Packaged terminal air conditioner unit

Abstract

A packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a phase separator positioned within a casing of the packaged terminal air conditioner unit. The phase separator is coupled to a supply conduit that extends between an exterior coil and an interior coil of the packaged terminal air conditioner unit. The phase separator is configured for separating liquid refrigerant within the supply conduit from vapor refrigerant within the supply conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaged terminal air conditioner unit, comprising:
 a casing;   a compressor positioned within the casing, the compressor operable to increase a pressure of a refrigerant;   an interior coil positioned within the casing;   an exterior coil positioned within the casing opposite the interior coil;   a reversing valve positioned within the casing, the reversing valve in fluid communication with the compressor in order to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor, the reversing valve configured for selectively directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to either the interior coil or the exterior coil;   a supply conduit positioned within the casing, the supply conduit fluidly connecting the interior coil and the exterior coil in order to direct refrigerant between the interior coil and the exterior coil; and   a phase separator positioned within the casing, the phase separator coupled to the supply conduit adjacent the interior coil, the phase separator configured for separating liquid refrigerant within the supply conduit from vapor refrigerant within the supply conduit, the supply conduit directing the liquid refrigerant from the phase separator to the interior coil.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a bypass conduit and a check valve positioned within the casing, the bypass conduit extending from the phase separator around the interior coil, the bypass conduit configured for directing the vapor refrigerant out of the phase separator around the interior coil, the check valve coupled to the bypass conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 2 , further comprising an ejector, a first distribution conduit and a second distribution conduit, the first distribution conduit extending between the reversing valve and the exterior coil in order to fluidly connect the reversing valve and the exterior coil, the second distribution conduit extending between the reversing valve and the interior coil in order to fluidly connect the reversing valve and the interior coil, the bypass valve extending between the phase separator and the second distribution conduit, the ejector positioned at a junction between the bypass conduit and the second distribution conduit, the ejector configured for directing the vapor refrigerant in the bypass conduit into the second distribution conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the reversing valve is selectively adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the reversing valve directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the exterior coil via the first distribution conduit when the reversing valve is in the first configuration, the reversing valve directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the interior coil via the second distribution conduit when the reversing valve is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 2 , further comprising an ejector, a first distribution conduit and a second distribution conduit, the first distribution conduit extending between the reversing valve and the exterior coil in order to fluidly connect the reversing valve and the exterior coil, the second distribution conduit extending between the reversing valve and the interior coil in order to fluidly connect the reversing valve and the interior coil, the bypass valve extending between the phase separator and the first distribution conduit, the ejector positioned at a junction between the bypass conduit and the first distribution conduit, the ejector configured for directing the vapor refrigerant in the bypass conduit into the first distribution conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 5 , wherein the reversing valve is selectively adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the reversing valve directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the exterior coil via the first distribution conduit when the reversing valve is in the first configuration, the reversing valve directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the interior coil via the second distribution conduit when the reversing valve is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the supply conduit comprises a capillary tube and a check valve coupled to the capillary tube. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a check valve and a pair of expansion valves positioned within the casing, the check valve and the expansion valves of the pair of expansion valves coupled the supply conduit, the check valve and a first one of the pair of expansion valves coupled to the supply conduit proximate the exterior coil, the check valve and the first one of the pair of expansion valves plumbed in parallel on the supply conduit, a second one of the pair of expansion valves coupled to the supply conduit proximate the interior coil. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic expansion valve coupled to the supply conduit. 
     
     
         10 . A packaged terminal air conditioner unit, comprising:
 a casing extending between an exterior side portion and an interior side portion;   a compressor positioned within the casing, the compressor operable to compress a refrigerant;   an interior coil positioned within the casing at the interior side portion of the casing;   an exterior coil positioned within the casing at the exterior side portion of the casing;   a reversing valve in fluid communication with the compressor in order to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor, the reversing valve configured for selectively directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to either the interior coil or the exterior coil;   a supply conduit extending between the interior coil and the exterior coil; and   a phase separator coupled to the supply conduit, the phase separator configured for separating liquid refrigerant within the supply conduit from vapor refrigerant within the supply conduit, the supply conduit configured for directing the liquid refrigerant from the phase separator to the interior coil.   
     
     
         11 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a bypass conduit and a check valve positioned within the casing, the bypass conduit extending from the phase separator around the interior coil, the bypass conduit configured for directing the vapor refrigerant out of the phase separator around the interior coil, the check valve coupled to the bypass conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , further comprising an ejector, a first distribution conduit and a second distribution conduit, the first distribution conduit extending between the reversing valve and the exterior coil in order to fluidly connect the reversing valve and the exterior coil, the second distribution conduit extending between the reversing valve and the interior coil in order to fluidly connect the reversing valve and the interior coil, the bypass valve extending between the phase separator and the second distribution conduit, the ejector positioned at a junction between the bypass conduit and the second distribution conduit, the ejector configured for directing the vapor refrigerant in the bypass conduit into the second distribution conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 12 , wherein the reversing valve is selectively adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the reversing valve directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the exterior coil via the first distribution conduit when the reversing valve is in the first configuration, the reversing valve directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the interior coil via the second distribution conduit when the reversing valve is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , further comprising an ejector, a first distribution conduit and a second distribution conduit, the first distribution conduit extending between the reversing valve and the exterior coil in order to fluidly connect the reversing valve and the exterior coil, the second distribution conduit extending between the reversing valve and the interior coil in order to fluidly connect the reversing valve and the interior coil, the bypass valve extending between the phase separator and the first distribution conduit, the ejector positioned at a junction between the bypass conduit and the first distribution conduit, the ejector configured for directing the vapor refrigerant in the bypass conduit into the first distribution conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 14 , wherein the reversing valve is selectively adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the reversing valve directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the exterior coil via the first distribution conduit when the reversing valve is in the first configuration, the reversing valve directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the interior coil via the second distribution conduit when the reversing valve is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the supply conduit comprises a capillary tube and a check valve coupled to the capillary tube. 
     
     
         17 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a check valve and a pair of expansion valves positioned within the casing, the check valve and the expansion valves of the pair of expansion valves coupled the supply conduit, the check valve and a first one of the pair of expansion valves coupled to the supply conduit proximate the exterior coil, the check valve and the first one of the pair of expansion valves plumbed in parallel on the supply conduit, a second one of the pair of expansion valves coupled to the supply conduit proximate the interior coil 
     
     
         18 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , further comprising an electronic expansion valve coupled to the supply conduit. 
     
     
         19 . A packaged terminal air conditioner unit, comprising:
 a casing;   a compressor positioned within the casing, the compressor operable to increase a pressure of a refrigerant;   an interior coil positioned within the casing;   an exterior coil positioned within the casing opposite the interior coil;   a reversing valve positioned within the casing, the reversing valve in fluid communication with the compressor in order to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor, the reversing valve configured for selectively directing the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to either the interior coil or the exterior coil;   a supply conduit positioned within the casing, the supply conduit fluidly connecting the interior coil and the exterior coil in order to direct refrigerant between the interior coil and the exterior coil; and   a phase separator positioned within the casing, the phase separator coupled to the supply conduit adjacent the exterior coil, the phase separator configured for separating liquid refrigerant within the supply conduit from vapor refrigerant within the supply conduit, the supply conduit directing the liquid refrigerant from the phase separator to the exterior coil.