Method of introducing leak detection dye into an air conditioning or refrigeration system including solid or semi-solid fluorescent dyes

A method of introducing a leak detection additive into a refrigeration system in which a refrigerant and a system lubricant are circulated, comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate of material which is capable of absorbing and releasing a leak detection additive;
• fully saturating the substrate with leak detection additive, which is soluble in the refrigerant and the system lubricant, and allowing the additive to absorb into the substrate;
• sizing the substrate to contain an effective amount of the leak detection additive;
• installing the additive-absorbed substrate in a component of the refrigeration system through which refrigerant circulates when the system is assembled and operated;
• assembling the refrigeration system to include the component containing the additive-absorbed substrate;
• charging the refrigeration system with a refrigerant;
• and
• circulating the refrigerant in the refrigeration system to release the leak detection additive into the refrigerant and the system lubricant.

A method of introducing a leak detection additive into a refrigeration system in which a refrigerant and a system lubricant are circulated, comprising the steps of:

• providing a leak detection additive having at least a plurality of solid particles;
• installing the leak detection additive in a dehydrator component of the refrigeration system through which refrigerant circulates when the system is assembled and operated;
• assembling the refrigeration system to include the component containing the leak detection additive;
• charging the refrigeration system with a refrigerant;
• and
• circulating the refrigerant and the system lubricant in the refrigeration system to dissolve the leak detection additive including the particles in the refrigerant and the system lubricant therein releasing the leak detection additive into the refrigerant and the system lubricant.

A method of introducing a leak detection additive into a refrigeration system in which a refrigerant and a system lubricant are circulated, the system having a compressor and at least one filter for preventing solid particles from passing into the compressor, comprising the steps of:

• providing a leak detection additive having solid particles;
• installing the leak detection additive, before the system is assembled and operated, in a component of the refrigeration system that is upstream of said filter relative to the compressor in the refrigerant circulation;
• assembling the refrigeration system to include the component containing the leak detection additive;
• charging the refrigeration system with a refrigerant;
• and
• circulating the refrigerant and the system lubricant in the refrigerations system to dissolve the leak detection additive in the refrigerant and the system lubricant, wherein said filter restrains undissolved leak detection additive particles from passing into the compressor.

A method of introducing a leak detection additive into a refrigeration system in which a refrigerant and system lubricant are circulated, comprising the steps of:

• providing a leak detection additive having solid particles;
• placing the leak detection additive in a restraining structure for restraining undissolved particles from circulating with the refrigerant and system lubricant;
• installing the restraining structure, before the system is assembled and operated, in a component of the refrigeration system through which refrigerant circulates when the system is assembled and operated;
• assembling the refrigeration system to include the component containing the leak detection additive and restraining structure;
• charging the refrigeration system with a refrigerant;
• and
• circulating the refrigerant and the system lubricant in the refrigeration system to dissolve the leak detection additive in the refrigerant and the system lubricant, wherein the restraining structure restrains undissolved leak detection particles from circulating with the refrigerant and system lubricant.

A method of introducing a leak additive into a refrigeration system in which a refrigerant and a system lubricant are circulated, the system having a component with a restraining structure that can restrain undissolved solid particles from circulating with the refrigerant and system lubricant, comprising the steps of:

• providing a leak detection additive having solid particles;
• installing the leak detection additive in the restraining structure of said component before the system is assembled and operated;
• assembling the refrigeration system to include the component containing the leak detection additive;
• charging the refrigeration system with a refrigerant;
• and
• circulating the refrigerant and the system lubricant in the refrigeration system to dissolve the solid particles and release the leak detection
• additive in the refrigerant and the system lubricant.