Chillgard® RT
Refrigerant
Monitors
EVERY LIFE HAS A PURPOSE…
AGENDA
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Why Monitor Refrigerants?
Photoacoustic Infrared Detection
Chillgard RT Features and Benefits
BACnet Capabilities
Summary
Why Monitor?
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Personnel Safety inside Mechanical Rooms
 ASHRAE 15 Guideline
 Local Building Codes
 International Mechanical Code
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Economics $$$$
 System Efficiency
 Replacement Cost of Refrigerant
 Potential Government (EPA) Fines
Why Monitor?
ASHRAE Guidelines
ASHRAE 15
Why Monitor?
ASHRAE Guidelines
ASHRAE 15 requires Entry-Way Signaling at
each entrance of a Mechanical Room
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MSA offers a variety of
devices to meet this
requirement
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Strobes
Horns
Remote Display
Signs per specification
Why Monitor?
ASHRAE Guidelines
ASHRAE 147:
The Green Standard - Acknowledges Ozone Depletion and EPA Clean
Air Act
Where They Are Used
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SCHOOLS
UNIVERSITIES
DATA CENTERS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
HOTELS
CASINOS
HOSPITALS
CONVENTION CENTERS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
Who are the Customers?
● Chiller manufacturers
● Building Control Companies
● Contractors - HVAC & Mechanical
● End Users -Direct sales
● Hospitals, Universities, Government
Infrared Detection Methodology
 Both absorptive and photoacoustic
techniques utilize infrared energy
of a selective wavelength.
 Majority of gases absorb infrared
energy of various wavelengths.
 The wavelength selected for use in
detection is determined by the gas
in use and its specific characteristics.
Photoacoustic Infrared
Gas Detection Technology
How Does It Differ?
To better understand the advantages of Photoacoustic
Infrared Technology, we will briefly compare it to the older,
more commonly used Absorptive Infrared Technology.
Absorptive
Infrared
Technology
Photoacoustic
Infrared
Technology
Infrared Technology
Red is representative
of a typical gas
absorption
characteristic.
Yellow is an infrared
wavelength used to
detect this specific
gas.
Absorptive Technique
All absorptive infrared detection methods differ
from manufacturer-to-manufacturer. However, the
basic principal remains the same.
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Sample and reference measurements must be taken.
The sample cell is exposed to the gas to be detected.
The reference cell is either isolated from the gas to be detected or
infrared energy outside the absorptive wavelength characteristics
of the gas to be detected is used.
The two measurements are compared. If they are equal, the
instrument will indicate zero (0).
Absorptive Technique
In this example, infrared sources deliver
infrared energy through separate sample
and reference cells to separate sample
and reference detectors.
Absorptive Technique
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When the gas to be detected is present, it
absorbs some portion of the sample infrared
energy
The reference infrared energy is unaffected by
the gas to be detected
The change in ratio of the sample and
reference detectors is the actual
concentration of gas present
Photoacoustic Infrared Technology
Has been in use since the 1960’S
MSA – 10 Years of experience in PIR
gas monitors
Has replaced many traditional infrared
analyzers as well as other sensing
technologies
Photoacoustic Infrared Gas Detection
Photoacoustic Infrared sensing technology differs from
all other available detection techniques on the market.
It has 2 distinct advantages:
The ability to sense a leak as low as in
the PPB level for some applications.
The ability to operate long periods of
time without adjustment or zero drift, a
common problem with all other
technologies in use today.
Basic PIR Cell Assembly
Photoacoustic IR Optical Bench
IR source - wire filament emitting multiple wavelengths of light
Chopper (not shown) - used to setup modulation
Optical filters –
provide sensitivity and selectivity for a given gas
selected for specific application
Optical block - volume can be changed for specific ranges
Detector- high sensitivity microphone
Solenoid valves - sample inlet and outlet provide seal during
photoacoustic gas detection
Heater and thermostat (not shown) - temperature control critical for
low PPM or PPB detection
CHILLGARD RT
REFRIGERANT MONITOR
Chillgard RT Monitor
All Refrigerants & Ammonia
Multiple Refrigerants, up to 6
Standalone Sample Draw System
1, 4, or 8 Channel Configuration
NEMA 4 Design
Premier Monitor on the Market
Refrigerants Detected
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R11, 12, 22, 123, 134A
400 Series Refrigerants including R410A and R407C
500 Series Refrigerants
New Refrigerants such R1234YF
Ammonia
There isn’t a commercially available refrigerant that
we can’t detect!
