WO2002073102A1

WO2002073102A1 - Apparatus, method and compositions for placing for additive fluids into a refrigerant circuit

Info

Publication number: WO2002073102A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/006597
Authority: WO
Inventors: James E. Ferris; William J. Quest
Original assignee: Ferris James E; Quest William J
Priority date: 2001-03-08
Filing date: 2002-03-05
Publication date: 2002-09-19
Also published as: US20020189265A1

Abstract

A supply canister (28) is partially filled with a refrigerant circuit additive fluid (10) which is partially evacuated, said refrigerant circuit additive fluid (10) is comprised of a combination of a binding azeotrope of methanol and cyclohexanone, a drying agent, a metal sealant and a rubber rejuvinating compound in a single container. Additive fluids from the canister (28) may be placed into the refrigerant circuit (12) of an air conditioning system by connecting the canister (28) to the circuit (12) after it has been emptied and vacuum pressure created therein, or connecting the canister (28) to the refrigerant circuit suction line during system operation, or connecting the canister (28) to the suction (12a) line with the system off, to thereby force refrigerant from the circuit (12) into the canister, and then starting the system to cause the vacuum pressure in the suction line (12a) to draw the contents of the canister (28) into the refrigerant circuit.

Description

Apparatus, Method and Compositions for Placing for Additive Fluids Into a Refrigerant Circuit

This application is a continuation-in-part application of Serial No. 09/802,178

filed on March 8, 2001 , still pending.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods of dehydrating, passivating, sealing of

refrigeration systems and a method for delivering combination of a binding azeotrope of

methanol and cyclohexanone, a drying agent, a moisture activated metal treatment and

rubber rejuvinating compound into a single container.

The present invention generally relates to the maintenance of air conditioning or

refrigeration systems and, in a preferred embodiment thereof, more particularly relates

to apparatus and methods for placing an additive fluid in to the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system.

In the typical air conditioning or refrigeration system it is often necessary to

place an additive fluid (normally a liquid) into the refrigerant circuit portion of the

system to maintain the performance of the system at a satisfactory level. Examples of

additive fluids placed in refrigerant circuits include compressor oil, stop-leak liquid,

acid neutralizers, drying agents, and ultraviolet colored leak-finder liquid. Additive

fluids of these and other types are conventionally placed in refrigerant circuits by one of

four methods - namely, (1) the refrigerant circuits by one of four methods (2) the

additive fluid is placed in a container along with pressurized refrigerant and is expelled with the pressurized refrigerant into the circuit; (3) the additive fluid is placed in an in- line storage device, and pressurized refrigerant is flowed through the storage device to

force the additive fluid into the circuit along with the pressurized refrigerant; or (4) the

additive fluid is injected into the circuit using a mechanical piston to force the fluid into

the circuit.

These conventional techniques carry with them certain known problems,

limitations and disadvantages. For example, to simply open the refrigerant circuit and

pour the additive in can undesirably cause release of refrigerant to the atmosphere, and

can also undesirably introduce contaminating air into the circuit. Packaging an additive

fluid in a container with pressurized refrigerant to be forcibly injected into the circuit is

also undesirable due the expense of adding refrigerant to the container as a propellant,

the safety concerns inherent in a pressurized container structure, and the need to match

the refrigerant propellant with the type of refrigerant within the circuit. Placing the

additive fluid in an in-line device requires that the refrigerant forced through the device

match the refrigerant in the circuit to avoid contamination of the circuit. Injecting

additive fluid into a refrigerant circuit using a mechanical piston device tends to be a

somewhat cumbersome task requiring specialized packaging and/or equipment.

Recently, severe restrictions by the U.S. Government has been placed on use of

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) due to environmental problems which are as a result of the

destruction of stratospheric ozone. In addition, CFCs have been labeled as

environmentally unsafe in many countries worldwide. As a result, proposed alternative

substances which can be substituted for CFCs in various applications have been and are

being developed. Among them are several new proposed hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). A substitution which is being used is HFC-R134a and related compounds. These materials are being sold as a substitutes for CFC as a refrigerant liquid for CFC as

refrigeration fluids. These replacement materials, while not ozone-depleting continue

to contribute in part to the greenhouse effect. Their use and escape into the atmosphere

is the subject of the EPA's Significant New Alternatives Programs, which limits the use

of fluroinated compounds as alternatives for ozone-depleting chemicals.

