Device and methodology for early detection of fluid loss and notification and system shutdown for a closed loop fluid heat transfer system

A method of detecting a leak in a closed loop heat transfer system, the method comprising:

• a. providing the closed loop heat transfer system, the heat transfer system including,
• an appliance for heating or cooling,
• a circulator pump,
• an expansion tank,
• an air separator with an air vent,
• one or more radiators,
• a normally closed valve coupled to a fluid makeup supply source,
• a controller having a processor and memory accessible by the processor,
• a first conduit fluidly connecting the appliance, the circulator pump, the air separator and the radiators to form a circulation loop,
• a second conduit separate from the circulation loop for fluidly connecting the expansion tank and the normally closed valve to the air separator,
• at least one fluid pressure transducer located on the second conduit in operative communication with the controller;
• and
• a fluid contained within the first and second conduits for circulating therein;
• b. the controller sampling system pressure through the at least one fluid pressure transducer;
• c. the controller evaluating the system pressure and determining the system pressure has fallen to or below a pre-determined pressure value;
• d. in response to the system pressure falling to or below the pre-set pressure value, the controller sampling and evaluating system pressures over a pre-determined period of time to determine that the system pressure is not decreasing at or in excess of a pre-determined rapid rate;
• e. after the pre-determined period of time has passed, the controller opening the normally closed valve to initiate a fill event, permitting makeup fluid to flow into the first and second conduits and thereby raising the system pressure to a second pre-determined value;
• f. the controller logging the date and time of the first fill event operation (e);
• g. the controller repeating steps (b)-(f) for one or more instances creating one or more additional fill events;
• h. the controller analyzing a frequency of occurrence of the fill events, and
• i. the controller providing a notification if the frequency of occurrence exceeds a pre-determined fill event frequency value.