A refrigerant control system includes: a charge module configured to determine an amount of refrigerant that is present within a refrigeration system of a building; a leak module configured to diagnose that a leak is present in the refrigeration system based on the amount of refrigerant; and at least one module configured to take at least one remedial action in response to the diagnosis that the leak is present in the refrigeration system.

A service port cap fits over the nipple (free end), annular flange and groove of a service port. An annular concavity (groove) in the interior wall of the cap receives the outwardly projecting annular flange of the service port. A resilient gasket disposed in the interior top of the cap is configured to plug the free end of the service port, when the cap is installed. Slots in the cap body define legs that can deflect outwardly and then return to an undeflected position when a deflecting force is removed. A locking ring, which includes an annular band that surrounds a portion of the cap body, is movable longitudinally between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the band surrounds and prevents outward deflection of the legs.

Provided is a refrigeration apparatus that secures safety while suppressing an increase in cost. A refrigeration apparatus performs a refrigeration cycle in a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, and a usage-side heat exchanger. The refrigeration apparatus comprises a usage-side fan providing an air flow, and a controller. The usage-side fan is disposed in a target space where inside air is cooled. The controller performs a refrigerant leak determination process to determine whether a refrigerant leak occurs, based on a state of a refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. When the controller performs the refrigerant leak determination process to determine that a refrigerant leak occurs, then the controller performs leakage refrigerant agitation control to operate the usage-side fan so as to suppress local emergence of a region where the refrigerant leaks at a high concentration in the target space.

Provided is a refrigeration apparatus capable of, even in occurrence of a refrigerant leak, suppressing the extent of the refrigerant leak in continuously operating a usage unit other than a usage unit at which the refrigerant leak occurs. When one of a first usage unit and a second usage unit connected in parallel via a liquid-refrigerant connection pipe and a gas-refrigerant connection pipe is in a refrigerant leak situation satisfying a predetermined condition, a controller closes an on-off valve of a leak unit, the on-off valve being disposed on the side of the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe with respect to a usage-side heat exchanger, continues to open an on-off valve of a non-leak unit, the on-off valve being disposed on the side of the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe with respect to a usage-side heat exchanger, and reduces a refrigerant pressure at a portion on the side of the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe with respect to each on-off valve below a refrigerant pressure at the portion at a time when the refrigerant leak situation satisfies the predetermined condition.

An air conditioner includes: an outdoor unit; a liquid-refrigerant connection pipe and a gas-refrigerant connection pipe; an indoor unit; a gas-side shutoff valve; a refrigerant sensor; and a controller. The indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit via the liquid-refrigerant and gas-refrigerant connection pipes, is arranged in an air-conditioning target space, and includes: an indoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant circulated between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit via the liquid-refrigerant and gas-refrigerant connection pipes and air sent to the air-conditioning target space; an indoor expansion valve that decompresses the refrigerant; a heat-exchange-side indoor liquid-refrigerant pipe that connects a liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger to the indoor expansion valve; and a connection-side indoor liquid-refrigerant pipe that connects the indoor expansion valve to the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe.

A safety isolation valve module includes a conduit having a service port, an inlet, an outlet, and ball valves separating each of the inlet and the outlet from the conduit. The ball valves may be manually manipulating to open or close flow and can be used to isolate the service port from either or both sides of the refrigerant systems. When servicing the service port or other components of the refrigerant system, the valves may be shut to enable servicing of portions of the system without risking injury or losing significant amounts of refrigerant to the atmosphere.

An air-conditioning system that performs a refrigeration cycle in a refrigerant circuit includes: an outdoor unit; a plurality of indoor units; a refrigerant connection pipe that connects the outdoor unit and the indoor units; and a first control valve disposed in the refrigerant connection pipe and that blocks a flow of refrigerant. The refrigerant connection pipe includes: a plurality of indoor-side pipes that each communicate with one of the indoor units; an outdoor-side pipe that communicates with two or more of the indoor-side pipes from an outdoor unit side; and a branch that connects the outdoor-side pipe and a group of two or more of the indoor-side pipes.

A process for applying a fluorescent leak detection dye to a component of an air conditioning system. The process involves the steps of (i) providing a fluorescent dye that is solid at room temperature, (ii) exposing the dye to an elevated temperature to melt the dye into a liquid or flowable state, (iii) injecting, channeling, spraying or placing the flowable dye into or on a component or an HVAC or A/C system, (iv) allowing the dye to resolidify in or on the component, (v) attaching the component to the HVAC or A/C system, and (iv) dissolving the resolidified dye in a liquid/gas.

A method for a refrigeration system according to an example of the present disclosure includes monitoring a performance characteristic of a refrigeration system, and based on the performance characteristic deviating from a predefined expected value by more than a predefined threshold: determining that the refrigeration system is leaking refrigerant, and operating a fan configured to pass air through a heat exchanger of the refrigeration system to dissipate the leaked refrigerant. A refrigeration system is also disclosed that is operable to detect and mitigate refrigerant leaks.

A device for preventing refrigerant leaks in air conditioning system service ports includes a quick coupler for engaging the service port. A main body is disposed adjacent the coupler. A stem is movable inside the main body and a first sealing element is adjacent the stem. A head which is fastened to the main body has an internal thread and a second sealing element is disposed within the head. A shaft has an external thread to be screwed into the internal thread of the head. The shaft has an end with a recess to be engaged by a tool and the shaft has a free end remote from the recess for contacting the second sealing element, for pushing the second sealing element against the stem and for pushing the first sealing element adjacent the stem against an end of the service port upon turning the shaft.