System and method for varying refrigerant flow in a reversing valve

Abstract

Aspects of the invention are directed towards a system and method for varying the refrigerant flow using a flow diverter of a reversing valve in heat pumps. One or more embodiments of the invention describe the method comprising steps of receiving, by a control circuit, a command for operating a reversing valve in a plurality of modes. The reversing valve comprises a first tube, a second tube, a third tube and a fourth tube. The method comprising steps of determining a tonnage profile for refrigerant to flow in the reversing valve, generating a signal based on the command and the tonnage profile and communicating the signal to a stepper motor. The method further comprising steps of rotating a flow diverter of the reversing valve by the stepper motor based on the signal. The rotation of the flow diverter allows the refrigerant to flow in one of the plurality of modes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a reversing valve adapted to operate in a plurality of modes, the reversing valve comprises a first tube, a second tube, a third tube and a fourth tube;   a control circuit adapted to:   receive a command for operating the reversing valve in the plurality of modes;   determine a tonnage profile for refrigerant to flow in the reversing valve; and   generate a signal based on the command and the tonnage profile; and   a stepper motor adapted to rotate a flow diverter of the reversing valve based on the signal received from the control circuit, the rotation of the flow diverter allowing the refrigerant to flow in one of the plurality of modes.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modes correspond to a cooling mode, a defrost mode, and a heating mode. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tonnage profile for refrigerant is determined based on a temperature defined by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated from 0° angle to 90° angle in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction based on the tonnage profile and/or change from one mode to another mode. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated from 0° angle to 10° angle in the cooling mode or in the defrost mode. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated from 70° angle to 90° angle in the heating mode. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated to a first position for a first tonnage profile, to a second position for a second tonnage profile, to a third position for a third tonnage profile and/or to a fourth position for a fourth tonnage profile. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated at the first position of 0° angle for the first tonnage profile in the cooling mode or in the defrost mode, wherein the flow diverter is rotated to the second position of 10° angle for the second tonnage profile in the cooling mode or the defrost mode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated at the third position of 70° angle for the third tonnage profile in the heating mode, wherein the flow diverter is rotated to the fourth position of 90° angle for the fourth tonnage profile in the heating mode. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first tube is connected to a discharge port of a compressor, the second tube is connected to an outdoor coil, the third tube is connected to an indoor coil, and the fourth tube is connected to a return port of the compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant flows from the discharge port of the compressor to the first tube, from the first tube to the second tube, from the second tube to the outdoor coil, from the outdoor coil to the indoor coil, from the indoor coil to the third tube, from the third tube to the fourth tube, and from the fourth tube to the return port of the compressor in the cooling mode or in the defrost mode. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant flows from the discharge port of the compressor to the first tube, from the first tube to the third tube, from the third tube to the indoor coil, from the indoor coil to the outdoor coil, from the outdoor coil to the second tube, from the second tube to the fourth tube, and from the fourth tube to the return port of the compressor in the heating mode. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a control circuit, a command for operating a reversing valve in a plurality of modes, the reversing valve comprises a first tube, a second tube, a third tube and a fourth tube;   determining a tonnage profile for refrigerant to flow in the reversing valve;   generating a signal based on the command and the tonnage profile and communicating the signal to a stepper motor; and   rotating a flow diverter of the reversing valve by the stepper motor based on the signal, the rotation of the flow diverter allowing the refrigerant to flow in one of the plurality of modes.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of modes correspond to a cooling mode, a defrost mode, and a heating mode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated from 0° angle to 10° angle in the cooling mode or in the defrost mode, wherein the flow diverter is rotated from 70° angle to 90° angle in the heating mode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated at a first position of 0° angle for a first tonnage profile in the cooling mode or in the defrost mode, wherein the flow diverter is rotated to a second position of 10° angle for a second tonnage profile in the cooling mode or the defrost mode. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow diverter is rotated at a third position of 70° angle for a third tonnage profile in the heating mode, wherein the flow diverter is rotated to a fourth position of 90° angle for a fourth tonnage profile in the heating mode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first tube is connected to a discharge port of a compressor, the second tube is connected to an outdoor coil, the third tube is connected to an indoor coil, and the fourth tube is connected to a return port of the compressor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the refrigerant flows from the compressor to the first tube, from the first tube to the second tube, from the second tube to the outdoor coil, from the outdoor coil to the indoor coil, from the indoor coil to the third tube, from the third tube to the fourth tube, and from the fourth tube to the compressor in the cooling mode or in the defrost mode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the refrigerant flows from the compressor to the first tube, from the first tube to the third tube, from the third tube to the indoor coil, from the indoor coil to the outdoor coil, from the outdoor coil to the second tube, from the second tube to the fourth tube, and from the fourth tube to the compressor in the heating mode.