Texas Army National Guard

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Facility heating cooling

Industry: Government Agency-Includes Military

Wastes Reduced: CFC's

Substance: Freon

Equipment: Refrigerant Recovery Station

Location: Four TX

Contact: LTC Don Tryce

Phone: (512) 465-5001 ext 5717

Description:

In January 1993, the Texas Army National Guard purchased four Model 17500B Refrigerant Recovery/Recycling Stations from ROBINAIR. The units are located at Combined Support Maintenance Shop #1, Saginaw, Texas; Combined Support Maintenance Shop #2, Austin, Texas and Mobilization and Training Equipment Site, North Fort Hood, Texas.

P2 Application:

Model 17500B is designed to recover and recycle refrigerant in either vapor or liquid form. The unit will recycle R-12, R-22, R-500, R-502 and R-134A Ester Oil Systems. The unit is designed for heavy duty multi-refrigerant recovery and recycling and has the heat exchange capacity to handle large amounts of refrigerant. During recovery, refrigerant is pulled from the system, through an intake filter and evaporator, then to an accumulator oil separator. Acid that may have developed in the system is concentrated in the oil, and by separating the oil from refrigerant, over 95% of the acid is removed. Since stored refrigerant must be condensed to a liquid, after passing through the compressor, refrigerant proceeds to the return oil separator, through the condenser and into the storage tank. The recycling process removes moisture, air and remaining acid from the refrigerant. A liquid pump, magnetically coupled to prevent heat generation, circulates refrigerant through the filter repeatedly until clean, dry and ready for reuse. Filter-drier cores remove refrigerant contaminants, and requires 110 volt 60 Hz power. Operating personnel must be licensed by EPA and certified by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. Training is required to operate this unit

Environmental Benefits:

In 1995 and 1996, almost 700 pounds of Freon R-12 and R-22 were recycled.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The units cost $4,000. In 1993, replacement Freon cost $2.00 per pound. In 1994, replacement Freon cost jumped to $10.00 per pound. Estimated payback period is one year.

Source: TCEQ