Refrigerant leak detection system and method

A system for detecting a refrigerant leak in a refrigeration system, the refrigeration system including a refrigerant charge, an evaporator, a condenser and a system controller, wherein the controller is configured to:

• execute a plurality of leak test cycles, including a first leak test cycle and a second leak test cycle, each of the plurality of leak test cycles comprising
• executing a first phase of transferring the refrigerant charge to the evaporator,
• executing a second phase of transferring the refrigerant charge to the condenser and
• executing a third phase of transferring the refrigerant charge to the evaporator,
• determine a reference leak detection cycle time by determining a first time from a first beginning of the second phase in the first leak test cycle to a first end of the third phase in the first leak test cycle, and setting the reference leak detection cycle time to the first time,
• determine a second leak detection cycle time by determining a second time from a second beginning of the second phase in the second leak test cycle to a second end of the third phase in the second leak test cycle, and setting the second leak detection cycle time to the second time,
• determine if a refrigerant leak in the refrigeration system exists if the second leak detection cycle time is shorter in duration than the reference leak detection cycle time, and
• communicate an existence of the refrigerant leak with an alert which is one or more of visual, audible, and vibratory.