Systems and methods for refrigerant leak mitigation

A controller of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the controller comprising:

• a processor communicatively coupled to:
• a first valve positioned between a storage container and a condenser, wherein the first valve is configured to move between a closed position and an open position to regulate the flow of a working fluid from the condenser to the storage container;
• a second valve positioned between the storage container and a compressor, wherein the second valve is configured to move between a closed position and an open position to regulate the flow of the working fluid from the storage container to the compressor;
• a third valve positioned between an expansion valve and the condenser, wherein the third valve is configured to move between a closed position and an open position to regulate the flow rate of the working fluid from the condenser to the expansion valve, wherein when the third valve is in the open position during a cooling cycle the working fluid flows from the condenser to the third valve prior to being received by the expansion valve, and when the third valve is in the closed position during the cooling cycle the third valve is configured to direct the working fluid exiting the condenser to the first valve and the storage container;
• a leak detection sensor configured to detect a leak of working fluid from the HVAC system;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• detect the leak of the working fluid using the leak detection sensor, and after detecting the leak of the working fluid:
• open the first valve to allow the working fluid to flow from the condenser to the storage container;
• close the second valve to restrict the flow of the working fluid from the storage container to the compressor;
• close the third valve to restrict the flow of the working fluid from the condenser to the expansion valve, and after a duration of time in which at least a portion of the working fluid flows into the storage container:
• close the first valve to store at least a portion of the working fluid in the storage container.

A method of using a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to regulate a temperature of a space, the method comprising:

• compressing a working fluid using a compressor;
• removing heat from the working fluid using a condenser;
• removing pressure from the working fluid using an expansion valve;
• transferring heat between airflow contacting an outer surface of one or more coils in an evaporator and the working fluid passing through the one or more coils;
• detecting a leak of the working fluid using a leak detection sensor, and when the leak detection sensor detects a leak:
• opening a first valve positioned between a storage container and the condenser;
• closing a second valve positioned between the compressor and the storage container;
• closing a third valve positioned between the condenser and the expansion valve during a cooling cycle to direct the working fluid exiting the condenser to the first valve and the storage container, wherein when the third valve is in the open position during the cooling cycle the working fluid flows from the condenser to the third valve prior to being received by the expansion valve;
• transporting at least a portion of the working fluid to the storage container;
• and
• storing at least a portion of the working fluid in the storage container for a duration of time.