US2018106492A1PendingUtilityA1

Hvac/r system with auxiliary power source and method of operating an hvac/r system

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Assignee: CARRIER CORPPriority: Oct 18, 2016Filed: Oct 18, 2017Published: Apr 19, 2018
Est. expiryOct 18, 2036(~10.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Paul PapasParmesh VermaRichard G. LordLarry D. Burns
F25B 2500/222F24F 11/38F24F 11/37F25B 2500/23F24F 11/72F25B 2700/04F24F 11/36F24F 13/10
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Claims

Abstract

An HVAC/R system configured to receive power from a main power source is provided. The HVAC/R system includes an HVAC/R component configured to contain a refrigerant and allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough, a detecting mechanism configured to detect a concentration of the refrigerant outside of the HVAC/R component, and a blower configured to operate under power from an auxiliary power source upon detection of the refrigerant above a predetermined refrigerant level during a main power source outage.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An HVAC/R system configured to receive power from a main power source, the HVAC/R system comprising:
 an HVAC/R component configured to contain a refrigerant and allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough;   a detecting mechanism configured to detect a concentration of the refrigerant within a gas volume outside of the HVAC/R component; and   a blower configured to operate under power from an auxiliary power source upon detection of the refrigerant above a predetermined refrigerant level during a main power source outage, wherein the blower is in fluid communication with the gas volume.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting mechanism operates under power from the auxiliary power source at least during the main power source outage. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a return conduit operably coupled to the at least one HVAC/R component, the return conduit including an opening to allow airflow therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a mitigation damper operably coupled to the return conduit and positioned adjacent to the opening to selectively allow airflow through the opening upon detection of the refrigerant by the detecting mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the detecting mechanism and the blower. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller operates under power from the auxiliary power source at least during the main power source outage. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the blower is further configured to operate for a predetermined time period following detection of the refrigerant below the predetermined refrigerant level by the detecting mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined refrigerant level is a lower flammability limit of the refrigerant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC/R system is disposed in an outdoor space. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC/R system is disposed in an indoor space. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source includes at least one battery. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source includes a distributed energy source. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source includes a renewable energy source. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting mechanism is a sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting mechanism is a system control algorithm. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure which at least partially surrounds the gas volume and the HVAC/R component. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating an HVAC/R system configured to receive power from a main power source, the method comprising:
 circulating a refrigerant through an HVAC/R component;   detecting a concentration of the refrigerant outside of the HVAC/R component; and   powering a blower with an auxiliary power source during a main power source outage if the concentration of refrigerant detected is above a predetermined refrigerant level.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising opening a mitigation damper if the concentration of refrigerant detected is above the predetermined refrigerant level. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mitigation damper is operably coupled to a return conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising powering a detecting mechanism configured to detect a concentration of the refrigerant outside of the HVAC/R component with the auxiliary power source during the main power source outage. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claims 16 , further comprising:
 controlling the blower with a controller electrically connected to a detecting mechanism; and   powering the controller with the auxiliary power source during the main power source outage.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising operating the blower for a predetermined time period following detection of a concentration of the refrigerant above the predetermined refrigerant level. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary power source includes at least one battery. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary power source includes a distributed energy source.

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