System and method for detecting refrigerant leakage and charging a climate-control system with refrigerant
AssigneeCopeland Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Alfano, Winfield S. Morter, Brian R. Butler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for charging an outdoor unit with refrigerant includes a sensor configured to measure a refrigerant concentration and a user device configured to receive the measured refrigerant concentration. The system includes that the user device is configured to, in response to the measured refrigerant concentration exceeding a threshold, generate and display an alert on a user interface of the user device indicating the measured refrigerant concentration exceeds the threshold.
Claims19
A method for charging a climate-control system with refrigerant, the method comprising:
- measuring, via a sensor, a refrigerant concentration of refrigerant leaked from a refrigeration circuit of the climate-control system;
- receiving, via a user device, the measured refrigerant concentration of refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration circuit;
- connecting the user device to a solenoid that controls refrigerant flow from a refrigerant container to an outdoor unit of the climate-control system;
- transmitting, via the user device, a control signal in response to the measured refrigerant concentration of refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration circuit exceeding a threshold, wherein the control signal causes the solenoid to move to a closed position to prevent refrigerant flow from the refrigerant container to the outdoor unit;
- and
- transmitting, via the user device, another control signal to a thermostat to actuate a blower in response to the measured refrigerant concentration exceeding the threshold,
- wherein the blower is disposed in an indoor air handler unit of the climate-control system and is configured to force air across a coil of a heat exchanger disposed within the indoor air handler unit.
A charging system for charging a climate-control system with refrigerant, the charging system comprising:
- a sensor configured to measure a refrigerant concentration of refrigerant leaked from a refrigeration circuit of the climate-control system;
- and
- a user device configured to:
- receive the measured refrigerant concentration of refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration circuit of the climate-control system;
- actuate a solenoid configured to control refrigerant flow from a refrigerant container to an outdoor unit of the climate-control system;
- and
- in response to the measured refrigerant concentration of refrigerant leaked from the refrigeration circuit of the climate-control system exceeding a threshold, close the solenoid to block refrigerant from flowing from the refrigerant container to the outdoor unit,
- wherein the user device is configured to transmit a control signal to a thermostat to actuate a blower in response to the measured refrigerant concentration exceeding the threshold, and
- wherein the blower is disposed in an indoor air handler unit of the climate-control system and is configured to force air across a coil of a heat exchanger disposed within the indoor air handler unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.