When recovering vapor from a system to avoid accidental removal of liquid refrigerant, where should you draw vapor from using a self-contained recovery device?

When recovering vapor from a refrigeration system, the ideal place to draw vapor is the high side. This is because the high side of the system typically contains vapor that is under high pressure. Drawing vapor from this side helps ensure that the recovery unit effectively prevents the accidental removal of liquid refrigerant, which can occur if vapor is drawn from the low side or suction line where liquid may still be present.

The recovery process is designed to pull off vapor rather than liquid to avoid potential damage to the recovery unit or issues like hydro-locking. By connecting to the high side, you are more likely to only recover gaseous refrigerant since it has already evaporated and is moving toward the condenser before being released into the atmosphere or condensed back into liquid form.

Vapor from the low side or suction line might still contain some liquid refrigerant, especially if the system is low on charge or if the refrigerant is not fully evaporating. Therefore, choosing the high side for vapor recovery ensures that you maintain the integrity of both the system and the recovery equipment, adhering to safety and operational standards.