A method for refrigerant charge determination in a cooling circuit including a low-pressure section and a high-pressure section. At least one compressor unit generates a compression flow of refrigerant from said low-pressure section to said high-pressure section. At least one expansion device generates an expansion flow of refrigerant from said high-pressure section to said low-pressure section. A heat-releasing heat exchanger in said high-pressure section cools and condenses compressed refrigerant. A heat-absorbing heat exchanger in said low-pressure section vaporizes said expanded refrigerant. The method includes loading refrigerant from said low-pressure section into said high-pressure section. An unloading step admits the expansion flow of refrigerant loaded in said high-pressure section into said low pressure section and determines the amount of refrigerant flowing in said unloading step. The method includes calculating the refrigerant charge in said cooling circuit, based on the amount of refrigerant flowing from said high-pressure section to said low-pressure section.

Methods of coupling a heat exchanger into a climate control system and associated systems are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving a housing to receive the heat exchanger. The housing includes a cover panel disposed over an opening that has a projection projecting at least partially into the housing, and a first pair of conduits extending through the cover panel in a first direction. In addition, the method includes removing the cover panel from the opening, flipping the cover panel, extending a second pair of conduits through the cover panel in the first direction, and forming connections between the first pair of refrigerant conduits and the second pair of conduits. Further, the method includes covering the opening in the heat exchanger housing with the cover panel so that the projection of the cover panel projects away from the housing and encloses the connections.

A heat pump device having a refrigerant circuit includes: a valve configured to maintain an opening degree during non-energization; a valve drive circuit configured to cause operation of the valve; a valve controller configured to control the valve drive circuit; and a power source circuit configured to supply a power source to the valve drive circuit. The power source circuit includes: a first power source circuit unit configured to receive power source supply from outside to generate a DC: voltage; and a second power source circuit unit for backup. The second power source circuit unit receives power source supply from the outside to store power in a capacitor, and connects the capacitor in parallel to a first output electric path of the first power source circuit unit.

A recovery and recharge apparatus and method for delivering a dose of fluorescent dye to an air conditioning/HVAC system. A supply line provides for both recovering and recharging of refrigerant into the system. The supply line includes a first segment connected to the recovery and recharge unit and having a single internal conduit for channeling reclaimed refrigerant into the recovery and recharge unit and for channeling refrigerant from the reservoir. A dye compartment is fluidly connected to the first segment and includes an interior cavity with an access panel for permitting access to the cavity for receiving a fluorescent dye material. A second segment is fluidly connected to the dye compartment and has an outlet port for connecting to a low side connection on the air conditioning/HVAC system. Preferably one way valves are located on opposite sides of the dye compartment and allow recovered refrigerant to bypass the dye compartment.

An air conditioner has a refrigerant circuit in which a refrigerant circulates and a controller, and is configured to condition air in an indoor space. A countermeasure device is provided against leakage of the refrigerant to the indoor space. A detector is configured to detect a concentration of the refrigerant in the indoor space. A first relay is connected to the controller and the countermeasure device. The controller closes the first relay when the concentration of the refrigerant detected by the detector exceeds a predetermined allowable concentration. The countermeasure device operates when the first relay is closed.

An air-conditioning device includes a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and an intermediate heat exchanger connected by a refrigerant pipe, through which refrigerant circulates; and a heat medium circuit including a pump, the intermediate heat exchanger, and a load-side heat exchanger connected by a heat medium pipe, through which heat medium circulates. A discharge unit connected downstream of the intermediate heat exchanger in the heat medium circuit discharges fluid flowing through the heat medium pipe, depending on pressure of the fluid. A refrigerant concentration detector detects concentration of the refrigerant contained in the fluid discharged from the discharge unit. A notification device notifies leakage of the refrigerant. A controller activates the notification device depending on the concentration of the refrigerant detected.

An air-conditioning system includes: an air conditioner including a refrigerant circuit formed by connecting an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units together, the air conditioner being configured to condition air in a plurality of indoor spaces; at least one countermeasure device provided in correspondence with at least one of the plurality of indoor spaces and configured to operate during leakage of a refrigerant; a plurality of detectors configured to detect a concentration of the refrigerant, at least one of the detectors being provided in each of the plurality of indoor spaces; and a control unit configured to operate all of the at least one countermeasure device if at least one of the concentrations of the refrigerant respectively detected by the plurality of detectors exceeds a predetermined value.

A refrigerant leak management system for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is disclosed. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to one or more sensors disposed within the HVAC system. The controller measures a vibration pattern associated with a component of the HVAC system. The controller determines whether the vibration pattern is indicative of a refrigerant leak in the HVAC system. Additionally, the controller can modify operation of the HVAC system when the vibration pattern is indicative of the refrigerant leak in the HVAC system.

An air-conditioning system includes a plurality of indoor units, an outdoor unit, a refrigerant pipe including a branch portion and being divided into a plurality of flow sections, a plurality of control valves, a plurality of pressure sensors, and a controller. The control valves include indoor-unit control valves, and a plurality of pipe control valves. The pipe control valves include a plurality of indoor-side pipe control valves provided between the branch portion and the indoor units. The pressure sensors include a plurality of indoor-side pressure sensors connected to the controller and provided between the indoor-unit control valves and the indoor-side pipe control valves. The controller opens or closes the control valves, compares a pressure of refrigerant to a predetermined threshold, and detects refrigerant leaking in the flow section where a pressure of refrigerant measured is determined to be lower than the predetermined threshold.

A refrigerant detection assembly operable to detect refrigerant mixed with air includes a housing having an internal cavity fluidly connected with an ambient atmosphere surrounding the housing via an opening. A subassembly mounted within the internal cavity includes an air chamber fluidly connected with the internal cavity, a non-dispersive infrared sensor operably coupled to the air chamber, a printed circuit board, and a heat conduction plate mechanically and thermally coupled to the printed circuit board. At least one insulator is arranged within the internal cavity at a position between a portion of the subassembly and the housing. A shell is connectable to the housing in overlapping arrangement with the opening. The shell has at least one shell opening formed therein such that a flow path extends from the shell opening, through the opening formed in the housing to the internal cavity, and into the air chamber.