EPA 608 Certification
What date was the sale of CFC’s & HCFC’s restricted to technicians certified in
refrigerant recovery? – Correct answer-November 14, 1994
Section 608 of the Federal Clean Air Act requires technicians to what? – Correct
answer-Recover all refrigerants.
The objective of the Clean Air Act is to protect what? – Correct answer-The earth’s
stratosphere.
HFC’s – Correct answer-HydroFlouroCarbon’s
CFC’s – Correct answer-ChloroFluoroCarbon’s
ODP – Correct answer-Ozone Depletion Potential
Which international treaty agreement was the basis for Section 608? – Correct answerThe Montreal Protocol.
Depletion of the ozone in the stratosphere is know to cause what 6 things? – Correct
answer-1.Crop losses
2.Increases in eye diseases
3.Skin Cancer
4.Reduced marine life
5.Deforestation
6.Increased ground level ozone
What happens when CFC or HCFC molecules get in the stratosphere & free atoms of
Chlorine are set free? – Correct answer-These atoms attack Ozone Molecules causing
the formation of Chlorine Monoxide (CLO), after colliding with another Ozone Molecule,
causes 2 Oxygen (O2) molecules to be made & leaving an atom of chlorine to act as
“Free Agent” starting the process over until 100,000 molecules of Ozone are destroyed
by just one atom of chloride.
What date was recovery equipment required to be certified by a lab, & achieve higher
evacuation levels, & have low loss fittings? – Correct answer-November 15, 1993
On what date was technician certification required? – Correct answer-November 14,
1994
What date was CFC’s phased out of production? – Correct answer-December 31, 1995
What is EPA 608 Type I certification? – Correct answer-Persons who maintain, service,
repair, or dispose of small appliances (containing 5 pounds of refrigerant (or less).
What is EPA 608 Type II certification? – Correct answer-Persons who maintain, service,
repair, or dispose of high and very high pressure appliances. Except small appliances
and motor vehicle air conditioning systems.
What is EPA 608 Type III certification? – Correct answer-Persons who maintain, service,
repair, or dispose of low pressure appliances.
What is EPA 608 Universal certification? – Correct answer-Persons who maintain,
service, repair, or dispose of both low and high pressure equipment, as well as
appliances.
HCFC’s – Correct answer-HydroChloroFluoroCarbons
What are HydroChloroFluoroCarbons? – Correct answer-Commonly known as HCFC’s,
they are a group of man-made compunds containing hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and
carbon.
A recovery cylinder must not be filled more than _ % of it’s capacity by weight? – Correct answer-80% How should refrigerant cylinders be shipped? – Correct answer-Up-right with proper DOT classification tags. What oil MUST be used with ALL HFC’s for HVAC/Refrigeration but will also work with CFC’s and HCFC’s. – Correct answer-Polyolester HCFC’s have very low atmospheric concentrations measured in parts per? – Correct answer-Trillion All cooling systems containing more than 50 lbs. of refrigerant must be repaired when the annual leak rate exceeds_? – Correct answer-15%
Mineral Oils are used with? – Correct answer-All CFC’s
Alkebenzene is used alone or as an additive for? – Correct answer-HCFC’s (Will also
work with CFC’s)
POE – Correct answer-Polyolester
What is the definition of a Type I Appliance? – Correct answer-A small appliance that is
manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 Lbs. of refrigerant or
less.
What date was the sale of CFC’s & HCFC’s restricted to technicians certified in refrigerant recovery?
November 14, 1994
Section 608 of the Federal Clean Air Act requires technicians to what?
Recover all refrigerants.
The objective of the Clean Air Act is to protect what?
The earth’s stratosphere.
HFC’s
HydroFlouroCarbon’s
CFC’s
ChloroFluoroCarbon’s
ODP
Ozone Depletion Potential
Which international treaty agreement was the basis for Section 608?
The Montreal Protocol.
Depletion of the ozone in the stratosphere is know to cause what 6 things?
1.Crop losses
2.Increases in eye diseases
3.Skin Cancer
4.Reduced marine life
5.Deforestation
6.Increased ground level ozone
What happens when CFC or HCFC molecules get in the stratosphere & free atoms of Chlorine are set free?
These atoms attack Ozone Molecules causing the formation of Chlorine Monoxide (CLO), after colliding with another Ozone Molecule, causes 2 Oxygen (O2) molecules to be made & leaving an atom of chlorine to act as “Free Agent” starting the process over until 100,000 molecules of Ozone are destroyed by just one atom of chloride.
