Cylinder Handling, Storage, Transport and Filling Limits
Before you move it
Check the label and confirm the refrigerant identity, the tare weight, the last periodic inspection date, the valve condition, and whether it is a dedicated recovery cylinder. Never rely on colour alone: colours differ between suppliers and countries, and an unlabelled or unidentifiable cylinder should be refused. Non-refillable "disposable" cylinders must not be placed on the market for HFCs.
Moving and storing
Secure the cylinder to a trolley or pallet, valve cap fitted, kept upright, never rolled, dragged or lifted by the valve. Store upright in a ventilated, dry area away from heat, direct sunlight and ignition, ideally below about 50 °C, and segregate flammable refrigerants from oxidisers. In a vehicle the cylinder is secured, ventilated and never carried in the passenger compartment.
Filling: weigh, never guess
Cylinder pressure reflects temperature and blend composition, not how full the cylinder is. Always fill on scales. Liquid fill must not exceed 80% of the cylinder's water capacity, which leaves a vapour space for expansion - a 12 kg cylinder therefore takes a maximum of 9.6 kg of liquid. Overfilling hydraulically locks the cylinder, and a modest temperature rise can then rupture it.
Traps
- Judging charge or fill level from the pressure gauge.
- Mixing two refrigerants in one recovery cylinder, which turns both into unidentifiable waste.
- Using a cylinder that is out of test or has a damaged valve.
- Filling a recovery cylinder to its nominal capacity rather than to 80%.
Worked example
A chiller holds 30 kg of R-410A. The recovery cylinders available hold 15 kg of liquid each, so usable capacity per cylinder is 15 × 0.8 = 12 kg. You need three cylinders, not two.