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EN
Handling the refrigerant
Leakage check of R32 refrigerant
Note:
Check the leakage of the refrigerant in an environment where there is no
potential ignition source. No halogen probe (or any other detector that uses an open
flame) should be used.
Leak detection method:
•
Leak detector method:
For systems with refrigerant R32, electronic leak detection
instrument is available to detect and leak detection should not be conducted
in environment with refrigerant. Make sure the leak detector will not become a
potential source of ignition, and is applicable to the measured refrigerant. Leak
detector shall be set for the minimum ignitable fuel concentration (percentage) of
the refrigerant. Calibrate and adjust to proper gas concentration (no more than
25 %) with the used refrigerant.
•
Bubble method:
The fluid used in leak detection is applicable to most refrigerants.
But do not use chloride solvents to prevent the reaction between chlorine and
refrigerants and the corrosion of copper pipeline..
If you suspect a leak, then remove all the fire from the scene or put out the fire.
If the location of the leak needs to be welded, then all refrigerants need to be recovered,
or, isolate all refrigerants away from the leak site (using cut-off valve). Before and during
the welding, use Oxygen-Free-Nitrogen (OFN) to purify the entire system.
Removal and vacuum pumping
1.
Make sure there is no ignited fire source near the outlet of the vacuum pump and
the ventilation is well.
2. Allow the maintenance and other operations of the refrigeration circuit should be
carried out according to the general procedure, but the following best operations
that the flammability is already taken into consideration are the key. You should
follow the following procedures:
• Remove the refrigerant.
• Decontaminate the pipeline by inert gases.
• Evacuation of the gas.
• Decontaminate the pipeline by inert gases again.
• Cut or weld the pipeline.
3. The refrigerant should be returned to the appropriate storage tank. The system
should be blown with oxygen free nitrogen to ensure safety. This process may
need to be repeated for several times. This operation shall not be carried out using
compressed air or oxygen.