A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit includes a recovery pump attachable to the refrigeration circuit to remove refrigerant. The recovery pump includes a pump, an electric motor, a battery pack, and a recovery pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor. The recovery pump controller has a first communication interface. The system further includes an accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the recovery pump. The accessory includes a sensor for detecting a characteristic value of the refrigeration circuit, and an accessory controller electrically connected with the sensor to receive a signal corresponding with the characteristic value of the refrigeration circuit. The accessory controller has a second communication interface to communicate the signal to the recovery pump controller via the first and second wireless interfaces. The recovery pump controller controls the operation of the electric motor based upon the signal received from the accessory.

A method for weighing and dispensing small amounts of HC refrigerant gases for appliances such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, small ice makers, wine coolers, etc. More particularly, it relates to method of weighing and dispensing small quantities of HC, or blended HC, gas refrigerants for such refrigerated appliances. Due to the safety hazards associated with large quantities of HC refrigerant gases in an enclosed space, only small containers, holding pre-measured amounts of HC refrigerant gas, are taken into the enclosed space where the refrigerated appliance is located.

A recycle information management system includes a communication device and a management device. The communication device transmits recycle information acquired from a recycle system via a network. The recycle system includes at least a recycling device that removes at least oil from the collected refrigerant to recycle the refrigerant. The management device includes a storage unit that stores the recycle information in association with a recycle system ID usable to identify the recycle system.

An air conditioning service system includes a plurality of conduits and voids defining a total refrigerant receiving volume of the air conditioning service system, a pressure transducer configured to sense a pressure at a first location in the plurality of conduits and voids, a compressor operably connected to the plurality of conduits and voids, and a controller. The controller determines a quantity of refrigerant recovered from a refrigeration system by obtaining a first pressure signal from the pressure transducer corresponding to a first pressure at the first location, operating the compressor to recover the refrigerant from the refrigeration system after the first pressure is sensed, obtaining a second pressure signal from the pressure transducer corresponding to a second pressure at the first location after operating the compressor, and determining an amount of refrigerant recovered from the refrigeration system based on the first pressure signal an the second pressure signal.

There is provided a refrigerant charging method in which a foreign material and moisture are avoided from entering a heat source unit until a refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured. The refrigerant charging method is a method of charging a refrigerant to a refrigerant circuit in which a refrigeration cycle is to be performed by a circulating refrigerant, the refrigerant circuit being configured by connecting a second heat source unit and a utilization unit to each other. The refrigerant charging method includes charging a first refrigerant to the second heat source unit before connecting the second heat source unit to the utilization unit to configure the refrigerant circuit, and connecting the second heat source unit to the utilization unit and charging a second refrigerant that differs from the first refrigerant to the refrigerant circuit to obtain the circulating refrigerant that includes the second refrigerant and the first refrigerant that is charged in the second heat source unit.

Efficiency in refrigerant charging work is addressed when a recovered refrigerant recovered from a first heat source unit is to be charged to a second heat source unit. A refrigerant charging method is a charging method used when a first heat source unit of an already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus in which a refrigeration cycle is to be performed by a refrigerant that circulates is to be replaced with a second heat source unit. The refrigerant charging method includes recovering a first refrigerant from an already installed refrigeration cycle apparatus and obtaining a recovered refrigerant and charging the recovered refrigerant and charging a second refrigerant whose composition differs from the composition of the recovered refrigerant to the refrigeration cycle apparatus after renewal that includes the second heat source unit.

An air conditioning service system includes an oil receptacle, a coupling port in fluid communication with the oil receptacle through an oil injection line, a solenoid valve configured to selectively allow the oil to flow from the oil receptacle into the oil injection line, a memory including program instructions stored therein, and a controller operably connected to the solenoid valve and the memory. The controller is configured to execute the program instructions to obtain at least one viscosity signal associated with a viscosity of the oil, obtain a volume signal indicative of an amount of oil to be charged, determine a time period based upon the obtained at least one viscosity signal and the obtained volume signal, control the solenoid valve to an open condition, and control the solenoid valve to a closed condition after the determined time period has passed since opening of the solenoid valve.

A system and method for retrofitting a refrigeration system containing an HCFC refrigerant and a compatible lubricant, with an HFC refrigerant, comprising providing a transport container containing a mixture of a miscible lubricant and the HFC refrigerant, removing the HCFC refrigerant from the refrigeration system while maintaining at least a portion of a lubricant immiscible with the HFC refrigerant, and charging the refrigeration system with the mixture. The polyol ester lubricant may be present in a range exceeding about 5-15% by weight, e.g., 8%.

An apparatus including a storage tank, a frame positioned at least partially beneath the storage tank, a lever having a first end and a second end pivotally mounted to the frame, a scale system positioned beneath the storage tank, wherein in a first position, the storage tank exerts a force against the scale system, and in a second position, the second end of the lever exerts a force on a bottom of the storage tank such that the storage tank is positioned above, and out of contact with, the scale system.

A system and method for retrofitting a refrigeration system containing an HCFC refrigerant and a compatible lubricant, with an HFC refrigerant, comprising providing a transport container containing a mixture of a miscible lubricant and the HFC refrigerant, removing the HCFC refrigerant from the refrigeration system while maintaining at least a portion of a lubricant immiscible with the HFC refrigerant, and charging the refrigeration system with the mixture. The polyol ester lubricant may be present in a range exceeding about 5-15% by weight, e.g., 8%.