Maintenance of domestic, industrial and automotive air conditioners involves refueling the system with freon. The frequency of the procedure is once every 1-2 years. In the event of an emergency refrigerant leak, refueling is performed after the problem has been fixed. To fill the working circuit with freon, a special set of tools and equipment is used. With it, you can perform the procedure yourself. For professional service, automatic gas stations are used.
Equipment for refueling air conditioners
A set of equipment for refueling air conditioners allows you to save on the cost of services of a service representative and do the work yourself. The manual station allows you to diagnose a split system and fill the circuit with refrigerant. Automatic and semi-automatic machines for refueling car air conditioners are of high cost and are used for commercial purposes. Domestic and semi-industrial climate systems are serviced using a standard portable kit. In its composition:
- gauge manifold;
- Vacuum pump;
- filling hoses;
- adapters and adapters for freon R410;
- ball valve;
- electronic balance.
The kit is placed in a convenient case, an operating manual is attached to work with it.
HVAC refueling tools
Air conditioners most often do not require full refueling, but replenishment of the leaked freon. Refueling is carried out in two ways: by pressure and by weight. The process will require special tools. Among them, a vacuum pump is expensive equipment, it is better to rent it for a one-time procedure. Correctly choose the tools will help information about their characteristics and purpose.
Vacuum pump
Vacuuming the air conditioner's working circuit allows you to get rid of air and moisture that has got into the system. Liquid droplets remaining inside the equipment will quickly wear out the compressor. To work with climate and refrigeration systems, a single and two-stage vacuum pump is used.
For domestic air conditioners with a short length of the highway, a low-performance unit is suitable. Maintenance of industrial climate systems is carried out by powerful pumps with a high speed of pumping air.
The equipment is divided into two groups: low and high vacuum models. Each type of pump is represented by devices of various designs.
Low vacuum:
- Lamellar-rotor devices have a working chamber inside the body with a rotor and spring-loaded blades. When the mechanism rotates, air is compressed and pushed through the apparatus. The devices require refueling, regulate the residual pressure. Popular manufacturers: WIGAM (Italy), CPS (USA), VALUE (China).
- Water ring units are distinguished by the presence of liquid in the working chamber. They are easy to install and environmentally friendly. Liquid ring pumps are equipped with one moving part - the impeller. The disadvantage of installation is the high cost of electricity.
- Two-rotor. In two-stage models, rotors are installed in series to enhance vacuumization.
High vacuum:
- Diffuse - designed to work in an environment with foreign particles, resistant to voltage drops. Plus - high performance.
- Cryoadsorption - gas absorption occurs by freezing with liquid nitrogen.The minus of the device is the use of synthetic oil that requires disposal.
- Heterionic create a vacuum without traces of impurities. Efficient equipment is rarely used due to its high cost.
The main guideline when choosing a vacuum pump is the parameters of the split system. Significant characteristics of the unit:
- Residual pressure - determines the quality of the vacuum, the lower the indicator, the better the system is cleaned.
- Engine power - a characteristic affects the uptime.
- Unit productivity - the amount of air discharged. Depending on the model, the parameter is 42-273 l / min.
Additional selection criteria: device weight, oil indication, noise level, operating conditions.
Leak detector
A refrigerant leak in the air conditioning system results in a decrease in cooling capacity. A portable freon leak detector is used to find the problem. An electronic device is able to detect small losses of the order of 4-5 g / year. It consists of an ergonomic housing with a display and a flexible probe with a sensor. The leakage point is reported by an acoustic and LED signal. Disadvantages of an electronic leak detector:
- poor work in windy weather;
- high price.
Manifold Manifold
Pressure gauge station is designed to control the pressure inside the working circuit of the climate system. Using hoses, the device is connected to a vacuum pump, a cylinder with freon and an air conditioner. Pressure gauges are made in two colors: blue - measures pressure on the suction side (low), red - discharge (high). Cases of devices are made of aluminum. The pressure gauge is equipped with a pressure and boiling scale. The parameters differ for each brand of refrigerant, the type of freon is indicated near the marking.
For domestic use, an analog gauge station is recommended, industrial equipment is serviced by electronic collectors with 60 hFC data in memory.
Electronic balance
One of the methods for determining the required amount of freon in the process of self-refueling a split system is weighing. After repair of the climate system or in the event of a serious leak, the full amount of refrigerant must be restored. In this situation, the balance is an optimal control tool, more effective than a pressure gauge. Most often, the device is used when working with car air conditioners.
Special electronic scales for filling the climate system are highly accurate; they are programmed for the weight of the refrigerant being downloaded or poured. When the set value is reached, a sound alert sounds. Designed for weight from 0 to 100 kg. Scales consist of a platform and a control panel. Used to work with any type of freon. The accuracy of the device is 5 g per 100 kg. Using an electronic balance, measure the amount of freon indicated in the documentation.
Hex keys
The set of tools for refueling split systems will be incomplete without the hex keys needed to unscrew the service nipples and launch the freon into the system.
Freon
In air conditioners, several brands of freon are used: r22, R410a, R407c. The type of refrigerant used is indicated in the device documents and on the nameplate on the back of the units. Freon r22 was most widely used, but in modern climate systems it was replaced by freons without chlorine content. Refrigerants R407 and R22 are close in their properties. You can use the same equipment to refuel the system. Freon R410a is characterized by high pressure in the working circuit (26 atmospheres, versus 16 for r22). Special adapters and hoses will be required.
Refrigerant charge rate is indicated by the manufacturer.
