Refrigerant gas leak detection has become a high priority for many companies in this environmentally sensitive age, especially considering the increasing price of refrigerant gas, not to mention emergency service call-out costs to find, detect and repair leaks of HFC’s HCFC’s, plus the wasted man-hours that can be incurred.
Installation of refrigerant gas leak detectors is becoming an increasing concern in today’s workplace.
AquiTron™ refrigerant gas detection sensors are the product of the customer focus programme. Aquilar are fully conversant with BREEAM, BS-EN378-2016, ODS EC Regulations EC2037/2000 and F-Gas Regulation.
Aquilar can provide the two typically accepted technologies – aspirated and non-aspirated systems. Typical applications are commercial buildings to monitor the vast quantity of joints, valves and pipe work used in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. They can stand-alone or be integrated into existing sensor networks and can also be integrated with water, oil and chemical leak detection and monitoring equipment.
Aspirated – These systems are available to detect all HCFC’s, HFC’s and ammonia. The main panel sequentially analyses sample air from up to 16 zones and can identify refrigerant down to 1 ppm. By using manifolds, the panel is capable of monitoring at up to 64 sampling points. Interfaced with the panel can be visual alarms, volt free contacts for leak level detection, several analogue outputs which can be used for BMS, dial out, red flashing light, buzzer and shutdown switches. The system has very high accuracy, with temperature, pressure compensation and self-diagnostics involving daily self-test, flow check, vacuum test and production of fault codes. The 6mm diameter colour coded sample tubes can be up to 100 metres in length with end of line and in line air filters.
Non-aspirated – The AT-SRG and AT-MGS systems utilise electronic sensors technologies. The AT-SRG is a stand-alone refrigerant sensor providing visual, audible and relay alarms for occupied areas, typically apartment, hotel bedrooms, office space to name just a few. An optional central monitoring AquiNet Fieldbus monitoring system or one of the EcoLeak, 1, 6 or 24 zone panels are also available to enable these systems to comply with BS EN378-2016. The AT-MGS range consists of up to 2 or 8 remote sensors connected to a control panel. The sensors derive their power from the central controller which also gives audible, visual and relay alarms. The AT-MGS can be used on a stand-alone basis or integrated in Controls or BMS using its digital or analogue outputs.
“It is estimated that companies could save as much as £40 million per year in costs by reducing leakage levels on their refrigeration plant. Most commercial and industrial systems have numerous potential leakage points. You may not even be aware that your plant is leaking, let alone how much it is costing you”.
Dept. of the Environment, Transport & the Regions.
