| CPC F24F 11/36 (2018.01) [F24F 11/64 (2018.01); F24F 11/77 (2018.01); F24F 11/86 (2018.01); F24F 11/89 (2018.01)] | 19 Claims |
|
1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
an evaporator coil configured to receive an airflow and to transfer heat from the received airflow to a flow of refrigerant;
a drain pan disposed underneath the evaporator coil, wherein the drain pan comprises a base, a first side extending vertically from the base, and a second side extending vertically from the base;
a main support disposed between the drain pain and an air filter, wherein the main support extends vertically to define a space between the main support and the first side of the drain pan, wherein the main support includes a hole;
a housing disposed against the main support such that any leaked refrigerant that overflows the first side of the drain pan and that accumulates in the space, flows into the housing through the hole;
a compressor configured to receive the flow of refrigerant from the evaporator coil and to discharge the flow of refrigerant at a higher pressure;
a refrigerant detection sensor disposed within the housing and configured to detect a concentration of refrigerant in a volume defined by the housing; and
a controller operably coupled to the refrigerant detection sensor, comprising:
a memory configured to store a threshold value associated with a lower flammability limit of the refrigerant, wherein the lower flammability limit corresponds to the concentration of the refrigerant; and
a processor operably coupled to the memory, configured to:
operate the HVAC system in a first mode of operation, wherein the HVAC system is turned on and energized during the first mode of operation;
receive a plurality of concentration measurements from the refrigerant detection sensor;
determine if the concentration of refrigerant in the volume exceeds the stored threshold value based at least in part on the received plurality of concentration measurements; and
in response to determining that the concentration of refrigerant in the volume does exceed the stored threshold value, operate the HVAC system in a second mode of operation;
wherein during the second mode of operation:
the compressor is turned off; and
a blower disposed proximate to the evaporator coil is actuated to discharge the airflow.
|