System and method for recycling non-reusable refrigerant containers
A system and method for recycling non-reusable refrigerant transport containers. At least one intact refrigerant transport container is received into a sealed chamber. The refrigerant transport container is punctured to release residual refrigerant, which is removed and compressed. The container is shredded and/or compacted. A refrigerant transport container deposit program is provided, comprising: encoding a deposit container prior to use; receiving the encoded spent container and releasing the imposed deposit; automatically removing residual refrigerant from the spent container; and recycling materials from the refrigerant transport container. A database storing a record relating to the encoded refrigerant transport containers may be employed for tracking.
1. A system for implementing a refrigerant transport container deposit program, comprising:
an encoded refrigerant transport container, having a residual refrigerant content;
a database storing a record relating to the encoded refrigerant transport container;
a recycling machine, configured to automatically remove residual refrigerant from the encoded refrigerant transport container; and
a control, configured to update the database record based on at least the automatic removal.
2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to determine a type of refrigerant content of the encoded refrigerant transport container.
3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an scanner read a machine readable code associated with the encoded refrigerant transport container, to automatically determine a type of refrigerant content of the encoded refrigerant transport container.
4. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a system to selectively route residual refrigerant content after removal from the encoded refrigerant transport container to a storage vessel in dependence on a type of residual refrigerant content.
5. The system according to claim 4 , further comprising a sensor configured to determine a purity of the residual refrigerant content, the system selectively routing the residual refrigerant content in dependence on the determined purity.
6. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a bar code reader configured to read a bar code on the encoded refrigerant transport container.
7. A method for implementing a refrigerant transport container deposit program, comprising:
encoding a refrigerant transport container prior to use;
receiving and identifying the encoded refrigerant transport container at a recycling facility;
automatically recovering refrigerant within the encoded refrigerant transport container; and
crediting an account in a database dependent on the identity of the encoded refrigerant transport container and the automatic recovering.
8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising determining a type of refrigerant recovered from the encoded refrigerant transport container.
9. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising reading a machine readable code associated with the encoded refrigerant transport container, to automatically determine a type of refrigerant within the encoded refrigerant transport container.
10. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising selectively routing recovered refrigerant from the encoded refrigerant transport container to a storage vessel in dependence on a type of recovered refrigerant.
11. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising determining a purity of the recovered refrigerant, and selectively routing the recovered refrigerant in dependence on the determined purity.
12. The method according to claim 1 , further reading a bar code encoding on the encoded refrigerant transport container.
13. A method for implementing a refrigerant transport container deposit program, comprising:
receiving an encoded refrigerant transport container, having a residual refrigerant content;
storing a record relating to the encoded refrigerant transport container in a database;
automatically removing residual refrigerant from the encoded refrigerant transport container in a recycling machine; and
updating the record in the database based on at least the automatically removing and an identification of the encoded refrigerant transport container.
14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising determining a type of refrigerant content of the encoded refrigerant transport container.
15. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising reading a machine readable code associated with the encoded refrigerant transport container, to automatically determine a type of refrigerant content of the encoded refrigerant transport container.
16. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising selectively routing residual refrigerant content after removal from the refrigerant transport container to a storage vessel in dependence on a type of residual refrigerant content.
17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising determining a purity of the residual refrigerant content, and selectively routing the residual refrigerant content in dependence on the determined purity.
18. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising reading a bar code on the encoded refrigerant transport container.
19. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising shredding the encoded refrigerant transport container.
20. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising puncturing the encoded refrigerant transport container to access the residual refrigerant content.