TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and more particularly to refrigerant leak detection and the reduction of leaked refrigerant concentration.

BACKGROUND

HVAC systems are typically used for managing the temperature of spaces inside structures such as residential and commercial buildings. An HVAC system may be used to heat and/or cool a space. An HVAC system that can operate in a cooling mode is typically a closed refrigerant circulation system, and a refrigerant is circulated through the HVAC system during cooling operations. A refrigerant leak may sometimes occur in an HVAC system. For example, a refrigerant leak can occur in an indoor unit of an HVAC system. A build-up of leaked refrigerant in the indoor unit may be undesirable for a number of reasons, such as fire risks, risk from toxins at high concentrations. For example, a refrigerant used in an HVAC system may be flammable. Thus, a solution that enables effective detections of a leaked refrigerant and the dissipation of the leaked refrigerant may be desirable.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and more particularly to refrigerant leak detection and the reduction of leaked refrigerant concentration. In some example embodiments, an air mover system for use in an indoor unit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower comprising a motor and a blower control unit configured to control operations of the motor. The blower control unit includes a controller and a sensor communicably coupled to the controller. The sensor is configured to sense air inside the indoor unit and to provide sensor information to the controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a refrigerant is present in the air based on the sensor information and to control the blower to move the air out of the indoor unit in response to determining that the refrigerant is present in the air

In another example embodiment, an indoor unit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a coil and a blower that includes a motor. The blower draws in or pushes air past the coil during a cooling operation of the HVAC system. The indoor unit further includes a blower control unit configured to control operations of the motor. The blower control unit includes a controller and a sensor communicably coupled to the controller. The sensor is configured to sense air inside the indoor unit and to provide sensor information to the controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a refrigerant is present in the air based on the sensor information and to control the blower to move the air out of the indoor unit.

In another example embodiment, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit fluidly coupled to the outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes a coil and a blower that includes a motor. The blower draws in or pushes air past the coil during a cooling operation of the HVAC system. The indoor unit further includes a blower control unit configured to control operations of the motor. The blower control unit includes a controller and a sensor communicably coupled to the controller. The sensor is configured to sense air inside the indoor unit and to provide sensor information to the controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a refrigerant is present in the air based on the sensor information and to control the blower to move the air out of the indoor unit.

These and other aspects, objects, features, and embodiments will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

