Regeneration system and method for thermal management fluids

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment discloses a method for managing refrigerant regeneration, which includes returning spent refrigerant to a facility for regeneration; analyzing the composition of the spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit; determining the purity of the spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit; generating an analysis report based on the composition of the spent refrigerant; determining the weight of the spent refrigerant based on its purity; and generating deposit credits for use on-site or remotely.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 454,232, filed on March 23, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] (Field of the Invention) The present disclosure relates to a regeneration system and method for heat - management fluids, and more particularly, to a regeneration system and method for used refrigerants using financial attributes.

Background Art

[0003] It is now widely recognized and accepted that the release of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) - based and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) - based refrigerants into the atmosphere has a harmful effect on the ozone layer surrounding the earth. In recent years, the production of CFC - based and HCFC - based refrigerants has been reduced, and the cost of service refrigerants has been increasing. Therefore, in the refrigeration system service industry, instead of simply releasing the refrigerant into the atmosphere and replacing it with new refrigerant as was generally done in the past, it has become standard practice to recover, recycle, and reuse the refrigerant in the service refrigeration system, or to recover, store, and regenerate the refrigerant for later reuse.

[0004] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that refrigerant regeneration is the reprocessing and improvement of a substance through mechanisms such as filtration, drying, distillation, and chemical treatment. This is done to restore the substance to specific performance standards, such as the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Industry Association (AHRI) purity standard 700. Refrigerant regeneration can only be performed by trained, experienced, and EPA-certified refrigeration technicians, as mishandling of these refrigerant gases can lead to further depletion of the ozone layer. Therefore, technicians are expected to use appropriate equipment and capture a certain percentage of the old gas. Furthermore, the EPA provides a nationwide list of EPA-certified refrigerant regeneration companies / facilities. This means that these regeneration companies / facilities are authorized to reprocess used refrigerants to at least the purity levels specified in the Code of Federal Regulations. The AHRI also works with many stakeholders in the industry to ensure that the standards expected of regeneration companies are clearly defined and support the highest level of integrity, thereby allowing technicians to have confidence in the materials they are using and installing.

[0005] Therefore, recovered refrigerant can be recycled and reused if it is not contaminated. Normally, uncontaminated refrigerant can be returned to the consolidator (e.g., refrigerant manufacturer, supplier, wholesaler, or refrigerant recovery company) for disposal, crediting, dismantling, or exchange. On the other hand, if the refrigerant is contaminated, it is sent to a recycling facility. At this stage, the recovered refrigerant is reprocessed by an authorized facility to the industrial standard AHRI700, making it equivalent to unused product. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 63 / 454,232 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In this technical field, there is a need for convenient and user-friendly systems and methods that efficiently provide customers with incentives or financial credits for used, uncontaminated refrigerants, while simultaneously tracking the disposal of refrigerants after they have been recycled and removed from recycling facilities, and accounting for the incentives or financial credits provided for the returned uncontaminated refrigerants. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, a method for managing refrigerant regeneration includes: returning spent refrigerant to a facility for regeneration; identifying the type of spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit; analyzing the composition of the spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit; determining the purity of the spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit; generating an analysis report based on the composition of the spent refrigerant; determining the weight of the spent refrigerant based on its purity; and generating deposit credits for use on-site or remotely.

[0009] In another exemplary embodiment, a method for managing credits for returned recovered refrigerant includes: storing information received from a field terminal relating to the returned recovered refrigerant, the information relating to the quality of the returned recovered refrigerant and the amount of credit corresponding to the quality of the returned recovered refrigerant; receiving purchase information from a user device relating to the purchase of new refrigerant; determining a comparison between the purchase information and the amount of credit; and, if the comparison is less than the amount of credit, initiating a deposit credit.

[0010] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system includes one or more processors and one or more non-temporary computer-readable storage media communicably coupled to the one or more processors, which store instructions executable by one or more processors for returning spent refrigerant to a facility for regeneration, analyzing the type and composition of spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit, determining the purity of spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit, generating an analysis report based on the composition of spent refrigerant, determining the weight of spent refrigerant based on the purity of spent refrigerant, and generating deposit credits for use on-site or remotely.

[0011] In yet another exemplary embodiment, the system includes one or more processors and one or more non-temporary computer-readable storage media communicably coupled to one or more processors, which store instructions executable by one or more processors for: receiving information from a field terminal relating to returned recovered refrigerant, the information relating to the quality of the returned recovered refrigerant and the amount of credit corresponding to the quality of the returned recovered refrigerant; receiving purchase information from a user device relating to the purchase of new refrigerant; determining a comparison between the purchase information and the amount of credit; and, if the comparison is less than the amount of credit, initiating a deposit credit.

[0012] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following more detailed description, which is made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating the principles of the present invention as an example. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a flowchart of an exemplary process 1 for refrigerant recovery, recycling, and regeneration according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant management system for refrigerant regeneration according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 3]This is a schematic diagram of the components of the refrigerant management system shown in Figure 2, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows a method for managing spent refrigerants in a recycling facility, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 5A] This flowchart shows a method for replacing and banking used refrigerant gas according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 5B] This flowchart shows a method for replacing and banking used refrigerant gas according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows a method for generating credits from returned used refrigerant according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram showing a computer system according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Wherever possible, the same reference number should be used throughout the drawing to represent the same part. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] This disclosure relates to a refrigerant management system and method that can reliably and accurately determine the amount of refrigerant to be exchanged through a disposal, recycling, or regeneration facility. More specifically, it relates to a refrigerant management system that includes a computer-based refrigerant banking or exchange system and method that maintains records of all refrigerants returned by a user or service provider to a wholesaler or regeneration facility in order to enable credit toward future purchases of pure (unused) or regenerated refrigerants or other regulated gases.

[0016] The present refrigerant management system and method can be further configured to perform at least one of the following processes. Identifying the types of refrigerants in multiple tanks, identifying the amount of refrigerant in a tank, determining gas properties including purity, updating the properties of new refrigerant in a tank, connecting to and exchanging data with existing systems used by refrigerant wholesaler networks, connecting to and exchanging data with various existing inventory systems used by regulated companies, maintaining and managing the history of the contents for each refrigerant tank, maintaining and managing the history of the location and movement of each refrigerant tank, tracking the management history of each refrigerant tank, calculating and differentiating refrigerants obtained from multiple sources, determining the amount of refrigerant inventory removed or regenerated after it has been consumed and / or discharged, monitoring the return of recycled or regenerated refrigerant to the tank when the refrigerant is recycled or regenerated, providing information about the refrigerant to various industrial sectors (i.e., owners, distributors, wholesalers, regulatory agencies, recyclers, etc.) involved in managing the refrigerant life cycle to obtain information, transmitting gas properties to remote and local system users, generating customized reports regarding the gas properties of each refrigerant tank, transmitting data on the refrigerant content via a computer system (e.g., computer, mobile device, tablet, mobile phone, etc.), creating a deposit account via a virtual bank for unused refrigerant or newly regenerated refrigerant, tracking amounts for future credits, managing and complying with regulatory requirements, etc.

[0017] The present system provides a computer system and a computer-implemented method that enable the purchase of new pure refrigerant by deducting from an account including credits from previously deposited and returned unused refrigerant, designed to meet existing needs in the art for refrigerant banking or exchange systems. Other implementations can include managing compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and industry standards for managing refrigerant emissions and disposal by monitoring and verifying refrigerant handling, transfer, and management history. In some embodiments disclosed herein, a refrigerant management system for managing the decomposition, recycling, or regeneration of one or more refrigerants is a network or cloud-based system.

[0018] The system and method are configured to manage information about refrigerants (and the gas characteristics of their contents) to increase the efficiency of refrigerant regeneration and reduce human error during the regeneration service.