Sample Points
 Up to 8 points
 Samples each point for 30 seconds when no gas
present
 Samples an extra 60 seconds if gas level
exceeds threshold value
 150 ft w/ 1/8 inch id tubing
 500 feet w/ 3/16 inch id tubing
Chillgard RT Monitor
Photoacoustic Infrared Sensor
Direct Measurement Technique
Meets ASHRAE 15 & 147 Requirements
UL2075 Performance to 1ppm
Chillgard® RT Monitor
Text Message Display
4-20 mA or 0-10V Output
3 Levels of Alarm Relays plus Fault
Data Logging via RS-232
Local Event and Diagnostics
Accessories
 Remote relay package
 Provides individual banks of relays for each point
 Remote Display
 Provides refrigerant level info before entering room
 Filters, Calibration kits, tubing etc.
BACnet
• BACnet is acronym for Building Automation Controls
network.
 ASHRAE was a huge proponent in development of the
protocol. Published as Standard ASHRAE/ANSI Std
135.
• The key benefit to BACnet is that it allows
communication across multiple product lines.
 Major Building Controls Companies have migrated to
BACnet as their choice of communication Protocol.
BACnet capabilities
 Millenium gateway from Industrial
Control Communications provides
BACnet MS/TP output
 Can be connected to a Chillgard L
series as well as an RT
 Gateways will be loaded with a
driver to convert from the MSA
protocol to BACnet
 PN 10117875 for the Chillgard L
Series
 PN 10117876 for the Chillgard RT
BACnet Gateway
 No configuration is necessary
 Data is automatically mapped into database upon
protocol selection
 Fixed network characteristics
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19200 baud rate
8 data bits
1 start bit
1 stop bit
No parity
Wiring Instructions
 Connect MSA monitors to the Gateway selected
RS-485 port using a twisted-pair cable,
connected as shown in the next slides
 The gateway can be powered from the 12V
supply on the Chillgard RT Monitor by
connecting J14 terminals 1 (+12V) and 3 (GND)
to POWER and GND Gateway terminals,
respectively.
Wiring to a Chilgard L series
•Connect “+” (RS-485 to optional relay module terminal block for Chillgard LC and LE Monitors)
to terminal “A” of the gateway, “-” (RS-485 to optional relay module terminal block for L series
Monitors) connects to terminal “B” of the gateway, the ground terminal “G” (RS-485 to optional
relay module terminal block for LC and LE) terminal to terminal GND of the gateway
•Install jumper wires connecting terminal “A” to terminal “Y, and terminal “B” to
terminal “Z” on the gateway
Wiring to a Chilgard RT
•Connect “+ / A” (J15 terminal 2 or 4 for terminal of Chilgard RT to Gateway terminal “A”, “- /
B” (J15 terminal 1 or 3 for Chillgard RT Monitor) terminal “B” and ground terminal GND (J14
terminal 3 for Chillgard RT Monitor) terminal to terminal GND.
•Also install jumper wires connecting terminal A to terminal Y, and terminal B to
terminal Z on Gateway.
How to order and notes
 Contact MSA’s Custom Products group to
purchase a Chillgard system with BACnet output
 MSA will pre-load the configuration file to convert to
BACnet based on either an L series or an RT
 Gateway will provide BACnet objects that will
need to be mapped to your network
 Review the default configurations from the gateway
with regards to the Chillgard mapping
CHILLGARD RT Summary
 PREMIER MONITOR ON THE MARKET
 PROVEN, RELIABLE PHOTOACOUSTIC
INFRARED TECHNOLOGY
 CAN DETECT ANY REFRIGERANT DESIRED
 UL 2075 APPROVAL – DETECTION TO 1 PPM
Questions?
THANK YOU !