Two phase or subcooling reheat system

Abstract

An air conditioning apparatus comprising a continuous circuit through which a refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through a heat exchanger, through an evaporator, and returning to the compressor, a bypass circuit through which a portion of the refrigerant flows from a point upstream of the condenser to mix with the refrigerant at a point downstream of the condenser, and a discharge gas valve for controlling the portion of the refrigerant flowing through the bypass circuit.

1 . An air conditioning apparatus comprising: 
 a continuous circuit through which a refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through a heat exchanger unit, through an evaporator, and returning to said compressor;    a bypass circuit through which a portion of said refrigerant flows from a point upstream of said condenser to mix with said refrigerant at a point downstream of said condenser; and    a discharge gas valve for controlling said portion of said refrigerant flowing through said bypass circuit.    
   
   
       2 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1  wherein said discharge gas valve is a solenoid valve.  
   
   
       3 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1  comprising at least one damper which may be opened in an economizer mode.  
   
   
       4 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1  wherein said discharge gas valve is opened and closed in response to a temperature of said air.  
   
   
       5 . A method for removing humidity from air comprising the steps of: 
 providing an air conditioning system comprising a continuous circuit through which a refrigerant flows from a compressor, through a condenser, through a heat exchanger, through an evaporator, and returning to said compressor;    providing a bypass circuit through which a portion of said refrigerant flows from a point upstream of said condenser to mix with said refrigerant at a point downstream of said condenser;    providing a discharge gas valve for controlling said portion of said refrigerant flowing through said bypass circuit; and    operating said air conditioning system to remove a portion of said humidity from said air.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  comprising the additional step of opening said discharge gas valve in to remove said portion of humidity wherein said air is not to be cooled.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  comprising the additional steps of opening said discharge gas valve and opening said at least one damper to remove said portion of humidity wherein said air is to be cooled and said air is cool.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  comprising the additional steps of closing said discharge gas valve, opening said at least one damper, and operating heat exchanger to remove said portion of humidity wherein said air is to be cooled and said air is warm.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of flowing said portion of said refrigerant through said bypass circuit so as to provide a two-phase flow to said heat exchanger.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5  comprising the additional step of providing at least one damper which may be opened in an economizer mode.