[0019] This system provides an inexpensive and user-friendly refrigerant management system that electronically stores, tracks, verifies, and edits and instructs users according to the status information of the refrigerant in the tank maintained in a database, including regulatory requirements and, without limitation, refrigerant type, refrigerant purchase date, purchase order number, receiving department, refrigerant volume, refrigerant purity, tank identification number, test date, location identification, tank size and capacity, tank pressure, amount of refrigerant credited to the customer's account, and any other data related to the quality, condition, or storage of the tank and its contents (for refrigerants, "refrigerant characteristics," or for gases in general, "gas characteristics"), reducing costs and increasing efficiency compared to existing systems.

[0020] Furthermore, the refrigerant management system allows users to manage refrigerant regeneration across multiple facilities and enables regulated companies to assess refrigerant availability. The system can also monitor the amount of credits in an account for future purchases of pure refrigerant, ensuring efficiency and time savings. The system can be further configured to create deposit / return programs to encourage the recycling of unused refrigerant, including containers for service use.

[0021] As described herein, the terms “recovered refrigerant” or “spent refrigerant” refer to refrigerant that has been removed from refrigeration or air conditioning equipment and stored in an external container, without necessarily undergoing any testing or treatment in any way. Reuse is limited to the system from which it was recovered, or to any other system owned by the same equipment owner.

[0022] As described herein, the term “recycled refrigerant” refers to a refrigerant that has been reprocessed using specialized machinery and tested to meet the purity specifications of AHRI Standard 700.

[0023] As described herein, the term “recycled refrigerant” refers to refrigerant that has been extracted and cleaned for reuse without being tested for compliance with the stringent AHRI Standard 700 purity specifications required for recycled refrigerants. The reuse of recycled refrigerant is limited to the system from which it was recovered, or any other system owned by the same equipment owner.

[0024] In some embodiments, as used herein, “spent thermal fluid,” “recovered thermal fluid,” and / or “recycled thermal fluid” refer to the thermal fluid composition as defined above, and in particular, if the thermal fluid composition contains an HFO refrigerant compound such as R-1234yf, it optionally further includes at least one stabilizer. In some embodiments, the stabilizer includes at least one inhibitor compound that inhibits, if not eliminates, the interaction of fluoroethylene with another compound to form dimers, oligomers, homopolymers, or polymer products. In some embodiments, the at least one inhibitor is selected from hydrocarbons such as cyclic monoterpenes (e.g., limonene, pinene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and terpinene), lipophilic organic compounds such as tocopherols (e.g., α-tocopherol) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), phenols or aromatic organic compounds having at least one chemical moiety -C6H4(OH) (e.g., benzene-1,4-diol, 4-methoxyphenol), and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of inhibitory compounds include at least one component selected from limonene (especially D-limonene), α-terpinene, pinene, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 4-methoxyphenol, benzene-1,4-diol, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, any of the thermal fluid compositions of “spent thermal fluid,” “recovered thermal fluid,” and / or “recycled thermal fluid” as defined above comprises R-1234yf and at least one stabilizer, which includes at least one inhibitor selected from hydrocarbons comprising at least cyclic monoterpenes, lipophilic organic compounds, or phenols, aromatic organic compounds having at least one chemical moiety -C6H4(OH); more specifically, limonene (especially D-limonene), α-terpinene, pinene, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 4-methoxyphenol, benzene-1,4-diol, and mixtures thereof.

[0025] In another embodiment, the stabilizer includes an acid scavenger, for example, an epoxy compound such as a hindered amine and epoxy butene, which are not limited to these. In one embodiment, any of the thermal fluid compositions of “spent thermal fluid,” “recovered thermal fluid,” and / or “recycled thermal fluid,” as defined above, each include at least one refrigerant compound, such as an HFO refrigerant compound, and at least one stabilizer, which includes at least one acid scavenger, such as a hindered amine and epoxy butene, which are not limited to these.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a flowchart of an exemplary process 1 for the recovery, recycling, and regeneration of refrigerant according to an exemplary embodiment. Generally, refrigerants are found throughout places such as homes, offices, factories, supermarkets, and refrigerated storage facilities, inside vehicles, and in devices (or equipment) such as refrigerators, air conditioners, air conditioning systems (HVAC), freezers, and dehumidifiers. When the refrigerant used by the device is used up and no longer needed or potentially contaminated, the refrigerant is recovered and placed in a container. The spent refrigerant 10 is then returned to a local regeneration facility 5, where the spent refrigerant 10 is analyzed by an analyzer 11 to determine the type and purity of the gas as it is withdrawn from the system. If the analyzer 11 determines that the gas is pure (more than 99.5%) and of a single type, the gas may be collected and transferred to a container 12 containing the pure gas. In one implementation, the pure gas may be further credited to the account based on the weight of the pure gas, corresponding to the amount, and optionally debited later from the account, as will be described in detail later. However, if the analyzer 11 detects impurities in the gas, particularly non-volatile impurities such as oil, water, dirt, and / or acid, the gas is transferred to the impurity container 13 for collection and reprocessed by the regenerator 14 for a regeneration process, e.g., filtration, separation, distillation, dilution, or modification of the spent refrigerant, and tested to meet the purity specifications of the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Association (AHRI) Standard 700. After the regeneration process, the spent refrigerant is packed, recertified, and branded as a new regenerated refrigerant 15 that matches that of the pure (unused) gas. Also, if the analyzer 11 determines that the spent refrigerant 10 is a blended gas containing various mixed gases or has a purity of less than 99.5%, the spent refrigerant 10 is collected in the impurity container 17 and transported to the central facility 7 for reprocessing (e.g., via distillation) by the regenerator 18 at the central facility 7, which is capable of separating various mixed gases and other treatments. Thus, the blended gas may be separated into one or more pure gases (e.g., via distillation). After this process, the used refrigerant is packaged, recertified, and branded as new recycled refrigerant 19, each matching either a blended pure (unused) gas or pure gas.In some embodiments, if the gas is determined to have a purity of less than 99.5% but greater than 98%, whether it is a single type or a blended gas, the gas may optionally be recovered as pure gas as described above. It should be understood that the regeneration process can be selectively performed depending on the quality, such as the degree of degradation and the amount of impurities detected by the analyzer 11.

[0027] In some implementations, the analyzer 11 is a device that analyzes the composition of the refrigerant contained in the spent refrigerant. That is, the analyzer 11 can detect the type of refrigerant (e.g., pure or mixed), the composition of the refrigerant (e.g., weight %) of the individual components, and the amount of impurities (e.g., oil, water, dirt, and / or acid) contained in the spent refrigerant. The analyzer 11 can further determine the weight of the refrigerant contained in the container. In one exemplary embodiment, the analyzer 11 may be a portable or handheld device such as an infrared optical sensor. In some implementations, the analyzer 11 may be provided with an inspection sheet that changes color upon contact with the refrigerant, and the inspection can be performed using the inspection sheet. The analyzer 11 can further inspect the degree of degradation of oils, such as refrigerant oil, contained in the spent refrigerant. These inspections can be performed using known techniques. In some implementations, the analyzer 11 may have a function to print and output the analysis results on a receipt or the like. For example, the receipt can preferably identify the type and purity of the spent refrigerant.

[0028] Furthermore, the analyzer 11 may include a computing system (not shown) capable of performing analytical processing and generating analytical data that includes quality information such as information on the suitability of impurities such as oil, water, dirt and / or acid in the spent refrigerant, information on the type of refrigerant, information on the refrigerant composition of the spent refrigerant, and information on the weight of the spent refrigerant. In some implementations, the analytical data may include information related to a specific facility ID and / or cylinder ID received from the analyzer 11.

