User Manual

Unit Description

Contamination of refrigerants either in storage cylinders or vehicle air conditioning

systems can lead to component corrosion, elevated head pressures, and system failures

when used by unsuspecting technicians. The ability of the technician to determine refrig-

erant type and purity is severely hampered by the presence of air when attempting to use

temperature-pressure relationships.

The development of various substitute refrigerants further complicates the ability of

technicians to determine refrigerant purity based upon temperature-pressure relationships.

The substitute refrigerant blends can also introduce a flammability hazard to the refriger-

ant technician and the ultimate end-user of the vehicle air conditioning system.

Non-condensable gasses (NCG), which are mainly comprised of ambient air, commonly

contaminate refrigerant stores or systems. Contamination can be introduced into refriger-

ant from sources such as leaking joints on vehicle air conditioning systems, incorrect

handling of transfer hoses, incorrect use of refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment,

or failure of such equipment. Ambient air contamination will lead to a number of refriger-

ant system problems, including corrosion induced by moisture content of the ambient air,

increased compressor heat and wear due to increased head pressures, added stress on

system components due to increased head pressures, and reduction of system efficiency

due to displacement of refrigerant by the ambient air or NCG.

The identifier provides a fast, easy, and accurate means to determine refrigerant purity in

refrigerant storage cylinders or directly in vehicle air conditioning systems. It also

determines the need and controls the purging of ambient air-based NCG from refrigerant

storage vessels or vehicle air conditioning systems.

The instrument uses non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology to determine the weight

concentrations of refrigerant types R-12, R-134a, R-22, hydrocarbons, and air. Refriger-

ant purity is automatically determined for refrigerants R-12 and R-134a by the instrument

to eliminate human error. Pure refrigerant is defined as a refrigerant mixture that contains

98% by weight, or greater, of either R-12 or R-134a.