Alternative Refrigerants & Transitions Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Alternative Refrigerants & Transitions flashcards as text
Which EPA program requires that refrigerants used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances be reviewed for safety and environmental acceptability?
Answer: SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Policy) Program
The EPA SNAP program, established under Clean Air Act Section 612, evaluates and lists acceptable and unacceptable substitute refrigerants for various end-uses.
What is the GWP of R-410A, the most commonly used refrigerant in residential air conditioning before the current transition period?
Answer: 2088
R-410A has a GWP of 2088 (100-year), which is why regulators have targeted it for phase-down under the AIM Act and Kigali Amendment.
When transitioning from R-12 to R-134a in an automotive AC system, which component typically requires replacement due to incompatibility?
Answer: The accumulator/drier and hoses (barrier hoses required)
R-134a has smaller molecules than R-12 and permeates standard hoses, requiring barrier hoses; the accumulator/drier must also be replaced to ensure compatibility with POE oil.
Which of the following best describes an azeotropic refrigerant blend?
Answer: A blend that behaves like a single-component refrigerant with no temperature glide
Azeotropic blends behave like pure substances, maintaining a constant composition during phase change and exhibiting negligible temperature glide.
Under EPA regulations, what must a technician do if they discover a leak in a commercial refrigeration system containing 50 or more pounds of refrigerant that has exceeded the leak rate threshold?
Answer: Repair the leak within 30 days or retrofit/retire the equipment within 120 days
EPA Section 608 regulations require that leaks in systems with 50+ pounds of refrigerant exceeding threshold rates be repaired within 30 days, with retrofit/retirement within 120 days if repair is not feasible.
What is the main reason HFO refrigerants like R-1234ze(E) are being considered for low-GWP chiller applications?
Answer: They have a GWP below 10 and acceptable efficiency in centrifugal chiller applications
R-1234ze(E) has a GWP of 7 and thermodynamic properties suitable for large centrifugal chillers, making it a viable low-GWP drop-in for R-134a in those applications.
Which organization publishes ASHRAE Standard 34, which establishes the naming designation and safety classification system for refrigerants?
Answer: ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)
ASHRAE Standard 34 is published by ASHRAE and is the industry-standard document that assigns refrigerant number designations and A1/A2/A3/B1/B2/B3 safety classifications.