EP4040064A1 - Procédé et agencement de détection des fuites de réfrigérant dans un circuit réfrigérant agencé dans un boîtier fermé - Google Patents

Procédé et agencement de détection des fuites de réfrigérant dans un circuit réfrigérant agencé dans un boîtier fermé Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4040064A1
EP4040064A1 EP22153871.3A EP22153871A EP4040064A1 EP 4040064 A1 EP4040064 A1 EP 4040064A1 EP 22153871 A EP22153871 A EP 22153871A EP 4040064 A1 EP4040064 A1 EP 4040064A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerant
temperature
adsorbent filling
leak
refrigeration circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22153871.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Pascal Forner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vaillant GmbH
Original Assignee
Vaillant GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vaillant GmbH filed Critical Vaillant GmbH
Publication of EP4040064A1 publication Critical patent/EP4040064A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/32—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
    • F24F11/36—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
    • F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
    • F24H15/395—Information to users, e.g. alarms
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H4/00—Fluid heaters characterised by the use of heat pumps
    • F24H4/02—Water heaters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25B49/005—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices of safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D2200/00—Heat sources or energy sources
    • F24D2200/12—Heat pump
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25B2500/22—Preventing, detecting or repairing leaks of refrigeration fluids
    • F25B2500/222—Detecting refrigerant leaks
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B30/00—Heat pumps
    • F25B30/02—Heat pumps of the compression type