[0029] In some implementations, the regenerator 14 is a device that regenerates recovered spent refrigerant into pure (unused) refrigerant that meets the purity specifications of AHRI standard 700. The regenerator 14 may include at least a compressor, separator, filter dryer, etc. The regenerator 14 may optionally further include a purification device, such as a distillation column, for purifying the spent refrigerant to remove undesirable volatile organic impurities accumulated in the spent gas. In some implementations, the compressor is driven to circulate the recovered spent refrigerant into the refrigerant circuit, thereby applying a voltage to reduce or remove oil, such as refrigerant oil, from the recovered spent refrigerant. In some implementations, the separator may be a separator for a certain type of oil. In some implementations, the filter dryer reduces or removes water and acid contained in the recovered spent refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit. The regenerator 14 can also determine the suitability of the oil, water, and acid contained in the recovered spent refrigerant after regeneration, and can compile information such as the refrigerant composition and weight.

[0030] Furthermore, the regenerator 14 may be equipped with a computing system (not shown) that can perform a regeneration process and generate regeneration data including quality information (information regarding the suitability of oil, moisture, and acid in the regenerated refrigerant, information regarding the refrigerant composition of the regenerated refrigerant, and information regarding the weight of the regenerated refrigerant) and information indicating that the regenerated refrigerant has been regenerated. In some implementations, the regeneration data may include information related to a specific facility ID, cylinder ID, etc.

[0031] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a refrigerant management system 50 for refrigerant regeneration according to an exemplary embodiment. The refrigerant management system 50 includes a refrigerant management server 54, a refrigerant finance server 56, a field terminal 57 (such as a local device, mobile device, or other device) located at a first facility 51, and a user device 58 (e.g., a mobile device) located at a second facility 52, each communicating via a network 59 (e.g., the Internet). The network 59 may be a local area or wide area wired or wireless network.

[0032] In this system, used refrigerant 60 can be returned to a first facility 51 (e.g., a wholesaler, recycler, or distributor), where it is analyzed by an analyzer 62 to determine the type, composition, and purity of the gas. If the analyzer 62 determines that the gas is pure (over 99.5%) and of a single type, the pure gas may later be credited to an account corresponding to the amount of pure gas used by the customer at a different facility, e.g., a second facility 52, at the customer's discretion. Thus, the system 50 stores the total amount of refrigerant associated with a particular customer account when a tank or refrigerant is returned to the first facility 51. For example, a customer may return used refrigerant 60 containing pure refrigerant for credit applicable to the customer's "virtual bank" for the returned gas. The customer's "virtual bank" is an account managed by a financial server 56 that maintains the total amount of refrigerant that a given customer owes for storage and subsequent use or resale. System 50 maintains a total in the virtual bank by crediting the customer's virtual bank account based on the weight of each type of pure gas returned, and debiting the weight of each type of pure gas (or recycled gas) recovered or repurchased at the same facility 51 or a different facility, e.g., 52, into the appropriate virtual bank account. In one implementation, the repurchase or recovery of new refrigerant 68 can be carried out by a user device 58 (e.g., a mobile phone) via an application or a web-based browser. Furthermore, System 50 can further monitor refrigerant recycling and enable the customer to repurchase recycled or regenerated refrigerant 66 that has been processed at the first facility 51.

[0033] Accordingly, the refrigerant management system 50 described herein provides a computer-based refrigerant finance or exchange system capable of reliably and accurately storing the amount of refrigerant exchanged through multiple recycling, regeneration, and disposal transactions. Such a system can maintain accounts of all refrigerants returned to a regeneration facility by a user or service provider and grant credits toward future purchases of pure (unused) or recycled refrigerants or other regulated gases.

[0034] Referring to Figure 3, the field terminal 57 is a device (e.g., a local device, a mobile device, or other device) located at the first facility 51 (Figure 2) that can transmit information about used refrigerant recovered from the first facility 51. The field terminal 57 includes at least a computing system 70 having a processor 71 and a memory system 72, an input / output interface 79 for communicating with a network 59, an input unit 77, and an output unit 78.

[0035] The memory system 72 includes software that includes an analyzer module 73, a regenerator module 74, and stored data 76, which includes data in a database structure. The processor 71 loads and executes the software, which includes the analyzer module 73 and / or the regenerator module 74, which is a software application stored in the memory system 72. The processor 71 can also access the data stored in the database 76 to execute the methods and control instructions described herein. Although the computing system 70 is shown as a single integrated system containing one processor 71 and one memory system 72, it should be understood that one or more memory systems 72 and one or more processors 71 may comprise the computing system 70, which may be a cloud computing application and system. Similarly, although the analyzer module 73 and the regenerator module 74 are schematically shown as a single software application contained on a single memory system 72, it should be recognized that the analyzer module 73 and / or the regenerator module 74 may be implemented as various software instruction sets or modules stored in various locations, such as on various memory systems. The processor 71 may include a microprocessor, a general-purpose central processing unit, an application-specific processor, a microcontroller, or any type of logic device. The processor 71 may also include circuitry for retrieving and executing software, including an analyzer module 73 and a regenerator module 74, from the storage system 72. The processor 71 may be implemented as a single processing device, or it may be arranged across multiple processing devices or subsystems that cooperate in executing software instructions.

[0036] The analyzer module 73, stored in the memory system 72, processes data related to the quality and / or quantity information of the spent refrigerant 60 transmitted from the analyzer 62 (Figure 2). For example, the analyzer module 73 processes information combining quality information of the spent refrigerant related to the type and amount of purity contained in the spent refrigerant. In some implementations, the analyzer module 73 processes information regarding the amount of impurities (e.g., oil, water, acid, etc.) in the spent refrigerant, information regarding the refrigerant composition of the spent refrigerant, information regarding the weight of the spent refrigerant, etc. In other implementations, the analyzer module 73 processes information related to the cylinder ID, customer ID, facility ID, history information indicating cylinder usage, etc.

[0037] The regenerator module 74, stored in the memory system 72, processes data related to the information transmitted from the regenerator 64 (Figure 2). In some implementations, the regenerator module 74 processes information about the regeneration process for the regenerated refrigerant. For example, the regenerator module 74 processes information about the type of regeneration process (e.g., filtration, separation, distillation), the type and purity of the regenerated refrigerant, quality information including the suitability of oil, water, and acid in the regenerated refrigerant, information about the refrigerant composition of the regenerated refrigerant, information about the weight of the regenerated refrigerant, and regeneration history information indicating whether the refrigerant has been regenerated or not. In other implementations, the regenerator module 74 processes information related to the cylinder ID, customer ID, facility ID, and history information indicating cylinder usage.

[0038] The input / output interface 79 is an interface for communicating with the analyzer 62 and the regenerator 64 by any wireless communication protocol or means such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RF transmission, GPS, ZigBee, or Z-Wave. The input / output interface 79 may also be an interface for communication via the network 59.

[0039] In some implementations, the input unit 77 may be a hardware device for receiving information from the provider of the facility 51, such as a keyboard or a touch panel display. In some implementations, the output unit 78 may be a hardware device, such as a display for displaying and outputting various information, including but not limited to provider ID, cylinder ID, refrigerant type and quality, and / or financial information related to the financial or exchange system, as described herein.

[0040] The refrigerant management system / server 54 includes a processor 81, a storage system 82, and input / output interfaces 85 for communicating with various databases, files, programs, networks, and / or one or more storage devices. In one implementation, the refrigerant management server 54 includes a refrigerant management system software program that processes requests and responses from field terminals 57 and / or user devices 58. In one implementation, the software program on the refrigerant management server 54 receives information from the field terminals 57, performs compilation and storage functions, and transmits the information to the user devices 58. The refrigerant management server 54 enables the field terminals 57 and / or user devices 58 to access various network resources. Any number of field terminals 57 or user devices 58 can be connected to the refrigerant management server 54, and the system can be used remotely at any given time.

