Systems and methods for refrigerant leak detection in a climate control system

A method of detecting a refrigerant leak from a climate control system, the method comprising:

• (a) emitting an acoustic wave into a space from a transmitter, wherein the transmitter and the space are located within a housing of an air unit and outside of a conduit of the climate control system;
• (b) receiving the acoustic wave from a receiver, wherein the receiver is located within the housing;
• (c) determining a time of flight between (a) and (b);
• and (d) determining that refrigerant is within the space as a result of the time of flight.

A climate control system comprising:

• an air unit comprising a housing and a heat exchanger comprising a conduit to flow refrigerant therethrough;
• a refrigerant leak detection system coupled to the heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant leak detection system comprises:
• a transmitter configured to emit an acoustic wave;
• a receiver configured to detect the acoustic wave;
• wherein the transmitter and the receiver are mounted within a space located within the housing and outside the conduit;
• and
• a controller coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to:
• determine a time of flight for the acoustic wave between the transmitter and the receiver;
• and
• determine whether a refrigerant is present in the space based on the time of flight.