Air Conditioner Units Having Dehumidification Features

Abstract

Air conditioner units are provided. An air conditioner unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger including a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable, and an indoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable. The air conditioner unit further includes an auxiliary heat exchanger disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a refrigerant flow path, the auxiliary heat exchanger including a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable and further including a phase change material. The air conditioner unit further includes a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger and the auxiliary heat exchanger, and a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner unit, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor portion, the outdoor heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor portion, the indoor heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable;   an auxiliary heat exchanger disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a refrigerant flow path, the auxiliary heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable and further comprising a phase change material;   a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger and the auxiliary heat exchanger; and   a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is sealed within an auxiliary coil assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material has a solid-to-liquid phase change temperature of between 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is a first phase change material, and wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger further comprises a second phase change material, the second phase change material having a solid-to-liquid phase change temperature different from a solid-to-liquid phase change temperature of the first phase change material. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , wherein the second phase change material has a solid-to-liquid phase change temperature of between 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material comprises a vegetable oil. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is disposed in the indoor portion. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a vent aperture defined in the bulkhead. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 8 , further comprising a fan disposed in the outdoor portion, the fan operable to actively flow air through the vent aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 9 , wherein the fan is constantly active when the air conditioner unit is operational. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is aligned with vent aperture along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the compressor and configured to activate and deactivate the compressor. 
     
     
         13 . An air conditioner unit, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor portion, the outdoor heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor portion, the indoor heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable;   an auxiliary heat exchanger disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a refrigerant flow path, the auxiliary heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly through which refrigerant is flowable and further comprising a phase change material sealed within an auxiliary coil assembly, the phase change material having a solid-to-liquid phase change temperature of between 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 65 degrees Fahrenheit;   a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger and the auxiliary heat exchanger; and   a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion.   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 13 , wherein the phase change material is a first phase change material, and wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger further comprises a second phase change material, the second phase change material having a solid-to-liquid phase change temperature different from a solid-to-liquid phase change temperature of the first phase change material. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 14 , wherein the second phase change material has a solid-to-liquid phase change temperature of between 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 13 , wherein the phase change material comprises a vegetable oil. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is disposed in the indoor portion. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 13 , further comprising a vent aperture defined in the bulkhead. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a fan disposed in the outdoor portion, the fan operable to actively flow air through the vent aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 19 , wherein the fan is constantly active when the air conditioner unit is operational.