What mechanism discharges a Freon bottle?

• A. A manual valve opens to discharge.
• B. A thermal fuse ruptures the disk.
• C. An electrical signal fires an explosive squib, rupturing a frangible disk.
• D. A gravity feed releases the gas.

Answer: (C)

Discharging a Freon bottle is done by rupturing a frangible disk with an explosive squib that’s triggered by an electrical signal. The bottle is sealed under high pressure behind a fragile disk, so it won’t vent until that disk is intentionally opened. When the control system sends a command, the squib detonates inside the bottle, creating a rapid pressure spike that shears the disk and releases the refrigerant into the system. This method provides a fast, controlled dump of the entire bottle contents, which is why it’s used.

Other ideas don’t fit because a manual valve would require operator action and would not guarantee a rapid, complete discharge; a thermal fuse would rely on heat to rupture the disk, not an electrical trigger; and a gravity feed wouldn’t produce the necessary sudden release or reliable pressurization into the system.