How to Address a Refrigerant Leak More Effectively
A refrigerant leak in a refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) system or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system hurts the environment. Not only do companies have to fix the leak by a certain timeframe, they have to report it to the government. A refrigerant management program makes fulfilling these requirements much easier.
There are many factors that could lead to a refrigerant leak in a refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) system or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A valve could weaken, rust could form in the filter dryers or heat pump accumulator, small holes could form on capillary tube as a result of friction, the line set that carries refrigerant from the condenser to the evaporator coil could be damaged, or a flare connection could fail.
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.
In the United States, the EPA has set strict standards for regulating and monitoring a refrigerant leak. The Montreal Protocol and Kyoto Protocal were created to establish similar environmental standards internationally. These regulations include protocols for repairing refrigerant leaks or disposing of systems within a certain timeframe. These multifaceted regulations require facility managers to submit comprehensive reporting records. Because of the complexity of the requirements, many building managers rely on refrigerant management programs, such as those offered by Verisae at www.verisae.com for better facility oversight.
A Refrigerant Tracker is a key component to a refrigerant management program. The refrigerant tracker developed by Verisae at www.refrigerant-tracker.com/features-summary.html, monitors all refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) systems or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It works in conjunction with the Verisae refrigerant management program, so record-keeping and reporting of a refrigerant leak is done seamlessly.
Refrigerant management programs, like those offered by Verisae at www.verisae.com, are more efficient and accurate than doing the monitoring and reporting manually. This becomes more critical when a refrigerant leak occurs. The fluorinated greenhouses gases that escape need to be reported because of the harm the gases cause to the environment. The time saved by using a refrigerant management program is one of many reasons that building or facility managers, and compliance officers find that refrigerant management programs make smart business sense.
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.
About the Author
Daniel Stouffer has a lot of information on the importance of stopping refrigerant leak. Find out more about the Refrigerant-Tracker.
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