Feature
The right
training and
certification
is important
to handle all
types of works
of gases, new
and old.
Once the recovery is complete, it is important that the waste
product is returned to the refrigerant processor in the correct
cylinders. Standard HFC’s are sent back in normal recovery
cylinders but if the engineer knows in advance that A2Ls are
likely to feature they should ensure that they have the right
recovery cylinders to handle these gases.
If you want to take the stress out of recovery, the A-Gas Rapid
Recovery team will do the work for you. Rapid Recovery will
take care of it from start to finish – handling all aspects of the job
including hazardous waste documentation and job site reporting.
It will also be significantly quicker and allows the engineer to get
on with other onsite maintenance while the recovery process is
taking place.
Don’t forget that if you are recovering refrigerant yourself
you will need to complete all the necessary hazardous waste
paperwork – otherwise, you will have the Environment Agency
to answer to. You will need an authorised waste transfer note
to transport and remove the waste from the site and when the
product is returned in a cylinder to the wholesaler. My advice,
if you are unsure is to talk to your refrigerant wholesaler or
supplier. They are always happy to help.
As an industry we have responded well to the calls to re-use
refrigerants. The amount of recovered refrigerant returned to
the market is increasing and leakage rates continue to drop.
Awareness that recovered product is available on the market
www.hvacronline.co.za
to use until 2030 is beginning to increase. Investment has been
made in A-Gas’ reclamation technology to meet the demand of
this reprocessed product.
I can reassure you that there’s no need to fear that recovered
refrigerants won’t be available. As long as engineers recover
gases responsibly – ensuring that we don’t release further
emissions into the atmosphere – the greater the amount of
refrigerant that will be returned and reprocessed for further use
by the industry.
Simply introducing systems using new generation
refrigerants is not always the answer to the customer’s
needs. It makes little sense to destroy usable equipment
worth millions of pounds if reclaimed product is there and
available to use. Reclaimed refrigerant will continue to play an
increasing role as equipment longevity is extended which in
turn provides breathing space to the end-user as they assess
their options.
There is no shelf life to recovered refrigerant. Each molecule
can be recovered by the processor to allow the refrigerant to
be returned to a pure gas time and time again. Over time new
generation refrigerants will slowly drive the phase-out of HFC
gases and only then when this is completed will this recovered
product be no longer needed. In this respect, the likes of R404A
will be around and ready to use in recovered form for many years
to come. RACA
RACA Journal I May 2020
41