Heat Pump Desuperheater and Charge Robber

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed which may include providing a desuperheater/charge robber (DSHCR) system in a heating, ventilation, and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein the DSHCR system is configured to selectively allow a flow of refrigerant through a desuperheater heat exchanger when the HVAC system is operated in a cooling mode and selectively prevent the flow of refrigerant through the desuperheater heat exchanger from a refrigerant fluid circuit when the HVAC system is operated in a heating mode. The desuperheater heat exchanger may also be configured to function as a charge robber and store at least a portion of the refrigerant when the HVAC system is operated in the heating mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation, and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a desuperheater/charge robber (DSHCR) system configured to (1) selectively allow a flow of refrigerant through a desuperheater heat exchanger when the HVAC system is operated in a cooling mode and (2) selectively prevent the flow of refrigerant through the desuperheater heat exchanger from a refrigerant fluid circuit while keeping the desuperheater heat exchanger in fluid communication with a high pressure side of the refrigerant fluid circuit when the HVAC system is operated in a heating mode.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a three-way valve.   
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein the three-way valve is configured to divert refrigerant to the desuperheater heat exchanger when the HVAC system is operated in the cooling mode. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein the three-way valve is configured to divert refrigerant to flow to the reversing valve when the HVAC system is operated in the heating mode. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system of  claim 2 , wherein the three-way valve is configured to prevent refrigerant from flowing through the desuperheater heat exchanger when the HVAC system is configured in the heating mode. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the desuperheater heat exchanger is configured to promote heat exchange between the refrigerant and an airflow generated by an outdoor fan of the HVAC system when the HVAC system is operated in the cooling mode. 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the desuperheater heat exchanger is configured to sequester at least a portion of the refrigerant when the HVAC system is operated in the heating mode. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a four-way reversing valve.   
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system of  claim 8 , wherein the desuperheater heat exchanger is configured to deliver refrigerant to the reversing valve of the HVAC system when the HVAC system is operated in the cooling mode. 
     
     
         10 . The HVAC system of  claim 8 , wherein the four-way reversing valve is configured to reverse the flow of refrigerant through at least one of an indoor heat exchanger of the HVAC system and an outdoor heat exchanger of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         11 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a five-way reversing valve.   
     
     
         12 . The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the five-way reversing valve is configured to reverse the flow of refrigerant through at least one of an indoor heat exchanger of the HVAC system and an outdoor heat exchanger of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         13 . The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the five-way reversing valve is configured to allow refrigerant to flow through the desuperheater heat exchanger when the HVAC system is configured in a cooling mode. 
     
     
         14 . The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the five-way reversing valve is configured to prevent refrigerant from flowing through the desuperheater heat exchanger when the HVAC system is configured in a heating mode. 
     
     
         15 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC system is configured as a heat pump HVAC system. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 flowing refrigerant through a desuperheater heat exchanger when the HVAC system is operated in a cooling mode;   switching the HVAC system from the cooling mode to a heating mode; and   preventing refrigerant from flowing through the desuperheater heat exchanger while keeping the desuperheater heat exchanger in fluid communication with a high pressure side of a refrigerant fluid circuit when the HVAC system is operated in the heating mode.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 storing at least a portion of the refrigerant in the desuperheater heat exchanger when the HVAC system is operated in the heating mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the switching the HVAC system from the cooling mode to a heating mode is accomplished by selectively configuring at least one of a three-way reversing valve, a four-way reversing valve, and a five-way reversing valve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preventing refrigerant from flowing through the desuperheater heat exchanger is accomplished by selectively configuring a three-way reversing valve and a four-way reversing valve to remove the desuperheater heat exchanger from a refrigerant fluid circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preventing refrigerant from flowing through the desuperheater heat exchanger is accomplished by selectively configuring a five-way reversing valve to remove the desuperheater heat exchanger from a refrigerant fluid circuit.