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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L35690/01
Title: FAULT DIAGNOSIS AND REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION IN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS
Principal Investigator: Tassou, Professor S
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
ELM Ltd Pre Nexus Migration Safeway Stores Plc
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Organisation: Brunel University London
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 May 1998 Ends: 30 April 2001 Value (£): 129,844
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Energy Efficiency Heat & Mass Transfer
Intelligent Measurement Sys.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Refrigeration and air conditioning play a major part in the UK economy. An indication of the importance of the industry is that it counts for around 17% of total electrical energy consumption which is worth over 2.0 billion per year.Most refrigeration systems have the potential to leak because the pressure in the system is usually many times higher than atmospheric. It is estimated that 20% of the refrigerant charge in large systems is released to the atmosphere each year, contributing to global warming and the greenhouse effect both directly and indirectly through increased energy comsumption. Traditional leak detection techniques based on refrigerant sensors have a number of serious limitations which make them unsuitable for use in well ventilated spaces or outdoors. This project aims to develop a novel leak detection technique based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and a real time expert system. The technique will be independant of both system design and size and refrigerant type. Together with lead detection the system will incorporate detection and identification of other major faults in the system and should lead to better performance and higher system efficiency. The investigations will be based on experimental facilities in the laboratory and on a retail refrigeration system in a food store.
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Organisation Website: http://www.brunel.ac.uk