EPA 608 Refrigerant Recovery, Recycling & Reclamation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the 'push-pull' method used in refrigerant recovery?
- Two technicians recovering refrigerant from both high and low sides simultaneously
- Connecting the recovery machine between the liquid line and recovery cylinder to use system pressure and the recovery unit together to speed liquid removal (Correct answer)
- Alternating between vapor recovery and liquid recovery modes in cycles
- Using a vacuum pump to pull refrigerant while system pressure pushes vapor
Correct answer: Connecting the recovery machine between the liquid line and recovery cylinder to use system pressure and the recovery unit together to speed liquid removal
The push-pull method routes liquid refrigerant from the system's liquid line through the recovery machine into the recovery cylinder, using both system pressure and the recovery compressor to dramatically speed up recovery from large charges.
Question 2: Which refrigerant container is it ILLEGAL to refill with recovered refrigerant?
- DOT-approved recovery cylinders
- Refillable cylinders certified for refrigerant service
- Non-refillable (disposable) refrigerant cylinders (Correct answer)
- Department of Transportation approved nurse tanks
Correct answer: Non-refillable (disposable) refrigerant cylinders
Refilling disposable (non-refillable) refrigerant cylinders is illegal under both EPA and DOT regulations because they are manufactured for single use and are not rated to withstand repeated pressurization.
Question 3: Before transferring recovered refrigerant into a recovery cylinder, what capacity limit must the technician observe?
- Fill to no more than 60% of total capacity by liquid volume
- Fill to no more than 80% of total capacity by liquid volume (Correct answer)
- Fill completely to maximize storage efficiency
- Fill to no more than 50% of total capacity by weight
Correct answer: Fill to no more than 80% of total capacity by liquid volume
Recovery cylinders must never be filled beyond 80% of their liquid capacity to allow for thermal expansion of the refrigerant, preventing dangerously high pressures that could rupture the cylinder.
Question 4: Which organization must certify a refrigerant reclaimer before it can process and resell refrigerant to ARI 700 purity standards?
- ASHRAE
- EPA (Correct answer)
- DOT
- OSHA
Correct answer: EPA
The EPA certifies refrigerant reclaimers, who must register with the agency and meet ARI 700 purity standards before they are permitted to resell processed refrigerant as equivalent to virgin product.
Question 5: For a small appliance (Type I) with a NON-functional compressor, what is the minimum refrigerant recovery efficiency required?
- 70%
- 80% (Correct answer)
- 90%
- 95%
Correct answer: 80%
When the compressor of a small appliance is not functioning, EPA 608 reduces the minimum recovery efficiency requirement to 80%, compared to 90% when the compressor is operational.
Question 6: Which of the following correctly describes 'contaminated' refrigerant?
- Refrigerant that contains CFC molecules known to deplete the ozone layer
- Refrigerant that contains impurities such as moisture, oil, air, or acid (Correct answer)
- Refrigerant that has been mixed with an incompatible refrigerant blend
- Refrigerant that is more than three years old and past its service life
Correct answer: Refrigerant that contains impurities such as moisture, oil, air, or acid
Contaminated refrigerant contains foreign substances such as moisture, lubricating oil, air, acid, or other impurities that degrade performance and must be removed through recycling or reclamation before reuse.
Question 7: What must happen to refrigerant that is too contaminated for on-site recycling?
- It must be destroyed immediately on-site
- It must be sent to an EPA-certified reclamation facility or destroyed (Correct answer)
- It may be vented to the atmosphere if contamination exceeds 50%
- It must be returned directly to the original refrigerant manufacturer
Correct answer: It must be sent to an EPA-certified reclamation facility or destroyed
Highly contaminated refrigerant that cannot be adequately cleaned on-site must be shipped to an EPA-certified reclamation facility for processing to ARI 700 standards, or properly destroyed.
EPA 608 Refrigerant Recovery, Recycling & Reclamation 2
What is the 'push-pull' method used in refrigerant recovery?