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Support
Decommissioning of fridges can be achieved following the basic steps : 1 . Remove all loose parts and components - racks , glass plates , cables etc - separate items that are recyclable into appropriate bins . 2 . Recover the refrigerant and oil . 3 . Remove compressor and capacitor / start relay ( where applicable ) as well as any electrics fitted to the compressor and its controls .
4 . Remove the condenser carefully so as not to drop oil that could be trapped in the condenser .
5 . Remove the insulation foam from the cabinet with a scraper once the metal casing has been removed and store the foam pieces in suitable bags to prevent release of blow moulding agents into the atmosphere . 6 . Remove all wiring . 7 . All items that can be recovered for repurposing should be stored in separate containers .
In the case of unitary air conditioning systems , the process is less complex than the fridges in that there is no foam involved .
Basic steps to be followed are listed below .
1 . Remove outer casings - if plastic , look for markings to store separately depending on whether it is a recyclable product or not . Steel can be placed in the steel bin separate from any aluminium components . 2 . Remove all circuit boards that can contain harmful substances and store in a separate bin . 3 . Remove vibration protection cladding and place into an appropriate bin . 4 . Remove oil and refrigerant . 5 . Remove compressor and any electrical components attached . Also remove any accessories as in driers and accumulators from the system .
6 . Remove the copper / aluminium coils by removing screws that are holding them in place .
7 . Carefully remove barrel fans and other motorised components as well as the transformer used for the pc board . 8 . Remove all wiring . 9 . Carefully separate all components so that they can go to the appropriate recycling points .
Possibly the best method of disassembly is manual stripping . The greatest advantage of manual dismantling , assuming sufficient manpower is available , is the high degree to which plastics and metals can be separated . The more homogeneously the materials are sorted , the more efficient the recycling becomes and the higher the selling price on the recycling market .
RECYCLING OPTIONS OF RECOVERED MATERIALS In South Africa we face the challenge of finding registered companies that can dispose of the materials in the appropriate manner .
• Refrigerants and oils can be sent for recycling / processing .
• Metals can be recycled .
• Glass can be recycled .
• Circuit boards can be processed removing valuable / hazardous materials .
• Plastics can be recycled mechanically , feedstock-recycled or used for energy recovery . Mechanical recycling is the most recommended recycling technique . It requires correctly sorted plastics . Afterwards , the plastic is ground or crushed , washed and cleaned of unwanted substances such as paper and metals . The plastics are heated to become flexible and to form new shapes .
Possible products are toolboxes , dustbins , floor plates , window frames and palisades .
In feedstock recycling , the macromolecules of the plastic waste are broken down to low-molecular compounds ( methanol or mixtures such as synthesis gas and oils ). The petrochemical feedstock derived is used in refineries and chemical plants to produce new products .
The energetic use of plastics in large-scale industrial applications ( waste to energy ) is only recommended when the plastics contain flame retardants .
Andre , one must only look around to see the pollution and destruction of our environment . We must be responsible and play our part when disposing of equipment at the end of life . RACA
Grant Laidlaw
REFERENCES : 1 . ACRA 2 . Australian Department of the Environment 3 . National Ozone Unit
“ The greatest advantage of manual dismantling , assuming sufficient manpower is available , is the high degree to which plastics and metals can be separated .”
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RACA Journal I November 2024 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za