Refrigerant tracking/leak detection system and method
AssigneeZero Zone, Inc.
InventorSteve Esslinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigeration system includes a mass of refrigerant, a reservoir containing a first portion of the mass of refrigerant, and a condenser containing a second portion of the mass of refrigerant. A first sensor is positioned to measure a first parameter of the reservoir and output a first signal indicative of the first parameter. A second sensor is positioned to measure a second parameter of the condenser and output a second signal indicative of the second parameter. A processor receives the first signal and the second signal to calculate a weight of missing refrigerant.
Claims20
A refrigeration system comprising:
- a mass of refrigerant;
- a reservoir containing a first portion of the mass of refrigerant;
- a condenser containing a second portion of the mass of refrigerant;
- a first sensor positioned to measure a first parameter of the reservoir and output a first signal indicative of the first parameter;
- a second sensor positioned to measure a second parameter of the condenser and output a second signal indicative of the second parameter;
- and
- a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor to receive the first signal and the second signal, the processor operable in response to the first signal and the second signal to calculate a weight of missing refrigerant.
A method of operating a refrigeration system including a quantity of refrigerant having a known weight, the method comprising:
- operating a compressor to compress at least a portion of the quantity of refrigerant and produce a flow of compressed refrigerant;
- directing the flow of compressed refrigerant through a condenser to condense the flow of refrigerant and to a reservoir to collect the flow of refrigerant;
- weighing the condenser to generate a first signal indicative of the weight of the condenser and the weight of the refrigerant within the condenser;
- weighing the reservoir to generate a second signal indicative of the weight of the reservoir and the weight of the refrigerant within the reservoir;
- processing the first signal and the second signal to calculate a total weight of refrigerant;
- and
- comparing the calculated total weight of refrigerant to the known weight to determine a weight of lost refrigerant.
A refrigeration system comprising:
- a compressor assembly operable to deliver a flow of compressed refrigerant;
- a condenser receiving the flow of compressed refrigerant and discharging a flow of condensed refrigerant;
- a first sensor coupled to the condenser and operable to output a first signal indicative of the weight of the condenser and the refrigerant entrained therein;
- a reservoir in fluid communication with the condenser to receive the flow of condensed refrigerant;
- a second sensor coupled to the reservoir and operable to output a second signal indicative of the weight of the reservoir and the refrigerant entrained therein;
- a processor operable to calculate a weight of refrigerant within the refrigeration system at least partially in response to the first signal and the second signal;
- and
- a passageway interconnecting the condenser and the reservoir to provide fluid communication therebetween, the passageway including a resilient portion movable in response to relative movement between the condenser and the remainder of the passageway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.