Systems and methods for detecting refrigerant leaks in cooling systems

A system of detecting loss of refrigerant within a cooling system of the type having a condenser, a refrigerant receiver in fluid communication with the condenser, a sensor configured to detect a level of refrigerant within the receiver, an evaporator in fluid communication with the receiver, and a pump or compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser, the system comprising:

• a controller configured to
• establish a baseline measurement of refrigerant mass contained in the receiver with the sensor during certain power loads applied to the cooling system,
• monitor a mass of refrigerant in the receiver with the sensor at a certain power load applied to the cooling system, and
• identify whether the monitored mass of refrigerant is less than the baseline measurement of refrigerant mass over a predetermined period of time.

A cooling system comprising:

• a condenser;
• a refrigerant receiver in fluid communication with the condenser;
• a sensor configured to detect a level of refrigerant within the receiver;
• an evaporator in fluid communication with the receiver;
• a pump or compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser;
• and
• a controller configured to
• establish a baseline measurement of refrigerant mass contained in the receiver with the sensor during certain power loads applied to the cooling system,
• monitor a mass of refrigerant in the receiver with the sensor at a certain power load applied to the cooling system, and
• identify whether the monitored mass of refrigerant is less than the baseline measurement of refrigerant mass over a predetermined period of time.