[0041] The storage system 82 includes software that includes a quality information module 83 and storage data 84 containing data in a database structure. The processor 81 loads and executes the software, including the quality information module 83, which is a software application stored in the storage system 82. The processor 81 can also access the data stored in the database 84 to execute the methods and control instructions described herein. The refrigerant management server 54 is shown as a single integrated system enclosing one processor 81 and one storage system 82, but it should be understood that one or more storage systems 82 and one or more processors 81 may comprise the refrigerant management server 54, which may be a cloud computing application and system. Similarly, the quality information module 83 is schematically shown as a single software application contained on a single storage system 82, but it should be recognized that the quality information module 83 may be implemented as various software instruction sets or modules stored in various locations, such as on various storage systems. The processor 81 includes a processor, which may be a microprocessor, a general-purpose central processing unit, an application-specific processor, a microcontroller, or any kind of logic device. The processor 81 may also include circuitry for retrieving and executing software, including a quality information module 83, from the storage system 82. The processor 81 may be implemented as a single processing device, or it may be arranged across multiple processing devices or subsystems that cooperate in executing software instructions.

[0042] The quality information module 83 stored in the memory device 82 processes and stores data of information transmitted from the field terminal 57 via the network 59. For example, this includes information related to the quality information of recovered (i.e., used or recycled) refrigerant, quality information of recovered refrigerant related to the type and amount of purity contained therein, the amount of impurities (e.g., oil, water, acid, etc.) in the recovered refrigerant, and certificate data indicating the quality content (i.e., recycling certificate data indicating that the recycled refrigerant has been recycled and conforms to AHRI purity standard 700). In other implementations, the quality information module 83 processes information related to cylinder ID, customer ID, facility ID, and history information indicating cylinder usage.

[0043] Furthermore, the quality information module 83 can receive quality information on unrecycled refrigerants, i.e., used refrigerants. For example, this information includes information on the composition of the unrecycled refrigerant, the quality of the unrecycled refrigerant, the weight of the unrecycled refrigerant, the suitability of oil, water, and acid, and the regeneration history. Once a transaction for the unrecycled refrigerant is completed, the quality information module 83 can process the evaluation information of the transaction and store the evaluation information for sale for later processing. It should be understood that the refrigerant maintenance server 57 handles the evaluation information in sales transactions, so it can demonstrate to the user the reliability of the quality of the unrecycled refrigerant sold by the provider.

[0044] Furthermore, the quality information module 83 can also process information in response to requests received from user devices 58 owned by the user via the Internet 59. In one implementation, upon receiving information (i.e., cylinder ID) provided by the user via an application or webpage for purchasing recovered refrigerant, the quality information module 83 processes retrieval information such as quality information and regeneration history information, and sends the retrieved information back to the user device 58 via the network 59. The information sent back to the user device 58 may include information on the suitability of the oil, water, and acid of the recovered refrigerant in question, information on the refrigerant composition, information on weight, regeneration history information, and evaluation information.

[0045] The financial system / server 56 includes a processor 94, a storage system 95, and input / output interfaces 98 for communicating with various databases, files, programs, and networks and / or one or more storage devices. In one implementation, the financial server 56 includes banking or exchange system software programs that process requests and responses from field terminals 57 and / or user devices 58. In one implementation, the software programs on the financial server 56 receive information from the user devices 58, perform compilation and storage functions, and transmit financial information to the user devices 58. The financial server 56 enables the user devices 58 to access various network resources. Any number of user devices 58 can be connected to the financial server 56, and the system can be used remotely at any given time.

[0046] The storage system 95 includes software that includes a credit module 96 and storage data 97 containing data in a database structure. The processor 94 loads and executes the software, including the credit module 96, which is a software application stored in the storage system 95. The processor 94 can also access the data stored in the database 97 to execute the methods and control instructions described herein. Although the financial server 56 is shown as a single integrated system containing one processor 94 and one storage system 95, it should be understood that one or more storage systems 95 and one or more processors 94 may comprise the financial server 56, which may be a cloud computing application and system. Similarly, although the credit module 96 is schematically shown as a single software application contained on a single storage system 95, it should be recognized that the credit module 96 may be implemented as various software instruction sets or modules stored in various locations, such as on various storage systems. The processor 94 includes a processor, which may be a microprocessor, a general-purpose central processing unit, an application-specific processor, a microcontroller, or any type of logical device. The processor 94 may also include circuitry for retrieving and executing software, including the credit module 96, from the storage system 95. The processor 94 may be implemented as a single processing device, or it may be arranged across multiple processing devices or subsystems that cooperate in executing software instructions.

[0047] The credit module 96, stored in the memory system 95, processes and stores data related to financial transactions for purchasing recovered refrigerant via the network 59. This includes, for example, information related to debit entries into appropriate virtual bank accounts, such as customer ID, account ID, account amount including credit amount, total refrigerant payable to a given customer, weight of each type of pure gas returned, and weight of each type of pure gas (or recycled gas) withdrawn or repurchased. The credit module 96 further monitors refrigerant recycling and allows customers to repurchase recycled or refurbished refrigerant. During operation, the credit module 96 receives the type and quantity of gas from the field terminal 57. The credit module 96 credits the weight of the received gas to the customer's virtual bank for returned unused pure gas, corresponding to the customer ID. Pure gas is credited to the (pure gas) virtual bank for the type of gas returned. It is known that industrial standard refrigerants with a purity exceeding 99.5% are considered pure gas of a given type of refrigerant, whether the industrial standard refrigerant consists of a single gas or a blend of gases.

[0048] In other implementations, mixed gases are credited to a virtual bank (mixed gases) containing all types of mixed gases. The credit module 96 stores the credit for the returned gas in the customer's virtual bank until, for example, a service request or when the customer orders gas or transfers the credit from that bank by other means. Upon receiving an order, the credit module 96 determines the difference between the amount of gas in the customer's virtual bank and the amount requested in the purchase order. The amount corresponding to the purchased gas is then removed from the customer's virtual bank. The customer's virtual bank and customer account are maintained until another transaction is initiated.

[0049] The user device 58 is a device (e.g., a mobile device, smartphone, tablet, or portable computer) owned by a user who intends to purchase a desired amount of recovered refrigerant from among recovered refrigerant (recycled refrigerant and unrecycled refrigerant). The user device 58 includes at least a computing system 86 having a processor 87 and a storage system 88, an input unit 91, an output unit 92, and an input / output interface 93 for communicating with a network 59.

[0050] The storage system 88 includes software, including an application module 89, and storage data 90, including data in a database structure. The processor 87 loads and executes the software, including the application module 89, which is a software application stored in the storage system 88. The processor 87 can also access the data stored in the database 90 to execute the methods and control instructions described herein. Although the computing system 86 is shown as a single integrated system containing one processor 87 and one storage system 88, it should be understood that one or more storage systems 88 and one or more processors 87 may comprise a computing system 86, which may be a cloud computing application and system. Similarly, although the application module 89 is schematically shown as a single software application contained on a single storage system 88, it should be recognized that the application module 89 may be implemented as various software instruction sets or modules stored in various locations, such as on various storage systems. The processor 87 includes a processor, which may be a microprocessor, a general-purpose central processing unit, an application-specific processor, a microcontroller, or any type of logical device. The processor 87 may also include circuitry for retrieving and executing software, including an application module 89, from the storage system 88. The processor 87 may be implemented as a single processing device, or it may be arranged across multiple processing devices or subsystems that cooperate in executing software instructions.

[0051] The input / output interface 93 is an interface for communication using any wireless communication protocol or means, such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, RF transmission, GPS, ZigBee, or Z-Wave. The input / output interface 93 may also be an interface for communication via the network 59.

[0052] In some implementations, the input unit 91 may be hardware such as a keyboard or touch panel display for receiving information from the user. In some implementations, the output unit 92 may be hardware, such as a display for displaying and outputting various information relating to financial or exchange systems, as described herein, but not limited to these.

