วันพุธที่ 18 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2552

How to Address a Refrigerant Leak More Effectively

By Daniel Stouffer

A refrigerant leak in refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems becomes a great concern for companies because refrigerant gases that escape are extremely harmful to the environment. For that reason, a refrigerant management program is an important tool for monitoring and maintaining valuable business assets.

There are many reasons why a refrigerant leak could occur in a refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) system or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. It could be a weakened valve, rust in filter dryers or heat pump accumulator, tiny holes on capillary tubing due to friction, a damaged line set that carries refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator coil, or a failure of the flare connection.

A significant amount of ozone depleting gases escape into the air during a refrigerant leak. These gases include hydrofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons and are harmful to the environment. These gases also have a high global warming potential.

It's not easy to find a refrigerant leak, mainly because of the complexity of refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) systems or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The refrigerant leak could be hiding in tubing that stretches hundreds of feet or in an inconspicuous area. A pressure switch or other operating or safety control could also be the cause of a refrigerant leak. To detect a refrigerant leak, many facilities rely on refrigerant management systems. With these systems, monitoring of the equipment is continuous. When a refrigerant leak occurs, detection is fast and exact and the area is pinpointed on a monitor display.

Regulations for repairing a refrigerant leak or disposing of systems were established in the United States by the EPA and internationally by the Montreal Protocol and Kyoto Protocal. Under the extensive regulations, facility managers must provide comprehensive reporting records. The requirements are complex, so building managers generally rely on refrigerant management programs, such as those offered by Verisae at www.verisae.com.

A Refrigerant Tracker, such as the one offered by Verisae at www.refrigerant-tracker.com/features-summary.html, allows facilities to keep accurate refrigerant usage records and properly report a refrigerant leak. A refrigerant tracker also ensures that a company is in compliance with all environmental requirements and submits records within the specified reporting periods.

Because a refrigerant leak releases fluorinated greenhouses gases that are harmful to the environment, refrigerant management programs have become essential to companies, building or facility managers, and compliance officers. Refrigerant management programs track refrigerant leaks and enable quick repair of the component. Refrigerant management programs, like those offered by Verisae at www.verisae.com, are much faster and accurate than manual systems.

A refrigerant management program offers a number of benefits, including tracking a refrigerant leak. The Verisae Enterprise Refrigerant Management software, for example, enables one person to manage any number of refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) systems or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, regardless of the number of buildings or locations. This type of management tool enables companies to work more efficiently and cost-effectively in the facilities management area.

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