Systems and methods for leak detection and management in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems face performance compromise and increased costs due to undetected refrigerant leaks, which can occur from wear or damage to components within the refrigeration circuit.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant leak management system that includes hardware logic with an oscillator, a resettable down counter, and override output logic to detect leaks, shut off compressors, and continue operating the supply air fan to purge leaked refrigerant until concentrations drop below a threshold, in accordance with industry standards like ASHRAE 15-2019.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If refrigerant leak detection systems are implemented, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting refrigerant leaks early through sensor monitoring and triggering immediate response protocols. The hardware logic circuit detects leak conditions and activates mitigation measures (compressor shutdown, fan activation) before significant refrigerant loss or damage occurs, resolving the contradiction by implementing proactive detection that maintains reliability without requiring overly complex continuous monitoring systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex software-based leak detection and response systems with a hardware logic circuit implementation. This substitution uses dedicated hardware components (sensors, comparators, logic gates, control signals) to perform leak detection and response functions, achieving high reliability through hardware determinism while actually reducing overall system complexity by eliminating the need for complex software algorithms, operating systems, and software maintenance infrastructure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fans are activated to purge leaked refrigerant, then harmful factors are reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by activating fans only during specific leak conditions and for predetermined time intervals. The hardware logic circuit monitors refrigerant leak signals and triggers fan activation only when leak thresholds are exceeded, maintaining the fan running until the leak condition clears or a timeout period expires. This selective, time-bound operation reduces refrigerant concentration effectively while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption during normal operating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control where the hardware logic circuit continuously monitors refrigerant leak sensor signals and adjusts fan operation accordingly. When leak detection signals indicate dangerous refrigerant concentrations, the circuit activates fans to purge the refrigerant. The system monitors the ongoing leak conditions and deactivates fans when the leak signal returns to normal levels or after a predetermined response time, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that reduces harmful refrigerant concentrations while optimizing energy consumption based on actual leak conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes multiple circuit components that enable determining that a refrigerant leak is present in the HVAC system based on a signal. The circuit components then send a first set of instructions to a first set of control systems associated with one or more fans in response to the refrigerant leak being present. The first set of instructions causes the one or more fans to activate. The system then determines that the refrigerant leak signal is no longer present, and initiates a counter to detect when a period of time has passed in response to determining that the refrigerant leak signal is no longer present. The system then sends a second set of instructions to the first control system to cause the fans to return to base operating conditions in response to the counter indicating the period of time has passed.