Refrigerant Conservation

Transcription

1 Slide 1 Refrigerant Conservation Presented by Chris Boehnen 6/19/2012

2 Slide 2 Background The United States and all developed countries are subject to caps on their consumption and production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), according to the terms of the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol is basically an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. BACKGROUND

3 Slide 3 Background The largest Antarctic ozone hole recorded as of September 2006 What is the effect to Earth? Higher temps, drought, crop damage, etc.

4 Slide 4 Background The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed a sever reduction in the manufacture of the air conditioning refrigerant called R ) This proposed change, which would have greatly reduced the supply available throughout the country, caused a dramatic increase in the cost of R-22 nationwide, similar to how gasoline process rise whenever there is a conflict overseas that threatens crude oil distribution. The current price is $400 per cylinder

5 Slide 5 Background The phase out plan: 25% in % in % in 2020 According to the EPA mandated phase-out plan, manufacturers are currently only allowed to produce 25% of the R-22 they once produced (in 1989). In less than three years they will only be allowed to produce 10%, and in 8 years they will be prohibited from producing any R-22 whatsoever Again, there will be no new R-22 being manufactured in 8 years!

6 Slide 6 Impact On Us The supply of R-22 is rapidly diminishing. Prices will continue to rise as supplies diminish! IMPACT ON US: The supply of R-22 is rapidly diminishing. Prices will continue to rise as supplies diminish! Suppliers (dealers) are making a lot of money..

7 Slide 7 Impact On Us There are alternatives, but they are not approved by the equipment manufacturers.

8 Slide 8 What Can We Do? We need to be diligent in preserving our existing supply of R- 22. R-22 cylinders are only a fraction of our R-22 supply. Our existing equipment is filled with valuable refrigerant. What can we do?? Most importantly, we need to be diligent in preserving our existing supply of R-22. When I say existing supply of R-22 you might think I m referring to the bright green R-22 cylinders used to charge the air condition equipment; this is only partially correct. These green cylinders, weighing 30 Lbs. each, are really only a fraction of the R-22 supply we have available at each community when you consider that each apartment air conditioning system contains roughly 6 lbs. of refrigerant; at the current price that equates to $80 worth of refrigerant in each system.

9 Slide 9 STOP ALL LEAKS! Super Seal (HD-Supply item ), which is similar to the fix-a-flat canister used to fill and seal automotive tires. Stop All Leaks We ve had very good success with a refrigerant stop-leak product called Super Seal (HD-Supply item ), which is similar to the fix-a-flat canister used to fill and seal automotive tires. This product works well on small to moderate air conditioning system pinhole leaks that cannot be located and repaired. If the Super Seal doesn t stop the leak, and the leak cannot be located and repaired, the equipment is to be replaced.

10 Slide 10 STOP ALL LEAKS! Technicians are NOT to just continually top off the refrigerant charge on any system. Technicians are NOT to just continually top off the refrigerant charge on any system. Fix the equipment or replace it.

11 Slide 11 RECOVER AND REUSE Refrigerant can be used over and over again as long as it is still good. Check for acid in the refrigerant with HD-Supply item Recover and Reuse Refrigerant The refrigerant in each air conditioning system can be recovered and reused over and over again as long as it is still good, meaning it does not contain acid. Acidic refrigerant should be recovered into a separate recovery cylinder labeled BAD, whereas good refrigerant can be recovered into a separate recovery tank for reuse in the future as if it was brand new. The quick and easy way to check for acid in the refrigerant is to use QuickCkeck Test (HD-Supply item ) pictured here, which will turn pink if acid is detected. Cost $7

12 Slide 12 RECOVER AND REUSE Refrigerant can be used over and over again as long as it is still good The only time we re not going to recover refrigerant is when it has escaped from the equipment into the atmosphere. Good refrigerant should be recovered into the cylinder labeled GOOD,, and bad refrigerant into the cylinder labeled BAD Bad refrigerant must be sent out for reclamation

13 Slide 13 Properly Charge the Equipment Charge the equipment properly Every time! Maintain the equipment Equipment last longer Less susceptible to leaks Meets EPA requirements Properly Charge the Equipment We not only need to stop all leaks and recover all refrigerant, but we also MUST charge the equipment properly and continually maintain the equipment. Air conditioning equipment will last substantially longer with clean coils, regular air filter changes, and the correct refrigerant charge. The equipment will also be less susceptible to leaks. Speaking of charging equipment, The maximum amount of refrigerant loss that can be added to equipment is (what percent) annually? 15%

