Method for recovery and recharge of blend refrigerants with blend sent for reclamation

A refrigerant recovery unit for recharge and reclamation of a refrigerant, the refrigerant recovery unit comprising:

• a main tank;
• an auxiliary tank in fluid communication with the main tank and containing virgin refrigerant for supplying to the main tank;
• an external tank;
• a recovery circuit configured to be coupled on one end to a refrigerant system of a vehicle, the recovery circuit including a compressor and a high-side solenoid;
• wherein the high-side solenoid is located on a refrigerant pipe downstream of the compressor and said refrigerant pipe and high-side solenoid valve are in parallel with a second refrigerant pipe comprising a compressor oil separator and a valve coupled downstream the compressor and upstream an inlet of a compressor oil separator;
• a controller in communication with the recovery circuit for controlling a transfer of the refrigerant withdrawn from the refrigerant system;
• a composition analyzing device that determines information about a purity level of the withdrawn refrigerant;
• and
• a diversion valve operatively engaged with said controller and said recovery circuit;
• wherein the controller is configured to selectively control a transfer of the refrigerant withdrawn from the refrigerant system to one of the main tank and the external tank, via the recovery circuit and the diversion valve, based on the information about the purity level of the withdrawn refrigerant, the withdrawn refrigerant being diverted into the external tank when the purity level is below an acceptable level, and is configured to actuate the high-side solenoid to release withdrawn refrigerant from the compressor directly into the main tank, without passing through the compressor oil separator, during a purging of the recovery circuit.