REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting refrigerant leak in a refrigeration system comprising:
- a refrigerant level sensor that senses a level of refrigerant in the refrigeration system and generates refrigerant level data based on the level of refrigerant;
a plurality of system sensors that sense conditions corresponding to the refrigeration system and generate system data based on the sensed conditions;
a model database that stores a plurality of models defining expected refrigerant levels based on previously recorded system data, wherein each of the models has an upper control limit and a lower control limit associated therewith;
a model selecting module that selects a model from the model database based on the system data and the previously recorded system data;
a refrigerant level prediction module that generates an expected refrigerant level based on the system data and the selected model; and
a notification module that generates a notification when a difference between the expected refrigerant level and the refrigerant level reading is one of greater than an upper control limit and less than a lower control limit in at least one consecutive reading.
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Abstract
A refrigerant leak detection system is herein disclosed. The system can detect the existence of a slow leak based on the refrigerant level and the system data. They system uses data models, either stored or dynamically created, to calculate an expected refrigerant level. Based on the expected refrigerant level and the actual refrigerant level and statistical process control data, a leak can be identified.
141 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for detecting refrigerant leak in a refrigeration system comprising:
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a refrigerant level sensor that senses a level of refrigerant in the refrigeration system and generates refrigerant level data based on the level of refrigerant; a plurality of system sensors that sense conditions corresponding to the refrigeration system and generate system data based on the sensed conditions; a model database that stores a plurality of models defining expected refrigerant levels based on previously recorded system data, wherein each of the models has an upper control limit and a lower control limit associated therewith; a model selecting module that selects a model from the model database based on the system data and the previously recorded system data; a refrigerant level prediction module that generates an expected refrigerant level based on the system data and the selected model; and a notification module that generates a notification when a difference between the expected refrigerant level and the refrigerant level reading is one of greater than an upper control limit and less than a lower control limit in at least one consecutive reading. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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- 2. The system of claim 2 further comprising a model creation module that creates a model based on the refrigerant level data and the system data.
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11. A method for detecting refrigerant leak in a refrigeration system comprising:
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sensing a level of refrigerant in the refrigeration system; generating refrigerant level data based on the level of refrigerant; sensing conditions corresponding to the refrigeration system; generating system data based on the sensed conditions; storing, in a model database, a plurality of models that define expected refrigerant levels based on previously recorded system data, wherein each of the models has an upper control limit and a lower control limit associated therewith; selecting a model from the model database based on the system data and the previously recorded system data; generating an expected refrigerant level based on the system data and the selected model; and generating a notification when a difference between the expected refrigerant level and the refrigerant level reading is one of greater than an upper control limit and less than a lower control limit in at least one consecutive reading. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification