How can a technician help vaporize trapped liquid refrigerant during a recovery process?

• A. By allowing it to sit at room temperature
• B. By applying heat with a heat gun to the compressor
• C. By using cold packs on the compressor
• D. By bypassing the compressor

Answer: (B)

Applying heat with a heat gun to the compressor is an effective method for helping vaporize trapped liquid refrigerant during the recovery process. When refrigerant is in liquid form, it can become trapped in components like the compressor, especially if the system is under a vacuum or experiencing pressure changes. By applying heat, the technician raises the temperature of the compressor and the refrigerant inside, allowing the liquid refrigerant to change into vapor more efficiently.

This process is crucial because refrigerant vapor can be properly recovered from the system, ensuring that the recovery process is thorough and compliant with regulations. Proper vaporization reduces the risk of liquid refrigerant entering the recovery tank, which could lead to potential issues such as damage to the recovery equipment or incomplete refrigerant recovery.

While allowing the refrigerant to sit at room temperature may seem like a natural approach, it generally takes significantly longer and is less controlled. Using cold packs on the compressor would actually exacerbate the issue by lowering the temperature further and making it harder for the trapped refrigerant to vaporize. Bypassing the compressor could lead to additional problems and does not directly address the need to vaporize the trapped liquid refrigerant effectively.