[0053] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for managing spent refrigerant in a regeneration facility according to an exemplary embodiment. The method begins, for example, in S110 when a customer or user returns spent refrigerant in a gas-containing container to the regeneration facility. If the container is an all-in-one tank containing multiple gases and contaminants, the method proceeds directly to the purification or regeneration process in S170. If the returned spent refrigerant is a single-component or multi-component blend, the method proceeds to step S120 to determine the composition of the returned spent refrigerant. Determination of the type and composition of the spent refrigerant can be carried out, for example, by an analyzer such as a portable or handheld infrared optical sensor for detecting the type (e.g., pure or mixed) and composition (e.g., weight %) of the spent refrigerant. Then, in S130, the analyzer further analyzes the purity of the spent refrigerant. In one implementation, the method can proceed to one of three means to determine whether the purity of the spent refrigerant exceeds a threshold (i.e., greater than 99.5%) and to verify whether pure (unused) gas is contained therein. In S140, if the spent refrigerant has a purity higher than 99.5%, the spent refrigerant remains at the local regeneration facility in S145 and proceeds to the purification process in S170. For example, the purification process for the spent refrigerant determined in S140 may include adding one or more individual pure components as needed to achieve the desired composition, and then adjusting the ratio of the blended mixed gas, which is done at least by drying and filtering processes to ensure that the quality of the refrigerant meets the purity specifications of AHRI standard 700 (i.e., AHRI700). In S150, if the spent refrigerant contains impurities such as oil, water and / or dirt in amounts exceeding a threshold, the spent refrigerant remains at the local regeneration facility in S155 and proceeds to the purification process in S170.For example, the spent refrigerant purification process determined in S150 may involve removing oily impurities found in the spent refrigerant and / or adding one or more individual pure components as necessary to achieve a desired composition, and then adjusting the ratio of the blended mixed gas, which is carried out by drying and filtration processes to ensure that the quality of the refrigerant meets the purity specifications of AHRI Standard 700 (i.e., AHRI700). If, in S160, the spent refrigerant does not exceed a threshold (i.e., purity less than 99.5%) and contains impurities related to other gases, the spent refrigerant is transferred in S165 to a central facility different from the local regeneration facility, where it proceeds to the purification process in S170. For example, the spent refrigerant purification process determined in S160 may involve separating the mixed gas and / or adding one or more individual pure components as necessary to achieve a desired composition, and then adjusting the ratio of the blended mixed gas, which is carried out by at least drying, filtration and distillation processes to ensure that the quality of the refrigerant meets the purity specifications of AHRI Standard 700 (i.e., AHRI700). In S180, once the spent refrigerant undergoes a purification process, it is packaged, recertified, identified (labeled) as recycled refrigerant, and sold on the market as pure (unused) refrigerant. In some embodiments, if the gas is determined to have a purity of less than 99.5% but greater than 98%, whether it is a single type or a blended gas, the gas may optionally be recovered as pure gas as described above.

[0054] In some embodiments, the spent thermal fluid, recovered thermal fluid, and / or recycled thermal fluid may contain at least one stabilizer, in particular when the thermal fluid composition contains an HFO refrigerant compound such as R-1234yf as described herein.

[0055] In some embodiments, particularly when the spent thermal fluid, recovered thermal fluid, and / or recycled thermal fluid contains at least one HFO refrigerant compound such as R-1234yf, the process may further include adding a stabilizer package to the spent thermal fluid, recovered thermal fluid, recycled thermal fluid, and / or regenerated thermal fluid at any point during the regeneration process, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0108119 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). In some embodiments, the stabilizer package contains an effective amount of at least one inhibitor, and as a result, the thermal fluid remains substantially free of oligomers, homopolymers, or other polymer products derived from the thermal fluid. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is added to the thermal fluid as a neat component. In some embodiments, at least one inhibitor is selected from hydrocarbons such as cyclic monoterpenes (e.g., limonene, pinene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and terpinene), lipophilic organic compounds such as tocopherols (e.g., α-tocopherol) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), phenols or aromatic organic compounds having at least one chemical moiety -C6H4(OH) (e.g., benzene-1,4-diol, 4-methoxyphenol), and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of inhibitor compounds include at least one component selected from limonene (especially D-limonene), α-terpinene, pinene, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 4-methoxyphenol, benzene-1,4-diol, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the inhibitor composition includes a liquid at temperatures of about -80°C to about 180°C, about -70°C to about 170°C, and optionally about -60°C to about 160°C. "Stabilized" is intended to mean that the composition contains an effective amount of at least one inhibitor compound that inhibits, if not eliminates, the interaction of fluoroethylene with another compound to form dimers, oligomers, homopolymers, or polymer products.

[0056] In some embodiments, the stabilizer package contains an effective amount of at least one acid scavenger. Examples of acid scavengers that may be included in the composition include, but are not limited to, the stabilizers and / or epoxide components of stabilizers disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,535,555 and the acid scavengers disclosed in International Publication No. 2020 / 222864, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in whole.

[0057] In some embodiments, the acid scavenger may include one or more epoxides, one or more amines, and / or one or more hindered amines, such as, but not limited to, epoxybutane.

[0058] In some embodiments, the inhibitor is premixed with the HFO compound. In some embodiments, the stabilizer package further comprises a dye, such as that described in International Publication No. 2023 / 141098, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in whole by reference. In some embodiments, the dye is an ultraviolet dye that absorbs light in the ultraviolet or near-ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Any suitable dye can be included in the composition of the present invention. Suitable suitable dyes may include, but are not limited to, at least one compound containing a fluorescein species selected from derivatives of 6-hydroxy-3H-xanthene-3-one, having an absorbance peak at about 425–about 433 nm, another absorbance peak at about 292–about 295 nm, and optionally a third absorbance peak at about 243–about 250 nm. The absorbance peaks were measured using UV-Vis. Suitable dyes also have an absorbance of about 700–about 800 cm⁻¹. -1 , about 1000~1100cm -1 , about 1200~1300cm -1 , and approximately 1400~1600cm -1The composition can be characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, having a peak. The amount of dye may be in the range of about 30 to about 0.001% by weight, or about 20 to about 0.001% by weight, or about 5 to about 0.001% by weight, or any value, range, or subrange between these, based on the total weight of the composition. Among the other components of the stabilizer package, the dye, lubricant, HFO, and inhibitor can be combined in any preferred order. In some embodiments, the dye is solubilized in the lubricant, and then HFO containing the inhibitor is added. In some embodiments, the dye is solubilized in the lubricant, and then HFO containing the inhibitor is added. Figure 5A is a flowchart illustrating a method for the exchange and banking of spent refrigerant gas according to an exemplary embodiment. This method can be performed, for example, when a customer or user returns spent refrigerant-containing gas to a facility (e.g., a wholesaler, recycling facility, or waste facility). The method begins in S210, in which an analyzer analyzes the type and composition of refrigerant contained in the spent refrigerant. For example, the analyzer can detect the type (e.g., pure or mixed), composition (e.g., weight %) of individual components, and the amount of impurities (e.g., oil, water, and acid) contained in the spent refrigerant. More specifically, the analyzer detects the purity of the spent refrigerant. In step S220, the method proceeds to determine whether the purity of the spent refrigerant exceeds a threshold (i.e., greater than 98%), thereby approving the issuance of credits at this percentage. If, in step S220, the purity is determined to exceed the threshold of 99.5%, the spent refrigerant is considered pure gas. The method then, in S230, issues credits to the customer via a virtual bank for the specific gas received, based on the weight of the received gas. In one implementation, the method stores the credits for the type and amount of returned gas in the customer's virtual bank until, for example, a request or when the customer orders pure gas or transfers credits from the virtual bank by other means. Upon receiving a request or order, the method applies the credit in S240 by determining the difference between the amount of credit in the customer's virtual bank and the amount requested in the purchase order.At this point, the credit is removed from the customer's virtual bank. On the other hand, if, in S220, the used refrigerant does not exceed a threshold (i.e., more than 98%) due to the used refrigerant containing contaminants or other refrigerant gases, the method proceeds to a disposal process in S270 to dispose of the used refrigerant. Alternatively, the method may also proceed to a regeneration process S250 to regenerate the used refrigerant, as will be described in more detail herein. In some implementations, the regeneration process may include steps of adding one or more pure blend components (i.e., supplemental components) to make the mixture specification, a separation process, a filtration process, a drying process, and / or a distillation process. At this stage, once the regeneration process is complete, the user has the option of taking the regenerated refrigerant back in S260.

