NANO VOLUME 1 & 2

HVAC SYSTEM-AC COMPRESSOR

158

C PRECAUTIONS WHILE HANDLING R134A

SHOULD BE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES:-

WARNING:

a. Do not allow a refrigerant container to be

heated by a direct flame or to be placed near

any heating appliance. A refrigerant container

must not be heated above 50° C.

b. Do not leave a container of refrigerant without

its cap fitted. Do not transport a container of

refrigerant that is unrestrained, especially in

the boot of a car.

1. R134a is a hazardous gas and when handled

in-correctly can cause serious injury. Suitable

pro- tective clothing must be worn when

carrying out servicing operations on the air

conditioning sys- tem.

NOTE

Suitable protective clothing comprises: Wrap

around safety glasses or helmet, heatproof

gloves, rubber apron or waterproof overalls and

rubber boots.

2. R134a is odorless and colorless. Do not

handle or discharge in an enclosed area, or in

any area where the vapour or liquid can come

in contact with naked flame or hot metal.

R134a is inflam- Mable, but can form a highly

toxic gas so always work in a well-ventilated

area.

3. Do not smoke or weld in areas where R134a

is in use. Inhalation of concentrations of the

vapour can cause dizziness, disorientation,

narcosis, nausea or vomiting.

4. Do not allow fluids other than R134a or

compressor lubricant to enter the air

conditioning

system.

Spontaneous

combustion may occur.

5. R134a splashed on any part of the body will

cause immediate freezing of that area. Also

refrigerant cylinders and replenishment

trolleys when discharging will freeze skin to

them if contact is made.

6. The refrigerant used in an air conditioning

system must be reclaimed in accordance with

the recommendations given with a Refrigerant

Recovery Recycling Recharging Station.

7. Care should be taken when discharging the

air conditioning system to ensure the

refrigerant is not released to the atmosphere

but captured for recycling. Refrigerant R134a

is transparent and colorless in both the

gaseous and liquid states. At all normal

temperatures and pressures it will be a

vapour. Also R134a is inflammable, nonex-

plosive, nonpoisonous and noncorrosive (ex-

cept when in contact with moisture).

8. Do not weld or steam clean on or near any air

condi- tioning components when pressurized.

This may cause a dangerous pressure build

up in the system.

9. When purging a system, discharge the

refrigerant slowly.

10. Refrigerant cylinders should always be

protected from the radiant heat of the sun and

keep in a cool place.

11. When filling a refrigerant cylinder, never

completely fill it. Always leave space for

expansion. If the cylinder was completely filled

and the temperatures increases, the hydraulic

pressure with its tremendous force would

resulting to cylinder bursting accidents.

12. Never discharge a system or do brazing /

welding/ operation when the main engine is

‘ON’.

13. Do not drop, dent or abuse refrigerant gas

cylinders.

14. Always chain or strap cylinders in place to

prevent them from tripping over or damage,

from moving around.

15. Always keep refrigerant cylinders capped.

16. Never heat a cylinder with open flame or

place electric heater in direct contact.

17. Always double check that you have proper

refrigerant container. The refrigerant cylinders

are color coded to avoid confusion. (R134a is

gener- ally BLUE).

18. Use proper size spanners, wrenches to avoid

damages to valve and threads.

19. Never use oxygen for pressure testing a

system. It may explode in presence of oil.

Instead use nitrogen from a cylinder equipped

with proper pressure regulator.

20. When filling a refrigerant cylinder, never