Method / system for treating a heat pump with refrigerant circuit

Abstract

For a heat pump (10) of an electronic device (e.g. household appliance) which has a refrigerant circuit (14) for energy transfer, the method and system for treating the heat pump each include an optical detection of leaks (20) from the refrigerant circuit (14) so that countermeasures can be initiated in the event of leaks (20) from the refrigerant circuit (14), which is necessary, for example, given the increasing use of flammable refrigerants in the refrigerant circuit (14).

Claims

[1] Method for treating a heat pump (10) of an electronic device having a refrigerant circuit (14) for energy transfer, comprising: optical detection of leaks (20) from the refrigerant circuit (14). [2] Method according to claim 1, further comprising collecting the leaks (20) from the refrigerant circuit (14) in a collecting device (24) above or below the refrigerant circuit (14), wherein optionally the leaks (20) are optically detected therein. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical detection of leaks (20) from the refrigerant circuit (14) is carried out by one or more of: a camera, a single or multiple pixel, a light barrier principle, a photodiode, a phototransistor. [4] The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising outputting leakage information to a user of the electronic device. [5] Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit (14) consists of a gas or a gas is added to the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit (14). [6] Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein very small particles are added to the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit (14). [7] Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein leakage points of the refrigerant circuit (14) are coated with a medium which releases particles when gas flows through or leads to a chemical reaction, which can be detected optically. [8] System for treating a heat pump (10) of an electronic device having a refrigerant circuit (14) for energy transfer and a control unit (18), comprising: an optical detection unit (22) for detecting leaks (20) from the refrigerant circuit (14), wherein the optical detection unit (22) is connected to the control unit (18). [9] System according to claim 8, further comprising a collecting device (24) above or below the refrigerant circuit (14) for receiving the leaks (20) from the refrigerant circuit (14), wherein optionally the optical detection unit (22) detects the leaks (20) from the refrigerant circuit (14) therein. [10] System according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the optical detection unit (22) comprises one or more of: a camera, a single or multiple pixel, a light barrier principle, a photodiode, a phototransistor. [11] The system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising an output unit (26) for outputting leakage information to a user of the electronic device. [12] System according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein with regard to the refrigerant circuit (14): (i) the refrigerant consists of a gas or a gas is admixed with the refrigerant; and / or (ii) minute particles are admixed with the refrigerant; and / or (iii) possible leakage points are coated with a medium which, when gas flows through, releases particles or leads to a chemical reaction, which is visually detectable. [13] Heat pump (10) of an electronic device, comprising a refrigerant circuit (14) for energy transfer, a control unit (18), and a system for treating the heat pump (10) according to one of claims 8 to 12. [14] Electronic device comprising a heat pump (10) according to claim 13.

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