Refrigerant recovery and recycling system

A refrigerant recovery and recycling system comprising:

• a combined oil separator, moisture separator and filtering apparatus having a separations chamber defined by a refrigerant receiver and cap, an input and output having a differential in pressure such that a refrigerant is drawn into the input from a refrigeration unit in which the refrigerant is being recovered through the separation chamber and out the output, and a series of screens and baffles within the separation chamber between the input and output such that the refrigerant drawing into the separation chamber must pass through the series of screens and baffles prior to exiting via the output, and having a wire mesh screen on said input within said separations chamber to dispense refrigerant as it enters said chamber and a shield on said wire mesh screen to prevent localized passage of refrigerant through said series of screens and baffles;
• an expansion valve at the input to the combined oil separator, moisture separator and filtering apparatus to vaporize liquid refrigerant entering the system;
• a compressor means having an input coupled to the output of the combined oil separator, moisture separator and filtering apparatus;
• a low pressure control between the output of said combined oil separator, moisture separator and filtering apparatus and said input compressor means to monitor the pressure such that whenever a preselected low pressure is encountered the refrigerant recovery and recycling system will shut itself down;
• a high pressure control on the output of said compressor means to monitor the pressure such that whenever a preselected high pressure is encountered the refrigerant recovery and recycling system will shut itself down;
• a heat exchanger assembly having an input connected to the compressor means output, said heat exchanger assembly being wrapped around and in heat exchange contact with the refrigerant receiver;
• a condensing means having an input connected to the output of the heat exchanger assembly to condense and cool refrigerant;
• a filter assembly having an input connected to the output of the condensing means consisting of a filter, a visual indicator for determining quality of refrigerant and a pressure differential gauge to indicate condition of filter and an output from refrigerant recovery and recycling system;
• and
• a refrigerant storage means to accept and store refrigerant from the output of said refrigerant recovery and recycling system, having a spring assisted float contained within said storage means, and a sealed micro switch, said micro switch being operated upon by said float and being electrically connected to said refrigerant recovery and recycling system to terminate recovery operation when operated upon by said float.

A method of separating moisture, oil, and other contaminants from recovered refrigerant in a refrigerant recovery and recycling system, comprising:

• drawing refrigerant into a separation chamber through an input of a combined oil separator, moisture separator, and filtering unit by creating a low pressure at the separator chamber output, a means for compressing the refrigerant providing the low pressure;
• maintaining a temperature within the separation chamber
• sufficient to vaporize the refrigerant;
• vaporizing any liquid refrigerant entering the separation chamber;
• reducing the separation chamber temperature as a result of the refrigerant vaporization and refrigerant expansion within the separation chamber;
• freezing moisture within the separation chamber as a result of the temperature reduction within the separation chamber;
• thickening oil within the separation chamber as a result of the temperature reduction within the separation chamber;
• and
• separating the frozen moisture and thickened oil from the refrigerant.