In today’s short podcast, Bryan explores the dangers of cold tanks during refrigerant recovery.

Whenever you have a recovery tank, you only want to fill it to 80% capacity in the liquid state. The same goes for all sorts of vessels (coils, etc.). 

However, capacity isn’t the only factor to consider for safety. We need to know what our maximum temperature will be. You will be in greater danger of overfilling a tank when it is cold because higher temperatures increase the pressure. High pressure in a closed space may lead to explosions. When you fill a tank to 80% under cold conditions, normal temperature conditions could put you in the danger zone (let alone temperatures above 100°F).

So, it’s better to determine your tank fill based on densities at the MAXIMUM temperatures you will encounter, NOT for the measurements at artificial cooling conditions (such as when you put the tank in ice water during recovery).

In the end, just be careful when you’re recovering into a cold tank or using tanks when it’s cold outside. That will help you avoid hydrostatic pressure buildup and explosions.

Bryan covers:

• The 80% capacity rule for filling vessels with liquid
• Why the 80% capacity rule varies by temperature
• Temperature, pressure, and density
• Hydrostatic pressure
• AHRI’s 77°F guideline
• Ice buckets for recovery
• What to do if a tank vents its refrigerant on you while driving

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