An air-conditioning system includes: an air conditioner including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units each provided in a corresponding one of a plurality of indoor spaces and each including a first control unit; and a second control unit capable of communicating with the first control units. Each first control unit is capable of communicating with a countermeasure device if the countermeasure device is installed in correspondence with one of the indoor spaces where the first control unit is located. The second control unit has a first function of prohibiting operation of the air conditioner if a first condition where communication between the first control unit and the countermeasure device is not established in any of the indoor units is satisfied.

When a refrigerant leakage sensor detects a leakage of refrigerant from a refrigeration cycle apparatus having an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, a refrigerant recovery operation is started. In the refrigerant recovery operation, refrigerant is recovered in an accumulator and afterward a pump down operation is performed. In recovery of refrigerant in the accumulator, refrigerant in a liquid phase is accumulated in the accumulator as a result of circulation of refrigerant by operating a compressor in the state where a liquid shut-off valve and a gas shut-off valve are opened. After recovery of refrigerant in the accumulator is ended, the refrigerant in a liquid phase is accumulated in an outdoor heat exchanger by the pump down operation for operating the compressor in the state where the liquid shut-off valve is closed.

An HVAC system includes an evaporator, a first sensor coupled to the evaporator at a first position, and a second sensor operably coupled to the evaporator at a second position. The first sensor monitors a first temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator at the first position, which is adjacent to the evaporator inlet. The second sensor monitors a second temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator at the second position, which is downstream from the first position. The system includes a controller, which receives a first signal corresponding to the first temperature and a second signal corresponding to the second temperature. The controller determines, based on the received signals, a temperature difference between the second temperature and the first temperature. In response to determining that the temperature difference is greater than a predefined threshold value, the controller determines that a loss of charge has occurred.

A refrigerant measurement adjustment system includes: a refrigerant sensor for a building and configured to measure an amount of refrigerant present in air outside of a refrigeration system of the building; and an adjustment module configured to: adjust the amount of refrigerant measured based on an adjustment to produce an adjusted amount; and determine the adjustment based on at least one of: an air temperature; an air pressure; a relative humidity of air; a mode of operation of the refrigeration system; a change in the measurements of the refrigerant sensor over time; and whether a blower that blows air across a heat exchanger of the refrigeration system located within the building is on.

A heat pump including a housing configured to be disposed outdoors; a compressor that compresses a refrigerant; a fluid refrigerant heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and a fluid; an outdoor heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air; a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the refrigerant flowing between the compressor and the fluid refrigerant heat exchanger; a first shut-off valve disposed in a pipe connected to a discharge of the compressor; a second shut-off valve disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the compressor; and a controller configured to: determine whether the refrigerant leaks, control the first shut-off valve to be closed, when the refrigerant leaks, and control the second shutoff valve to be closed, when the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor is less than a predetermined reference pressure.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an HVAC system, and methods for controlling the system, that mitigate the impact of refrigerant leaks before the leaks are even detected. Some embodiments include an HVAC system operable to mitigate refrigerant leaks, the system including an indoor unit including an indoor fan and an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger and a compressor, a refrigerant circuit including a refrigerant circulated between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, a mass control valve coupled to the refrigerant circuit, and control circuitry configured to: operate the HVAC system to satisfy a conditioning load by circuiting the refrigerant through the refrigerant circuit and operating the indoor fan, and completely close the mass control valve to at least partially isolate the refrigerant circuit at the indoor heat exchanger in response to the indoor fan being shut off.

A heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control system. The HVAC control system includes a sensor that detects a refrigerant released from an HVAC system and emits a signal indicative of the detection. The HVAC control system also includes a switch that blocks a flow of electricity to an enclosed space and a controller that receives the signal from the sensor and activates the switch to block the flow of electricity in response to detection of the refrigerant.

Disclosed is an air conditioning system having: a first HVAC assembly comprising an indoor heat exchanger and a fan; a first sensor, configured to sense a first temperature reading, operably coupled to the indoor heat exchanger; a second sensor, configured to sense a second temperature reading, positioned downstream of the first sensor and detached from the indoor heat exchanger; and a system controller configured to activate the fan to deliver airflow across the indoor heat exchanger when the difference between the first temperature reading and the second temperature reading is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the temperate differing being checked when the first HVAC assembly is in an inactive mode and the fan and a compressor operably connected to the first HVAC assembly are in an inactive mode.

A refrigerated display cabinet (10) includes a refrigeration loop including a compressor, a condenser, a throttling element and an evaporator which are connected; a main body (12) including a storage space (14), wherein the evaporator (16) is located within the main body and is for supplying cooling to the storage space (14); and a container (18) located outside of the storage space (12) and containing at least one of the compressor, condenser and throttling element, wherein the container (18) comprises a vent (20) configured to discharge any build-up of gases within the container (18) outwardly.

Upon detection of a leakage of refrigerant, a refrigerant recovery operation is performed for operating a compressor in a state where an outdoor expansion valve is closed. The refrigerant suctioned from an indoor unit passes through an outdoor heat exchanger so as to be liquefied and accumulated in an outdoor unit. When a low-pressure detection value by a pressure sensor decreases below a reference value, a termination condition for the refrigerant recovery operation is satisfied, and the compressor is stopped. Furthermore, when an abnormality in the refrigerant recovery operation is detected based on a behavior of the low-pressure detection value obtained until the termination condition is satisfied, the compressor is stopped to thereby end the refrigerant recovery operation. Also, guidance information for notification about an abnormality is output to a user.