US Patent 11326798 Refrigerant leak detection and mitigation system and method

A refrigerant leak detection and mitigation system/method for use in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that incorporates a refrigerant gas sensor (RGS), sensor signal conditioner (SSC), alarm status indicator (ASI), and digital control processor (DCP) is disclosed. The RGS detects ambient refrigerant gas (ARG) and indicates this as a refrigerant sensor voltage (RSV) to the SSC. The DCP and SSC form a closed control loop (CCL) in which the SSC electrical characteristics are adjusted by the DCP such that the RSV is continuously and dynamically recalibrated to account for background refrigerant gas levels, changes in ambient air conditions, RGS manufacturing tolerances, and other field-specific operational conditions that impact the RGS detection capabilities. The DCP is configured to log alarms to the ASI if a RGS refrigerant leak is detected and optionally shutdown one or more HVAC system components such as a specific air handler leaking refrigerant.