HVAC system with integrated supply of outdoor air

An HVAC apparatus comprising:

• an expansion valve adapter kit to integrate a ventilation unit with an outdoor unit in an HVAC system, the expansion valve adapter kit including:
• a first electronic expansion valve to control refrigerant flow from the outdoor unit and through a first refrigerant circuit that includes a dehumidifying coil of the ventilation unit, wherein the first electronic expansion valve is installed in a valve box that is distinct from a housing of the ventilation unit;
• a second electronic expansion valve to control refrigerant flow from the outdoor unit and through a second refrigerant circuit that is independent of the first refrigerant circuit and includes a reheat coil of the ventilation unit;
• and
• an electronic expansion valve controller connected to control operation of the first electronic expansion valve and the second electronic expansion valve.

A method of operating an HVAC system having an outdoor unit, a ventilation unit, and refrigerant lines to route refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the ventilation unit, the method comprising:

• operating the HVAC system to provide outdoor air from the ventilation unit to a structure, wherein the outdoor unit includes a compressor and a heat exchanger, and the ventilation unit includes:
• a blower;
• a dehumidifying coil to dehumidify the outdoor air received by the ventilation unit;
• a reheat coil to warm the outdoor air dehumidified by the dehumidifying coil;
• and a housing in which the blower, the dehumidifying coil, and the reheat coil are installed;
• controlling operation of a first electronic expansion valve coupled outside the housing of the ventilation unit to control refrigerant flow into the dehumidifying coil;
• and
• controlling operation of a second electronic expansion valve coupled outside the housing of the ventilation unit to control refrigerant flow into the reheat coil.