Reservoirs for refrigerants

Refrigerants are poured into special reservoirs (ballons, tanks, etc.), made of steel. However, at present a number of manufacturers supply their products in reservoirs made of aluminum. Such reservoirs (ballons) are highly competitive with the steel ones as to their strength, they have smaller mass and are convenient while performing service works. They are used for prepackaging of small portions of a refrigerant. Characteristics of some steel reservoirs fr pure refrigerants and norms of their filling are given in the table.

Pure refrigerants are those which were not used after their manufacturing, and the refrigerants released after recovery. Impure refrigerants are considered to be those ones which have been derived from the refrigeration facility. Reservoirs designed for drainage of the refrigerants being subject to recovery, are painted in green fluorescing color. Reservoirs for not used or recovered refrigerants are painted in different colors depending on the mark of a refrigerant.

For maintenance of small refrigeration facilities, "Du Pont" company supply packaged into ballons refrigerants of HCFC and HFC groups.

Ballons are delivered vacuumized from the suppliers of refrigerants to their customers . The majority of ballons are provided with two valves with standard thread of 1/4 in., at the same time liquid valve is connected with immersion leg reaching maximum level of ballon filling (80 %).

The level of ballon filling should comply with the international and national requirements; it is established depending on the volume occupied by the liquid refrigerant and pressure developing under this temperature.

Reservoirs for refrigerants are tested for strength. In the table there are given minimal values of pressures of ballon tests for different refrigerants, as well as maximally permissible filling levels.

^* Extraction from standard NF E29-795, November 1992.

All the vessels (reservoirs) should be marked and be provided with a table indicating the type of a refrigerant, which can be stored there, mass of a unfilled vessel, volume (charging according to water), testing pressure, legal name of the enterprise and should have the stamp of the State local technical supervision service.

Mass of the unfilled vessel is considered to be mass of a proper vessel and accessories attached to it without a valve. While indicating this mass on the marking table, they stamp letter M before the figures indicating the mass. Mass of a container is considered to be mass of an unfilled vessel, mass of accessories attached to it and the valve provided with immersion leg. While indicating of this mass on the marking table, its value is preceded by letter T.

In the table there are given as an example technical conditions during the sale of some refrigerants delivered in reservoirs. Often technical conditions are much stricter than it is actually necessary for normal enough operation of the refrigeration facility.