Refrigerant leak detection and mitigation system and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems face challenges in accurately detecting refrigerant leaks and mitigating them, particularly in commercial settings, due to false positive readings from refrigerant gas sensors caused by ambient hydrocarbons, and existing solutions fail to discriminate between true leaks and ambient emissions, violating EPA regulatory requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing temperature/humidity sensors to create a differential temperature matrix (DTM) that compares thermal states within the HVAC system, integrated with digital control processors to detect refrigerant leaks, and dynamically calibrates refrigerant gas sensors to minimize false positives, allowing for accurate leak detection and mitigation by isolating failing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If refrigerant gas sensors are used to detect leaks, then leak detection capability is improved, but false positive readings increase due to ambient hydrocarbons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temperature sensors as intermediary devices that measure thermal characteristics of HVAC components. These temperature measurements serve as a mediator to validate or refute alarm conditions generated by refrigerant gas sensors, thereby reducing false positives caused by ambient hydrocarbons without compromising leak detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring temperature characteristics and using this information to adjust alarm threshold settings. The controller compares temperature data against expected ranges and dynamically adjusts the sensitivity of refrigerant gas sensor alarms, creating a closed-loop system that reduces false positives while maintaining detection accuracy
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and monitoring systems are integrated, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed as a multi-functional device that performs both temperature monitoring and refrigerant leak detection functions. By integrating these capabilities into a single controller, the system achieves improved detection accuracy through multiple sensor inputs while minimizing the complexity increase that would result from separate standalone systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines temperature sensors and refrigerant gas sensors into a unified monitoring system with a single controller. This merging of sensing and control functions reduces the overall system complexity compared to having separate independent systems, while still achieving enhanced detection accuracy through the combined data from multiple sensor types
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces false positive indications, accurately detects refrigerant leaks, and mitigates losses by isolating failing components, ensuring compliance with EPA regulations and maintaining HVAC system functionality.
Implementation Method 1
temperature sensors to create a differential temperature matrix (DTM) that compares thermal states within the HVAC system
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant leak detection (RLD) and/or mitigation/containment (RLM/RLC) system/method for use in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that incorporates a plurality of temperature and/or humidity sensors (THS), alarm status indicator (ASI), and digital control processor (DCP) is disclosed. The THS are positioned within the HVAC system (condenser coils (HCC), evaporator coils (HEC), air intake fans (AIF), air supply plenums (ASP), air return plenums (ARP), and/or temperature controlled environment (TCE)) and reports THS temperature readings to the DCP via a common temperature sensor bus (TSB) and/or a wireless temperature interface (WTI). The DCP interprets THS temperature readings in a closed control loop (CCL) to dynamically determine if a refrigerant leak has occurred within the HVAC system. If a leak is detected, the DCP activates the ASI and optionally one or more refrigerant control valves (RCV) is closed to limit refrigerant leakage in the HVAC system.