The HFC replacement fluids are generally not as efficient as CFCs and require new types of additives including fluids, sealants, metal and rubber sealants as well as

dehydrates and others. In addition, redesign of compressive-evaporative refrigeration and other systems using the HFCs has been necessary. The newer working fluid

refrigerants exhibit different soluabilities than CFCs, and are not mixable with well

known lubricants in CFC systems as well as other additives. For example, in a modern

system using these compounds in cooperation with known lubricants causes hydrolysis

of the lubricating esters in a chemical reversion process. Further, other chemical

additives in the new environmental partially safe system cause additional metal and

rubber leakage which, again, can bring on additional problems for the EPA and the environment.

Leaks allow refrigerants and other working fluids to escape into the atmosphere,

contaminating the environment and decreasing the efficiency and cooling capacity of the

unit. If large amounts of cooling working fluids such as refrigerants escape, the system

may overheat and the service life of the unit will thereby be shortened. Further, the unit may suffer mechanical failure from the loss of the working fluid. In general, leaks in heating and cooling systems also decrease the heat transfer efficiency of these systems.

Water in all types of compressive-evaporative systems decreases the system

efficiency as a result of water's high heat of vaporization and high heat capacity. The

high heat of fusion of water decreases the efficiency of a compressive-evaporative

system by giving off heat in evaporation cycles as the water freezes. The resulting ice crystals can also block orifices in expansion valves and cause such systems to

malfunction.

A need continues to exist in the art for a method for sealing leaks in

refrigeration, air conditioning, heating and ventilation and related systems and for the

complete dehydration of the systems. More importantly, there is a need that exist in

the prior art for the addition in a one-step application of a drying agent, a moisture

activated metal treatment and a rubber rejuvinating compound in a single container in

combination with a binding azeotrope.

As can readily be seen from the foregoing, a need exists for improved

apparatus, methods for placing additive fluids and said additive fluids into a refrigerant

circuit. It is to this need that the present invention is directed.

Summary of The Invention

In carrying out principles of the present invention, in accordance with a

preferred embodiment thereof, a specially designed vessel or canister is provided for

use in placing an additive fluid, representatively an additive liquid, into the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning or refrigeration system, representatively an automotive air conditioning system. In a preferred embodiment thereof, the vessel has an interior

communicatable with a suction line portion of the refrigerant circuit, the vessel interior

being partially filled with an additive liquid, being partially evacuated to a vacuum pressure less than that of the suction line portion during operation of the air

conditioning system, and being substantially devoid of refrigerant.

According to a first method of utilizing the partially evacuated vessel, the

interior of the vessel is initially communicated with the interior of the suction line

portion during operation of the air conditioning system, representatively using a refrigerant recharge hose assembly, whereupon the greater vacuum pressure in the

suction line portion of the refrigerant circuit draws the additive liquid into the suction

line portion.

According to a second method of utilizing the partially evacuated vessel, the

refrigerant circuit is emptied and a vacuum pressure is created therein which is greater

than the vacuum pressure within the vessel. The vessel is then communicated with the

interior of the refrigerant circuit, representatively using a refrigerant recharge hose

assembly, whereupon the greater vacuum pressure within the emptied refrigerant circuit draws the additive fluid into the refrigerant circuit.

Accordingly to a third method of utilizing the partially evacuated vessel, the

portion, representatively using a refrigerant recharge hose assembly, while the air

conditioning system is turned off and a positive pressure exists in the interior of the suction line portion. The positive pressure within the suction line portion forces

refrigerant therefrom into the vessel, thereby positively pressurizing its interior. Next,

the air conditioning system is turned on to create a negative pressure within the suction

line portion, thereby drawing the refrigerant and additive liquid from the positively pressurized canister interior into the suction line portion.

The provision and use of the specially designed partially evacuated vessel

provides a variety of advantages over conventional pressurized canisters containing

refrigerant and liquid additive. For example, since there is no refrigerant in the vessel,

the same additive liquid-containing vessel can be used with a wide variety of air

conditioning or refrigeration systems that utilize different type of refrigerants - the

vessel does not have to be "matched" to a particular type of refrigerant in a circuit in

order to avoid contamination thereof by a different type of refrigerant within the vessel.

