How Fluorocarbon Refrigerant Gases Are Destroying the Environment

Most people have heard of the environmental damage caused by carbon emissions, a greenhouse gas that is a major contributor to global warming. What many people don't realize is that refrigerants such as fluorocarbons are also contributing to the problem. While far fewer fluorocarbon molecules escape into the atmosphere, the ones that do are extremely potent. By recovering, reclaiming, or recycling refrigerants, businesses can save money and help protect the environment from these harmful compounds.

What Are Fluorocarbons? 

A fluorocarbon is a molecular compound composed of the elements fluorine and carbon. In common parlance, however, the term is often applied to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), molecules with chlorine in addition to fluorine and carbon, or perfluorocarbons (PFCs), which include hydrogen atoms. They are inert, stable, nonflammable, and have a high vapor temperature, making them ideal refrigerants. Unfortunately, they are also extremely harmful to the environment.

Why Are Fluorocarbons So Harmful?

The characteristics that make CFC's and other fluorocarbons desirable refrigerants also make them environmentally damaging. Because their bonds are strong and stable, they last in the atmosphere for a long time. Like carbon, they are greenhouse gases, meaning that they absorb heat reflected off the earth's surface that would otherwise escape into space. According to a report done by the Australian Government's Department of the Environment and Energy, refrigerants are particularly harmful because they release ozone-depleting chlorine into the stratosphere, allowing more solar radiation in and exacerbating temperature increase.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Fluorocarbons From Reaching the Atmosphere?

Refrigerants escape into the atmosphere from faulty or poorly maintained cooling equipment, or when they are improperly disposed of. The best way to minimize refrigerants escaping into our atmosphere is to use experienced and licensed professionals to replace and dispose of faulty tanks. 

Refrigerant Solutions is an industry leader in responsible refrigerant solutions. We are one of less than 60 companies in the U.S. certified by the EPA to perform this work. If you're in need of recycling for your old refrigerant tank or are concerned about the safety of your current one, contact us right away. We can perform hydrostatic testing to check for any needed repairs. We can also travel to New York, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Vermont for your convenience.

Recycling Refrigerant vs. Reclaiming Refrigerant

Refrigerant is an essential component in any residential or commercial HVAC system. In a cooling system, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air outside as it changes from liquid to gas, cooling the air before it enters the interior space. Over many cycles of evaporation and condensation, refrigerants pick up contaminants that reduce their effectiveness. Refrigerant recycling and reclamation are two ways that refrigerant can be purified for reuse, but they are very different processes.

Refrigerant Recycling 

Typical commercial refrigerants are made of hydrofluorocarbon compounds. These potent greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and ozone depletion if not handled properly. Refrigerant recycling reduces the need for new refrigerant production and saves businesses money by reusing their existing refrigerant. When impurities build up, the refrigerant must be evacuated, reclaimed, and recycled. Recycling removes the impurities so that the refrigerant substance complies with the maximum levels of impurities set by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute. Importantly, the recycled refrigerant can only be returned to the system it was initially evacuated from. Unlike reclaimed refrigerant, it cannot be used in another system.

Refrigerant Reclamation

While refrigerant recycling allows the refrigerant to be reused in the same system it was removed from, refrigerant reclamation goes several steps further in the purification process. Reclaimed refrigerant must pass through a series of chemical processes including filtering, drying, and distilling to meet ARI-700 purity standards. It can also be sold on the open market for use in most HVAC systems. Refrigerant Solutions is one of only 60 companies in the United States certified to perform this work by the EPA.

Businesses across the Northeast rely on the professionals at Refrigerant Solutions for all their refrigerant recycling and reclamation needs. If your HVAC system needs refrigerant maintenance, save money and help the environment by recycling or reclaiming refrigerant today.

Refrigerant Recycling: Why It Matters

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established guidelines for safe disposal of refrigerant cylinders. Customers who have refrigerant cylinders that are no longer in use must comply with these refrigerant recycling safety measures. These laws were passed as part of the 1990 Clean Air Act.

Importance of Safe Disposal 

When disposed of improperly, refrigerant cylinders release emissions that pollute the environment. These substances, known as chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons (Freon), deplete the ozone layer and contribute to climate change. For this reason, EPA safe disposal regulations apply to all appliances that contain coolant, including car air conditioners, home refrigerators and freezers, window air conditioners, water coolers, beverage vending machines, ice makers, and dehumidifiers. 

Before the passage of the Clean Air Act, these substances were typically vented into the air when appliances were recycled or disposed of, substantially contributing to ozone depletion.

Compliance Strategies

Refrigerant cylinders can only be recycled by facilities that are licensed to do so. The entire appliance containing the cylinder must be brought to the recycling location, as these cylinders should not be removed by unlicensed personnel. The refrigerant from the appliance is collected and then must be reclaimed for safe use before it can be resold to another customer.

