Multi-Zone HVAC Refrigerant Leak Detection and Fan Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC systems lack an effective method to detect refrigerant leaks and modify operations to prevent health and fire hazards when refrigerant enters an enclosed space, as only the affected system's circulation fan continues to operate, allowing refrigerant to accumulate and pose risks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize multiple leak detectors to monitor refrigerant leaks across interconnected HVAC systems, triggering a variable-speed circulation fan and other devices like ceiling and exhaust fans to disperse refrigerant and alert users through smoke detectors, ensuring comprehensive risk reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only the affected HVAC system's circulation fan continues to operate during refrigerant leak, then the system maintains basic air circulation, but refrigerant accumulates in the enclosed space creating health and fire hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the residence into multiple zones with separate HVAC systems (first level and second level), each with independent controllers and leak detectors. When a refrigerant leak is detected in one zone, only the circulation fan in the affected zone is stopped, while fans in other zones continue to operate and can be activated to help disperse refrigerant across the building.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple HVAC systems into a coordinated network where controllers communicate with each other. When a refrigerant leak is detected, the affected system's controller not only stops its own circulation fan but also communicates with other controllers to activate their circulation fans, creating a unified response that leverages the entire building's air circulation capacity to disperse refrigerant.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the circulation fan is stopped immediately upon refrigerant leak detection, then refrigerant accumulation is prevented, but air circulation and conditioning are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system selectively stops only the circulation fan in the affected HVAC zone while maintaining operation of fans in other zones. This segmented approach prevents refrigerant accumulation in the leak area without completely disrupting air circulation throughout the entire building, as other zones continue to provide fresh air and circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of stopping all circulation fans upon detecting a refrigerant leak, the system inverts the approach by activating additional circulation fans in unaffected zones to help disperse refrigerant. This reverse strategy maintains or even enhances overall air circulation while still preventing dangerous refrigerant accumulation through targeted local control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple HVAC systems are coordinated to activate fans during refrigerant leak, then refrigerant dispersion is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controllers in each HVAC system are designed with dual functionality: they independently control their own circulation fans for normal operation and serve as part of a networked system that can receive and execute commands from other controllers. This multi-functionality allows coordinated refrigerant dispersion without requiring separate dedicated control systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements inter-controller communication where leak detection in one zone provides feedback to other controllers, triggering a coordinated response. This feedback mechanism enables automatic coordination of multiple HVAC systems without requiring complex centralized control, as each controller independently responds to signals from others based on standard communication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring a refrigerant leak. The method includes monitoring, by a first controller, operation of a first HVAC system for conditioning air within a first level of a residence, monitoring, by a second controller, operation of a second HVAC system for conditioning air within a second level of the residence and determining, using a plurality of leak detectors, whether refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking. Responsive to a positive determination in the determining step, receiving, by the first controller, a refrigerant leak warning signal, forwarding, by the first controller to the second controller, the refrigerant leak warning signal. Responsive to receiving the refrigerant leak warning signal from the first controller, activating, by the second controller, a variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system.