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and an arrangement for detecting refrigerant leaks in a refrigeration circuit.
  • Modern heating systems are often equipped with heat pumps that extract heat from the environment in order to heat buildings and/or water.
  • This requires a refrigeration circuit in which a refrigerant circulates, which is mostly gaseous at ambient temperature and pressure and therefore escapes as a gas if there is a leak in the refrigeration circuit.
  • Usual refrigerants e.g. B. the so-called R290, for which the present invention is particularly suitable, should not get into buildings uncontrolled for various reasons. Some refrigerants are also flammable, so uncontrolled distribution must be avoided for this reason alone. Therefore, if a refrigeration circuit cannot be placed outside buildings, it is placed in an interior space of a sealed housing, which e.g. B. is placed in a basement or an adjoining room of a building.
  • Escaping refrigerant can initially only escape into the interior, from where it can be routed out of the building into the open air. Since one often wants to avoid a discharge of refrigerant into the environment or a discharge into the free environment is sometimes difficult, it is also known to install a connection chamber in a connection between the interior and the environment, which is filled with an adsorbent, which exiting refrigerant binds. Depending on the dimensioning of such an adsorbent filling this can be sufficient to bind the entire content of the refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit, so that it can neither escape into the open air nor into a building.
  • the object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art.
  • one object is to create a method and an arrangement for determining and/or quantitatively determining the presence of a refrigerant leak in a refrigeration circuit, the arrangement being simple and suitable for everyday operation of a refrigeration circuit and requiring little maintenance, if possible for its entire service life.
  • a method for detecting a leak in a refrigeration circuit filled with a refrigerant which is arranged in an interior space of a tight housing which is connected to an external environment only via a connecting chamber provided with an adsorbent filling for the refrigerant.
  • Refrigerant escaping from the refrigeration circuit into the interior is adsorbed in the adsorbent filling, with the development of heat, the temperature being measured at at least one point in the adsorbent filling. If an absolute threshold value for the temperature is exceeded and/or if a threshold value for the temperature rise per unit of time is exceeded, a leak is then concluded.
  • a specifiable absolute threshold value has been exceeded and/or that a specifiable threshold value for a temperature rise per unit of time has been exceeded.
  • a leak countermeasures e.g. warning message, maintenance, shutdown, error message
  • the adsorbent filling in the connecting chamber preferably has at least one inner section and one outer section, with each of these sections the temperature is measured. More than two partial areas can be provided.
  • the sub-areas do not have to be structurally delimited from one another, for example by a collar, a lattice or the like.
  • the sub-areas can include different volumes of the adsorbent filling, it being preferable for them to be defined with approximately the same volume fraction, depending on the number.
  • the "inner" or first sub-area is usually closest to the interior space, while the "outer" sub-area (or further sub-areas) is further away from the interior space or is separated from the interior space by sub-areas located further inwards. If more than two sub-areas are provided, temperature measurements do not have to be provided or carried out in all sub-areas. It is possible that a (direct) temperature measurement is taken at one point in each sub-area.
  • refrigerant gets into the inner part and triggers a temperature increase there, while no refrigerant can be detected in the outer part.
  • the temperature also increases in the outer partial area, while the temperature in the inner partial area drops again the more it is saturated with adsorbed refrigerant.
  • a subdivision into more partial areas can increase the measurement accuracy. In any case, not only can the presence of a leak be determined in this way, but the magnitude of a leak can also be determined more precisely than with just one temperature measurement.
  • the temperature in the connecting chamber can vary depending on the time of year and environmental or operating conditions, it makes sense to establish a reference temperature that will not be affected by a leak and only determine the difference in temperatures measured in the adsorbent filling from this reference temperature and to be used for further evaluation.
  • the reference temperature can be measured in the interior or in the environment.
  • the size and/or the previous duration of the leak is inferred from the value (or the level) of the measured temperature and/or the speed of a temperature rise in the partial areas or in each partial area.
  • the currently determined temperature values and/or the rate of change of the temperature can be related to previous and/or stored values from the same and/or another sub-area. From this, characteristic values and/or correlations can be determined (automatically) which characterize the propagation area of the leak, the amount of refrigerant that has occurred and/or the behavior of the leak over time. This information can be used to initiate further actions, such as targeted notifications for maintenance, shutdown or malfunction.
  • the task is also solved by an arrangement for detecting a refrigerant leak in a refrigeration circuit, which is arranged in an interior of a tight housing, which is connected to an external environment only via a connecting chamber provided with an adsorbent filling for the refrigerant, wherein in the adsorbent filling in at least one temperature sensor is arranged in the connecting chamber, which is connected to an evaluation unit via a measuring line.
  • Temperature sensors are robust and require little maintenance and have a very long service life as does a typical adsorbent, so the arrangement can have a service life similar to that of a refrigeration cycle.
  • the temperature sensor is in direct contact with the adsorbent in the connecting chamber.
  • the temperature sensor itself and / or the (electronic or electrical) measuring line can, for example, laterally from the Connection chamber are brought out.
