Refrigerant detection systems and methods

Abstract

A refrigerant detection system (RDS) implementation system for an HVAC unit includes a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon. The instructions, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to prompt a user to input first data indicative of an identity an HVAC unit, prompt the user to input second data indicative of an amount of a refrigerant to be implemented in a refrigerant circuit of the HVAC unit, prompt the user to input third data indicative of a dimension associated with a space to be conditioned by the HVAC unit, determine whether a refrigerant detection system is to be implemented with the HVAC unit based on the first data, the second data, and the third data, and output, via a display, a notification indicative of whether the refrigerant detection system is to be implemented with the HVAC unit

1 . A refrigerant detection system (RDS) implementation tool for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:
 processing circuity; and   a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 receive first data indicative of an amount of a refrigerant to be implemented in a refrigerant circuit of the HVAC unit; 
 compare the first data to a predetermined value corresponding to the amount of the refrigerant; 
 receive second data indicative of dimensions associated with a space to be conditioned by the HVAC unit, wherein the second data comprises a vertical distance extending from a floor of the space to a duct outlet configured to direct air flow from the HVAC unit into the space; 
 determine whether implementation of a refrigerant detection system with the HVAC unit is mandated based on the first data and the second data; and 
 output, via a display, a notification indicating whether implementation of the refrigerant detection system is mandated. 
   
     
     
         2 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to a determination that the amount of the refrigerant is less than the predetermined value:
 determine a first area limit value corresponding to the space based on the amount of the refrigerant, the vertical distance, and a first constant value; 
 determine a second area limit value corresponding to the space based on the amount of the refrigerant, the vertical distance, and a second constant value, different from the first constant value; 
 compare the first area limit value to the second area limit value; 
 in response to a determination that the first area limit value is greater than the second area limit value, assign the first area limit value as a calculated area limit value; and 
 in response to a determination that the second area limit value is greater than the first area limit value, assign the second area limit value as the calculated area limit value. 
   
     
     
         3 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 2 , wherein the second data comprises a length dimension of the space and a width dimension of the space, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 determine an entered area value of the space based on the length dimension and the width dimension;   compare the entered area value to the calculated area limit value.   
     
     
         4 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to a determination that the entered area value is equal to or greater than the calculated area limit value, output the notification indicating that that implementation of the refrigerant detection system with the HVAC unit is not mandated.   
     
     
         5 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to a determination that the entered area value is less than the calculated area limit value:
 determine a minimum total area value corresponding to the space based on the amount of the refrigerant and a third constant value, different from the first constant value and the second constant value; 
 determine a total area value of the space; 
 compare the minimum total area value to the total area value of the space; and 
 in response to a determination that the total area value of the space is greater than or equal to the minimum total area value, output the notification indicating that implementation of the refrigerant detection system with the HVAC unit is mandated. 
   
     
     
         6 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to the determination that the entered area value is less than the calculated area limit value:
 determine a minimum continuous air flow circulation value corresponding to the space based on the amount of the refrigerant and a fourth constant value, different from the first constant value, the second constant value, and the third constant value; and 
 output, via the display, an additional notification corresponding to the minimum continuous air flow circulation value. 
   
     
     
         7 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 6 , wherein the first constant value, the second constant value, the third constant value, the fourth constant value, or a combination thereof is based on a type of the refrigerant, a characteristic of the HVAC unit, or both. 
     
     
         8 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to a determination that the amount of the refrigerant is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, output the notification indicating that implementation of the refrigerant detection system with the HVAC unit is mandated.   
     
     
         9 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 1 , wherein the duct outlet is one of a plurality of duct outlets configured to direct air flow from the HVAC unit into the space, and the vertical distance is a lowest value of respective dimensions extending from the floor to the plurality of duct outlets. 
     
     
         10 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 receive third data indicative of a serial number of the HVAC unit, a product line of the HVAC unit, or both; and   in response to a determination that the third data is indicative of the HVAC unit being one of a plurality of predetermined types of HVAC unit, output the notification indicating that implementation of the refrigerant detection system with the HVAC unit is mandated.   
     