[0059] Figure 5B is a flowchart illustrating a method for the exchange and banking of spent refrigerant gas according to an exemplary embodiment. This method can be performed, for example, when a customer or user returns spent refrigerant-containing gas to a facility (e.g., a wholesaler, recycling facility, or waste facility). The method begins in S210', where an analyzer analyzes the type and composition of the spent refrigerant. For example, analyzer 11 can detect the type (e.g., pure or mixed), composition (e.g., weight %) of the individual components, and the amount of impurities (e.g., oil, water, and acid) contained in the spent refrigerant. More specifically, the analyzer detects the purity of the spent refrigerant. In step S220, the method proceeds to determine whether the purity of the spent refrigerant exceeds a threshold (i.e., greater than 98%), thereby being deemed worthy of credit issuance at this percentage. Next, in step S225', the approved material is weighed. If the weight of the returned gas is less than a certain amount (for example, less than 5 lb, less than 10 lb, less than 20 lb, less than 30 lb, less than 40 lb, less than 50 lb), the customer receives a monetary credit to their account plus the recovered cylinder. If the weight of the returned gas exceeds a certain amount (for example, more than 1 lb, more than 5 lb, more than 10 lb, more than 20 lb, more than 30 lb, more than 40 lb, more than 50 lb), the customer receives a credit (e.g., in the form of money and / or free refrigerant) and the recovered cylinder. The free refrigerant may be the same type as the one initially returned to the facility or a different type, according to the customer's preference. In any case, the credit can be issued on-site or via a virtual bank for the specific gas received based on the weight of the gas received (S230'). The approved material is then sent for recycling. In one implementation, the method stores the credit for the type and amount of returned gas in the customer's virtual bank until, for example, a request or when the customer orders pure gas or transfers the credit from the virtual bank by other means. Upon receiving a request or order, the method applies the credit in S240 by determining the difference between the amount of credit in the customer's virtual bank and the amount requested in the purchase order.At this point, the credit is removed from the customer's virtual bank. Meanwhile, in S220', if the used refrigerant does not exceed a threshold (i.e., more than 98%) due to the used refrigerant containing contaminants or other refrigerant gases, the customer receives only the recovery cylinder. The method proceeds to a disposal process in S270' to dispose of the used refrigerant. Alternatively, the method may proceed to a regeneration process S250' to regenerate the used refrigerant, as will be described in more detail herein. In some implementations, the regeneration process may include steps of adding one or more pure blend components (i.e., supplemental components) to make the mixture specification, a separation process, a filtration process, a drying process, and / or a distillation process. At this stage, once the regeneration process is complete, the user has the option of taking the regenerated refrigerant back in S260. In one embodiment, the refrigerant in this process is one of the following: R-410A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407D, R-407E, R-407F, R-407G, R-407H, or R-404A, R448A, R449A, R513A, R454A, R454B, R454C, R514A, R515B, R444A, R463A.

[0060] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for generating credits from returned spent refrigerant according to an exemplary embodiment. This method begins in S310, for example, when a customer or user returns a gas containing spent refrigerant to a facility (e.g., a wholesaler, recycling facility, or waste disposal facility). Next, in S320, the returned spent refrigerant is analyzed with an analyzer to determine the type and composition of the refrigerant contained in the spent refrigerant. In some implementations, the analyzer can detect the type (e.g., pure or mixed), composition (e.g., type of refrigerant), and the amount of impurities (e.g., oil, water, and acid) contained in the spent refrigerant. Next, in S330, the method determines the purity of the spent refrigerant based on the analysis via the analyzer. For example, the method verifies that the gas is pure by determining whether the purity of the spent refrigerant exceeds a threshold (i.e., greater than 99.5%). In S340, the method proceeds to generate a customized analysis report regarding the gas characteristics of the returned spent refrigerant, i.e., the type of gas, single or mixed composition, quantity, purity level, etc. In some implementations, the analysis report may include identifying information about the facility, customer, and / or cylinder, including historical data. Next, in S350, the method determines the weight of the pure gas contained in the container based on the amount of pure gas determined by the analyzer. In S360, the method generates a credit based on the amount of pure gas determined in S350 and deposits the credit into an account via a virtual bank, which can later be optionally debited from the account.

[0061] In some implementations, barcodes can be used for identification, monitoring, and tracking purposes. For example, barcodes can be placed on various containers, enabling the identification and tracking of encoded refrigerant transport containers. The barcodes may be automatically read by an automated barcode reader or scanned manually when the containers are processed at a recycling facility. In some implementations, barcodes can be used to encourage the return of containers and to implement deposit systems, such as those used to purchase refrigerants.

[0062] As used herein, various types of refrigerants (single-component and multi-component blends) can be processed for regeneration. For example, as described in AHRI 700-2017, this standard specifies acceptable contaminant levels (purity requirements) for fluorocarbon, hydrocarbon, and carbon dioxide refrigerants, regardless of the source, and lists acceptable test methods, and is applicable whether the refrigerant exists as a single component or as a component of a blend. These refrigerants are those referred to in ANSI / ASHRAE standard 34 and its supplementary list: Fluorocarbon refrigerants: R-11, R-12, R-13, R-22, R-23, R-32, R-113, R-114, R-115, R-116, R-123, R-124, R-125, R-134a, R-141b, R-142b, R-143a, R-152a, R -218, R-227ea, R-236fa, R-236ea, R-245fa, R-1132(E), R-1132(Z), R-1132a, R-1233zd(E), R-1233zd(Z), R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E), R-1234ze(Z), VertrelXF, 365mfc, R-1336mzz(E), and R-1336mzz(Z). Single-component hydrocarbon refrigerants: R-50, R-170, R-E170, R-290, R-600, R-600a, R-601, R-601a, R-610, R-1150, and R-1270. Carbon dioxide refrigerant: R-744.Non-azeotropic blend refrigerants: R-401A, R-401B, R-402A, R-402B, R-403A, R-403B, R-404A, R-405A, R-406A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407D, R-407E, R-407F, R-407G, R407H, R-408A, R-409A, R-409B, R-410A, R-410 B, R-411A, R-411B, R-412A, R-413A, R-414A, R-414B, R-415A, R-415B, R-416A, R-417A, R-417B, R- 417C, R-418A, R-419A, R-419B, R-420A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-422E , R-423A, R-424A, R-425A, R-426A, R-427A, R-428A, R-429A, R-430A, R-431A, R-434A, R-435A, R-4 37A, R-438A, R-439A, R-440A, R-442A, R-444A, R-444B, R-445A, R-446A, R-447A, R-447B, R-448A, R-449A, R-449B, R-449C, R-450A, R-451A, R-451B, R-452A, R-452B, R-452C, R-453A, R-454A, R-454B, R-454C, R-471A, R-456A, R-457A, R-458A, R-459A, R-459B, R-460A, R-460B, R-461A and R-462A. Non-azeotropic hydrocarbon blend refrigerants: R-432A, R-433A, R-433B, R-433C, R-436A, R-436B, R-441A and R-443A. Azeotropic blend refrigerants: R-500, R-502, R-503, R-507A, R-508A, R-508B, R-509A, R-510A, R-511A, R-512A, R-513A, R-513B, R-514A, R-515A, R-515B, and R-516A. 471A, 472A, 472B, 473A, 474A, 475A, 476A, 474A, 479A.

[0063] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a computer system 900. According to several implementations, the system 900 may be used to perform the operations described in relation to any of the computer implementation methods described above. For example, the storage device 930 of the system 900 may store instructions that can be executed by one or more processing devices 910 to perform the operations of the analyzer module 73, the regenerator module 74, the quality information module 82, the credit module 95, and / or the application module 89.

