Tray and assembly for directing and detecting leaked refrigerant

Abstract

An assembly for directing and detecting leaked refrigerant in a heat exchanger is disclosed. The assembly comprises one or more tray configured at one or more leak-prone locations in the heat exchanger. A first tray is configured at bottom of one or more manifold associated with the heat exchanger, which extends along a length of the corresponding manifold. A second tray is configured on top of the manifold(s), which extends along a length of the corresponding manifold and covers the top of the corresponding manifold. The first and second trays are adapted to block and collect leaked refrigerant from any of the one or more leak-prone locations and direct the collected leaked refrigerant toward a predetermined location or a refrigerant sensor.

1 . An assembly for directing and detecting leaked refrigerant in a heat exchanger, the assembly comprising:
 one or more trays configured at one or more leak-prone locations in the heat exchanger,   wherein the one or more trays are adapted to block and collect leaked refrigerant from any of the one or more leak-prone locations and direct the collected leaked refrigerant towards a predetermined location.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more trays comprises a first tray configured at the bottom of one or more manifolds associated with the heat exchanger such that there is at least one first tray below each of the one or more manifolds, wherein the first tray extends along a length of the corresponding manifold. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more trays comprises a second tray configured on top of one or more manifolds associated with the heat exchanger such that there is at least one second tray on top of each of the one or more manifolds, wherein the second tray extends along a length of the corresponding manifold and covers the top of corresponding manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined location is at a bottom end of coils of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a refrigerant sensor at the predetermined location, wherein the refrigerant sensor is associated with a refrigerant leakage detection and mitigation system implemented in the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the leaked refrigerant is directed from the one or more trays towards the predetermined location at the bottom end of the coils or towards the refrigerant sensor through outer surface of the coils of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more trays is fluidically connected to the predetermined location or the refrigerant sensor using one or more of conduits, and a channel. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is an A2L refrigerant. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a microchannel heat exchanger having a V-coil arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . A tray for directing and detecting leaked refrigerant in a heat exchanger, the tray comprising:
 a first member; and   a second member extending upward at a predetermined acute angle from a bottom end of the first member;   wherein the tray is configured to be positioned below one or more manifolds of the heat exchanger, such that the tray extends along a length of the one or more manifolds, and   wherein the tray is adapted to block and collect leaked refrigerant from one or more leak-prone location of the one or more manifolds and direct the collected leaked refrigerant towards a predetermined location.   
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 10 , wherein the tray is configured with the one or more manifolds such that:
 the first member remains parallel to a vertical plane of the corresponding manifold, with the bottom end of the first member below a bottom end of the corresponding manifold; and   the second member extends from the bottom end of the first member towards the bottom end of the corresponding manifold at the predetermined acute angle.   
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 10 , wherein the first member comprises an engaging section configured to facilitate attachment of the tray to an inner vertical wall of a housing of the heat exchanger such that the first member remains parallel to the inner vertical wall of the housing, with the bottom end of the first member being below a bottom end of the corresponding manifold. 
     
     
         13 . The tray  claim 10 , wherein the tray comprises a support section of a predetermined profile between the first member and the second member, wherein the support section is adapted to accommodate and support the one or more manifolds thereover, upon attachment of the first member of the tray to the vertical inner wall of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The tray  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined profile of the support section is selected based on a profile of the one or more manifolds or a profile of a manifold support frame associated with the one or more manifold. 
     
     
         15 . A tray for directing and detecting leaked refrigerant in a heat exchanger, the tray comprising:
 a first member;   a second member attached laterally to and inclined at a predetermined angle from the first member; and   third members, each attached to the first and second members at two opposite ends of the tray;   wherein the tray is configured to be positioned on top of one or more manifolds of the heat exchanger, such that the tray extends along a length of the corresponding manifold and covers the top of the corresponding manifold, and   wherein the tray is adapted to block and collect leaked refrigerant from one or more leak-prone locations of the one or more manifolds and direct the collected leaked refrigerant towards a predetermined location.   
     
     
         16 . The tray of  claim 15 , wherein the tray is configured to be positioned on top of the one or more manifolds, such that the first member extends along the length on top of the corresponding manifold, the second member extends along the length on a coil side of the corresponding manifold, and the third members remain parallel to two opposite ends of the corresponding manifold. 
     
     
         17 . The tray of  claim 15 , wherein the second member comprises one or more notches formed therein to facilitate attachment of the tray on the top of the one or more manifolds within the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The tray of  claim 15 , wherein the first member, the second member, and third member have a flat profile. 
     
     
         19 . The tray of  claim 15 , wherein the first member is substantially perpendicular to the second member.