As temperatures rise, refrigeration and air-conditioning systems are subjected to a heavier workload.
Supermarkets, food-processing industries, hotels, hospitals, refrigerated warehouses and technical rooms all depend on the proper operation of these systems. During the hottest days, compressors and other components operate for longer periods to maintain the required temperatures.
Heat does not directly cause a refrigerant leak, but it can make deteriorated seals, imperfectly sealed connections, vibrations or other existing system faults more apparent.
For this reason, summer is one of the periods when continuous monitoring becomes even more important.
A leak is not merely a technical problem
A refrigerant leak may initially go unnoticed, particularly because many gases are colourless and difficult to detect without specific instruments.
Possible consequences include:
- reduced cooling capacity;
- increased energy consumption;
- greater compressor wear;
- deterioration of stored goods;
- system shutdown;
- additional maintenance costs;
- possible risks to people in the surrounding area.
In enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, a leak may also affect safety conditions before the fault is detected by operators.
Different refrigerants require specific solutions
The refrigeration sector is changing rapidly. Alongside traditional refrigerants such as R134A, R404, R407C, R410A and R507, lower-environmental-impact gases are increasingly being used, including R32, R513A and R290.
However, not all refrigerants have the same characteristics.
R290, for example, is propane and is therefore a flammable gas. R32, on the other hand, is classified as a mildly flammable refrigerant. The choice of detector must therefore take into account the type of gas used, the size of the area and the characteristics of the system.
There is no single sensor suitable for every application.
Beinat solutions for refrigerant detection
Beinat offers different systems for monitoring leaks in refrigeration and air-conditioning installations.
The HCF100 sensor can detect several refrigerants, including R134A, R404, R407C, R410A, R32, R507 and R513A. Equipped with a 4–20 mA output and an IP55 protection rating, it can be connected to Beinat conventional control panels and is suitable for cold rooms, technical rooms and commercial and industrial applications.
Specific solutions are available for systems using R290.
The HCF100FRE7 sensor, housed in an IP55 ABS enclosure, is designed to detect propane used as a refrigerant. For environments requiring greater strength and protection, Beinat also offers the SG800FRE7, featuring an IP66 aluminium enclosure and two alarm thresholds: pre-alarm and general alarm.
In larger installations, such as supermarkets, industrial plants or refrigerated warehouses, addressable sensors from the SGI series, designed for specific refrigerants, can be used.
These include:
The SGI series sensors can be connected to the BXI32 addressable control panel, which manages up to 32 detection points through an RS485 network. The control panel makes it possible to quickly identify the area affected by the alarm and store events, facilitating inspection and maintenance operations.
Detect, inspect, prevent
A detection system must be kept fully efficient over time.
Before the period of greatest use, it is advisable to check:
- the condition of the sensors;
- communication with the control panel;
- correct alarm operation;
- sensor positioning;
- any connected devices;
- proper completion of scheduled maintenance.
For checking compatible sensors, Beinat also provides the TS1008 tester, which can be used to read operating parameters and verify stored events.
Cold chain safety
During the summer, an undetected leak can quickly compromise system efficiency, the quality of stored products and business continuity.
A fixed detection system, on the other hand, makes it possible to identify faults promptly and intervene before the problem causes more serious consequences.
Beinat develops conventional and addressable solutions for refrigerant gas detection, designed for commercial, industrial and service-sector applications.
The sensor and control panel must be selected according to the refrigerant used and the specific characteristics of the installation
