How is refrigerant typically reclaimed from a system?

Refrigerant is typically reclaimed from a system using recovery equipment designed specifically for this purpose. Recovery equipment operates by connecting to the refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration system and extracting the refrigerant into a recovery tank. This process ensures that the refrigerant is managed safely and efficiently, preventing any harmful release into the environment and allowing for the refrigerant to be reused or disposed of in accordance with environmental regulations.

Recovery equipment is essential because it operates under conditions that ensure the refrigerant is safely condensed and stored, typically under pressure. This method is crucial for compliance with regulations that prevent the venting of refrigerants into the atmosphere, which can deplete the ozone layer and contribute to climate change. The use of recovery equipment is a standard practice in the HVAC/R industry to promote environmental responsibility and safety during refrigerant handling.

Other options like releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere are prohibited due to environmental regulations, using a vacuum pump is not appropriate for the reclamation process as it is primarily used for evacuating systems of air and moisture, and heating the system does not effectively reclaim refrigerant from it. Thus, employing proper recovery equipment is both the safest and most regulatory-compliant method for reclaiming refrigerant.