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EPA regulations now require facilities that use refrigeration and air conditioning equipment to have in place a refrigerant recovery plan. This plan will enable these facilities to capture any harmful gases that might leak. Severe damage can be caused to the ozone layer by refrigerant gases that contain hydrofluorocarbons.

EPA regulations now require facilities that use refrigeration and air conditioning equipment to have in place a refrigerant recovery plan. This plan will enable these facilities to capture any harmful gases that might leak. Severe damage can be caused to the ozone layer by refrigerant gases that contain hydrofluorocarbons.

A comprehensive plan is now in place to phase out environmentally harmful refrigerants. The refrigerant recovery process will help facilities whose existing equipment requires refrigerant. As new refrigerant will be banned in future, gas recovery is necessary to meet the demand amongst companies who do not plan to immediately replace their existing equipment.

There are several purposes for refrigerant recovery, including reclamation, recycling and destruction of hydrofluorocarbons. These initiatives will help reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere, provide a market for the used gas, and cut out the need for new refrigerant.

The process of refrigerant recovery involves removing the refrigerant from equipment or a cooling or refrigeration system and placing it safely into a container. This process takes place when equipment is being discarded or when refrigerant vapor needs to be removed to maximize the capture of refrigerant and minimize release of the harmful gas.

In instances of commercial refrigeration, air-conditioning systems, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, refrigerant recovery is generally done internally within the system. However, new EPA regulations require facilities to monitor and track recovery rates. This can be done automatically through programs offered by software vendors specializing in the area.

The federal government is to conduct audits to ensure the proper refrigerant recovery is being conducted. If complete information is not submitted on time, heavy penalties will result. Many companies are now switching from manual processes, which can be time-consuming, to more efficient automated efforts.

Large commercial facilities require special techniques for refrigerant recovery due to their high volume. Other programs include a cylinder pump down service, which transfers refrigerant from the system to a cylinder. A cylinder exchange program allows for the reclamation of refrigerant, with a clean cylinder received in exchange.

Refrigerant recovery can be done during a retrofit and then recycled to service other equipment. When the refrigerant is safely removed from the system, it is brought to an approved facility and tested for purity. It is then shipped to recycling facilities.