Check that there is no possibility of cross-contamination between the different refrigerants when using charging
equipment. Hoses or lines must be as short as possible to reduce the quantity of refrigerant contained therein.
Cylinders must be kept in an appropriate position, in accordance with the instructions.
Check that the cooling system is grounded before charging the system with refrigerant.
Label the system once charging is complete (if this is not already the case).
Pay close attention to not overfilling the cooling system.
Before recharging the system, carry out a pressure test using a suitable purge gas. The system must be examined to
make sure there are no leaks after the charging operation and before commissioning. A follow-up leak test must be carried
out before leaving the site.
Dismantling
Before dismantling, the technician must familiarise himself/herself with the equipment and its specifications. We highly
recommend carefully recovering all refrigerants. Before this, oil and refrigerant samples must be taken if analyses are to be
carried out before any other use of the recovered refrigerant. Check for the presence of a power supply before starting
work.
1. Familiarise yourself with the equipment and how it operates.
2. Electrically isolate the system.
3. Before starting work, check the following points:
- mechanical handling equipment is available if needed to handle the refrigerant cylinders;
- all personal protective equipment is available and used correctly;
- the recovery process is followed at all times by a cognizant person;
- the recovery cylinders and equipment comply with the relevant standards.
4. Drain the cooling system where possible.
5. If a vacuum cannot be created, install a manifold in order to be able to remove the refrigerant from various locations
within the system.
6. Make sure that the cylinder is located on the scales before starting recovery operations.
7. Start the recovery unit and operate as per its instructions.
8. Do not overfill the cylinders (no more than 80% of the volume must be filled with liquid).
9. Do not exceed the maximum working pressure of the cylinder, even temporarily.
10. When the cylinders have been filled correctly and the process is complete, check that the cylinders and the equipment
are quickly removed from the site and that the alternative shut-off valves on the equipment are closed.
11. The recovered refrigerant must not be charged in another cooling system, unless it has been cleaned and inspected.
TROUBLESHOOTING
All brazing must be carried out by qualified brazers.
Replacement pipes must always be made of copper in compliance with standard NF EN 12735-1.
Leak detection; pressure test:
- never use oxygen or dry air, risk of fire or explosion,
- use dry nitrogen or the mixture of nitrogen and refrigerant indicated on the information plate,
- the test pressure for both the high and low pressure circuits must not exceed 42 bar in cases where
the appliance is equipped with the optional pressure gauge.
The high pressure circuit pipes are made of copper and have a diameter equal to or greater than 1''5/8. A certificate as
indicated in §2.1 in compliance with standard NF EN 10204 must be requested from the supplier and filed in the
installation's technical file.
Technical data relative to the safety requirements of the various applicable directives are indicated on the information
plate. All this information must be recorded in the appliance's installation manual, which must be kept in its technical file:
model, code, serial number, maximum and minimum OT, OP, year of manufacture, CE marking, manufacturer's address,
refrigerant and weight, electrical parameters, thermo-dynamic and acoustic performance.
LABELLING
The equipment must be labelled so as to specify that it is out of order and that the refrigerant has been drained.
The label must be dated and signed.
For appliances containing a flammable refrigerant, check that labels are placed on the equipment stating that it contains
a flammable refrigerant.
RECOVERY
When draining the refrigerant for maintenance or decommissioning, best practices should be followed in order to safely
drain all of the refrigerant.
When transferring refrigerant to a cylinder, make sure that you use a recovery cylinder that is compatible with the
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