Baffle for directing refrigerant leaks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12025337-B2
Application number	US-202117249812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2021
Priority date	Mar 19, 2020
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system including a baffle disposed vertically adjacent to a heat exchanger, and a method for controlling the flow of a refrigerant leak are provided. The baffle may direct at least a portion of a refrigerant leak toward a refrigerant detection assembly. The refrigerant detection assembly may include a nondispersive infrared (NDIR) sensor. The baffle may include a fishbone configuration or a helical configuration. The baffle may direct substantially all of the refrigerant leak away from a control box, which may include at least one potential ignition source (e.g., an electrical component, such as a contactor). When the heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system utilizes a flammable refrigerant, the baffle may help mitigate potential ignition of the flammable refrigerant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
a heat exchanger for transferring heat between a refrigerant and a fluid medium, the heat exchanger comprising a lateral side, where a bend in the heat exchanger is located;
a control box, the control box comprising at least one electrical component for controlling the supply of an electric power to the HVAC system; and
a baffle disposed vertically adjacent to the lateral side of the heat exchanger, vertically being defined from a lower surface of the HVAC system, the baffle configured to direct at least a portion of a refrigerant leak away from the control box.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is disposed within at least one of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is disposed less than one (1) inch from the lateral side of the heat exchanger.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the refrigerant leak is directed downward by the baffle toward a refrigerant detection assembly.

5. The HVAC system of claim 4 , wherein the refrigerant detection assembly comprises a nondispersive infrared sensor.

6. The HVAC system of claim 4 , wherein the refrigerant detection assembly is disposed adjacent to a distal end of the baffle.

7. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises a fishbone configuration.

8. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises a helical configuration.

9. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant comprises at least one of an A2L refrigerant and an A3 refrigerant.

10. The HVAC system of claim 9 , wherein the A2L refrigerant is R454B.

11. The HVAC system of claim 2 , wherein the control box is disposed within at least one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

12. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle directs substantially all of the refrigerant leak away from the control box.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Fard Hafez Raeisi

Classifications

• F24F11/36

  to leakage of heat-exchange fluid · CPC title

• F24F11/89

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F24F2140/00

  Control inputs relating to system states · CPC title

• F24F1/032

  characterised by heat exchangers · CPC title

• F24F13/20 Primary

  Casings or covers · CPC title