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 method for recycling refrigerant, comprising:
identifying a container configured to hold a recovered refrigerant with at least one of optically or radio frequency-encoded unit identifying information;
automatically analyzing a type and determining a quantity of the recovered refrigerant within the container; and
storing at least one record representing the type and the quantity of the recovered refrigerant within the container in association with the unit identifying information of the container in a database accounting for the container and the recovered refrigerant within the container.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a non-reusable refrigerant transport container.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said identifying comprises optically reading the unit identifying information from an optically-readable code on the container.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising automatically removing the recovered refrigerant from the container after said automatically analyzing.
5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising compressing and storing the recovered refrigerant removed from the container in at least one of a plurality of available storage vessels selectively in dependence of said automatically analyzing.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising storing the compressed recovered refrigerant in the at least one of a plurality of available storage vessels selectively in dependence on a type of the recovered refrigerant.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the container is a reusable container, further comprising accounting for at least a deposit on the reusable container.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining a purity of the recovered refrigerant.
9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising accounting for a type, purity and quantity of the recovered refrigerant.
10. A system for recycling refrigerant, comprising:
an automated reader comprising at least one of an optical or radio frequency receiver configured to read at least one of optically or radio frequency-encoded unit identifying information of a container configured to hold a recovered refrigerant;
an analysis system, configured to analyze a type of the recovered refrigerant within the container, and to determine a quantity of the recovered refrigerant within the container; and
a database interface, configured to communicate information defining at least one database record representing the type and the quantity of the recovered refrigerant within the container in association with the unit identifying information of the container.
11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the automated reader is configured to read the unit identifying information as an optically-readable code on the container.
12. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising a vacuum system configured to automatically remove the recovered refrigerant from the container.
13. The system according to claim 12 , further comprising a compressor configured to compress the recovered refrigerant removed from the container.
14. The system according to claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of storage vessels, wherein the compressed recovered refrigerant removed from the container is selectively stored in one of the plurality of storage vessels in dependence on an output of the analysis system.
15. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the container is a reusable container, and wherein the database interface is further configured to communicate information for accounting for at least a deposit on the reusable container.
16. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the analysis system is further configured to determine a purity of the recovered refrigerant.
17. A system for recycling a refrigerant container having refrigerant content, comprising:
at least one of an electronic optical or radio frequency reader configured to identify the refrigerant container and a type of a refrigerant in the refrigerant container, by reading a machine-readable code provided on the refrigerant container;
an analyzer, configured to determine at least a purity and an amount of the refrigerant in the refrigerant container; and
at least one pump, configured to remove a volatile content of the refrigerant container to at least sample a contents of the refrigerant container for the analyzer in a first phase, and to withdraw all of the refrigerant in the refrigerant container in a second phase.
18. The system according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a plurality of liquid refrigerant storage vessels, each configured to separately store liquid refrigerant received from the at least one pump, wherein the liquid is selectively stored in at least one of a plurality of liquid refrigerant storage vessels selectively dependent on at least the type of the refrigerant in the refrigerant container.
19. The system according to claim 17 , further comprising a database interface configured to communicate information defining accounting records comprising the identity of the refrigerant container and the purity and the amount of the refrigerant in the refrigerant container.
20. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the machine readable code comprises a bar code on the refrigerant container.