Refrigerant Recovery Tanks

**CumulusMech** · 05-14-2010, 07:12 PM

I am interested in recieving everyones perspectives on this subject please .
I picked up a recovery tank from a wholesaler . It was not bought new , just a recycled tank from Fielding Chemicals . If it is returned empty you get charged , if it is full no charge . In Ontario thats the general deal .
In the past I have posed the question to the wholesaler , what is the quality assurance that the tank is resonably clean ? The responce I was given was that there may be some undesirable vapores or an oil film in the tank from an unknown refrigerant or oil . I was never told that these tanks were the sole purpose for containment and transportation back to Fielding Chemical for clean up only . I have also never seen any documentation to support this .
I , and many mechanics and HVAC companies have been using these cylinders for serviceing systems , ie. recovery into and charging back into the same system . Only to be returned when the cylinder was full . Seemed kind of convienient .
Anyway , picked up a cylinder , evacuated the tank to 300 microns , recoverd into the tank and charged from the said tank back into the system . Well , when there was approx 10 pounds left I noticed the delta p on the suction gauge began to drop off . I removed the charging hose from the tank and found a fine dust , or dirt of some kind coat the bottom of my gauges manifold . The tank was poluted with some kind of debrise , dry debrise . No I did not use a dryer in line with my charging hose . Never have . Now I suspect there is debrise sitting in the bottom of the oil crank , or is hopefully getting trapped into the dryer . I left that circuit off untill the service manager can be informed . Does anyone use these cylinders for servicing ? Should the wholesaler not make provisions to state clearly that these cylinders cannot be used for servicing as described >|????? Anyone !!

**fr420** · 05-14-2010, 08:21 PM

I've had the same problem on more then one occasion, that is getting dirty or contaminated recovery cylinders. Now i buy the one shots and just put a valve on it. Never had a problem with those. If working on a larger system Im forced to use recovery cylinder, i use a dryer and hope for the best..

**CumulusMech** · 05-14-2010, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by fr420

I've had the same problem on more then one occasion, that is getting dirty or contaminated recovery cylinders. Now i buy the one shots and just put a valve on it. Never had a problem with those. If working on a larger system Im forced to use recovery cylinder, i use a dryer and hope for the best..

Interesting response . This is the first time I have had this happen , and the first time I have ever heard that this could be a serious issue . It will never happen to me again , if i still have a job .
Great to hear from you fr420 .

**Octopus** · 05-15-2010, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by fr420

I've had the same problem on more then one occasion, that is getting dirty or contaminated recovery cylinders. Now i buy the one shots and just put a valve on it. Never had a problem with those. If working on a larger system Im forced to use recovery cylinder, i use a dryer and hope for the best..

Isn't that kind of illegal??

**fr420** · 05-15-2010, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by chrishvacman

Isn't that kind of illegal??

I beleif if you reuse them it's illegal, never said i reuse them. But I could be wrong!!!

**CumulusMech** · 05-15-2010, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by fr420

I've had the same problem on more then one occasion, that is getting dirty or contaminated recovery cylinders. Now i buy the one shots and just put a valve on it. Never had a problem with those. If working on a larger system Im forced to use recovery cylinder, i use a dryer and hope for the best..

Just curious fr420 , how did the dirt affect the system . Did you loose the compressor , or just change the dryer out ? THis system in question is a 30 ton compressor , a Trane hemetic . I was concidering removing the oil if there is a dip tube at the oil charging port and changeing the dryer , worst case cenario , apart from loosing the compressor .
The material that was observed looked like very fine rust particles ? its really hard to say .
chishvacman , any sugestions ?.

**ascj** · 05-15-2010, 06:20 PM

We use recovery tanks from U/R (NRP). The manager said, that all their reusable tanks are internally cleaned(hence why they have the valves shrinked wrapped). I asked how they internally clean them. He didn't know, but said he would find out. Hmm.......that was at least 3 years ago.

**mrllyonsden** · 05-15-2010, 07:00 PM

As far as I am concerned, recovery tanks are for disposal only. I have never re-used refrigerant from a recovery cylinder, virgin gas only back into a system. Thats my view, If you recovered the refrigerant, it was because of a problem with the system right?

**ascj** · 05-15-2010, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by mrllyonsden

As far as I am concerned, recovery tanks are for disposal only. I have never re-used refrigerant from a recovery cylinder, virgin gas only back into a system. Thats my view, If you recovered the refrigerant, it was because of a problem with the system right?

I had a small leak on the discharge valve of a 150ton Carrier chiller. Been adding about 30 pounds a years to circuit 1. New engineer now wants it fixed. I can't isolate it. So I have to remove 158 pounds of gas, to replace it.

There is no way I just putting virgin gas in. Why would I?

**DITAW** · 05-15-2010, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by mrllyonsden

As far as I am concerned, recovery tanks are for disposal only. I have never re-used refrigerant from a recovery cylinder, virgin gas only back into a system. Thats my view, If you recovered the refrigerant, it was because of a problem with the system right?

that would get alittle expensive for a 2500 ton chiller

**fr420** · 05-15-2010, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by ascj

We use recovery tanks from U/R (NRP). The manager said, that all their reusable tanks are internally cleaned(hence why they have the valves shrinked wrapped). I asked how they internally clean them. He didn't know, but said he would find out. Hmm.......that was at least 3 years ago.

That's where we get our tanks also, they didnt really seem to care when i *****ed and only offered me another tank, but at that point it was to late. I took a Chiiler course and the teacher said this happens alot. He suggested weighing cylinders and if it doesnt match tare weight then thats a good indication there is foriegn material in there

**fr420** · 05-15-2010, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by CumulusMech

Just curious fr420 , how did the dirt affect the system . Did you loose the compressor , or just change the dryer out ? THis system in question is a 30 ton compressor , a Trane hemetic . I was concidering removing the oil if there is a dip tube at the oil charging port and changeing the dryer , worst case cenario , apart from loosing the compressor .
The material that was observed looked like very fine rust particles ? its really hard to say .
chishvacman , any sugestions ?.

Just did a normal cleanup on system, changed driers and oil and system was fine. It just takes extra time and time is money!!!!!

**DFZ** · 05-16-2010, 08:56 AM

had a system where upon recharging my manifold plugged solid, then two weeks later the txv's and then the solinoids. alot of extra work and expense because of dirty tanks.

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