     
         11 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of predetermined types of HVAC unit comprises a product line of HVAC unit, a minimum tonnage of HVAC unit, a particular heating feature of the HVAC unit, a configuration of HVAC unit, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The RDS implementation tool of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to a determination that implementation of the refrigerant detection system with the HVAC unit is mandated, output a control signal to implement programming in a controller of the HVAC unit to enable the HVAC unit to operate with the refrigerant detection system.   
     
     
         13 . A refrigerant detection system (RDS) implementation system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:
 a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 prompt a user to input first data indicative of an identity an HVAC unit; 
 prompt the user to input second data indicative of an amount of a refrigerant to be implemented in a refrigerant circuit of the HVAC unit; 
 prompt the user to input third data indicative of a dimension associated with a space to be conditioned by the HVAC unit; 
 determine whether a refrigerant detection system is to be implemented with the HVAC unit based on the first data, the second data, and the third data; and 
 output, via a display, a notification indicative of whether the refrigerant detection system is to be implemented with the HVAC unit. 
   
     
     
         14 . The RDS implementation system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to prompt the user to input a serial number of the HVAC unit, product line information of the HVAC unit, a first selection indicative of a particular manufacturer of the HVAC unit, or a combination thereof as the first data. 
     
     
         15 . The RDS implementation system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to input, as the third data, a smallest value of a plurality of dimensions associated with the space, wherein each dimension of the plurality of dimensions is a respective vertical distance from a floor of the space to a respective duct outlet of a plurality of duct outlets configured to discharge air from the HVAC unit into the space. 
     
     
         16 . The RDS implementation system of  claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 compare the amount of the refrigerant to a predetermined value; and   in response to a determination that the amount of the refrigerant is greater than predetermined value, output a signal to implement programming in a controller of the HVAC unit to enable the HVAC unit to operate with the refrigerant detection system.   
     
     
         17 . The RDS implementation system of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to a determination that the amount of the refrigerant is less than the predetermined value:
 determine a calculated area limit value of the space based on the amount of the refrigerant; 
 determine an entered area value of the space based on the dimension associated with the space; 
 compare the entered area value to the calculated area limit value; and 
 in response to a determination that the entered area value is equal to or greater than the calculated area limit value, output the notification indicating that that the refrigerant detection system is to be implemented with the HVAC unit. 
   
     
     
         18 . The RDS implementation system of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to a determination that the entered area value is less than the calculated area limit value:
 determine a minimum total area value corresponding to the space based on the amount of the refrigerant; 
 determine a minimum continuous air flow circulation value corresponding to the space based on the amount of the refrigerant; and 
 determine a total area value of the space based on the entered area value. 
   
     
     
         19 . The RDS implementation system of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 in response to a determination that the total area value of the space is greater than or equal to the minimum total area value:
 output, via the display, the notification indicating that the refrigerant detection system is to be implemented with the HVAC unit; and 
 output, via the display, an additional notification corresponding to the minimum continuous air flow circulation value. 
   
     
     
         20 . A refrigerant detection system (RDS) implementation system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:
 processing circuity; and   a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
 receive first data indicative of a configuration of the HVAC unit, wherein the first data comprises a serial number of the HVAC unit, an operating mode of the HVAC unit, a product line of the HVAC unit, or a combination thereof; 
 receive second data indicative of an amount of a refrigerant to be implemented in a refrigerant circuit of the HVAC unit; 
 receive third data indicative of a dimension associated with a space to be conditioned by the HVAC unit, wherein the dimension is a smallest value of a plurality of dimensions associated with the space, and each dimension of the plurality of dimensions is a respective vertical distance from a floor of the space to a respective duct outlet of a plurality of duct outlets configured to discharge air from the HVAC unit into the space; 
 based on the first data, the second data, and the third data, determine whether implementation of a refrigerant detection system with the HVAC unit is mandated by a regulatory standard; 
 output, via a display, a notification indicative of whether implementation of the refrigerant detection system is mandated by the regulatory standard; and 
 in response to a determination that implementation of the refrigerant detection system is mandated by the regulatory standard, output a signal to a controller of the HVAC unit to configure the controller for operation with the refrigerant detection system.