14 Slide 14 Charging Method Superheat and Subcooling charts Charging Method Determining and setting the correct refrigerant charge is to be accomplished using the superheat/subcooling method, which is the manufacturer s recommended charging method. Each community has received these charts in the past, and I ve sent additional ones out to everyone again recently. How it works. Indoor temps, outdoor temps, pressures, etc. MUST HAVE CLEAN FILTERS AND COILS!! Service team members are to use these charts whenever a system is being serviced.

15 Slide 15 Diagnose and Repair Up to 40% of all replaced systems were misdiagnosed Improper installation techniques cause: Unreliable performance. Premature system failure. Acid burnout of the refrigerant. Unhappy residents!!! Properly Diagnose and Maintain the Equipment According to some estimates, up to 40% of all replaced HVAC systems were misdiagnosed and did not need to be replaced. Furthermore, improper installation techniques cause unreliable performance, premature system failure, and acid burnout of the refrigerant. Not to mention unhappy residents!!!

16 Slide 16 Diagnose and Repair Take the time needed to diagnose and troubleshoot Make repairs in a professional manner Ask for assistance when needed. As such, it is essential for technicians to take the time needed to thoroughly understand, diagnose and troubleshoot system failures in order to make the required repairs in a professional manner. As always, assistance is only a phone call away to either Chris or Matt.

17 Slide 17 Condenser Repair Existing condensers removed from service are to be returned to the shop for in house refurbishing. Refurbishing will typically involve replacing the worn out compressor. These refurbished condensers can then be stored and returned to service when the next apartment is in need of a replacement condenser. In other words, when you remove a condenser from a building, don t give it away to your scrap metal collector! Take it back to the shop and give that condenser new life with a new compressor. New condensers should ONLY be installed when there are no refurbished units available to be installed. Each condenser removed from service should be considered for refurbishing.

18 Slide 18 Diagnose and Repair Capacitor tester for each community TOOLS FOR EACH COMMUNITY

19 Slide 19 Diagnose and Repair Thermometer TOOLS FOR EACH COMMUNITY

20 Slide 20 Diagnose and Repair Charging charts for R-22 and R-410a TOOLS FOR EACH COMMUNITY Contact Chris for additional charts if needed

21 Slide 21 R-410a Equipment When to install R-410a systems Considerations Higher Pressure. Linesets. Electric wiring. Size of equipment. When to install R-410a Equipment R410a systems should be considered when the indoor air handlers are nearing the end of their useful life. R-22 condensers can be replaced over and over, but old air handlers cannot handle the requirements of the R-410a refrigerant. So if the outside condenser just need to be replaced, then replace it. However if the indoor air handler is old, inefficient, difficult to get parts for, ect. Then it s time to consider making the change to the new refrigerant systems. However there are aspects of a change you ll need to consider, such as: Pressures are higher and you ll need a separate set of gauges Linesets must be larger to handle the increased flow of refrigerant Wiring is a consideration due to higher amperage. Basically a higher volume of refrigerant flowing through the system, and at higher pressures Size of equipment is an issue Small closet installs are an issue

22 Slide 22 R-410a Equipment Size Some large equipment

23 Slide 23 Our Goal Preserving refrigerant and prolonging the life of the equipment needs to be our goal on every air conditioning service request. WE NEED TO CONSERVE, RECOVER AND REUSE R-22 REFRIGERANT WHENEVER WE CAN! Our Goal:

24 Slide 24 Final Thoughts Logs onto the x-drive Preventative Maintenance tasks Last slide Refrigerant logs onto the x-drive Scan once and then only again if there were changes to that sheet Keep your sheets in order and a neat binder PLEASE! Preventative Maintenance tasks coming up soon: Condenser cleaning of 15-25% of the community Please do not edit these new requests, change the dates, etc. If you find tasks that you feel need to be changed, please contact me to discuss. Any recurring requests that are already set up for your community will remain in the system, or they may be updated somewhat to conform to the new requests being entered.