A refrigerant leak detection system includes a sensor configured to detect a leaked portion of refrigerant external to a closed-loop refrigeration circuit of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, memory circuitry having instructions stored thereon, and processing circuitry configured to execute the instructions to perform various functions. The functions include receiving, from the sensor, sensor feedback indicative of the leaked portion of the refrigerant. The functions also include transmitting, based on the sensor feedback, a notification indicative of the leaked portion of the refrigerant to a third party security server.

An HVAC system with a refrigerant gas sensor is provided. In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes a heat exchanger coil installed within a housing. The heat exchanger coil is operable to exchange heat with air in the housing via a refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger coil. The system also includes an HVAC sensor assembly installed within the housing. The HVAC sensor assembly includes a refrigerant gas sensor and an orientation sensor positioned to detect an orientation of the refrigerant gas sensor. The HVAC system may also or instead include a position sensor to detect the position of the refrigerant gas sensor within the system. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

An HVAC system with a refrigerant gas sensor is provided. In one embodiment, an HVAC system includes a heat exchanger coil installed within a housing. The heat exchanger coil is operable to exchange heat with air in the housing via a refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger coil. The system also includes an HVAC sensor assembly installed within the housing. The HVAC sensor assembly includes a refrigerant gas sensor and an orientation sensor positioned to detect an orientation of the refrigerant gas sensor. The HVAC system may also or instead include a position sensor to detect the position of the refrigerant gas sensor within the system. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

A system and method of retrofitting a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system (HVACR) including one or more brazed, soldered, or mechanical connections between refrigerant lines is disclosed. The method includes removing a refrigerant from the HVACR system. The refrigerant that is removed is a non-flammable refrigerant. An enclosure is installed over the one or more brazed, soldered, or mechanical connections between refrigerant lines. A refrigerant is added to the HVACR system. The refrigerant being added has a global warming potential (GWP) that is relatively lower than the refrigerant removed from the HVACR system. The refrigerant being added has a relatively higher flammability than the refrigerant removed from the HVACR system.

A system and method of retrofitting a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system (HVACR) including one or more brazed, soldered, or mechanical connections between refrigerant lines is disclosed. The method includes removing a refrigerant from the HVACR system. The refrigerant that is removed is a non-flammable refrigerant. An enclosure is installed over the one or more brazed, soldered, or mechanical connections between refrigerant lines. A refrigerant is added to the HVACR system. The refrigerant being added has a global warming potential (GWP) that is relatively lower than the refrigerant removed from the HVACR system. The refrigerant being added has a relatively higher flammability than the refrigerant removed from the HVACR system.

A safety system for a heat pump system includes a plurality of valve units each having refrigerant pipe portions with control valves, a refrigerant leakage detector, and a casing accommodating the valves and the refrigerant leakage detector and formed with first and second openings. The safety system further includes a connection structure connecting the internal spaces of the casings via the first and second openings, and a discharge structure connected to the connection structure or one of the casings and configured to discharge air from the internal space of the casing in which a refrigerant leakage has occurred. The casing has first and second lateral faces facing different directions, and the first opening is formed in the first lateral face and the second opening is formed in the second lateral face.

A safety system for a heat pump system includes a plurality of valve units each having refrigerant pipe portions with control valves, a refrigerant leakage detector, and a casing accommodating the valves and the refrigerant leakage detector and formed with first and second openings. The safety system further includes a connection structure connecting the internal spaces of the casings via the first and second openings, and a discharge structure connected to the connection structure or one of the casings and configured to discharge air from the internal space of the casing in which a refrigerant leakage has occurred. The casing has first and second lateral faces facing different directions, and the first opening is formed in the first lateral face and the second opening is formed in the second lateral face.

A method of indicating the presence of a target gas in a gas volume comprising providing a gas sensing core, configured for detection of the target gas, and a condition sensor within the gas volume, providing a controller, allowing gas to fluidly interact with the gas sensing core, monitoring a target gas measurement output from the gas sensing core, monitoring a parameter output from the condition sensor, recording a parameter output minimum value, calculating a parameter difference, calculating a rate of change of the parameter with respect to time, and indicating the presence of a target gas is detected in the gas volume when the target gas measurement exceeds a target gas measurement threshold value and the parameter difference is less than a parameter difference threshold value.

This air conditioning system includes a refrigerant circuit including an indoor heat exchanger of an indoor unit and an outdoor heat exchanger of an outdoor unit, and a detection unit capable of detecting a refrigerant leaking from the indoor unit. The detection unit is capable of switching between an energized state and a non-energized state on the basis of information on a refrigerant filling amount by which the refrigerant circuit is filled with the refrigerant.

This air conditioning system includes a refrigerant circuit including an indoor heat exchanger of an indoor unit and an outdoor heat exchanger of an outdoor unit, and a detection unit capable of detecting a refrigerant leaking from the indoor unit. The detection unit is capable of switching between an energized state and a non-energized state on the basis of information on a refrigerant filling amount by which the refrigerant circuit is filled with the refrigerant.