An undercharge of refrigerant will cause low head and suction pressures, but that is not the only thing that will cause both pressures to be low. An undercharge will have low condenser liquid subcooling readings on the high side, where a dirty air filter for the evaporator will not produce low condenser liquid subcooling readings.

As a refrigeration technician, how important is an understanding of basic mathematical relationships? In my opinion, very important. It makes a technician a better technician.

The supermarket industry realized a long time ago that it is impossible to solve environmental problems related to refrigerant leaks using a repair-based approach (i.e., with policies that focus on leak repair and record-keeping). Yet, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) main regulatory program to address harmful refrigerant emissions reflects a repair-based policy.

As Alexander Pope said in his famous An Essay on Man, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” I think of that saying every year at the beginning of baseball season. Everybody has hope for their team on Opening Day. In business, however, an owner or manager doesn’t have the motivation of the playoffs and World Series.

California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) has released a proposed strategy aimed at curbing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The proposal targets near term emission reductions that will help California meet its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Compressor manufacturer Bitzer has approved the hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants R-1234yf and R-1234ze(E) for its CSH and CSW screw compressors. The two alternatives to R-134a have a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 10.

Honeywell has entered into a supply agreement with a Chinese manufacturer to produce Honeywell Solstice® yf (HFO-1234yf), further extending its global supply base for this low-global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluoroolefin refrigerant.

Diversified Pure Chem, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-certified refrigerant reclaimer based in Dallas, has opened three new facilities to offer small cylinder exchange and refrigerant buyback services in the following markets: Cincinnati; Louisville, Kentucky; Indianapolis; Greensboro, North Carolina; and central Florida.