Section 4 - Refrigeration System; Definitions; Safety Warnings; Compressor Testing - Electrolux FPRH17D7KF All Refrigerator Professional Series Servicing

NOTE
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.
IMPORTANT
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 Home Products Inc. does not permit the use
of recovered refrigerant in the servicing of our products
for in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs or for
products covered by service contracts. 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.
Section 4 Refrigeration

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.

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 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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