TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a method of and system for detecting refrigerant leak and modifying operation of the HVAC system to reduce the risk of a fire hazard due to refrigerant entering an enclosed space.

History of Related Art

HVAC systems are used to regulate environmental conditions within an enclosed space. Typically, HVAC systems have a circulation fan that pulls air from the enclosed space through ducts and pushes the air back into the enclosed space through additional ducts after conditioning the air (e.g., heating, cooling, humidifying, or dehumidifying the air).

SUMMARY

A method of monitoring a refrigerant leak. The method includes monitoring, by a first controller, operation of a first HVAC system for conditioning air within a first level of a residence, monitoring, by a second controller, operation of a second HVAC system for conditioning air within a second level of the residence and determining, using a plurality of leak detectors, whether refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking. Responsive to a positive determination in the determining step, receiving, by the first controller, a refrigerant leak warning signal, forwarding, by the first controller to the second controller, the refrigerant leak warning signal. Responsive to receiving the refrigerant leak warning signal from the first controller, activating, by the second controller, a variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system.

A system includes a first HVAC system for conditioning air within a first level of a residence, a second HVAC system for conditioning air within a second level of the residence and a first plurality of leak detectors associated with at least one component of the first HVAC system. The system further includes a second plurality of leak detectors associated with at least one component of the second HVAC system, a first controller configured to communicate with the first plurality of leak detectors and a second controller configured to communicate with the second plurality of leak detectors. The first plurality of leak detectors are configured to determine whether refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking. Responsive to a positive determination, forward to the first controller, a refrigerant leak warning signal. Upon receiving the refrigerant leak warning signal, the first controller forwards the refrigerant leak warning signal to the second controller, wherein the second controller activates a variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system even though refrigerant leak was detected in the first HVAC system.

A method of monitoring a plurality of HVAC systems for refrigerant leak. The method includes monitoring operation of the plurality of HVAC systems, wherein the plurality of HVAC systems comprise a first HVAC system comprising a first controller for conditioning air within a first level of a residence and a second HVAC system comprising a second controller for conditioning air within a second level of the residence. The method further includes determining, using a plurality of leak detectors, whether refrigerant within a first HVAC system is leaking. Responsive to a positive determination in the determining step, receiving, by the first controller, a refrigerant leak warning signal and forwarding, by the first controller to the second controller, the refrigerant leak warning signal. Responsive to receiving the refrigerant leak warning signal from the first controller, activating, by the second controller, a variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system, activating a plurality of ceiling fans, activating a plurality of exhaust fans and forwarding a refrigerant leak warning signal to a plurality of smoke detectors to notify users of the refrigerant leak.

