Sealed system including a reheat coil and secondary expansion valve with heat pump bypass

Abstract

An air conditioner unit includes a sealed system having an outdoor heat exchanger, a reheat heat exchanger, and an indoor heat exchanger in serial flow communication with each other. A first expansion device is positioned between the outdoor heat exchanger and the reheat heat exchanger and a second expansion device is positioned between the reheat heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. A bypass loop routes the flow of refrigerant around the second expansion device when the flow of refrigerant is passing from the indoor heat exchanger to the reheat heat exchanger (i.e., in a heat pump mode), but directs that flow of refrigerant through the second expansion device when the flow of refrigerant is passing from the reheat heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger (i.e., in an air conditioning mode).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealed system for an air conditioner unit, the sealed system comprising:
 a refrigeration loop comprising an outdoor heat exchanger, a reheat heat exchanger, and an indoor heat exchanger in serial flow communication with each other;   a compressor operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and being configured for circulating a flow of refrigerant through the refrigerant loop;   a first expansion device operably coupled to the refrigeration loop between the outdoor heat exchanger and the reheat heat exchanger;   a second expansion device operably coupled to the refrigeration loop between the reheat heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; and   a bypass loop that routes the flow of refrigerant around the second expansion device when the flow of refrigerant is passing from the indoor heat exchanger to the reheat heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the bypass loop comprises:
 a bypass conduit directing the flow of refrigerant around the second expansion device; and   a check valve operably coupled to the bypass conduit to prevent the flow of refrigerant from passing through the bypass conduit when passing from the reheat heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The sealed system of  claim 2 , wherein the flow of refrigerant passes freely through the check valve when passing from the indoor heat exchanger to the reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The sealed system of  claim 2 , wherein the bypass conduit is fluidly coupled in parallel to the second expansion device. 
     
     
         5 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first expansion device or the second expansion device are electronic expansion valves. 
     
     
         6 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first expansion device or the second expansion device are capillary tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a partition defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, wherein the outdoor heat exchanger is positioned within the outdoor portion and both the reheat heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger are positioned within the indoor portion.   
     
     
         8 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an indoor fan for urging a flow of indoor air through the indoor heat exchanger and the reheat heat exchanger; and   an outdoor fan for urging a flow of outdoor air through the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         9 . The sealed system of  claim 8 , wherein the reheat heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the indoor heat exchanger relative to the flow of indoor air. 
     
     
         10 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the reheat heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger are joined in a single coil bank. 
     
     
         11 . An air conditioner unit comprising:
 a partition defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion;   an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion;   an outdoor fan for urging a flow of outdoor air through the outdoor heat exchanger;   a reheat heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion;   an indoor fan for urging a flow of indoor air through the indoor heat exchanger and the reheat heat exchanger;   a first expansion device providing fluid communication between the outdoor heat exchanger and the reheat heat exchanger;   a second expansion device providing fluid communication between the reheat heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; and   a bypass loop that routes a flow of refrigerant around the second expansion device when the flow of refrigerant is passing from the indoor heat exchanger to the reheat heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the bypass loop comprises:
 a bypass conduit directing the flow of refrigerant around the second expansion device; and   a check valve operably coupled to the bypass conduit to prevent the flow of refrigerant from passing through the bypass conduit when passing from the reheat heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 12 , wherein the flow of refrigerant passes freely through the check valve when passing from the indoor heat exchanger to the reheat heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 12 , wherein the bypass conduit is fluidly coupled in parallel to the second expansion device. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first expansion device or the second expansion device are electronic expansion valves. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first expansion device or the second expansion device are capillary tubes. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the reheat heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the indoor heat exchanger relative to the flow of indoor air. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the reheat heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger are joined in a single coil bank.