EMAIL
Refrigerant leak detection has become an indispensable requirement in the HVAC&R industry due to its critical implications for safety, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance. Refrigerants widely used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems may exhibit toxicity, flammability, or high global warming potential (GWP). Consequently, unintended leakage not only threatens operational safety and system efficiency but also contributes to environmental pollution. In response to these risks, increasingly stringent international regulations and industry standards have imposed stricter requirements on refrigerant gas leakage prevention, thereby making reliable leak detection an essential component of HVAC&R system management.
Under the background, the demand for portable refrigerant leak detectors has grown significantly, particularly in installation, maintenance, and field servicing applications, where portable leak detectors are required to achieve high sensitivity, rapid response, strong selectivity, no false alarms, and long-term operational stability to meet industrial standards of refrigerant leak detection.
Consequently, to meet the demand of high-performance detection requirements, it is essential to select an appropriate refrigerant detection technology to achieve accurate, reliable, and efficient refrigerant leak identification in modern HVAC&R applications.
Refrigerant leak detection technologies have evolved along different technical paths, each optimized for specific application needs including portability, sensitivity, selectivity, or long-term stability.
Heated diode sensors are highly sensitive to halogenated refrigerants and provide fast response times, making them especially suitable for rapid leak localization during field inspections. With the ability to quickly identify small leaks, heated diode sensor is a common choice for handheld refrigerant leak detectors.
MOS sensors are known for their simple structure and cost effectiveness, making them easy to integrate into portable instruments. Although the precision and selectivity are more limited, MOS sensors remain widely adopted in applications where affordability, compact size, and large-scale deployment are prioritized over extremely high accuracy.
Catalytic combustion sensors are mainly used for detecting combustible refrigerants, particularly hydrocarbon-based gases. These sensors operate through oxidation reactions on a catalytic surface, allowing them to effectively identify flammable refrigerant leaks. Due to their strong performance in hydrocarbon detection, they are commonly applied in refrigeration environments where combustible gases are present and safety monitoring is critical.
Electrochemical sensors are valued for their strong selectivity and linear response characteristics. They are especially effective in detecting ammonia refrigerants, which are widely used in industrial refrigeration systems. Because of their ability to provide accurate concentration measurements with good sensitivity, electrochemical sensors are often chosen for industrial monitoring applications that require reliable ammonia detection.
NDIR technology works by measuring the absorption of infrared light at specific wavelengths corresponding to refrigerant molecules. The detector calculates refrigerant concentration based on the amount of infrared light absorbed. Compared with chemical sensing methods, NDIR adopts a physical optical measurement principle and does not consume sensing materials during operation. As a result, NDIR sensors typically offer excellent long-term stability and consistent performance, making them particularly suitable for portable and long-duration monitoring applications where reliable sensitivity across different environments is essential.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Within the landscape of multiple viable technologies, NDIR detection technology has emerged as a highly compelling option for portable refrigerant leak detection. NDIR technology offers broad refrigerant compatibility. It can detect a wide range of refrigerants including HFCs, HFOs, HCs, as well as older CFCs and HCFCs. As the industry transitions toward lower global warming potential refrigerants, the compatibility becomes increasingly important. When refrigerant types change, an NDIR-based detector can often continue operating with only configuration adjustments, without the need to replace sensing components. The flexibility reduces upgrade costs and simplifies long-term asset management for service providers.
In real-world field application, another major challenge is that industrial and commercial spaces often contain oil mist, humidity, cleaning chemicals, solvents, and other volatile compounds. NDIR detectors are typically less affected by these conditions because they respond only to specific absorption spectra, which results in lower false alarm rates and higher confidence in detection results. In contrast, chemical sensing technologies can perform well in controlled environments but are more susceptible to interference in complex settings, making portable NDIR detectors are increasingly favored for maintenance and after-sales service work where accuracy and reliability matter.
For the current trend that portable refrigerant leak detection that demands long-term stability, low false alarms, broad refrigerant compatibility, and manageable maintenance costs, NDIR technology stands out as the most balanced and forward-looking choice.
Specializing in NDIR technology for over 20 years, Cubic is a leading manufacturer of gas sensors and gas analyzers with extensive experience in NDIR applications. Cubic offers lightweight, user-friendly OEM portable refrigerant leak detectors ideal for after-sales service and maintenance. Leveraging mature NDIR technology, the detector is customizable to detect a wide range of refrigerants including HFCs, HFOs, and blends such as R32, R290, R410A, R134a, R454A, R454B, R454C, R1234ze, and R1234yf. It features fast response times, ppm-level detection limits, strong anti-interference capability, and an extended lifespan. Moreover, Cubic offers end-to-end capabilities across the entire portable leak detector development cycle, including sensor solutions, hardware design, software development, mold development, prototype testing, and industrial device manufacturing, meeting the diverse customized requirements.
Key features highlights：
- Non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology
- All HFOs and refrigerant blends available
-Real-time ppm and bar graph working mode fast locate the leakage area
- Long life span of 10 years
- Built-in lithium battery with large capacity and support fast charging
- OEM /ODM capability
As refrigerant types diversify and regulatory requirements become more stringent, Cubic’s handheld NDIR refrigerant detectors are designed to meet the demand by combining stable physical measurement, broad refrigerant compatibility, and strong resistance to interference, not only providing a tool for field work, but also supporting the industry’s shift toward smarter, more sustainable refrigeration management.
For more detailed product information, please visit the website at: https://en.gassensor.com.cn/RefrigerantGasLeakageMonitoringSensor/info_itemid_2714.html or contact us via sales@gassensor.com.cn