What date was recovery equipment required to be certified by a lab, & achieve higher evacuation levels, & have low loss fittings?
November 15, 1993
On what date was technician certification required?
November 14, 1994
What date was CFC’s phased out of production?
December 31, 1995
What is EPA 608 Type I certification?
Persons who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of small appliances (containing 5 pounds of refrigerant (or less).
What is EPA 608 Type II certification?
Persons who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of high and very high pressure appliances. Except small appliances and motor vehicle air conditioning systems.
What is EPA 608 Type III certification?
Persons who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of low pressure appliances.
What is EPA 608 Universal certification?
Persons who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of both low and high pressure equipment, as well as appliances.
HCFC’s
HydroChloroFluoroCarbons
What are HydroChloroFluoroCarbons?
Commonly known as HCFC’s, they are a group of man-made compunds containing hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
A recovery cylinder must not be filled more than _ % of it’s capacity by weight?
80%
How should refrigerant cylinders be shipped?
Up-right with proper DOT classification tags.
What oil MUST be used with ALL HFC’s for HVAC/Refrigeration but will also work with CFC’s and HCFC’s.
Polyolester
HCFC’s have very low atmospheric concentrations measured in parts per?
Trillion
All cooling systems containing more than 50 lbs. of refrigerant must be repaired when the annual leak rate exceeds___?
15%
Mineral Oils are used with?
All CFC’s
Alkebenzene is used alone or as an additive for?
HCFC’s (Will also work with CFC’s)
POE
Polyolester
What is the definition of a Type I Appliance?
A small appliance that is manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 Lbs. of refrigerant or less.
What is the definition of a Type II Appliance?
High pressure or very high pressure appliances except for small appliances and motor vehicle air conditioning. Refrigeration systems containing more than 5 Lbs. of high or very high pressure refrigerants.
What is the definition of a Type III Appliance?
Low pressure equipment like low pressure chillers.
All refrigerants are assumed to be a single chemical if they are numbered what?
1-399 and 600 and above.
What is an Azeotrope?
A mixture of two or more liquids in such a ratio that it’s composition cannot be changed by vaporizing it.
Azeotrope’s are numbered what?
500 to 599
What is fractionation?
When the refrigerant leaks, it leaks out in different rates due to the different pressures.
What is Temperature Glide?
When the temperature of the vaporizing refrigerant changes, even though the pressure remains the same.
What are the two basic types of recovery devices?
Self-Contained and System-Dependent.
System-Dependent devices may only be used on appliances containing how much refrigerant?
15 Lbs of refrigerant or less
What MUST be placed on a refrigerant cylinder being returned for reclaiming.
A refrigerant label.
After completing the transfer of liquid refrigerant between a recovery unit and a refrigeration system, you should guard against what?
Trapping liquid refrigerant between the service valves.
When pressurizing a system with nitrogen, you should always?
Charge through a pressure regulator.
What are the three “R’s”?
Recover, Recycle, and Reclaim.
In relation to the three “R’s” what is Recover?
To remove refrigerant in any condition from a system and store it in an external approved container.
In relation to the three “R’s” what is Recycle?
To clean refrigerant for reuse by seperating the oil from the refrigerant and removing moisture from the refrigerant by passing it through one or more filter dryers.
Can Recycled refrigerant be resold?
It cannot be re-sold but it can be re-used.
In relation to the three “R’s” what is Reclaim?
To process refrigerant to a level equal to new (virgin) product specifications as determined by chemical analysis.
Can Reclaimed refrigerant be resold?
Yes, but must meet the standard set forth in ARI 700 before it can be resold.
What chemical has been found in the stratosphere indicating ozone depletion?
Chlorine Monoxide (CLO)
What are 5 Type I appliances?
1.Household refrigerators
2.Household freezers
3.Room air conditioners
4.Water Coolers
5.Drinking fountains
What are 6 Type II appliances?
1.Walk-in coolers
2.Walk-in freezers
3.Reach-in refrigerators
4.Reach-in freezers
5.Residential & Commercial comfort cooling systems
6.Ice machines
What is an example of a Type III appliance?
Low pressure chiller.
When is “Dew Point” used?
When calculating Superheat.
When is “Bubble Point” used?
When calculating Sub-cooling.