[0064] In some implementations, the computing systems and devices and functional operations described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuits, in tangibly embodied computer software or firmware, in computer hardware including structures disclosed herein (e.g., System 900) and their structural equivalents, or in a combination of one or more of these. System 900 is intended to include various forms of digital computers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other suitable computers, including vehicles mounted on base units or pod units of modular vehicles. System 900 may also include mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, mobile phones, smartphones, and other similar computing devices. Furthermore, the system may include portable storage media, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive. For example, a USB flash drive may store an operating system and other applications. The USB flash drive may include input / output components, such as a wireless transducer or USB connector, which can be inserted into a USB port of another computing device.

[0065] System 900 includes a processing unit or processor 910, memory 920, storage device 930, and input / output device 940. Each of the components 910, 920, 930, and 940 is interconnected using a system bus 950. Processor 910 is capable of processing instructions to be executed within system 900. The processor may be designed using one of several architectures. For example, processor 910 may be a CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computers) processor, a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processor, or a MISC (Minimal Instruction Set Computer) processor.

[0066] In one implementation, the processor 910 is a single-threaded processor. In another implementation, the processor 910 is a multi-threaded processor. The processor 910 can process instructions stored in memory 920 or on storage device 930 to display graphical information for the user interface on input / output device 940.

[0067] Memory 920 stores information within the system 900. In one implementation, memory 920 is a computer-readable medium. In another implementation, memory 920 is a volatile memory unit. In yet another implementation, memory 920 is a non-volatile memory unit.

[0068] The storage device 930 can provide large-capacity storage to the system 900. In some implementations, the storage device 930 is a hardware-based storage device. In one implementation, the storage device 930 is a computer-readable medium. In various different implementations, the storage device 930 may be a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, or a tape device.

[0069] The input / output device 940 provides input / output operation for the system 900. In one implementation, the input / output device 940 includes a keyboard and / or a pointing device. In another implementation, the input / output device 940 includes a display unit for displaying a graphical user interface.

[0070] The described features can be implemented in digital electronic circuits, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. The device can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., a machine-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor, and the method steps can be executed by a programmable processor that executes a program of instructions to perform the functions of the described implementation by acting on input data and producing outputs. The described features can be advantageously implemented in one or more computer programs executable on a programmable system including a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, coupled to receive data and instructions from and transmit data and instructions to them. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used directly or indirectly in a computer to perform a particular activity or to produce a particular result. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, such as a standalone program or as modules, components, subroutines, or other units suitable for use in a computing environment.

[0071] Processors suitable for executing instruction programs include, for example, both general-purpose and dedicated microprocessors, and one of the sole or multiple processors in any type of computer. Generally, a processor receives instructions and data from read-only memory or random-access memory or both. Essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also includes, or is operablely coupled to, one or more mass storage devices for storing data files. Such devices include internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, optical disks, and other magnetic disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include, for example, semiconductor memory devices such as EPROMs, EEPROMs, and flash memory devices, magneto-optical disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and other non-volatile memory. Processors and memory can be complemented by or incorporated into ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits). Machine learning models can be run on graphics processing units (GPUs) or custom machine learning inference accelerator hardware.

[0072] To provide user interaction, the features can be implemented on a computer having a display device such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information to the user, and a pointing device such as a keyboard and mouse or trackball that allows the user to provide input to the computer. Furthermore, such activities can be carried out via a touchscreen flat panel display and other suitable mechanisms.

[0073] The features can be implemented in a computer system that includes backend components such as data servers, middleware components such as application servers or internet servers, or frontend components such as client computers with a graphical user interface or internet browser, or any combination thereof. The components of the system can be connected by any form or medium of digital data communication, such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include local area networks ("LANs"), wide area networks ("WANs"), peer-to-peer networks (with ad-hoc or static components), grid computing infrastructure, and the internet. A computer system can include clients and servers. Clients and servers are generally remote from each other and usually interact over the networks described. The client-server relationship is created by computer programs running on each computer that have a client-server relationship with each other.

[0074] In some implementations, this disclosure provides a business model that can be organized regionally. In other words, the business model adapts a specific marketing and communication strategy that can meet regional needs and brand recognition while providing users with a good infrastructure that is sufficiently accessible. Furthermore, it provides opportunities for more rapid trial and test to fine-tune the business model when scaling it up.

[0075] Embodiment A. A method for managing refrigerant regeneration, comprising: returning spent refrigerant to a facility for regeneration; identifying the type of spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit; analyzing the composition of the spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit; determining the purity of the spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit; generating an analysis report based on the composition of the spent refrigerant; determining the weight of the spent refrigerant based on its purity; and generating deposit credits for use on-site or remotely.

[0076] B. A method for managing credits of returned recovered refrigerant, comprising: storing information received from a field terminal relating to the returned recovered refrigerant, wherein the information relates to the quality of the returned recovered refrigerant and the amount of credit corresponding to the quality of the returned recovered refrigerant; receiving purchase information from a user device relating to the purchase of new refrigerant; determining a comparison between the purchase information and the amount of credit; and, if the comparison is less than the amount of credit, initiating a deposit credit.

[0077] C. A system comprising one or more processors and one or more non-temporary computer-readable storage media communicatively coupled to one or more processors, which store instructions executable by one or more processors for (i) returning spent refrigerant to a facility for regeneration, (ii) analyzing the type and composition of spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit, (iv) determining the purity of spent refrigerant via an analyzer unit, (v) generating an analysis report based on the composition of spent refrigerant, (vi) determining the weight of spent refrigerant based on the purity of spent refrigerant, and (vii) generating deposit credits to be used on-site or remotely.

[0078] D. A system comprising one or more processors and one or more non-temporary computer-readable storage media communicably coupled to one or more processors, which store instructions executable by one or more processors for: (i) storing information received from a field terminal relating to returned recovered refrigerant, the information relating to the quality of the returned recovered refrigerant and the amount of credit corresponding to the quality of the returned recovered refrigerant; (ii) receiving purchase information from a user device relating to the purchase of new refrigerant; (iii) determining a comparison between the purchase information and the amount of credit; and (iv) initiating a deposit credit if the comparison is less than the amount of credit.

[0079] (i) If the analyzer unit determines that the gas is pure (over 99.5%) and of a single type, the spent refrigerant is collected and transferred to a container containing the pure refrigerant. (ii) If the analyzer unit finds that the spent refrigerant contains non-volatile impurities such as oil, water, dirt, and / or acid, the spent refrigerant is transferred to an impurity container for collection, reprocessed by a regenerator for the regeneration process, and tested to meet the purity specifications of AHRI Standard 700. (iii) If the analyzer unit determines that the spent refrigerant is a blended gas containing various mixed gases or has a purity of less than 99.5%, the spent refrigerant is collected in an impurity container and transported to a central facility to be reprocessed by a central facility regenerator capable of separating various mixed gases. (iv) If the gas is determined to have a purity of less than 99.5% but greater than 98%, whether it is a single type or a blended gas, the gas may optionally be recovered as pure gas as described above, the method according to Embodiment A or B and / or the system according to Embodiment C or D.

[0080] The analyzer unit is a portable or handheld device such as an infrared optical sensor, according to the method of Embodiment A or B and / or the system according to Embodiment C or D.

[0081] The method according to Embodiment A or B and / or the system according to Embodiment C or D, further comprising a regenerator, which includes a computing system configured to perform a regeneration process and generate regeneration data including quality information, preferably information regarding the suitability of oil, moisture and acid in the regenerated refrigerant, information regarding the refrigerant composition of the regenerated refrigerant, information regarding the weight of the regenerated refrigerant, and information indicating that the regenerated refrigerant has been regenerated.

[0082] The method and / or system according to the above embodiment, wherein the playback data includes information related to a specific facility ID, cylinder ID, etc.

[0083] A system according to Embodiment A or B and / or Embodiment C or D, in which a barcode is used for identification, monitoring, and tracking purposes.

