Air mover refrigerant leak detection and risk mitigation

Abstract

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.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An air mover system for use with an indoor unit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the air mover system comprising:
 a blower comprising a motor;   a sensor configured to detect presence of a refrigerant in air inside the indoor unit; and   a controller configured to:
 receive first feedback from the sensor; 
 determine, based at least in part on the first feedback, that refrigerant is present in the air inside the indoor unit; and 
 cause the blower to direct the air out of the indoor unit. 
   
     
     
         3 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is further configured to detect presence of non-refrigerant elements in ambient air. 
     
     
         4 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 cause operation of a compressor to cease after determining that the refrigerant is present in the air inside the indoor unit.   
     
     
         5 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 cause presentation of an audible or visual notification.   
     
     
         6 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the air mover system further comprising:
 a second sensor disposed external to the indoor unit;   wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive second feedback from the second sensor; 
 determine, based at least in part on the second feedback, that refrigerant is present in the air external to the indoor unit; and 
 cause presentation of an audible or visual notification. 
   
     
     
         7 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the air mover system further comprising:
 a second sensor configured to determine an oxygen level;   wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive second feedback from the second sensor; and 
 determine, based at least in part on the second feedback, that refrigerant is present in the air external to the indoor unit. 
   
     
     
         8 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine, based at least in part on the first feedback, that an amount of refrigerant present satisfies a threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 wirelessly transmit an electronic notification.   
     
     
         10 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 cause the blower to direct air toward the sensor in a first direction that is different than a second direction of air flow inside the indoor unit.   
     
     
         11 . The air mover system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 cause the blower to direct air toward the sensor based at least in part on a trigger event, wherein the trigger event comprises one or more of: powering on of the air mover system, a periodic time interval, or detection of refrigerant based at least in part on sensor feedback.   
     
     
         12 . The air mover system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive second feedback from the sensor;   determine, based at least in part on the second feedback from the sensor, that refrigerant is not present in the air inside the indoor unit; and   cause a refrigerant leak detection process to be reset.   
     
     
         13 . The air mover system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 send the sensor a request for the second feedback within a predetermined time interval of receiving the first feedback.   
     
     
         14 . A method for detecting a refrigerant leak, the method comprising:
 causing, by a controller of an HVAC system, a blower of the HVAC system to direct air toward a sensor disposed in an indoor unit of the HVAC system;   receiving first feedback from the sensor;   determining, based at least in part on the first feedback, that refrigerant is present in the air inside the indoor unit; and   causing the blower to direct the air out of the indoor unit.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor is further configured to detect presence of non-refrigerant elements in ambient air. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein causing the blower to direct the air out of the indoor unit comprises:
 causing operation of a compressor to cease after determining that the refrigerant is present in the air inside the indoor unit.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the method further comprising:
 receiving second feedback from a second sensor;   determining, based at least in part on the second feedback, that refrigerant is present in the air external to the indoor unit; and   causing presentation of an audible or visual notification.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the method further comprising:
 receiving second feedback from the second sensor indicative of an oxygen level; and   determining, based at least in part on the second feedback, that refrigerant is present in the air external to the indoor unit.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining, based at least in part on the first feedback, that an amount of refrigerant present satisfies a threshold.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving second feedback from the sensor;   determining, based at least in part on the second feedback from the sensor, that refrigerant is not present in the air inside the indoor unit; and   causing a refrigerant leak detection process to be reset.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 sending the sensor a request for the second feedback within a predetermined time interval of receiving the first feedback.