Moreover, since refrigerant is not packaged within the vessel, the material cost

of the partially filled vessel is substantially reduced. Additionally, since there is no

refrigerant disposed within the as-manufactured vessel it cannot leak refrigerant into the atmosphere, and the lack of pressurized refrigerant within the as-manufactured vessel

renders it safer to ship and store.

The present invention also includes a method for dehydrating refrigeration

systems as well as a method for sealing metal and rubber parts in a refrigerant system. This is accomplished by the invention by using a azeotrope like material with at least 2 to 3 or more additives which are needed by modern air conditioning systems. The

invention also includes a method of dehydrating and passivating the refrigerant systems having a fluid enclosure. The method comprises adding a single additive mix

maintained in a binding azeotrope like material which allows the treatment of a

refrigerant system for many purposes including metal and rubber sealing, dehydration

and the like. In a one step application, for example, in R134a systems. The

composition containing multiple additives and an azeotrope type mixture is allowed to

react with interior surfaces of the enclosure of the refrigerant system to passivate, coat

the surfaces as well as dehydrate the whole refrigerant system thus completing a one

application treatment for the refrigerant system. An azeotrope or azeotrope mixture of

refrigerant additives for sealing both rubber and metal surfaces within a refrigeration

system which also dehydrates the system simultaneously because of the dehydrator

which is present and is also included in the common container. The compositions

include various elements which combine and operate within the binding azeotrope to

deliver from a one container or one mix the desired amount of each sealing,

dehydrating and treatment of refrigerant systems.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a representative air conditioning system into

the refrigerant circuit portion of which an additive fluid is being placed using a

specially designed, partially evacuated additive fluid canister embodying principles of

the present invention.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the canister after its additive fluid has been

placed into the refrigerant circuit, with FIGS. 1 and 2 together illustrating first and second methods of placing an additive fluid into the refrigerant circuit; and Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams similar to those in Figs. 1 and 2 and together illustrate a third method of placing an additive fluid and into a refrigerant

circuit using the partially evacuated additive fluid canister.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Schematically depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 are first and second methods of placing

an additive fluid 10 in the refrigerant circuit 12 of an air conditioning or refrigeration system which is representatively an automotive air conditioning system 14. The additive fluid 10 is representatively an additive liquid such as, for example, compressor

oil, a stop-leak liquid, an ultraviolet colored leak-finder liquid, an acid neutralizer, or a

drying agent.

The air conditioning system 14 is representatively of the direct expansion type

and comprises the usual compressor 16, condenser 18, expansion valve 20 and

evaporator 22 connected as shown in the refrigerant circuit 12. Compressor 16 is

disposed between suction and liquid line portions 12a, 12b of the circuit 12, with suction line portion 12a having a low side pressure tap or service fitting 24 installed

therein, and liquid line portion 12b having a high side pressure tap or service fitting 26

installed therein. During operation of the system 14, refrigerant is flowed through the

circuit 12 in the direction indicated by the circuit flow arrows in Fig. 1.

According to a key feature of the present invention, a specially designed vessel

or canister 28 (see Fig. 1) is partially filled with the additive liquid 10 and is partially

evacuated to a vacuum pressure suitable for the air conditioning system with which the

canister 28 is to be used (representatively in the range of from about 12" to about 15" Hg vacuum for an automotive air conditioning system refrigerant circuit) which is (1) less than the vacuum pressure within the refrigerant circuit suction line portion 12a

(typically in the range of from about 20" to about 30" Hg vacuum for an automotive air

conditioning system refrigerant circuit) during operation of the air conditioning system

refrigerant circuit) during operation of the air conditioning system 14 with refrigerant

operatively flowing through the circuit 12, and (2) less than the positive pressure within

the suction line portion 12a (for example, about 78.4 psig when the ambient

temperature is 75 degrees F) when the air conditioning system 14 is not operating, and

refrigerant is not being flowed through the circuit 12.

