Mazda CT-L1005, Training Manual

Page: 17 / 66

Basic Climate Control Fundamentals
Refrigerant in a Closed Container
•
When R134a is in a closed container, and the container is in a surrounding with an
ambient temperature above –26°C, some of the liquid will boil off until pressure is
developed. The pressure will be equal throughout the entire container, and the
developed pressure will keep a portion of the refrigerant liquid. As the container heats
up, the liquid refrigerant will expand in volume. If the container is allowed to warm up to
the point where the liquid has expanded to fill the entire volume of the container, the
pressure will then increase rapidly, and the container could rupture.
CAUTION : Filling a container more than 60%, and storing a container near sources of heat
or in direct sunlight can cause serious injury.
L1005_041
1 Properly filled container 4 Ruptured container
2 Overfilled / overheated container 5 Liquid refrigerant
3 Dangerously overfilled / 6 Gaseous refrigerant
overheated container
•
In the event of a rupture, the resulting explosion is much more violent than say a
comparable rupture with compressed air. The refrigerant leaving the container will be
nearly instantaneously vaporized, causing a rapid increase in the volume of the
refrigerant. For this reason the containers are delivered with a liquid fill volume of no
more than 60% (at 20° C).
Curriculum Training 02-11