Page 21 - Climate Control News Magazine June-July 2020

Refrigerant Feature
FAR LEFT: With each type of system requiring a different recovery process, training new apprentices on all systems can be challenging.
BELOW: With online learning students can make errors without compromising safety.
MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA
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The Refrigerant Recovery AR app, is expected to be an indispensable resource for TAFE and the industry, providing apprentices with a com- prehensive and interactive learning platform.
Farrelley said the app works on all smartphones and tablets that support augmented reality.
RRA will also be launching the desktop version that can be used on all modern PC’s and Mac’s.
“THE TRAINING VIDEO SERIES IS A SET OF THREE SHORT VIDEOS, EACH EXPLAINING A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF THE RECOVERY PROCESS.”
– RRA CEO, KYLIE FARRELLEY.”
“The app allows apprentices to fully under- stand the recovery process for split system air conditioners, vehicle air conditioners and indus- trial refrigeration systems,” she said.
“The app can be easily modified to include dif- ferent types of equipment as new technologies emerge.”
Using the app, apprentices select a system and watch a detailed walkthrough before undertak- ing the process themselves through an interac- tive AR experience.
“By training with this modern-day tool, ap- prentices have a realistic experience of the pro- cess without the confines of the classroom, ac-
cess to tools and the freedom to make errors without compromising safety all while reducing the likelihood of accidental emissions of refriger- ant,” Farrelley said.
“The AR app boasts an extensive step-by-step guide of all processes with a high level of detail.” Apprentices are even asked to select the virtual tools and protective personal equipment re- quired for the process before beginning.
The app also includes a ‘Visualisation’ button, allowing apprentices to see and understand what is happening inside the system. This fea- ture includes visualisations demonstrating gas pressure, speed and direction.
“In order for us to continue to improve the in- dustry’s environmental performance through in- creased recovery rates and build on the past suc- cess, it’s vital that our apprentices continue to have access to innovative and comprehensive training tools to learn and understand these crit- ical procedures,” Farrelley said.
“After all it is thanks to the hard working, dili- gent air conditioning and refrigeration technicians and mechanics who have recovered ozone depleting and high
GWP refrigerants gram by gram, that RRA have collected more than 7,500 tonne of used and unwanted re- frigerant for destruction since our pro- gram began.
“This has prevented 15 million tonnes of car- bon dioxide equivalent being emitted and saved the destruction of 10 million tonne of strato- spheric ozone,” she said.
“We could not have achieved this without them.”
Farrelley said she road-tested the app and pre- dicts the response from new apprentices and TAFE teachers alike to be extremely positive.
“What we’ve developed here with TAFE means that our apprentices can continue to learn during this trying time and in the future in a safe and engaging manner,” she said.
Farrelley has said that these resources will continue to be developed and envisages they will become more widely applicable in the future.
“There’s more we can do, and we’re looking ahead,” she said.
The app became available for free download from your app store in late May.
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
JUNE-JULY 2020
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