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Air conditioning systems with refrigerant R1234yf - General information - Edition 07.2017
rust particles which ingress into refrigeration systems from tanks/
containers cause malfunctions.
3.5
Handling refrigerants
Note
♦ Refrigerant has no perceptible odour and usually remains un‐
noticed.
♦ Refrigerant gas is heavier than air. It collects in low lying areas,
such as inspection pits, cellars and troughs or hollows, where
it displaces the ambient air along with the oxygen. Spending
time in areas starved of oxygen can be fatal.
♦ If liquid refrigerant escapes e.g. from a leak, it vaporises at an
ambient pressure of about 1 bar at approx. -29.4°C. If refrig‐
erant vaporises on the skin, the result will be frost bite or freeze
burns. Sensitive body parts, such as the cornea and mucous
membranes, are especially at risk. Larger freeze burns could
lead to loss of life.
♦ Refrigerant gas is inflammable: electrostatic discharge, sparks
from striking tools, hot surfaces and naked flames could ignite
a mixture of R1234yf refrigerant and ambient air. However,
refrigerant only burns if supported by a flame, or if it is in the
vicinity of a hot surface. It extinguishes when it is no longer
supported e.g. by a flame.
♦ Refrigerant decomposes when exposed to a flame or in con‐
tact with a hot surface. Danger of poisoning on inhaling poi‐
sonous decomposed products. A pungent odour indicates that
the products of decomposition are already present. Breathing
in these substances must be avoided in all circumstances, or
the bronchial tubes, lungs and other organs could be injured.
♦ The specific risks of refrigerant, material data etc. can be
gleaned from the safety data sheets. Safety data sheets about
refrigerant, refrigerant oil etc. can be found on the ⇒ VW
ServiceNet .
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•
Do not weld, braze or soft-solder any parts of the charged air
conditioning system. This also applies to welding and solder‐
ing work on the vehicle when the danger exists that parts of
the air conditioning system may heat up. When spray painting
is carried out, temperatures of objects in the drying booth or
the preheating zone must not exceed 80°C.
Reason:
Heating causes great excess pressure to develop in the system,
which can cause the pressure release valve of the system to
open.
Remedy:
– Empty refrigerant circuit with air conditioner service station
⇒ page 129 .
Note
Do not repair damaged or leaking parts of the air conditioner by
welding or soldering. These must be renewed.
Refrigerant containers (e.g. charging cylinders of air conditioner
service station ) must never be subjected to excessive heat or
exposed to direct sunlight.
12
Rep. gr.00 - Technical data
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