Air conditioning system and method for detecting a refrigerant leak
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air-conditioning systems in outdoor electrical equipment struggle to detect refrigerant leaks due to reduced space and increased production costs associated with installing pressure sensors, leading to delayed detection and compromised system performance.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system and method that utilizes a compressor power detector, evaporation saturation temperature sensor, and condensation saturation temperature sensor to determine abnormal phase changes, operating the compressor in full-speed mode for a predetermined time to confirm refrigerant leakage, thereby reducing the need for additional hardware and enabling real-time detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure sensor is installed to detect refrigerant leaks, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system uses its own existing sensors (temperature sensors and power detectors) to detect refrigerant leaks, rather than requiring external pressure sensors. The system monitors its own operational parameters (compressor power consumption, evaporation temperature, condensation temperature) and identifies leak conditions through abnormal parameter relationships, making the system self-diagnostic without additional detection hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing sensors in the air conditioning system (temperature sensors and power detectors designed for normal operation monitoring) are made multi-functional by using them to detect refrigerant leaks as well. The controller analyzes combinations of these parameters to identify leak conditions, allowing existing components to serve dual purposes: normal operation control and leak detection.
2Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is installed to detect refrigerant leaks, then detection precision is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own existing sensors (temperature sensors and power detectors) to detect refrigerant leaks, rather than requiring external pressure sensors. The system monitors its own operational parameters (compressor power consumption, evaporation temperature, condensation temperature) and identifies leak conditions through abnormal parameter relationships, making the system self-diagnostic without additional detection hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly measuring pressure with a pressure sensor, the system creates a functional copy by inferring pressure conditions from temperature and power parameter relationships. The controller calculates expected pressure-based behavior through thermodynamic relationships between temperature and pressure, then compares this inferred behavior with actual system performance to detect leaks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the air-conditioning system volume is reduced for modularization, then adaptability is improved, but detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressure sensing with a field-based detection method using electrical power measurement and temperature sensing. By substituting the mechanical pressure sensor with electronic monitoring of power consumption and temperature parameters, the system achieves leak detection capability without requiring additional physical space for mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing sensors (temperature sensors and power detectors) to detect refrigerant leaks, rather than requiring external pressure sensors. The system monitors its own operational parameters (compressor power consumption, evaporation temperature, condensation temperature) and identifies leak conditions through abnormal parameter relationships, making the system self-diagnostic without additional detection hardware.
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
Enables real-time detection of refrigerant leaks without additional hardware costs, ensuring timely maintenance and maintaining system performance by using existing sensors and controllers to monitor saturation temperatures and compressor power.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (110), the condenser (140) is connected to an output end of the compressor (110)
Implementation Method 2
the condensation saturation temperature of the condenser (140)
Implementation Method 3
the evaporation saturation temperature of the evaporator (120)
Implementation Method 4
by the phase change of the refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A detection method for an air-conditioning system includes detecting whether the input power of the compressor of the air-conditioning system is lower than the power threshold. The method includes obtaining the evaporation saturation temperature of the evaporator of the air-conditioning system and obtaining the condensation saturation temperature of the condenser of the air-conditioning system when the input power is lower than the power threshold. When detecting that the evaporation saturation temperature is greater than the condensation saturation temperature, the method includes determining that an abnormal phase change is occurring and operating the compressor in the full-speed mode. The method includes detecting whether the compressor maintains in the full-speed mode for reaching a first predetermined time when the compressor operates in the full-speed mode, and determining that the refrigerant of the air-conditioning system is leaking if the compressor maintains in the full-speed mode for reaching the first predetermined time.