Refrigerant Management & Environmental Compliance Flashcards

What is the minimum level of vacuum (in microns) that must be achieved before charging a system under AHRI 710 guidelines?

Answer: 500 microns

AHRI 710 guidelines recommend pulling a system vacuum to 500 microns or below to ensure adequate moisture and non-condensable removal before charging.

A technician discovers that a cylinder contains a mixture of two different refrigerants. What is the correct action?

Answer: Label it as 'unknown mixture' and send it to a reclaimer

Mixed refrigerant cylinders must be labeled as unknown mixtures and sent to a certified reclaimer — they cannot be reused, sold, or vented.

Which section of the Clean Air Act specifically addresses the venting prohibition and service practices for refrigerants?

Answer: Section 608

Section 608 of the Clean Air Act establishes the National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program, including the venting prohibition and technician certification requirements.

When recovering refrigerant from a system that uses R-410A, what should the technician do with the recovered refrigerant if it has been contaminated with moisture or oil?

Answer: Send it to an EPA-certified reclaimer for processing

Contaminated refrigerant must be sent to an EPA-certified reclaimer who can process it to AHRI 700 purity standards for reuse.

What does the 'bubble point' represent in a zeotropic refrigerant blend?

Answer: The temperature at which the first vapor bubble forms during evaporation

The bubble point is the temperature at which the first bubble of vapor forms when a liquid zeotropic blend begins to evaporate, marking the start of the two-phase region.

Which of the following refrigerants is classified as A2L (mildly flammable) and is a primary component in next-generation low-GWP systems?

Answer: R-32

R-32 is an A2L mildly flammable refrigerant with a GWP of 675 and is a key component in low-GWP systems like R-454B, replacing R-410A in new equipment.

Under EPA Section 608, which type of appliance is exempt from the refrigerant recovery requirements?

Answer: Small appliances with a charge of 5 lbs or less

Small appliances with a refrigerant charge of 5 lbs or less (such as household refrigerators and window ACs) are exempt from the Section 608 recovery requirements.