As schematically depicted in Fig. 1 , the partially evacuated interior 30 of the

canister 28, as originally fabricated, contains only the additive liquid 10 and is devoid

of refrigerant. The canister 28 thus differs in two primary regards from conventional

additive injection canisters - namely, (1) it does not contain refrigerant, and (2) its

interior is at a substantial negative pressure as opposed to being highly pressurized.

Canister 28 is of a suitable metal material and has a hollow cylindrical body 32 with a

lower end 34 and an upper end 36 having an externally threaded tubular projection 38

thereon, the projection 38 having a closed upper end 40.

Representatively, the refrigerant circuit 12 schematically depicted in Fig. 1 is

filled with R134a refrigerant, with the suction line service fitting 24 being of a different

configuration than that of the liquid line service fitting 26. However, the principles of

the present invention are not limited in any manner to an R134a refrigerant circuit. To

place the additive liquid 10 into the refrigerant circuit 12 using a first method of the present invention, the interior 30 of the canister 28 (see Fig. 1) is communicated with

the interior of the refrigerant circuit 12, using a conventional R134a refrigerant

recharge hose assembly 42 which is illustrated in phantom for purposes of illustrative

clarity.

Recharge hose assembly 42 includes a quick disconnect fitting 44 (or another

type of connection fitting such as a threaded fitting) interconnected by a length of

refrigerant charging hose 46 to an internally threaded tapping/dispensing valve 48

having a rotatable handle 50 useable to axially drive a piercing stem portion 52 of the

valve 48. To ready the canister 28 for use in placing the additive liquid 10 into the

refrigerant circuit 12, the tapping/dispensing valve 48 (with its piercing stem 52 in an

upwardly retracted position) is threaded onto the tubular projection 38 of the canister

28, and the quick disconnect fitting 44 is connected to the suction line service port 24.

With the air conditioning system 14 running, and refrigerant being operatively

flowed through the suction line portion 12a at a vacuum pressure greater than that in

the partially evacuated canister interior 30, the tapping/dispensing valve handle 50 is

operated to pierce the upper end 40 of the canister projection 38 and place canister

interior 30 in communication with the interior of the suction line portion 12a. As

indicated by the arrows 54 in Fig. 1, the higher vacuum pressure in the suction line

portion 12a draws the additive liquid 10 from the partially evacuated canister interior

30 into the suction line portion 12a, thereby emptying the canister 30 of its additive

liquid content as shown in Fig. 2. This higher vacuum pressure emptying of the canister 28 may be facilitated by inverting the 28 and holding it higher than the suction line service fitting 24. After the

additive liquid 10 is placed into the refrigerant circuit in this manner, the refrigerant

recharge hose assembly 42 is disconnected from the service fitting 24 and the canister

28 and the now emptied canister 28 discarded.

With continued reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a second method of utilizing the

specially designated, partially evacuated canister 28 to place its additive liquid 10 into

the refrigerant circuit 12 is to communicate the interior 30 of the canister 28 with the

interior of the refrigerant circuit (e.g. , at its suction line portion 12a), using the hose

assembly 42, while the refrigerant circuit 12 has been emptied for repair and has a

service vacuum pressure within the interior 30 of the canister 28. The service vacuum pressure within the refrigerant circuit 12 pulls the additive liquid 10 from the canister

interior 30 into the refrigerant circuit 12 as indicated by the arrows 54 in Fig. 1.

A third method of utilizing the specially designed, partially evacuated canister

28 to place its additive liquid 10 into the refrigerant circuit 12 is schematically

illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 to which reference is now made. Utilizing this second

method, with the air conditioning system 14 initially being turned off, so that

refrigerant is not being flowed through the circuit 12 and a positive pressure is present

in the interior of the suction line portion 12a, the partially evacuated canister 28 is interconnected via the hose assembly 42 to the suction line service fitting 24, with the

tapping/dispensing valve 48 being in its closed position, as previously described. The valve handle 50 is then rotated to axially drive the stem 52, pierce the canister projection 38, and initially communicate the partially evacuated canister interior 30 with the positively pressurized refrigerant within the suction line portion 12a.

