REFRIGERANT RECOVERY AND RECYCLING MACHINE: AN INNOVATION

The Philippines’ Clean Air Act so provides the control of gas emissions into the atmosphere. To carry out such provisions the implementing arm of the govern ment ? Department of Energy and Natural Resources Energy Management Bureau calls for different sectors of the society to join the cause. The University's share of the call in the implementation is to educate the youth and provide ample information on the provisions of the act. One important aspect of the Act is to reclaim the refrigerant right at the source prior to disposal at the Solid Waste Landfill. The school having none of such equipment, prompted the professors of the Refrigeration and Air condition ing Department to innovate equipment that would recover and recycle refrigerant so that unnecessary venting could be prevented. The study was then conducted in the aspects of acceptability and effectiveness of the innovated design and function to meet the required standards. Findings lay that the innovated refrigerant recycling machine met the technical requirements as to portability, rigidity and functionality. Though the acceptability was high there is a need to resolve issues on transportability. A lso, there is a need to use a marketed (new) vacuum pump for better recovery of the refrigerant. Effectiveness on the functions were high and 88.71% efficient in recovering refrigerant. Based on the results, the researcher recommends that this innovative design be utilized and ho wever need further enhancements .