RG-001

Application Note

ICEMAN™ Moisture Detection in

Potential problems with Moisture in refrigerant gases is extremely difficult to measure in the field.
moisture in refrigerants Environmentally friendly refrigerants have created measurement problems
because their water molecules do not fully separate from their refrigerant
include reaction with molecules at ambient temperatures, thus creating false low-moisture indica-
lubricants, corrosion, tions. Normally, a liquid sample must be collected and transported to a lab to
copper plating, wear, be heat vaporized, and analyzed. Winner of the prestigious R&D 100 award,
hot spots, and more. the portable IceMan can measure trace moisture content in a wide variety of
pure and blended refrigerant gases, combining all these steps into an on-the-
spot system. A standard vaporizing valve and an internal battery-powered
heated vaporizer can make four to eight measurements before needing to be
recharged, enabling samples to be analyzed in 15 to 20 minutes. A micropro-
cessor-based electronics packages is also incorporated, providing flexibility in
selecting units of measure, communications and output scale. The device
reads in ppm by volume, but it can convert to the standard ppm by weight.

Please review the following information to determine if the ICEMAN is right for
your application.

Background
Moisture, a major contaminant in refrigerant gases, can create problems in
everything from the manufacturing process to the end-use product. In the
manufacturing process, the extreme cold temperatures necessary to produce
these gases in a liquid form can cause water molecules to freeze, thereby
disrupting the manufacturing process. In refrigeration systems, the constant
compression and expansion of the refrigerant generates temperatures that
can cause the moisture to create an ice plug in the system, resulting in
potential compressor failure. The interaction of the water molecule with the
refrigerant material can also create a corrosive mixture, which will lead to
higher maintenance costs. The rapid release of these refrigerants, as used in
fire extinguishers and aerosol propellants, can create the same extreme
cooling effects that lead to ice formation and failure of the product.

Requirements
Original equipment manufacturers such as refrigerant manufacturers, refrig-
erant reclaimers, installers and others check for moisture in refrigerants in
new or existing refrigeration and A/C systems. Moisture analysis is also a part
of routine quality assurance for refrigeration product going out the door. The
industry specification for moisture contamination is 10 ppmW or less for most
single component fluorocarbon refrigerants and for multi-component refriger-
ants, 400 and 500 Series1 . The 10 ppmW moisture specification also in-

250 Titus Ave., Warrington, PA 18976, (215) 343-6600, FAX: (215) 343-4194, www.meeco.com

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 RG-001

Application Note

ICEMAN™ Moisture Detection in

cludes reclaimed and/or repackaged refrigerants. Some refrigerant manufac-

Moisture readings can vary widely due to sample handling errors in obtaining
a representative liquid sample. Each time a sample is handled, from collection
to ultimate analysis, there is the possibility of introducing an error into the
measurement. The ICEMAN eliminates any sample collection or handling
errors by allowing you to make the measurement directly at the sample point.

Application
Eliminate errors in sampling handling and get real time monitoring and
response with the ICEMAN electrolytic analyzer. For improving the reliability of
A/C or other refrigerant systems, the ICEMAN offers direct measurement of
moisture with high accuracy. The ICEMAN is portable and has a built-in
rechargeable lead-acid battery. The ICEMAN is available with an optional, bi-
directional RS232 for automatic data collection and communication.

Once the ICEMAN has stabilized on your product stream, you can analyze for
moisture without any further adjustments or calibration. A unique heat ex-
changer flash vaporizes the liquid refrigerant and automatically controls the
temperature of the resulting gas sample going into the ICEMAN moisture
sensor. The sample flow is also precisely controlled at 100 sccm to the
electrolytic cell. All incoming moisture molecules are adsorbed in the cell on a
phosphorus pentoxide coating, which is a strong desiccant. By applying a
voltage potential across the cell electrodes, the moisture molecules are
dissociated into hydrogen and oxygen. From this dissociation, a current is
produced which is directly proportional to the amount of water vapor present
through Faraday’s Law of Electrolysis.

The ICEMAN displays the moisture value directly in either ppmV or ppmW,
with a correction for the molecular weight of the sample gas. The ICEMAN’s
linear dynamic range is 0-1000 ppm with a 0.1 ppm display resolution and a
lower detection limit of 1 ppm with an accuracy of ±5% of reading or 0.4 ppm,
whichever is greater.

Attached please find a brochure on the ICEMAN. Please feel free to call (1-
800-641-6478) or email us at our new website, www.meeco.com, to learn
more about this new application.
1
The 1999 Standard for Fluorocarbon Refrigerants, Standard 700, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI),
Arlington, Virginia.

250 Titus Ave., Warrington, PA 18976, (215) 343-6600, FAX: (215) 343-4194, www.meeco.com

09/00