HVAC systems and methods with refrigerant leak detection

An HVAC system for providing conditioned air to a first closed space, wherein at least a portion of the system is disposed within a second closed space, the system comprising:

• an HVAC unit comprising:
• a return air duct,
• a blower fluidly coupled to the return air duct for pulling air through the return air duct,
• a conditioning compartment comprising a plurality of walls, wherein the conditioning compartment is fluidly coupled to the blower for receiving air therefrom to be treated,
• a cooling unit fluidly coupled to the conditioning compartment for selectively cooling air therein, wherein the cooling unit comprises a flammable refrigerant, and
• a delivery duct fluidly coupled to the conditioning compartment for discharging treated air from the conditioning compartment into the first closed space;
• a flammable-component detector comprising at least one sensor, wherein the flammable-component detector is operable to produce a detection signal indicative of the level of a flammable component detected by the flammable-component detector;
• a first probe fluidly coupled to the flammable-component detector and to the conditioning compartment;
• a second probe fluidly coupled to the flammable-component detector and to the second closed space;
• a selector, wherein each of the first probe and the second probe is selectively fluidly coupled, one at a time, by the selector to the flammable-component detector;
• and
• a processing unit comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the processing unit communicatively coupled to the flammable-component detector for receiving a detection signal therefrom, and wherein the at least one processor and at least one memory is operable to perform the following steps:
• monitor the detection signal, and
• send an alert when the detection signal is indicative of the concentration of a flammable component being at least equal to an alert threshold.