Refrigerant recovery system

A portable closed-looped fluid recovery system for recovering fluid from an independent system, said closed-looped fluid recovery system having a compressor and further comprising:

• a transportable storage structure for receiving recovered fluid from the independent system;
• a first flowpath extending between the independent system and the storage structure;
• means for cooling the storage to a predetermined temperature, said means for cooling comprising an evaporator housing that is connected to a closed-loop refrigeration circuit, said housing having evaporator coils that are operable to receive and surround said transportable storage structure;
• a second flowpath connecting the storage structure and a means for reducing pressure, said second flow path defining a means to evacuate said storage structure independent of evacuating said first flow path;
• and
• means for reducing the pressure within the storage structure to a predetermined level, said means for reducing pressure being connected directly to said storage structure and being independent of said means for cooling said storage structure, said means for reducing pressure being connected to a flow path other than said first flow path extending between said independent system and said storage structure;
• whereby said closed-looped fluid recovery system is operable to receive and contain the recovered fluid within the storage structure while the recovered fluid avoids contact with said compressor and said means for reducing pressure.

A closed refrigerant recovery system for recovering refrigerant from a refrigeration unit, said closed refrigerant recovery system comprising:

• a storage structure capable of being evacuated and receiving recovered refrigerant from the refrigeration unit;
• a cooling device operable to receive the storage structure, and the cooling device further being operable to maintain the storage structure at a predetermined temperature while refrigerant is being recovered;
• a condensing device for condensing refrigerant in the closed refrigerant recovery system;
• a vacuum pump connected to the storage structure such that the vacuum pump is not in a direct flow path that extends between said refrigeration unit and said storage structure, the pump being operable to reduce the pressure within the storage structure;
• an evaporator housing containing said cooling device and said storage structure and connected to said vacuum pump such that said recovered refrigerant does not contact said evaporator or said cooling device;
• flow control means operable to control the flow of refrigerant into the storage structure, said flow control means comprising a first valve positioned between said storage structure and said vacuum pump and further comprising a second valve positioned in a line between said refrigeration unit and said storage structure, said first and second valves operable to selectively draw a vacuum on said storage structure and said line;
• and
• a compressor located between the cooling device and condensing device;
• whereby the closed refrigerant recovery system is configured to isolate the recovered refrigerant from the compressor and the vacuum pump.