Question:
I was wondering how a DuPont's Freon (TM) recovery system works. More specifically I
was wondering how an automotive technicians air conditioning recycling
machine takes DuPont's Freon (TM) out of your ac system in your car and stores the
captured r12 in a container more as a liquid, not a gas.
Replies:
** I might be repeating information that you already know, but here goes. **
1.)
I've never seen them actually recycle the material. However, from what
I've been told they evacuate the system and continue to pull a vacuum on
it for 5 mins, or so. I believe they also charge the system to a high
pressure to "rinse" the air. They will finish by pulling a vacuum on it
for quite some time (30-35 mins). This is to help boil off any moisture
that might have gotten in the refrigerant line. At the vacuum pressures
(1-2 psia) they are generating, water will boil off fairly readily (well
below 212 °F).
2.)
Where do they evacuate it to? I believe they use a compressor to
recompress the R12 into a holding tank. At this point the R12 will
undergo a phase change from gas to liquid. To understand why and at what
Temp and Press., you need to consult a PVT diagram of the material in
question. Im sure the reason why they convert from gas to liquid is out
of convenience.
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