EPA Section 608 Preparatory Manual: Core Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the EPA Section 608 Preparatory Manual: Core section, including ozone depletion, refrigerant classifications, pressure ranges, regulations, and safety procedures.

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)

Measures the ability of a substance to destroy ozone in the stratosphere.

Stratospheric Ozone Layer

The earth's protective shield that protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Chlorine

The element of a CFC or HCFC molecule that causes ozone depletion; it does not dissolve in water or rain out of the atmosphere.

Single Chlorine Atom Lifespan

Can last in the stratosphere for $120$ years and destroy up to $100,000$ ozone molecules.

Chlorine Monoxide ($ClO$)

A compound formed when a chlorine atom takes one of the oxygen atoms from an ozone molecule ($O_3$).

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Measurement established to provide comparisons of the global warming impacts of different gases over a span of time.

Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$)

The baseline measurement for global warming potential with a value of $1$.

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)

Refrigerants containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon; they have the highest ozone depletion potential ($ODP$) and are the most harmful to stratospheric ozone.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)

Refrigerants containing hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon; the hydrogen makes them less harmful to ozone than CFCs, with an ODP between $0$ and $1$.

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)

Refrigerants containing hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon; they have no ozone depletion potential but many have high Global Warming Potential.

Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)

Refrigerants containing hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon with at least one double bond; they have no ODP and very small GWP; often classified as $A2L$.

Hydrocarbon (HC)

Elementary compounds of hydrogen and carbon with no ODP and GWP values less than $10$, such as isobutane ($R-600a$) and propane ($R-290$).

ASHRAE Safety Group Class A

Designation for refrigerants identified as the safest regarding toxicity level to humans.

ASHRAE Flammability Classification

Indicated by numeric values: $1$ (no flammability), $2$ (low flammability), or $3$ (high flammability).

Azeotropic Mixture

A refrigerant mixture containing two or more refrigerants that evaporates and condenses at a constant temperature, acting like a pure compound.

Zeotropic Mixture

A blend of refrigerants with different boiling points that exhibits temperature glide.

Temperature Glide

A phenomenon in zeotropic blends where different parts of the mixture have different pressures for the same saturation temperature, ranging from a few tenths of a degree to $12$ degrees or more.

Bubble Point

Liquid-phase values on a pressure-temperature chart used when charging by condenser subcooling.

Dew Point

Vapor-phase values on a pressure-temperature chart used for charging by suction or evaporator superheat.

Fractionation

The process of refrigerant leaking at uneven rates due to different vapor pressures in blended refrigerants.

Low-Pressure Refrigerants

Refrigerants having a pressure of $30\,\text{psig}$ or lower at a liquid-phase temperature of $104^\circ\text{F}$.

Medium-Pressure Refrigerants

Refrigerants having a pressure between $30\,\text{psig}$ and $155\,\text{psig}$ at a liquid-phase temperature of $104^\circ\text{F}$.

High-Pressure Refrigerants

Refrigerants having a pressure between $155\,\text{psig}$ and $340\,\text{psig}$ at a liquid-phase temperature of $104^\circ\text{F}$.

Very High-Pressure Refrigerants

Refrigerants having a pressure over $340\,\text{psig}$ at a liquid-phase temperature of $104^\circ\text{F}$, such as $CO_2$ ($R-744$).

Polyolester (POE) Oil

A synthetic oil commonly used in newly manufactured HFC systems; it is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture out of the air.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty that addresses ozone-depleting substances and their alternatives.

Clean Air Act Section 608 Fine

As of $2017$, a technician can be fined $44,539$ per day, per violation, for violating regulations such as knowingly releasing non-exempt refrigerant.

Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program

EPA program that identifies refrigerants with lower overall risks to human health and the environment.

AHRI Standard 700

The standard that reclaimed refrigerant must meet (level equal to new product specifications) before it can be resold.

AHRI Standard 740

The performance rating standard that refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment must be tested to meet.

Recover

To remove refrigerant, in any condition, from a system and store it in an approved recovery cylinder.

Recycle

To extract and clean refrigerant using oil separation and filter-driers for reuse in equipment of the same owner.

Reclaim

To process refrigerant to a level equal to virgin product specifications as determined by chemical analysis.

Self-contained Recovery Device

An active recovery device that has its own means to draw refrigerant out of an appliance.

System-dependent Recovery Device

A passive recovery device that captures refrigerant with the assistance of components (like the compressor) in the appliance.

Dehydration Requirement

Most manufacturers require system evacuation to $500\,\text{microns}$ or lower to remove water and water vapor.

Lower Flammability Limit (LFL)

The minimum concentration of a flammable refrigerant in a space that can lead to an explosion with an ignition source.

Asphyxia

The major cause of death in most refrigerant accidents, caused by oxygen deprivation due to high concentrations of vapors.

Recovery Cylinder Fill Limit

Safety requirement stating a cylinder should be filled to no more than $80\%$ of its capacity.

Hydrostatic Test

A test required every $5$ years for reusable containers for high-pressure refrigerant under normal ambient temperatures.