Trane SCIH Refrigerant System, Refrigerant LeakTesting, Confined space hazard, Explosion hazard

maintenance

Maintenance procedures

Refrigerant System

Follow theTrane recommended procedures on operation, maintenance, and service to ensure refrigerant conservation and emission reduction. Also, pay specific attention to the following:

•Whenever removing refrigerant from air conditioning or refrigerating equipment, recover for reuse, recycle, reprocess (reclaim), or properly destroy it.

•Always determine possible refrigerant recycling or reclaiming requirements before beginning recovery. Questions about recovered refrigerants and acceptable refrigerant quality standards are addressed in ARI Standard 700.

•Use approved containment vessels and safety standards. Comply with all applicable transportation standards when shipping refrigerant containers.

•To minimize emissions while recovering refrigerant, use recycling equipment. Always attempt to use methods which will pull the lowest possible system vacuum while recovering and condensing refrigerant into containment.

•When leak checking, be aware of any new leak test methods which eliminate refrigerant as a trace gas.

•When cleaning system components or parts, do not use CFC11 (R11) or CFC113 (R113). Refrigeration system clean up methods using filters and dryers are recommended. Do not use

solvents which have ozone depletion factors. Properly dispose of used materials.

•Take extra care to properly maintain all service equipment directly supporting refrigerant service work such as gauges, hoses, vacuum pumps, and recycling equipment.

•Stay aware of unit enhancements, conversion refrigerants, compatible parts, and manufacturer’s recommendations that will reduce refrigerant emissions and increase equipment operating efficiencies. Follow specific manufacturer’s guidelines for conversion of existing systems.

•To assist in reducing power generation emissions, always attempt to improve equipment performance with improved maintenance and operations that will help conserve energy resources.

Refrigerant LeakTesting

WARNING

Confined space hazard!

Do not work in confined spaces where sufficient quantities of a refrigerant or other hazardous, toxic or flammable gas may be leaking. Refrigerant or other gases could displace available oxygen to breathe, causing possible asphyxiation or other serious health risks. Some gases may be flammable and or explosive. Evacuate the area immediately and contact the proper rescue or response authority. Failure to take appropriate precautions or to react preperly to a potential hazard could result in death or serious injury.

WARNING

Explosion hazard!

Use only dry nitrogen with a pressure regulator for pressurizing unit. Do not use acetylene, oxygen or compressed air or mixtures containing them for pressure testing. Do not use mixtures of a hydrogen containing refrigerant and air above atmospheric pressure for pressure testing as they may become flammable and could result in an explosion. Refrigerant, when used as a trace gas should only be mixed with dry nitrogen for pressurizing units. Failure to follow these recommendations could result in death or serious injury or equipment or property-only damage.

In the event of required system repair, leak test the liquid line, evaporator coil, and suction line at pressures dictated by local codes, and using the following guidelines.

1.Charge enough refrigerant and dry nitrogen into the system to raise the pressure to 100 psig.

2.Use a halogen leak detector, halide torch, or soap bubbles to check for leaks. Check interconnecting piping joints, the evaporator coil connections, and all accessory connections.

3.If a leak is detected, release the test pressure, break the connections and reassemble it as a new joint, using proper brazing techniques.

4.If no leak is detected, use nitrogen to increase the test pressure to 150 psig and repeat the leak test. Also, use soap bubbles to check for leaks when nitrogen is added.

5.Retest the system to make sure new connections are solid.

6.If a leak is suspected after the system has been fully charged with refrigerant, use a halogen leak detector, halide torch, or soap bubbles to check for leaks.

Refrigerant Evacuation

For field evacuation, use a rotary style vacuum pump capable of pulling a vacuum of 100 microns or less.

When connecting the vacuum pump to a refrigeration system, it is important to manifold the pump to both the high and low side of the system. Follow the pump manufacturer’s directions.

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