Variable refrigerant flow system with reheating of dehumidified air
AssigneeLennox Industries Inc.
InventorsDer-Kai Hung, Lin Lan, Christopher John Drury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a reheater, a first valve, a second heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a cap tube, and a blower. The compressor compresses a refrigerant. The blower moves air proximate the second heat exchanger to the reheater. During a heating mode of operation, the four-way valve is configured to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the second heat exchanger; the second heat exchanger is configured to use the refrigerant from the compressor to heat air proximate the second heat exchanger; and the cap tube is configured to allow refrigerant to bypass the reheater.
Claims17
An apparatus comprising:
- a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;
- a first heat exchanger;
- a reheater;
- a first valve;
- a second heat exchanger;
- a four-way valve;
- a cap tube;
- and
- a blower configured to move air proximate the second heat exchanger to the reheater;
- wherein during a heating mode of operation:
- the four-way valve is configured to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the second heat exchanger;
- the second heat exchanger is configured to use the refrigerant from the compressor to heat air proximate the second heat exchanger;
- and
- the cap tube is configured to allow refrigerant to bypass the reheater.
A method comprising:
- compressing, by a compressor, a refrigerant;
- and
- during a first mode of operation:
- removing, by a first heat exchanger, heat from a first portion of the refrigerant from the compressor;
- opening a first valve such that a second portion of the refrigerant from the compressor flows to a reheater;
- using, by a second heat exchanger, the first portion of the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger and the second portion of the refrigerant from the reheater to cool air proximate the second heat exchanger;
- moving, by a blower, air proximate the second heat exchanger to the reheater;
- and
- using, by the reheater, the second portion of the refrigerant from the compressor to heat air moved by the blower;
- during a heating mode of operation:
- adjusting a four-way valve to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the second heat exchanger;
- using, by a second heat exchanger, the refrigerant from the compressor to heat air proximate the second heat exchanger;
- and
- allowing, by a cap tube, refrigerant to bypass a reheater.
A system comprising:
- a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;
- a first heat exchanger;
- a reheater;
- a first valve;
- a second heat exchanger;
- a four-way valve;
- and
- a cap tube;
- during a heating mode of operation:
- the four-way valve is configured to direct refrigerant from the compressor to the second heat exchanger;
- the second heat exchanger is configured to use the refrigerant from the compressor to heat air proximate the second heat exchanger;
- and
- the cap tube is configured to allow refrigerant to bypass the reheater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.