Refrigerant leak detection system
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsPaul V. Weyna, Jason D. Scarcella, Mark J. Perkovich, Lei Chen, Hai Tian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of mitigating refrigerant leaks within a refrigeration system that includes: detecting a leak of a refrigerant from a refrigeration system; closing a first valve to inhibit a fluid flow of the refrigerant between an evaporator and a condenser fluidly connected to the evaporator; and operating a compressor to direct another fluid flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor.
Claims16
A refrigeration system, comprising:
- a compressor driven by a power source, the compressor having a compressor outlet and a compressor inlet;
- a condenser having a condenser inlet, fluidly connected to the compressor outlet, and a condenser outlet;
- an evaporator having an evaporator inlet, fluidly connected to the condenser outlet through a first valve movable between an open position and a closed position, and a evaporator outlet fluidly connected to the compressor inlet;
- a leak sensor arranged to provide a signal indicative of a refrigerant;
- a controller in communication with the first valve and the compressor, the controller being arranged to receive the signal and programmed to command the first valve to move towards the closed position, responsive to the signal being indicative of the refrigerant;
- a main heat valve fluidly connecting the compressor outlet and the condenser inlet, the main heat valve being movable between an open position and a closed position,
- wherein the controller is programed to command the main heat valve to move to the open position;
- and
- a hot gas valve fluidly connecting the compressor and the evaporator inlet, the hot gas valve being movable between an open position and a closed position,
- wherein the controller is programed to command the hot gas valve to move to the closed position prior to commanding the first valve to move towards the closed position.
A method of mitigating refrigerant leaks within a refrigeration system, comprising:
- detecting a leak of a refrigerant from a refrigeration system;
- closing a first valve to inhibit a fluid flow of the refrigerant between an evaporator and a condenser fluidly connected to the evaporator;
- operating a compressor to direct another fluid flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor;
- directing the fluid flow of the refrigerant from the compressor to a receiver;
- and
- closing a second valve to inhibit a fluid flow of the refrigerant between the receiver and the condenser.
A method of mitigating refrigerant leaks within a refrigeration system, comprising:
- detecting a leak of a refrigerant from a refrigeration system;
- closing a first valve to inhibit a fluid flow of the refrigerant between an evaporator and a condenser fluidly connected to the evaporator;
- operating a compressor to direct another fluid flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor;
- opening a main heat valve to allow a fluid flow of the refrigerant between the compressor and the condenser;
- and
- closing a hot gas valve to inhibit a fluid flow of the refrigerant between the compressor and the evaporator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.