Rediseño y construcción de una máquina regeneradora de refrigerantes HFCs para la educación técnica

Abstract

This research aims to redesign and build an HFC refrigerant regeneration machine, aimed at strengthening technical education in refrigeration and air conditioning. The project arose from the need for educational equipment that would allow students to understand and apply refrigerant recovery, recycling, and regeneration processes in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The redesign was based on criteria of operational efficiency, accessibility of components in the local market, and ease of maintenance. The prototype's construction incorporated filtration, oil separation, and contaminant removal systems, ensuring that the treated refrigerant meets minimum reuse parameters. Analyses performed with the Ultima ID Pro RI-700H equipment demonstrated effective contaminant removal. In the initial report, the "Air" parameter registered a value of 100%, indicating the significant presence of non-condensable gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and water vapor. After regeneration, the same parameter dropped to 0%, demonstrating that the refrigerant was free of these contaminants and in a condition suitable for reuse. These results confirm that the machine fulfills its technical purpose and also constitutes an effective teaching tool, facilitating the understanding of real-life industrial processes with a focus on environmental sustainability. Keywords: HFCs, regeneration, sustainability, technical education, refrigeration.