What does the EPA require on all Type I equipment that uses Class I or Class II refrigerants.
EPA requires a service aperature (process stub).
TXV
Thermostatic Expansion Valve
The EPA considers a major repair to be the replacement of what 4 items?
1.Evaporator
2.Condenser
3.Compressor
4.Auxillary Heat Exchanger
When the refrigerant is put back into a Type III chiller, following recovery and system repair, where is it added?
The charging valve on the evaporator.
What method is used to find suspected water tube leaks in chillers?
Hydrostatic (tube) test
What temperature should be attained when removing oil from a low pressure system to ensure a lower level of refrigerants in the oil?
130-Degrees F
The typical design burst pressure for a rupture disc is what?
15 PSIG
Excessive moisture collection in the purge unit can indicate what?
Tube Leakage
Vacuum pumps need to be capable of pulling what level of vacuum?
500 microns
All refrigeration systems containing more than 50 lbs. of refrigerant must be repaired when the annual leak rate exceeds___?
35%
The most efficient method of leak checking a charged low-pressure system is to use?
Controlled hot water or heater blankets.
Systems with open drive compressors are prone to leak where?
At the shaft seal.
What does ASHRAE standard 15 require?
A refrigerant monitor that will sound and alarm and automatically start a ventilation system in equipment rooms before the refrigerant concentration reaches the TLV-TWA.
TLV-TWA
Threshold Limit Value, Time Weighted Average
A-1 Group Refrigerants only require what?
Oxygen Deprivation Sensor
All “B” rated refrigerants require what?
“Refrigerant Specific” Mechanical Room Sensor.
What are Cooling Towers?
They are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere.
What is the maximum test pressure to use for pressurizing Type III centrifugal systems with nitrogen?
10 psig
Enough vapor has entered the system and you may begin charging liquid refrigerant when the refrigerant saturation temperature increases to?
36F
a vacum pump should be connected
as far away from the pump as possible
a high capacity vacuum pump and short, large diameter hoses will
dramatically reduce emissions, pressure drop, and evacuation/dehydration time
ozone contains three
oxygen atoms
one chlorine atom can destroy
100,000 ozone molecules
CFC’s do not dissolve in water and do not breakdown into other compounds that dissolve in water
CFC’s cannot be washed out of the lower atmosphere
ODP
ozone depletion potential
azeotrope
where the mixture behaves like a single chemical (new refrigerant)
HFC’s will not damage the ozone in the stratosphere
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in 1992 the united states ordered the stoppage of all CFC production and importation after
December 31, 1995
according to the clean air act, no person installing, maintaining, repairing, or disposing of any appliance may knowingly vent or otherwise release into the environment and class 1 or class 2 substance after
July 1, 1992
class 1
CFC
class 2
HCFC
it became illegal to vent substitutes for CFC and HCFC refridgerants on
November 15, 1995
any device which contains and uses a class 1 or class 2 substance as a refridgerant and is used for household or commercial purpose.
appliance
self contained recovery equipment type
Active
system dependent recovery equipment type
Passive
only section 609 certified technicians may buy CFC-12 in containers smaller than 20 pounds
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who must ensure that all refridgerant has been recovered prior to disposal of any appliance
The final person in the disposal chain (scrap metal recycler, landfill owner, ect.)
the removal of refridgerant in any condition
Recovery
to clean refridgerant by oil seperation, non-condensable removal and single or multiple passes through replaceable filter-driers to reduce moisture, acidity and particulate matter
Recycling
a complicated distillation process that returns recovered refridgerant to the purity of factory fresh refridgerant.
Reclaiming (ARI Standard 700)
under no circumstance should different refridgerants be
mixed together
Currently there is NOT a drop-in for CFC-12
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oils that are hygroscopic
Ester based (polyolesters)
the alkylbenzene, use for some ternary blends
…
as a general rule, different lubricants should never be mixed
…
oxygen and oil when mixed can form an
extremely explosive mixture
sight glasses can be cleaned with
alcohol spray
before discarding a container the internal cylinder pressure should be reduced to at least
0 psig
recovery cylinders must be approved by
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Refridgerant cylinders should never be filled above
80% capacity
refridgerant cylinders should always be stored
vertical or upright position with their valves at the top
Service oses must be fitted with some type of low loss fitting
to prevent the loss of refridgerant
for small appliances, this service port typically is a straight piece of tubing that is entered using a
Piercing access valve
repair of leaks in small appliances is not required
but should be repaired whenever possible
MVAC systems are not classified as a type 1 appliance
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The EPA requires the certification of all technicians who service Type 1 air conditioning and refridgeration to comply with future changes in the law
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any regulated refridgerant released while filling a graduated charging cylinder
must be recovered
refridgerants should never be mixed together
…
recovery cylinders must be DOT approved for use as a recovery cylinder and should be colored
Gray with a Yellow top
Floats, thermistor-type sensors, and weighing scales
full-limit devices
moisture will combine under heat with refridgerant and oil to form
Hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids as well as phosgene gas
device installed at the outlet of the condenser to store the low temperature-high pressure liquid until it is needed by the evaporator.
