EPA 608 609 - EPA Refrigerant Handling Recovery, Recycling, and Reclaiming Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

What percentage of refrigerant must remain in a system operating above atmospheric pressure for a passive recovery process to stop, according to EPA efficiency standards?

Accepted Answer

Recovery must reduce system pressure to 4 inches of mercury vacuum

Answer

For systems with a full charge of less than 200 pounds operating above atmospheric pressure, the EPA requires passive recovery to continue until the system pressure reaches 4 inches of mercury vacuum (approximately -13.5 psi). This ensures that the maximum practical amount of refrigerant is captured and not vented to the atmosphere.

Question 2

Which process restores used refrigerant to the purity standards specified by AHRI Standard 700 and is the only process that allows refrigerant to be sold to a new owner?

Accepted Answer

Reclaiming

Answer

Reclaiming is the process that restores used refrigerant to AHRI Standard 700 purity levels, equivalent to virgin refrigerant. Only reclaimed refrigerant may be sold to a new owner or transferred to a different system owner. Recovery and recycling are less rigorous processes that do not meet this standard.

Question 3

What must technicians do with recovered refrigerant that is contaminated and cannot be cleaned on-site?

Accepted Answer

Send it to an EPA-certified reclamation facility

Answer

Contaminated recovered refrigerant that cannot be cleaned on-site must be sent to an EPA-certified refrigerant reclamation facility. These facilities have the equipment and expertise to process severely contaminated refrigerants to AHRI 700 purity standards. Venting recovered refrigerant, even if contaminated, is prohibited.

Question 4

During a refrigerant recovery operation, what indicates that a system has been sufficiently evacuated when using a recovery machine?

Accepted Answer

The system pressure has reached the required vacuum level and stabilizes

Answer

Sufficient evacuation is indicated when the system pressure reaches the required vacuum level (as specified by EPA efficiency standards based on system size and refrigerant type) AND the pressure stabilizes without rising. A pressure rise after reaching vacuum indicates refrigerant is still present and flashing off, requiring continued recovery.

Question 5

What type of refrigerant recovery system captures refrigerant without using a compressor, relying instead on pressure differentials and temperature changes?

Accepted Answer

Passive recovery system

Answer

A passive recovery system (also called "push-pull" passive) relies on pressure differentials between the system and the recovery cylinder, using temperature changes (such as cooling the recovery cylinder) to capture refrigerant without a dedicated recovery compressor. Passive recovery is generally slower than active (compressor-based) recovery.

EPA 608 609 Practice Test

EPA 608 609 Practice Test

EPA 608 609 - EPA Refrigerant Handling Recovery, Recycling, and Reclaiming Questions and Answers 2