Robinair 16910 ID Plus Refrigerant Identifier - Manual (Page 6)

4
Unit Description
Contamination of refrigerants either in storage cylinders or vehicle air conditioning
systems can lead to component corrosion, elevated head pressures, and system failures
when used by unsuspecting technicians. The ability of the technician to determine
refrigerant type and purity is severely hampered by the presence of air when attempting
to use temperature-pressure relationships.
The development of various substitute refrigerants further complicates the ability of
technicians to determine refrigerant purity based upon temperature-pressure relationships.
The substitute refrigerant blends can also introduce a flammability hazard to the
refrigerant technician and the ultimate end-user of the vehicle air conditioning system.
Non-condensable gasses (NCG), which are mainly comprised of ambient air, commonly
contaminate refrigerant stores or systems. Contamination can be introduced into
refrigerant from sources such as leaking joints on vehicle air conditioning systems,
incorrect handling of transfer hoses, incorrect use of refrigerant recovery and recycling
equipment, or failure of such equipment. Ambient air contamination will lead to a number
of refrigerant system problems, including corrosion induced by moisture content of the
ambient air, increased compressor heat and wear due to increased head pressures, added
stress on system components due to increased head pressures, and reduction of system
efficiency due to displacement of refrigerant by the ambient air or NCG.
The identifier provides a fast, easy, and accurate means to determine refrigerant purity
in refrigerant storage cylinders or directly in vehicle air conditioning systems. It also
determines the need and controls the purging of ambient air-based NCG from refrigerant
storage vessels or vehicle air conditioning systems.
The instrument uses non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology to determine the
weight concentrations of refrigerant types R-12, R-134a, R-22, hydrocarbons, and air.
Refrigerant purity is automatically determined for refrigerants R-12 and R-134a by the
instrument to eliminate human error. Pure refrigerant is defined as a refrigerant mixture
that contains 98% by weight, or greater, of either R-12 or R-134a.