Receiver
device installed in the liquid line to filter solid contaminants and remove moisture from the liquid refridgerant.
Filter-drier
certification of recovery machines
November 15, 1993
CFC production stopped
December 31, 1995 or January 1, 1996
no venting of substitute refridgerants
November 1995
no more production of HCFC’s
2030
low side (blue)
suction
high side (red)
discharge
freezer (ideal -17°f)
low temperature
Cooler (ideal-35°f)
medium temperature
Air conditioner (ideal-75°f)
High temperature
causes change of state, cannot be felt, cannot be measured with a thermometer, but does not cause a change in temperature.
Latent Heat
Causes a change in temperature, but not cause a change of state, can be measured with a thermometer
Sensible Heat
only vapor can be condensed
…
only liquid can be subcooled
…
heat transfer through fluid flow
Convection
heat transfer through a substance from molecule to molecule
Conduction
heat transfer through heat rays
Radiation
refridgerant recovery is 2 pounds per ton
…
bacteria sets as 43°f
…
open compressor is
subject to leaking at the crankshaft
heat added to refridgerant vapor that causes its temperature to rise above its saturartion temp
Subheated refridgerant
heat removed from the liquid refridgerant that causes its temperature to drop below its saturated temp
Sub-cooling
replacing or repairing the compressor, condenser, evaperator, heat exchanger or heat interchanger
Major repairs
appliances that have a hermetic compressor and hold 5 pounds or less (window units, domestic refridgerators, and freezer or under the counter ice maker
Small sppliances
system-dependent recovery devices may be used on type 2 equipment but cannot be used on any appliance with more than 15 pounds of refridgerant
…
all nitrogen tanks should be equipped with a regulator to lower outlet pressure
…
are typically charged with liquid through the evaporator charging valve
Chillers
the initial refridgerant charge into an evacuated system should be in
Vapor state only
The rupture disc is connected at the evaporator and is typically set to open at
15 PSIG
the rupture disc is piped to the outdoors for venting
…
when recharging a refridgeration system with CFC-11, 16.9 in. Hg. vacuum is necessary in the shells before charging with a liquid
…
under some conditions sight glasses can freeze over with ice . should this happen the sight glass can be cleaned with
alcohol spray
The inlet of the purge compressor is typically connected to the top of the condenser
…
test used to check for tubing leaks within a chiller
Hydrosatic test
when leak checking with dry nitrogen, the pressure must not exceed
10 PSIG
equipment is pulled down to a deep vacuum, usually 1-mm hg
at the end of this check, the vacuum reading should not increase to more than 2.5 – mm hg
35% or more in commercial refridgeration or industrial process equipment with 50 pounds of charge or more must be repaired
for appliances with 50 pounds of charge or more other than industrial process equipment and commercial refridgeration, an annual leak rate of 15% or more must be repaired
the oil should be heated to 130°f because less refridgerant will be contained in the oil at the higher temperature
…
Water-cooled condensers are cooled with water from the local water supply
…
The recovery unit’s high pressure cut-out should be set for
10 PSIG
the system water pumps, the recovery compressor, and the recovery condenser water should be on
during vapor removal
Technicians must evacuate leaking components to the lowest level attainable without substantially contaminating the refridgerant
this level cannot exceed 0 PSIG
recovery and recyling machines are not required to recover more than one type of refridgerant
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ASHRAE standard 15 specifies the requirements and use of refridgerants sensors in equipment machine rooms
ASHRAE standard 15 requires equipment rooms to have refridgerant sensors for all refridgerant safety groups
the higher toxicity refridgerants are B1 refridgerants. The most commonly used in this group is HCFC 123
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If more than one relief valve is used, they must not be installed in series.
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