Refrigerant recovery and purification system

Abstract

A refrigerant recovery and purification system that includes a refrigerant compressor having an inlet for connection to refrigeration equipment under service from which refrigerant is to be recovered. The outlet of the compressor is connected through a condenser to a refrigerant storage vessel or container, with the condenser at least partially liquifying refrigerant prior to passage to the storage container. A liquid refrigerant pump is connected for selectively circulating refrigerant in liquid phase in a closed path from the storage container through a filter for removing contaminants from the refrigerant, and then through the condenser back to the storage container. Refrigerant circulated by the liquid pump in the closed path is thus simultaneously purified by passage through the filter and cooled by passage through the condenser. Thus, in the event of impending overheating of the compressor during a recovery cycle and/or pressure build-up with the container during a recovery operation, the operator may suspend the recovery cycle and initiate a purification cycle in which refrigerant within the container will be sub-cooled by passage through the condenser, while the compressor has an opportunity to cool when not used.