As depicted in Fig. 3, this causes positively pressurized refrigerant 56 from

within the interior off the suction line portion 12a to be forcibly flowed into the

partially evacuated canister interior 30 via the hose 46, as indicated by the arrows 58 in

Fig. 3, to become in effect a carrier for the additive liquid 10. Next, the air conditioning system 14 is turned on to create an operative flow of refrigerant 56 through the circuit 12 and generate in the suction line portion 12a a vacuum pressure. The positive pressure previously created in the interior 30 of the canister 28 by the

forcible injection of refrigerant 56 thereinto causes the liquid additive and refrigerant

10,56 within the canister interior 30 to be flowed into the suction line portion 12a, via

the hose 46, as indicated by the arrows 60 in Fig. 4, thereby substantially emptying the canister 28 of its refrigerant and additive contents. This transfer of refrigerant and additive to the circuit 12 may be facilitated by inverting the canister 28 and positioning

it at a higher level than that of the suction line service fitting 24. After such transfer is

completed, the refrigerant recharge hose assembly 42 is disconnected from the canister

28 and the service fitting 24, and the emptied canister 28 discarded.

The provision and use of the specially designed partially evacuated canister 28

refrigerant and liquid additive. For example, since there is no refrigerant in the

canister, the same canister can be used with a wide variety of air conditioning or refrigeration systems that utilize different types of refrigerants - the canister does not have to be "matched" to a particular type of refrigerant in a circuit in order to avoid contamination thereof by a different type of refrigerant within the canister.

Moreover, since refrigerant is not packaged within the canister, the material

cost of the partially filled canister is substantially reduced. Additionally, since there is

no refrigerant disposed within the as-manufactured canister it cannot leak refrigerant

into the atmosphere, and the lack of pressurized refrigerant within the as-manufactured

canister renders it safer to ship and store.

The pressurization can be a refrigerant gas which carries along with it the

various additives as discussed above. The dehydrating and sealing compositions

preferably each include at least one compound and generally include two or more

compounds of each requirement for dehydration, metal sealing and rubber sealing. The

object of the present invention is to provide an improved air conditioning system

treatment composition, in which the improvement provides for the combination of a

drying agent, a moisture-activated metal treatment and a rubber rejuvenating compound

into a single container, unlike conventional air conditioning systems where multiple

containers are used. The improved air conditioning system treatment composition

comprises of a binding azeotrope like material, the binding azeotrope is preferred to be

methanol and cyclohexanone combined with a drying agent, a moisture activated metal

treatment and a rubber rejuvinating material. The combination of a binding azeotrope

of methanol and cyclohexanone with a drying agent, and a moisture activated metal

treatment and rubber rejuvinating compound into a single container is not known. For purposes of this invention, a mixture of two or more components is azeotropic if it vaporizes with no change in the composition of the vapor from the

liquid. Specifically, azeotropic mixtures include both mixtures that boil without changing composition, and mixtures that evaporate at a temperature below the boiling point without changing composition. Accordingly, an azeotropic mixture may include

mixtures of two components or more over a range of proportions for each specific

proportion of the components is azeotropic at a certain temperature but not necessarily

at other temperatures. Azeotrope and azeotrope like compositions vaporize with no

change in their composition. If the applied pressure is above the vapor pressure of the azeotrope, the azeotrope evaporates without change. If the applied pressure is below the vapor pressure of the azeotrope, the azeotrope boils or distills without change. The

vapor pressure of low boiling azeotropes is higher and the boiling point is lower than

that of the individual components. In fact, the azeotropic composition has the lowest

boiling point of any composition of its components. Thus, the azeotrope can be

obtained by distillation of a mixture whose composition initially departs from that of the

azeotrope. Azeotropes can exist in systems containing two liquids (A and B) as binary

azeotropes, three liquids (A, B and C) as ternary azeotropes, and four liquids (A, B, C, and D) as quarternary azeotropes.

For purposes of this invention, other alcohols can be used in combination as an

azeotrope. The term alcohols represents a broad class of hydro xyl-containing organic

compounds. For example, monohydric alcohols of about one to three carbon atoms can

be used or various dihydric, trihydric and polyhydric alcohols for forming azeotropes suitable for the present inventive mix. Furthermore, these alcohols when dehydrated

act as a water scavenger. Even though the alcohols are used in the azeotropes or azeotrope like mixtures. These dehydrated alcohols can be a part of the azeotrope or can operate independently as a water scavenger. Those dehydrated alcohols which do form azeotropes or azeotrope like mixtures can also scavenge water.

