Flushing agents for refrigeration systems

Joseph Huber

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May 6, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/6/96

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I'm curious as to what the HVAC&R industry is using nowadays for
flushing agents to clean out refrigeration systems. I'm guessing that
CFC-11 and CFC-113 are no longer used/legal for this purpose.

Thanks!

--
Joe Huber
jhu...@anet-dfw.com

cw...@hvac.org

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May 8, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/8/96

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jhu...@zeus.anet-dfw.com (Joseph Huber) wrote:

>Thanks!

>--
>Joe Huber
>jhu...@anet-dfw.com
Joe:
Up to now the ozone hot line recommended flushing with nitrogen. I
don't know where you are located but Johnstone Supply, an
appliance/hvacr supply house has a "internal coil cleaner" that has
replaced 11 for system clean-ups. The products name is CF-20
Johnstone part no. B81-522. CFC free, non-flammable, low V.O.C.
Leaves no residue, will not contaminate oil or refrigerant, eliminates
any acid, etc. About the same thing the clean-up R11 did.
Compatible with mineral, ester, PAG or alkybenzene oils.
Any questions feel free to e-mail me directly.
good luck,
Charles
cw...@hvac.org

George Goble

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May 8, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/8/96

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R-11 boiled at around 77F and R-113 around 100ish or so..
They evaporated when done.. and systems were easy to pull a vacuum on.
Naptha and other "low volatility" solvents will be hard to remove
with a vacuum, and even worse, they will get into the vacuum pump
oil and not boil out on their own.. This prevents the vacuum pump
from achieving micron vacuums until the oil is changed which prevents
good moisture removal prior to charging. Anybody know the
formulation of the above solvent?

A bunch of us around here use isopentane, grade "pure".. from
Phillips 66, Borger, TX.. 54 gallon drum for about $450.

It has all the "good" properties of R-11, except that isopentane
is extremely flammable, and precautions must be taken during
service. I assume no liability or responsibility if you burn/blow up
yourself using isopentane. Isopentane boils around 77F, so it is easy
to remove from a system. Use dry nitrogen/CO2 to push it thru, not compressed
air.
--ghg

Simon White

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May 10, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/10/96

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In article <4movru$d...@news2.cais.com>, cw...@hvac.org writes

>jhu...@zeus.anet-dfw.com (Joseph Huber) wrote:
>
>>I'm curious as to what the HVAC&R industry is using nowadays for
>>flushing agents to clean out refrigeration systems. I'm guessing that
>>CFC-11 and CFC-113 are no longer used/legal for this purpose.
>
>>Thanks!
>
>>--
>>Joe Huber
>>jhu...@anet-dfw.com
>Joe:
>Up to now the ozone hot line recommended flushing with nitrogen. I
>don't know where you are located but Johnstone Supply, an
>appliance/hvacr supply house has a "internal coil cleaner" that has
>replaced 11 for system clean-ups. The products name is CF-20
>Johnstone part no. B81-522. CFC free, non-flammable, low V.O.C.
>Leaves no residue, will not contaminate oil or refrigerant, eliminates
>any acid, etc. About the same thing the clean-up R11 did.
>Compatible with mineral, ester, PAG or alkybenzene oils.
>Any questions feel free to e-mail me directly.
>good luck,
>Charles
>cw...@hvac.org
>

Will CF-20 remove moisture from a system that was inadvertently jet
washed while partly dismantled? The chiller is in a zone 1 area and I
don't think our safety people will let us use isopentane ;-)

Is a MSDS available?
Simon White
si...@simonw.demon.co.uk

DARIN....@msfc.nasa.gov

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May 17, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/17/96

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I was wondering if you could use Argon/CO2 to flush a system.
I already own an Argon cylinder and gauges and was hoping it would be
alright to use it. This would keep me from having to purchase a
nitrogen cylinder.
Thanks Darin Rushing