Method for servicing a refrigeration system
A method for servicing a refrigeration system is disclosed. The refrigeration system contains a refrigerant and has a compressor, a high-side section and a low-side section. The method includes the steps of releasing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system from the high-side section; collecting the released refrigerant with a recovery container containing a refrigerant adsorptive substance; charging the refrigeration system with inert gas from the low-side section; and discharging the inert gas from the refrigeration system from the high-side section.
1. A method for servicing a refrigeration system containing a refrigerant and comprising a compressor, a high-side section and a low-side section, the method comprising the steps of:
releasing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system from the high-side section;
collecting the released refrigerant with a recovery container containing a refrigerant adsorptive substance;
charging the refrigeration system with inert gas as a sweeping agent from the low-side section; and
discharging the inert gas from the refrigeration system from the high-side section.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compressor is running in the releasing step.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compressor is not running in the charging step.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the charging step is terminated when pressure in the low-side section reaches a first predetermined threshold.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first predetermined threshold is approximately 50 psig.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
servicing the refrigeration system;
after the servicing step, charging inert gas into the refrigeration system from the low-side section (second charging step);
checking the refrigeration system for leakage; and
discharging the inert gas from the refrigeration system from the high-side section (second discharging step).
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the compressor is not running in the second charging step.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the compressor is running in the second discharging step.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the compressor is running for at least one minute in the second discharging step.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second charging step is terminated when pressure in the low-side section reaches a second predetermined threshold.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second predetermined threshold is approximately 50 psig.
12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of charging a replacement refrigerant into the refrigeration system from the low-side section.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the compressor is running in the step of charging the replacement refrigerant.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the compressor is running for approximately 3-5 minutes in the step of charging the replacement refrigerant.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
discharging the replacement refrigerant from the refrigeration system from the high-side section; and
recovering the discharged replacement refrigerant.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the compressor is running in the step of discharging the replacement refrigerant.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of charging the replacement refrigerant is repeated after the steps of discharging and recovering the replacement refrigerant.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the compressor is running when the step of charging the replacement refrigerant is repeated.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant comprises R-600a.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the refrigerant and the replacement refrigerant are of the same type.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein each of the refrigerant and the replacement refrigerant comprises R-600a.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the discharged replacement refrigerant is recovered by using the recovery container.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the discharged replacement refrigerant is recovered by using another recovery container containing a replacement refrigerant adsorptive substance.