  • the evaluation unit can include a computer and a (data) memory.
  • the connecting chamber preferably has at least one inner partial area and one outer partial area, with a temperature sensor being arranged in each of the partial areas. If more than two subareas are provided, at least one temperature sensor can be provided in each subarea, but it is also possible for at least one subarea to be designed without a temperature sensor.
  • Refrigerant escaping in the event of a leak first reaches the inner section and only later - when the absorption capacity of the adsorbent filling in this area has been reached - the (further) outer section, so that temperature sensors in both sections (or even other sections) provide additional information about the Magnitude of the leak and / or the amount of refrigerant that has already leaked can be obtained.
  • a temperature sensor is arranged in the interior space as a reference sensor, which is also connected to the evaluation unit (via an electronic or electrical measuring line).
  • This reference sensor provides a temperature unaffected by a leak, which essentially corresponds to the temperature in the connection chamber, so that only the difference of temperatures measured in the connection chamber from the reference temperature has to be considered when interpreting the data.
  • the adsorbent filling comprises or contains activated carbon and/or another adsorbent which heats up when the refrigerant is adsorbed.
  • the evaluation unit can be set up in such a way that if an absolute threshold value for the temperature and/or a threshold value for the temperature rise per unit of time (or the respective difference to a reference temperature) is exceeded, a warning message and/or protective measures are (automatically) triggered. This can be an indication on a display, a message to a remote maintenance center or a shutdown of the refrigeration circuit.
  • the size (e.g. the volume or the dimensions) of the connecting chamber and the amount of adsorbent in it is particularly preferably designed such that, in the event of leaks below a tolerance value, no refrigerant escapes into the external environment within a specifiable time interval. This can even go so far that everything can be adsorbed even if all the refrigerant escapes. This means additional security for a building or the environment. Nevertheless, a leak is quickly detected and reported.
  • a further aspect also relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which cause the arrangement described to carry out the method described.
  • the evaluation of the data measured by the sensors and their further use require a program and data, both of which must be updated from time to time.
  • the explanations of the method can be used to characterize the arrangement in more detail, and vice versa.
  • the arrangement can also be set up in such a way that the method is carried out with it.
  • the refrigeration circuit 1 shows schematically a refrigeration circuit 1, filled with refrigerant 2, which is arranged in an interior 4 of a housing 3.
  • the refrigeration circuit 1 typically contains components that are not explained in more detail here, such as a compressor, an expansion element, an evaporator and a condenser, which in turn can also have supply lines that are guided through the housing in a sealed manner.
  • the following only deals with leaks of refrigerant 2, which lead to refrigerant 2 escaping into the interior 4, where the refrigerant spreads quickly through diffusion and, because of the resulting overpressure in the interior, through a connecting chamber 6 into an environment 5 (free environment or building) wants to escape.
  • adsorbent e.g. B. activated carbon prevented, which the refrigerant 2 adsorbed.
  • adsorbent fillings 7 for R290 and other natural refrigerants some of which can also be flammable. These are porous and have a large surface area, so that effective adsorption can take place, with heat being released.
  • refrigerant 2 first enters an inner portion 8 of the adsorbent filling 7, where the Temperature initially increases in an adsorption zone 10, which can be measured by a first temperature sensor 11 and passed on to an evaluation unit 14 via a measuring line 15. In the simplest case, it is already possible to monitor for leaks.
  • the adsorption zone 10 Over time (when the adsorbent in the first section is increasingly saturated), the adsorption zone 10, in which mainly the heat is released, moves further outwards and then also reaches an outer section 9, in which the temperature is also measured by a second temperature sensor 12 can be measured.
  • a second temperature sensor 12 By evaluating the temperature measurements from the first 11 and second 12 temperature sensors, not only can a leak be detected, but its size and duration can also be estimated.
  • a third temperature sensor 13 as a reference, temperature fluctuations that are not due to a leak can be compensated for, which also works with only one temperature sensor 11 in the adsorbent filling. Only the difference between the reference temperature at the third temperature sensor 13 and the temperature in the adsorbent filling is considered.
  • the evaluation unit 14 determines that a definable absolute threshold value has been exceeded and/or that a definable threshold value has been exceeded for the temperature increase per unit of time and interprets this as an indication of a leak.
  • the evaluation unit is part of a control and regulation unit of an entire heating system and can trigger warning signals, warning displays, messages to a remote maintenance center and/or direct measures in the latter, including switching off the refrigeration circuit 1 .
  • the arrangement can also be designed to be inherently safe against the escape of refrigerant 2 into the environment 5 at the same time.
  • the present invention allows with a simple, robust and largely maintenance-free instrumentation of one or more temperature sensors in one Adsorbent filling Reliably detect leaks in refrigerant and initiate appropriate measures.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Examining Or Testing Airtightness (AREA)
  • Measuring Temperature Or Quantity Of Heat (AREA)
EP22153871.3A 2021-02-05 2022-01-28 Procédé et agencement de détection des fuites de réfrigérant dans un circuit réfrigérant agencé dans un boîtier fermé Pending EP4040064A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102021102722.5A DE102021102722A1 (de) 2021-02-05 2021-02-05 Verfahren und Anordnung zur Feststellung von Kältemittelleckagen in einem Kältekreislauf, der in einem geschlossenen Gehäuse angeordnet ist

