumped down and isolated during servicing.

Appliance Disposal Records

HVAC servicing companies must retain records for 3 years for disposed appliances charged with 5 to 50 pounds of refrigerant.

Equipment Reporting

Purchases of recycling and recovery equipment must be reported to the EPA.

Compressor Seals

The rotating shaft seal is commonly the leak source in non-hermetic compressors that have not been used for a while.

Post-Recovery Pressure Check

After achieving the required recovery vacuum, wait several minutes to monitor system pressure changes.

Evacuation Level Requirement

Major repairs on appliances with over 200 pounds of R 410A require evacuation to a vacuum of 10 inches of HG.

Atmospheric Pressure Recovery

Appliances with leaks that prevent recovery to the required level can be evacuated to atmospheric pressure.

Major Repairs

Major repairs include replacement of the evaporator coil, compressor, condenser, and auxiliary heat exchanger.

System Dependency

System-dependent recovery equipment cannot be used when the appliance contains over 15 pounds of refrigerant.

R 134A Evaporation Temperature

The evaporation temperature of R 134A at 0 psi G is -15°F.

Oil Sample Collection

Take oil samples when a compressor has burned out to assess system integrity.

Compressor Heaters

Heaters in refrigeration compressors help reduce the refrigerant amount in the oil.

Dehydrating Method

A pressure regulator is required when using dry nitrogen for the triple evacuation dehydration method.

Protection Requirement

All refrigeration systems must include a pressure relief device for safety.

Installation of Relief Valves

Pressure relief valves must be installed in parallel within systems.

Continuous Vapor Removal

Recovering vapor phase refrigerant minimizes oil loss during recovery processes.

Recovery Speed

Speed up refrigerant removal by cooling the recovery cylinder to lower its pressure.

Refrigerant State Leaving Receiver

The refrigerant exiting the receiver is typically in a high-pressure subcooled liquid state.

Charging Method

For an 80-pound charge with both air-cooled condenser and evaporator, liquid charge should be introduced through the liquid line service valve.

Moisture Removal Technique

Use a filter dryer to eliminate moisture from refrigerant in the system.

ASHRAE Standard Exemption

Under ASHRAE Standard 15, a refrigerant detector is not required for R 717 in ventilated equipment rooms.

Compressor Damage Risk

Energizing a reciprocating compressor with a closed discharge service valve can cause damage.

Industrial Leak Repair Requirement

EPA mandates 30% leak repair for commercial and industrial refrigeration systems.

Receiver Component Position

The component following the condenser in a TXV refrigeration system is the receiver.

Recovered Refrigerant Reuse

Refrigerant recovered for condenser replacement can often be reused in the system.

Refrigerant Loss in Vapor Phase

Recovering refrigerant in vapor phase conserves oil loss.

Initial Recovery Location

Start refrigerant recovery from the liquid line entering the evaporator when dealing with roof-mounted condensers.

Vacuum Pump Caution

Using large vacuum pumps may lead to freezing of water in the system.

CFC Appliances Atmospheric Pressure

CFC-containing appliances can be evacuated to atmospheric pressure when leaks affect evacuation levels.

Recovered Refrigerant Composition

Recoveries may include acids, moisture, and oil.

Initial Charge Pressure

Begin liquid charging of R 410A systems under risk of freezing at approximately 110 PSIG.

Deep Vacuum Motor Risk

Under deep vacuum, a hermetic compressor motor winding may sustain damage when energized.

Ice Removal Method

Isopropyl alcohol effectively removes ice from sight glasses.

Leak Visual Inspection

Check for traces of oil when inspecting hermetic systems for leaks.

Refrigerant Mixing

No refrigerants should be mixed as per regulations.

High-Pressure Leak Indicator

Excessive superheat is a significant indicator of leaks in high-pressure systems.

Chiller Leak Rate Repair Requirement

Regulations necessitate the repair of chillers leaking 10% of their charge annually or more.

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Test your knowledge on key concepts related to EPA Type 2 refrigerants. This quiz includes definitions and terms important for understanding leak detection and system inspections. Perfect for those preparing for EPA certification.