In one preferred method and composition, the sealing compositions which are preferably added to the dehydrating compositions and the passivating compositions for a

one time injection into the refrigerant system function with and are compatible with

each other. The sealing compositions circulate within the fluid enclosure within the

system as does the passivating and dehydrating compositions. If the system has a leak,

the sealing composition exits through the leak and hydrolytically reacts with moisture in the atmosphere to form a polymeric seal on the external surface of the system.

Preferred fluorocarbon-based working fluids useful in conjunction with the

compositions of the additive fluids of the present invention include those having a

numerical fluorocarbon code designated by the American Society of Refrigerating

Engineers (ASRE). Preferred ASRE codes include 11, 12, 12B1, 13, 13B1, 14, 21,

22, 32, 42, 115, 124, 125, 134, R134a, 143a, 152a, 161, 218, and 227.

Preferably, the working fluids chosen are compatible with the compositions used in the methods and fluid mixes and the compositions are chosen to be soluble in the working fluid, the lubricant or both the working fluid and the lubricant. In one

embodiment, the composition can be chosen so that one compound within the

composition is preferentially soluble in the working fluid and the other compound in the composition is preferentially soluble in the lubricant. It should be understood, based on

this disclosure, that other working fluids meeting the above-criteria may be used with

the present compositions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention will now be described in more detail with respect to the following

specific, non limiting example:

EXAMPLE

The passivation effect, the dehydrating compositions as well as the sealants of

the present invention in combination with the azeotropes and carrier material is

demonstrated by comparing the surface energies of untreated substrates through the

surface energies of substrates traded with the various additives. Various additives all

contain silanes and organic silanes for cross-linking metal bonding and rubber sealants.

High surface energies are indicated by low contact angles due to polar attractions. The

removal of the polar nature of the surface by incorporation of silicon groups repels

highly polar water molecules resulting in high contact angles (which can approach 90

degrees) indicating lower surface energy.

A typical vacuum pack contains from about one and a half ounces of refrigerant

additives to greater quantities and size of the pack depending on the need. The one and

a half ounces of additive is comprised of % ounce of metal sealants having the

composition of 60 % by volume of vinyltrimethoxysilane, 30% by volume of n-beta-

(aminoethyl)-gamma- aminopropyltrymethoxysilane; and 10% by volume of

methyltrimethoxysilane, a water scavenger. The other additive constituting % of an

ounce of a 1 VS. ounce vacuum pack load is comprised of 50% by volume methanol and 3 % by volume of (1) a mix comprising 35% by volume cyclohexanone and 65% by volume methylene chloride; and 47% PAG. These two additive mixtures and

azeotropes are carried by R134a carrier which constitutes another l¹/₂ ounce load for the vacuum packed load, bringing the total to 3 ounces. These additives specifically

mentioned are joined together in an azeotropic mixture which allows the user to load

his vacuum pack or other delivery packaging systems with various amounts, however in

this case a total of 3 ounces of additives and R134a carrier, which constitutes the refrigerant in most cases. In review, the methyltryoxysilane is a water scavenger and the vinyl trimethylsilane is a metal bonding material which the n-beta-(aminoethyl)-

gamma-aminopropyltrymethoxysilane is for cross linking. While the methanol and

cyclohexanone do provide the azeotrope with the cyclohexanone acting as a penetrant

and methyl chloride as a softener. The final component is PAG which is poly alky lene

glycols (PAGs) and polyol esters which constitute the new lubricants suitable for R134a

refrigerants and the like. The water in a system using these lubricants does cause

hydrolysis of the lubricating esters in a chemical reversion process. The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and

example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the

appended claims.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. An additive fluid for refrigerant circuits are selected from at least two compounds of the group consisting of a binding azeotrope, a drying agent, a moisture- activated metal sealant and a rubber rejuvinating compound; the at least two compounds are contained in one fluid additive.