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4040064A1 true EP4040064A1 (fr) 2022-08-10

Family

ID=80122731

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22153871.3A Pending EP4040064A1 (fr) 2021-02-05 2022-01-28 Procédé et agencement de détection des fuites de réfrigérant dans un circuit réfrigérant agencé dans un boîtier fermé

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4040064A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE102021102722A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011116863A1 (de) * 2011-10-25 2013-04-25 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Verfahren zur Sicherung einer Vorrichtung für einen thermodynamischen Kreisprozess und abgesicherte Vorrichtung für einen thermodynamischen Kreisprozess
EP3693078A1 (fr) * 2019-02-06 2020-08-12 Vaillant GmbH Capteur de niveau de remplissage
DE102019118984A1 (de) * 2019-02-06 2020-10-08 Vaillant Gmbh Diffusionssperre mittels Schutzschichten

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5796878B2 (ja) 2009-12-25 2015-10-21 荏原冷熱システム株式会社 冷媒吸着材充填容器、それを備えたターボ冷凍機用抽気回収装置とターボ冷凍機及び冷媒回収装置
EP3106780B1 (fr) 2015-06-17 2017-11-22 Vaillant GmbH Installation de pompes à chaleur
DE102017126952A1 (de) 2017-11-16 2019-05-16 Vaillant Gmbh Leckageerkennung mittels Adsorber
DE102019205908B4 (de) 2019-04-25 2021-02-18 Dometic Sweden Ab Heizeinheit, Absorptionskältevorrichtung, Fahrzeug mit der Absorptionskältevorrichtung und Verfahren zum Betrieb derselben

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011116863A1 (de) * 2011-10-25 2013-04-25 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Verfahren zur Sicherung einer Vorrichtung für einen thermodynamischen Kreisprozess und abgesicherte Vorrichtung für einen thermodynamischen Kreisprozess
EP3693078A1 (fr) * 2019-02-06 2020-08-12 Vaillant GmbH Capteur de niveau de remplissage
DE102019118984A1 (de) * 2019-02-06 2020-10-08 Vaillant Gmbh Diffusionssperre mittels Schutzschichten

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE102021102722A1 (de) 2022-08-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE102011051051B4 (de) Erkennung von Dichtungsleckagen und Dichtungsölkontamination in Generatoren
EP3568628B1 (fr) Dispositif et procédé de détermination de la qualité d'isolation thermique de récipients à double paroi isolés sous vide
DE10320021A1 (de) Kältemittelkompressoranordnung
DE3872707T2 (de) Heliumleckdetektor.
EP2176724B1 (fr) Dispositif de détermination et/ou de surveillance d'une grandeur de processus
EP3198251B1 (fr) Dispositif et procédé d'étalonnage une chambre à membrane pour la détection de fuite
DE102014201529A1 (de) Verfahren zum Betreiben eines Druckmessumformers sowie Druckmessumformer
EP1953517B1 (fr) Agencement destiné à la surveillance de l'étanchéité d'une pièce évacuée
DE102016007722A1 (de) Drehkodierer mit Funktion zum Gewinnen einer Feuchtigkeitsabsorptionsmenge eines Trockenmittels
EP3588042B1 (fr) Élément de pression
EP2341490A1 (fr) Dispositif de détection d'endommagements du verre dans un vitrage isolant
DE102015113026B4 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Erfassen einer Permeationsrate durch ein flächiges Prüfobjekt
EP4040064A1 (fr) Procédé et agencement de détection des fuites de réfrigérant dans un circuit réfrigérant agencé dans un boîtier fermé
DE102019126134A1 (de) Gasdichtemesser
DE2735804C3 (de) Einrichtung zur Anzeige von Flüssigkeitsleckagen
DE102008005821A1 (de) Brandmelder
EP4314755A1 (fr) Procédé de détermination du volume d'usure d'un joint à anneau coulissant dans des événements d'usure singuliers au moyen d'une mesure de température à haute résolution temporelle
DE60302645T2 (de) Multifunktionale elektronische vorrichtung für eine gleitringdichtungsanordnung, steuerungs- und überwachungs- prozess dafür
DE2943509B1 (de) Verfahren und Einrichtung zur Dichtheitskontrolle einer bewegten Membran
EP0631218A2 (fr) Système de chauffage à distance
DE19707139A1 (de) Vorrichtung zur optoelektronischen Ermittlung der Menge und der Erzeugungsrate nicht gelöster Gase sowie Ölstand- und Leckagebestimmung in mit Flüssigkeit gefüllten Anlagen und -geräten wie Transformatoren und Wandlern zum Schutz und zur Überwachung dieser Anlagen und Geräte
DE2704570C3 (de) Brandmeldeanlage, insbesondere für einen Autotunnel
DE102011052775B4 (de) Anordnung und Verfahren zur Kältemittelfüllstandsüberwachung und -regelung in Kälteanlagen
DE102017202521A1 (de) Kompressor mit Bewegungskompensationseinrichtung
DE202009014452U1 (de) Membranausdehnungsgefäß

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20230209

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR