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EPA Proposes an HFC Emissions Reduction and Reclamation Program

Beveridge & Diamond Russ LaMotte, Liz Johnson, Lauren Karam, Nikki Waxman On October 19, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published   a proposed rule   to establish an Emissions Reduction and Reclamation Program to manage certain HFCs and their substitutes. The proposed rule,  Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Management of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons and Substitutes under Subsection (h) of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 , is the latest rule proposed to be promulgated under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act), 42 U.S.C. § 7675   et seq ., and the first to address the AIM Act’s repair and reclamation requirements under subsection (h). EPA also released its final Technology Transition rule on the same day, which implements subsection (i) of the AIM Act. B&D’s summary of the Technology Transition Rule can be found   here . Additionally, the Proposed Rule also includes alternative standards for certain spent ignit

ChillCo Refrigerant Recycling & Recovery System

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ChillCo offers the most diverse refrigerant recovery and recycle system on the market. Using "The Ox System" built with equipment by RefTec International Systems , ChillCo has the ability to recycle halocarbon refrigerants without taking systems offline or interrupting production. Their system meets NEMA 7, Class 1, Division 2, Groups A, B, C & D. ChillCo understands the importance of following EPA and OSHA guidelines and places the highest priority on the documentation of all processes pertaining to refrigeration systems. System Capabilities ChillCo has the ability to recover all halocarbon (R11, R12, R22, R123, R134a, R404a, R407C, R410a) and hydrocarbon (Propylene, Propane, Methane, Ethane, Ethylene, Butane, and Pentane) system charges. The most time-consuming part of a complete system recovery is the vapor recovery process. The Ox unit will recover vapor at a rate unmatched by the competition, which means less downtime and faster access into the refrigeration system

A2L Fact Check

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  ESCO Institute   There have been numerous rumors circulating that A2L refrigerants are unsafe, suggesting they are made of propane, isobutane, and are explosive. This photo found on social media is a great example of the rumors spreading on social media, and how misleading they are. The good news is these are just rumors! Time the time to educate yourself on the differences between refrigerants, their classification, and flammability in this live fire demonstration. https://youtu.be/MWD9-aykQtc?si=3SOS5upGleZbbXIW Afterwards, get the facts and educate yourself on the next generation of refrigerants by taking the Low GWP Refrigerant Safey Course at: https://hvacr.elearn.network/courses/A2L-Refrigerant-Safety It's crucial to rely on accurate information, from vetted sources. Having a member of our team on the AHRI Safe Refrigerant Transition Task Force, you can always rely on ESCO to separate fact from fiction. #a2lfactcheck

Recovery on R-134a Screw Chillers and R-32 Heat Pumps Best Equipment for Application

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  Client Please see the drawing of the proposed recovery system. I will not provide the piping to the chillers (this will be by HVAC contractor). We will only provide the recovery and tank. There will be 3 x R134a screw chillers and 4 x R32 heat pumps. The biggest refrigerant charge will be the screw which has a mass of – 229kG (Total) there are 2 circuits. We will need to capture this mass. Please can you give me your thoughts? RefTec On the R-134a Chillers, are you wanting a system to recover (1) at a time or all (3)? Also, to confirm, you are wanting to recover the R-32 at times as well.  Client Thanks for the reply. We want one system to recover just one of the largest chillers charges. It will be piped to all 7 chillers.  RefTec  What about the R-32 heat Pumps, Will you need to recover them? Client  Can we not use the same recovery unit? RefTec Before we can respond, advise how much refrigerant is in each R-32 heat pump?  Client 85kg RefTec Confirming - So the Recovery unit will c

A2L Refrigerant in Focus at ACCA "Next Level"

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REFRIGERATION A2L Refrigerant in Focus at ACCA "Next Level" Nov. 4, 2023 Experts described the points to consider regarding the HFC phasedown, the importance of refrigerant reclamation and an understanding of "mildly flammable" A2L refrigerant. Terry McIver Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) presented the “NEXT LEVEL” 2023 conference in Indianapolis October 16-17. Among the presentations to be featured in coming editions of Contracting Business and on ContractingBusiness.com was a panel discussion on the ramifications of the switch to mildly flammable, A2L refrigerants, as HFC refrigerants continue to be phased down over the remainder of this decade. Panelists were Don Gillis, technical trainer for A2L refrigerants, The Chemours Company; Kate Houghton, vice president, sales and marketing for Hudson Technologies; and John Maiorana, sales and product support manager, Arkema. What will A2L-friendly Equipment Look Like? Don Gillis “I don’t see a big change c

What Is the Difference Between Reclaiming and Recycling Refrigerants? Why Can One Be Re-Sold and the Other Just Re-Used?

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Reclaiming and Recycling refrigerant are two different processes that are essential for reducing environmental impact. Recycling refrigerant involves removing it from the system and purifying it for reuse, whereas reclaiming refrigerant refers to a more thorough process that involves removing impurities and ensuring the refrigerant meets specific quality standards set by the EPA. Recycled refrigerant can only be used on equipment owned by the same owner from which the refrigerant was originally recovered because it does not meet all the requirements of reclamation. Reclaimed refrigerant is reprocessed to at least the purity level required in the AHRI standards for a virgin refrigerant. The Shark is the first unit to gain AHRI certification for cleaning dirty R134a back to ARI 700 standard reclaimed gas in a single pass. Utilizing a rugged open drive compressor, easily serviceable desiccant tubes and an oversized condensing fan, The Shark quickly removes, oil, acids, moisture and har

How Much Does R-22 Refrigerant Cost in 2023?

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Take note because you can’t purchase this refrigerant without an HVAC pro Written by  Ginny Bartolone Contributing Writer Updated April 14, 2023 Before 2010, the AC and HVAC systems that cooled our homes and overly chilled our offices ran on R-22 refrigerant. Then the Environmental Protection Agency discovered that R-22 depleted the ozone layer and began phasing it out between 2010 and 2030. As of mid-2023, R-22 refrigerant prices range from  $50 to $80 per pound . Since you'll need between 6 and 12 pounds to refill a home AC, costs can reach  $300 to $960  for the refrigerant alone. Low Cost Average Cost High Cost $300 $600 $960 What Factors Influence the Price of R-22 Refrigerant? Always keep in mind that refrigerant does not naturally deplete over time. You only need to top up your system if you have a leak. Symptoms such as  condensation on your AC  or warm air blowing from the vents are signs that it's time to have an HVAC pro check your refrigerant lines. If you need to r