Adjustable working fluid reservoir for HVAC system

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

• a working fluid circuit comprising a first conduit portion extending from a compressor to a first heat exchanger, a second conduit portion extending from the first heat exchanger to a second heat exchanger, and a third conduit portion extending from the second conduit portion, wherein the first conduit portion is configured to direct working fluid from the compressor to the first heat exchanger in a cooling mode of the HVAC system;
• a working fluid reservoir comprising an enclosure and a component disposed within the enclosure, wherein the enclosure defines a chamber fluidly coupled to the second conduit portion of the working fluid circuit via the third conduit portion, the chamber is configured to receive, via the third conduit portion, working fluid from the second conduit portion of the working fluid circuit, the enclosure is configured to store working fluid within the chamber, and the component is adjustable within the chamber to adjust a volume of the chamber,
• wherein the first conduit portion extends through the chamber and is configured to place working fluid flowing through the first conduit portion in a heat exchange relationship with working fluid within in the chamber to cause flow of working fluid from the chamber to the second conduit portion via the third conduit portion in the cooling mode of the HVAC system and to cause flow of working fluid from the second conduit portion to the chamber via the third conduit portion in a heating mode of the HVAC system;
• and
• a control system configured to:
• instruct an actuator to move the component within the enclosure to reduce the volume of the chamber in the cooling mode of the HVAC system;
• and
• instruct the actuator to move the component within the enclosure to increase the volume of the chamber in the heating mode of the HVAC system.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, are configured to cause the processing circuitry to:

• determine an operating mode of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein the HVAC system comprises a working fluid circuit configured to circulate working fluid therethrough, wherein the operating mode comprises a heating mode or a cooling mode;
• instruct an actuator to adjust a position of a component disposed within an enclosure of a working fluid reservoir of the HVAC system based on the operating mode to adjust a volume of a chamber defined by the enclosure, wherein the chamber is fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit, and the volume of the chamber is configured to receive and store working fluid from the working fluid circuit;
• adjust a reversing valve to direct working fluid along the working fluid circuit in a first flow direction in the cooling mode;
• and
• adjust the reversing valve to direct working fluid along the working fluid circuit in a second flow direction, opposite the first flow direction, in the heating mode.