Refrigerant leak detection system and method

Abstract

A refrigeration system includes a tubing system, a sensor circuitry, a fan, and a controller. The tubing system has tubes located adjacent to component of the refrigeration system. The tubes have holes on their surface. The fan causes sampled air to flow through the tubes and to flow the sampled air toward the sensor circuitry. The controller receives a signal that indicates that the sampled air comprises a mixture of air and refrigerant particles. In response to receiving the signal, the controller determines that there is a refrigerant leak associated with at least one of the one or more components.

1 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 a tubing system that comprises one or more tubes, wherein:
 each of the one or more tubes has one or more holes; and 
 the one or more tubes are located adjacent to one or more components of the refrigeration system; 
   a sensor circuitry that is configured to detect refrigerant;   a fan configured to:
 cause sampled air to flow though the tubing system; and 
 cause the sampled air to flow toward the sensor circuitry; and 
   a controller operably coupled to the sensor circuitry, and configured to:
 receive, from the sensor circuitry, a signal that indicates that the sampled air comprises a mixture of air and refrigerant; and 
 in response to receiving the signal, determine that there is a refrigerant leak associated with at least one of the one or more components. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining that there is a refrigerant leak is in response to at least a portion of the refrigerant being exposed to at least one hole of at least one tube of the one or more tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that there is a refrigerant leak, the controller turns on a blower. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that there is a refrigerant leak, the controller communicates an alert signal indicating that there is a refrigerant leak. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 detect that a blower is turned off; and   in response to detecting that the blower is turned off:
 communicate, to the fan, a signal that causes the fan to switch on; and 
 communicate, to the sensor circuitry, a signal that causes the sensor circuitry to switch on. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 detect that the refrigeration system is in service; and   in response to detecting that the refrigeration system is in service:
 communicate, to the fan, a signal that causes the fan to switch on; and 
 communicate, to the sensor circuitry, a signal that causes the sensor circuitry to switch on. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is at least partially flammable. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 causing, by a fan, sampled air to flow through a tubing system, wherein:
 the tubing system comprises one or more tubes; 
 each of the one or more tubes has one or more holes; and 
 the one or more tubes are located adjacent to one or more components of a refrigeration system; 
   causing the sampled air to flow toward a sensor circuitry; and   receiving a signal that indicates that the sampled air comprises a mixture of air and refrigerant; and   in response to receiving the signal determining that there is a refrigerant leak associated with at least one of the one or more components.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining that there is a refrigerant leak is in response to at least a portion of the refrigerant being exposed to at least one hole of at least one tube of the one or more tubes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, in response to determining that there is a refrigerant leak, switching on a blower. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, in response to determining that there is a refrigerant leak, communicating an alert signal indicating that there is a refrigerant leak. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detecting that a blower is turned off; and   in response to detecting that the blower is turned off:
 communicating, to the fan, a signal that causes the fan to switch on; and 
 communicating, to the sensor circuitry, a signal that causes the sensor circuitry to switch on. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detecting that the refrigeration system is in service; and   in response to detecting that the refrigeration system is in service:
 communicating, to the fan, a signal that causes the fan to switch on; and 
 communicating, to the sensor circuitry, a signal that causes the sensor circuitry to switch on. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the refrigerant is at least partially flammable. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 operate a fan to cause sampled air to flow through a tubing system, wherein:
 the tubing system comprises one or more tubes; 
 each of the one or more tubes has one or more holes; and 
 the one or more tubes are located adjacent to one or more components of a refrigeration system; 
   operate the fan to cause the sampled air to flow toward a sensor circuitry; and   receive from the sensor circuitry a signal indicating that the sampled air comprises a mixture of air and refrigerant; and   in response to receiving the signal, determine that there is a refrigerant leak associated with at least one of the one or more components.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein determining that there is a refrigerant leak is in response to at least a portion of the refrigerant being exposed to at least one hole of at least one tube of the one or more tubes. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein, in response to determining that there is a refrigerant leak, the instructions further cause the processor to switch on a blower. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein, in response to determining that there is a refrigerant leak, the instructions further cause the processor to communicate an alert signal indicating that there is a refrigerant leak. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 detect that a blower is turned off; and   in response to detecting that the blower is turned off:
 communicate, to the fan, a signal that causes the fan to switch on; and 
 communicate, to the sensor circuitry, a signal that causes the sensor circuitry to switch on. 
   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the refrigerant is at least partially flammable.