Refrigerant recovery and recycling requires collecting the Freon from the appliance using EPA-certified recovery equipment that uses a specialized vacuum with temperature regulation controls. This system may contain filters so the refrigerant can be recycled. After removal, the refrigerant is placed in a separate, specialized container. The appliance can then be relocated to either a landfill or a scrap metal recycling facility, and the refrigerant can either be recycled for on-site use or sold to an off-site reclaimer who can restore it to industry purity standards for consumer resale.

Steps for Safe Disposal

Those who want to dispose of a cooling appliance must provide the refrigerant recycling facility or landfill owner with a signed statement listing the name and address of the licensed contractor, like Refrigerant Solutions, who removed the coolant and the date removal was performed. Removed refrigerant can only be used by the owner of the original appliance or the removal facility unless it has been reclaimed and purified.

An Overview of AHRI 700 Purity Standards

The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) 700 purity standards are used globally to verify refrigerant performance claims and ensure fair product comparisons. The AHRI does not set safety standards, and it does not certify or guarantee product safety. AHRI standards result from advanced and accepted industry practices for designing, installing, and operating refrigerants that comply with national safety standards and codes. The following is a brief look at the AHRI purity standards and their impact on refrigerant management.

The Scope Standard

This standard specifies the purity requirements of acceptable levels of contaminants in refrigerants containing hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, and carbon dioxide. It involves refrigeration management regardless of the source, and it lists acceptable methods of testing.

Specifications for Refrigerants

The refrigerant standard sets purity specifications, verifies composition, and defines testing methods for accessibility. It is meant to guide manufacturers, reclaimers, distributors, installers, contractors, and users, among others, of refrigerants containing hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, and carbon dioxide.

Characterization of Refrigerants and Contaminants

This standard of single component fluorocarbon and zeotropic/azeotropic blend refrigerants and contaminants includes Isomer content, water, halogenated unsaturated volatile impurities, and chloride, among others.

Sampling of Test Procedures

These precautions specify methods and limits of refrigerant management for cylinder preparation, vapor phase sampling, and handling low-temperature refrigerants. The precautions also address liquid and liquid phase sampling, record weight, refrigerant identification, and water content, among others.

Particulates and Solids

While addressing noncondensables, other volatile impurities, and other refrigeration, this standard focuses on the halogenated, unsaturated volatile, impurities, individual listed volatile impurities, and sulfur odor in hydrocarbon refrigerants.

Reclaimed and Repackaged Refrigerants

This standard sets test procedures for refrigerant management in determining the quality of the new and the reclaimed as well as repackaged refrigerants for use in new and existing equipment within the scope of AHRI. They are designed as referee test methods. If other procedures are used, the user must show results equivalent to the specified referee test methods.

Reporting Procedure

The manufacturer, repackager, or reclaimer of the packaged refrigerant is identified. The refrigerant is identified by its accepted number and chemical name. The test results are tabulated accordingly. Although confirmation is voluntary, it cannot be claimed or implied for equipment or products within the scope and purpose of the standard.

Refrigerant Solutions is here to help you for all of your refrigerant recycling service needs. Call us anytime at 508-543-5482 or complete our contact form.

A Look at Cylinder Cleaning, Evacuation, Transport, and Recertification

According to the Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT PHMSA), cylinder recertification is mandated for refrigerant recovery cylinders every five years. Failure to comply may result from up to $10,000 in fines per cylinder found to be in violation. The following is a brief look at cylinder recertification.

Recovery Cylinders

In many ways, recovery cylinders are different from their disposable counterparts. One of the main differences is disposable cylinders used for new products should not be refilled and should never be used for recovery. Recovery cylinders are specifically designed for refilling.

Threats of Explosion

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is concerned that overpressurization or heating of recovery cylinders can cause explosions. As a result, it mandates that any refillable refrigerant cylinder must not be billed beyond 80 percent of its capacity by weight. Also, its safety level of filling must be governed by a mechanical float device, weight, or an electronic shut-off.

Transfering Refrigerant

Before moving recycled refrigerants into an empty storage cylinder—specifically, to remove non‐condensable gases—the cylinder must be evacuated as mandated. Refillable cylinders must be tested and stamped by date at five-year intervals.

Disposal of Near-Empty Cylinders

Cylinder recertification requires that any remaining refrigerant be recovered before a cylinder can be discarded. Only when the cylinder has been reduced to a vacuum can it be defined as empty and prepared for disposal.

Shipping and Transportation

When transporting cylinders that contain used refrigerant, the DOT requires that the cylinders be fastened with DOT classification tags. Also, a refrigerant label must be placed on each cylinder. Any refillable cylinders used for transferring pressurized refrigerant must be approved by DOT.

Inspect for Rust

Any refrigerant recovery cylinder used for transporting or shipping must first be inspected for rust. If there is any indication of rust, the cylinder should be emptied and discarded. Some states require special procedures for shipping based on the classification of used refrigerants that must be followed. Be sure to confirm the EPA and DOT regulations of each cylinder recertification in the state of origin.

We at Refrigerant Solutions are one of only 60 refrigerant companies certified by the EPA, and we bring more than 15 years of experience to your reclamation and recycling situation. Call us at 508-543-5482 or contact us online.