Section E - Refrigeration System; Definitions; Recovery; Recycling - Electrolux Side by Side Refrigerators Service Manual

SECTION E - REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

NOTICE: Instructions given here are furnished as a guide. Persons attempting to use these instructions to make
repairs to the sealed refrigeration system should have a working knowledge of refrigeration and previous training
on sealed system repair, and an EPA certification for servicing refrigeration systems.
Effective July 1, 1992, the United States clean air act governs the disposal of refrigerants such
as R-134a. Therefore, when discharging or purging the sealed system use an epa approved
refrigerant recovery system as outlined in the final rule on the protection of stratospheric
ozone and refrigerant recycling, which was published in the Federal Register May 14, 1993.
NOTE: Electrolux does not permit the use of recovered refrigerant in the servicing of our products for in-
warranty and out-of-warranty repairs. Therefore, only new refrigerant or refrigerant that has been reclaimed
back to new specifications by a refrigerant manufacturer is to be used.

DEFINITIONS

Recovery:

To remove refrigerant in any condition from a system
and store it in an external container without necessarily
testing or processing it in any way.

Recycling:

To clean refrigerant for reuse by oil separation and
single or multiple passes through devices, such as
replaceable core filter-driers, which reduce moisture,
acidity and particulate matter. This term usually applies
to procedures implemented at the field job site or at a
local service shop.

Reclaim:

To reprocess refrigerant to new product specifications
by means which may include distillation. Will require
chemical analysis of the refrigerant to determine that
appropriate product specifications are met. This term
usually implies the use of processes or procedures
available only at a reprocessing or manufacturing facility.

SAFETY WARNINGS

Compressor Testing

Whenever testing a compressor, extreme caution should
be used to prevent damaging the terminals. A
compressor with a damaged terminal or a grounded
winding can expel a terminal from its insulated housing
when the compressor is energized. If this happens, a
mixture of refrigerant and oil will be released that could
be ignited by an external heat source (open flame,
heater, etc.). Also, if there is air in the system when this
happens, a spark at the compressor shell could ignite
the refrigerant and oil mixture.
IMPORTANT NOTICE

Charging Sealed Systems

Overcharging a refrigeration system with refrigerant can
be dangerous. If the overcharge is sufficient to immerse
the major parts of the motor and compressor in liquid
refrigerant, a situation has been created which, when
followed by a sequence of circumstances can lead to the
compressor shell seam separating.
A hydraulic block occurs, preventing the compressor
from starting. This condition is known as locked rotor.
Electric current continues to flow through the
compressor motor windings which become, in effect,
electric resistance heaters. The heat produced begins to
vaporize the excess refrigerant liquid causing a rapid
increase in system pressure. If the compressor
protective devices fail, the pressure within the system
may rise to extremes far in excess of the design limits.
Under these conditions, the weld seam around the
compressor shell can separate with explosive force,
spewing oil and refrigerant vapor which could ignite.
To eliminate this exceedingly rare but potential hazard,
never add refrigerant to a sealed system. If refrigerant is
required, evacuate the existing charge and recharge
with the correct measured amount of the refrigerant
specified for the system.
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