2. An additive fluid according to Claim 1 wherein the azeotrope is comprised of methanol and cyclohexanone.

3. An additive fluid according to Claim 1 wherein the metal sealants are comprised of organo-silane compounds.

4. An additive fluid according to Claim 1 wherein the azeotrope is comprised of about 98% by volume of methanol and about 2% by volume cyclohexanone.

5. An additive fluid according to Claim 1 wherein the drying agent is comprised of a dehydrated alcohol having one to three carbon atoms per molecule.

6. The drying agent according to Claim 1 wherein dehydrated dihydric, trihydric and polyhydric alcohols scavenge for water and are capable of forming azeotrope or azeotrope-like mixtures.

7. An additive fluid for refrigerant circuits comprising compositions consisting of an azeotrope, drying agent, a moisture-activated metal sealant, and a rubber rejuvinating compound, selected from the group consisting of;

(1) metal sealants comprising 10% by volume of a water scavenger, 60% by volume of a metal bonding compound and 30% by volume of a cross-linking compound all of which are organo-silane compounds; (2) an azeotrope comprising about 50% by volume methanol and about 1% by volume cyclohexanone, mixed with about 2% by volume methylene chloride, a softener and about 47% by volume of PAG oil;

(3) a drying agent comprised of a dehydrated alcohol having one to three carbon atoms per molecule;

(4) about an equal amount of all the other components of R134a carrier; and

(5) the compositions are contained in the same fluid.

8. A method of placing an additive fluid into a refrigerant circuit, said method comprising the steps of: providing a vessel having a partially evacuated interior partially filled with an additive fluid, said additive fluid comprising a combination of a binding azeotrope, a drying agent, a moisture-activated metal sealant and a rubber rejuvinating compound; and communicating the refrigerant circuit with said partially evacuated interior of said vessel.

9. The method of Claim 8 wherein said providing step is performed using a vessel partially filled with an additive fluid, comprising a combination of a binding azeotrope, a drying agent, a moisture-activated metal sealant and a rubber rejuvinating compound.

10. The method of Claim 8 wherein said providing step is performed using a vessel having an interior vacuum pressure in the range of from about 12" Hg to about 15" Hg.

11. The method of Claim 8 wherein said communicating step is performed by operatively interconnecting a refrigerant recharge hose assembly between said vessel and said refrigerant circuit.

12. The method of Claim 8 wherein: said refrigerant circuit includes a suction line portion which, during operative flow of refrigerant therethrough, has a vacuum pressure greater than the vacuum pressure within said vessel, and said communicating step includes the step of communicating said partially evacuated interior of said vessel with the interior of said suction line portion, during operative flow of refrigerant therethrough, in a manner flowing said compound comprising an azeotrope, a drying agent, a moisture-activated metal sealant and a rubber rejuvinating compound into said suction line portion from a common container.

13. A method of placing an additive fluid comprising a combination of a binding azeotrope, a drying agent, a moisture-activated metal sealant and a rubber rejuvinating compound, into a refrigerant circuit, said method comprising the steps of: providing a vessel having a partially evacuated interior partially filled with the additive fluid and being substantially devoid of refrigerant, and communicating the interior of said refrigerant with said partially evacuated interior of said vessel.

14. The method according to Claim 13 wherein: said refrigerant circuit has a suction line portion which, during operative flow of refrigerant flow therethrough, has a vacuum pressure greater than the vacuum pressure within said vessel, and said communicating step is performed by communicating the interior of said suction line portion with said partially evacuated interior of said vessel during operative flow of refrigerant through said suction line portion.

15. The method according to Claim 13 wherein: said refrigerant circuit has a suction line portion which, during operative flow of refrigerant therethrough, has a vacuum pressure greater than the vacuum pressure within said vessel, said suction line portion, in the absence of an operative flow of refrigerant flow therethrough, has a positive pressure, said communicating step is performed by communicating said partially evacuated interior of said vessel with the interior of said suction line portion, during an absence of operative refrigerant flow therethrough, to thereby force refrigerant from said refrigerant circuit into said vessel, and said method further comprises the step, performed after said communicating step, of creating an operative flow of refrigerant through said suction line portion to thereby draw refrigerant and additive liquid into said refrigerant circuit from within said vessel.