PORTABLE REFRIGERANT RECYCLE AND RECOVERY UNIT

Studies have shown that halocarbon refrigerants (CFCs and HCFCs) damage the earth's ozone layer. To halt the damage, regulations (i.e., U.S. Clean Air Act of 1990) were created that prohibit emission of these refrigerants into the atmosphere. These regulations have created a need for refrigerant recovery and recycle systems. However, units avilable today are limited in their capabilities. Most are unable or ill-suited to cope with refrigerants of unknown or different phases. They can also be: slow and complicated to use, heavy, expensive, and unable to meet recent EPA regulations regarding recovery unit vacuum pressures. Micropump Corporation and Eco-Dyne Systems, Inc. propose to develop a portable refrigerant recycle and recovery unit. The proposed unit will be modular, light-weight, cost-effective, easy to use, and able to meet EPA, ARI, and UL specifications for recycle and recovery units. The innovative component of the unit will be the dual-phase pump. The direct drive vane pump/brushless DC motor combination will recover a variety of refrigerants regardless of phase (liquid or vapor) under a wide range of ambient conditions.