[0084] This specification includes details of many specific implementations, but these should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of any invention or claim, but rather as descriptions of features specific to a particular implementation of the invention. Specific features described herein in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented separately or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple implementations. Furthermore, features are described above as acting in a particular combination, and may even be initially claimed as such; however, one or more features from a claimed combination may, in some cases, be removed from the combination, and the claimed combination may cover a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination.

[0085] Similarly, although the operations are shown in a specific order in the drawings, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in a specific or sequential order, or that all shown operations be performed, in order to achieve the desired result. In certain circumstances, parallel work and parallel processing may be advantageous. Furthermore, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

[0086] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art to the extent of the exemplary embodiments. Terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and it will be further understood that they should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0087] While this disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and that equivalents can be used in place of certain elements. In addition, many modifications can be made without departing from the essential scope of this disclosure to adapt the teachings of the invention to specific situations or materials. Various aspects and embodiments are disclosed herein, but other aspects and embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit, and the true scope and spirit are indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling refrigerant regeneration, Returning used refrigerant to the facility for recycling, The type of used refrigerant is identified via the analyzer unit, The composition of the used refrigerant is analyzed via the aforementioned analyzer unit, The purity of the used refrigerant is determined via the analyzer unit, To generate an analysis report based on the composition of the used refrigerant, The weight of the used refrigerant is determined based on the purity of the used refrigerant, A method including generating deposit credits for use on-site or remotely.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the analyzer unit determines that the gas is pure (more than 99.5%) and of a single type, the used refrigerant is collected and transferred to a container containing pure refrigerant.

3. The deposit credit is based on the weight of the pure gas, according to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 2.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the purity of the gas exceeds 98%, (i) if the weight of the used refrigerant is less than a predetermined threshold, the deposit credit is in the form of money, or (ii) if the weight of the used refrigerant exceeds the predetermined threshold, the deposit credit is in the form of money or free refrigerant.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the used refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of R-410A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407D, R-407E, R-407F, R-407G, R-407H and R-404A, R448A, R449A, R513A, R454A, R454B, and R454C, R514A, R515B, R444A, and R463A.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein if the analyzer unit determines that the used refrigerant contains non-volatile impurities, the used refrigerant is transferred to an impurity container for collection, reprocessed by a regenerator for a regeneration process, and tested to meet the purity specifications of AHRI standard 700.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the non-volatile impurity is selected from the group consisting of oil, water, dirt, and acid.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the analyzer unit determines that the spent refrigerant is a blended gas containing a mixed gas or has a purity of less than 99.5%, the spent refrigerant is collected in an impurity container and transported to a central facility to be reprocessed by a regenerator for separation of the mixed gas.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein if the analyzer unit determines that the used refrigerant has a purity of less than 99.5% but greater than 98%, the used refrigerant is collected and transferred to a container containing pure refrigerant.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the analyzer unit is a portable device or a handheld device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the analyzer unit is an infrared optical sensor.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising regenerating the used refrigerant with a regenerator that includes a computing system configured to perform the regeneration process and create regeneration data.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the regeneration data is one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of the quality of the regenerated refrigerant, the refrigerant composition of the regenerated refrigerant, the weight of the regenerated refrigerant, and an indication that the regenerated refrigerant has been regenerated.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the quality of the recycled refrigerant is information relating to the suitability of oil, water and acid in the recycled refrigerant.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the playback data includes information related to the facility ID and / or cylinder ID.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the barcode is used for the purpose of identification, monitoring, and tracking.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the spent refrigerant comprises at least one stabilizer, more preferably at least one inhibitor compound that inhibits the formation of a dimer, oligomer, homopolymer, or polymer product.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising adding at least one stabilizer to the spent refrigerant as part of the regeneration of the spent refrigerant, wherein the at least one stabilizer is an inhibitor compound that inhibits the formation of dimers, oligomers, homopolymers, or polymer products.

19. A method for managing the credits of recovered refrigerant, The system stores information received from a field terminal relating to the recovered refrigerant that has been returned, wherein the information relates to the quality of the recovered refrigerant and the amount of credit corresponding to the quality of the recovered refrigerant. Receiving purchase information related to the purchase of new refrigerant from the user device, To determine the comparison between the aforementioned purchase information and the amount of credit, A method comprising: if the comparison is less than the amount of credit, initiating a deposit credit.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the credit is the deposit credit described in claim 1.

21. It is a system, One or more processors, One or more non-temporary computer-readable storage media, which are communicably coupled to one or more processors, The used refrigerant is returned to the facility for recycling. The type and composition of the used refrigerant are analyzed via an analyzer unit. The purity of the used refrigerant is determined via the aforementioned analyzer unit. An analysis report is generated based on the composition of the used refrigerant. The weight of the used refrigerant is determined based on the purity of the used refrigerant. A system comprising a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions, which are executable by one or more processors, for generating deposit credits to be used on-site or remotely.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein if the analyzer unit determines that the gas is pure (more than 99.5%) and of a single type, one or more processors are configured to collect the used refrigerant and transfer it to a container containing the pure refrigerant.

23. The deposit credit is based on the weight of the pure gas, according to the system according to any one of claims 21 to 22.

24. The system according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein when the purity of the gas exceeds 98%, (i) if the weight of the used refrigerant is less than a predetermined threshold, the deposit credit is in the form of money, or (ii) if the weight of the used refrigerant exceeds the predetermined threshold, the deposit credit is in the form of money or free refrigerant.

25. The system according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the used refrigerant is selected from the group consisting of R-410A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407D, R-407E, R-407F, R-407G, R-407H and R-404A, R448A, R449A, R513A, R454A, R454B, and R454C, R514A, R515B, R444A, and R463A.

26. The system according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein if the analyzer unit determines that the used refrigerant contains non-volatile impurities, one or more processors are configured to transfer and collect the used refrigerant in an impurity container, reprocess it by a regenerator for a regeneration process, and test it to meet the purity specifications of AHRI Standard 700.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the non-volatile impurity is selected from the group consisting of oil, water, dirt, and acid.

28. The system according to claim 21, wherein if the analyzer unit determines that the spent refrigerant is a blended gas containing a mixed gas or has a purity of less than 99.5%, one or more processors are configured to collect the spent refrigerant in an impurity container and transport it to a central facility to be reprocessed by a regenerator for separation of the mixed gas.

29. The system according to claim 21, wherein if the analyzer unit determines that the used refrigerant has a purity of less than 99.5% but greater than 98%, the used refrigerant is collected and transferred to a container containing pure refrigerant.

30. The system according to any one of claims 21 to 29, wherein the analyzer unit is a portable device or a handheld device.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the analyzer unit is an infrared optical sensor.

32. The system according to any one of claims 21 to 31, further comprising a regenerator including a computing system configured to perform a regeneration process and create regeneration data.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the regeneration data is one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of the quality of the regenerated refrigerant, the refrigerant composition of the regenerated refrigerant, the weight of the regenerated refrigerant, and an indication that the regenerated refrigerant has been regenerated.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the quality of the recycled refrigerant is information relating to the suitability of oil, water, and acid in the recycled refrigerant.

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein the playback data includes information related to the facility ID and / or cylinder ID.

36. A system according to any one of claims 21 to 35, in which a barcode is used for the purposes of identification, monitoring, and tracking.

37. It is a system, One or more processors, One or more non-temporary computer-readable storage media, which are communicably coupled to one or more processors, The system stores information received from a field terminal relating to the recovered refrigerant that has been returned, wherein the information relates to the quality of the recovered refrigerant and the amount of credit corresponding to the quality of the recovered refrigerant. Receiving purchase information related to purchasing new refrigerant from the user device, To determine the comparison between the aforementioned purchase information and the amount of credit, A system comprising a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions executable by one or more processors in order to initiate credit deposit if the comparison falls below the amount of credit.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the credit is the deposit credit described in claim 21.

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