Method and Apparatus For Reducing Heat Losses In Reversible Vapor Compression System

Abstract

A vapor compression system includes an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a first valve, and a second valve. The compressor has an inlet connected to a suction flow and an exit connected to a discharge flow. The first valve is movable to connect the discharge flow to one of the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. The second valve is movable to connect the suction flow to one of the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vapor compression system comprising:
 an indoor heat exchanger;   an outdoor heat exchanger;   a compressor having an inlet fluidly connected to a suction flow and an exit fluidly connected to a discharge flow;   a first valve selectively positionable to fluidly connect the discharge flow to one of the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers; and   a second valve selectively positionable to fluidly connect the suction flow to one of the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers.   
     
     
         2 . The vapor compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to operate in a heating mode when the first valve is positioned to fluidly connect the discharge flow to the indoor heat exchanger and the second valve is positioned to fluidly connect the suction flow to the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The vapor compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to operate in a cooling mode when the first valve is positioned to fluidly connect the discharge flow to the outdoor heat exchanger and the second valve is positioned to fluidly connect the suction flow to the indoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The vapor compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises a first three-way valve, and wherein the second valve comprises a second three-way valve. 
     
     
         5 . The vapor compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises a first four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port, and wherein the second valve comprises a second four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port. 
     
     
         6 . The vapor compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises a first four-way reversing valve having three open ports and one sealed port, and wherein the second valve comprises a passive three-way valve. 
     
     
         7 . The vapor compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve is a first valve assembly comprising first and second solenoid valves installed in parallel, and wherein the second valve is a second valve assembly comprising third and fourth solenoid valves installed in parallel. 
     
     
         8 . The vapor compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to operate in a heating mode when the first valve is positioned to fluidly connect the discharge flow to the indoor heat exchanger, wherein the system is configured to operate in a cooling mode when the first valve is positioned to fluidly connect the discharge flow to the outdoor heat exchanger, and wherein the system is operable in heating or cooling mode without changing a direction of flow through the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. 
     
     
         9 . The vapor compression system of  claim 1 , wherein the second valve is a second valve assembly comprising a third valve fluidly connected to the indoor heat exchanger and a fourth valve fluidly connected to the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the third valve is selectively positionable to fluidly connect the indoor heat exchanger to one of the compressor inlet or the outdoor heat exchanger, and wherein the fourth valve is selectively positionable to fluidly connect the outdoor heat exchanger to one of the compressor inlet or the indoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . A reversing valve comprising:
 a valve housing defining a valve channel along a length thereof;   a discharge inlet assembly comprising first and second discharge ports extending from a surface of the valve housing;   a reversing assembly comprising:
 first and second reversing ports extending from the surface of the valve housing; and 
 a suction port extending from the surface of the valve housing between the first and second reversing ports; and 
   an actuator assembly slidably disposed within the valve channel and selectively positionable between a first position, wherein the first discharge port is fluidly connected to the first reversing port, and a second position, wherein the second discharge port is fluidly connected to the second reversing port.   
     
     
         11 . The reversing valve of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator assembly further comprises an actuator seat defining a first discharge channel and a second discharge channel, wherein the first discharge channel fluidly connects the first discharge port to the first reversing port when the actuator assembly is in the first position, and wherein the second discharge channel fluidly connects the second discharge port to the second reversing port when the actuator assembly is in the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The reversing valve of  claim 10  further comprising a solenoid valve configured to control the actuator assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The reversing valve of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator assembly further comprises a slider defining a cavity therein, wherein the slider cavity fluidly connects the second reversing port to the suction port when the actuator assembly is in the first position, and wherein the slider cavity fluidly connects the first reversing port to the suction port when the actuator assembly is in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . A reversible vapor compression system comprising the reversing valve of  claim 10 , wherein the system is configured to operate in cooling mode when the actuator assembly is in the first position, and wherein the system is configured to operate in heating mode when the actuator assembly is in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . A reversing valve comprising:
 a first reversing port;   a second reversing port;   a discharge port for providing a discharge flow to one of the first and second reversing ports;   a suction port for receiving a suction flow from one of the first and second reversing ports; and   means for reducing heat transfer to and from the discharge flow and/or the suction flow.   
     
     
         16 . The reversing valve of  claim 15  further comprising an actuator assembly selectively positionable in a first position, in which the discharge port provides the discharge flow to the first reversing port and the second reversing port provides the suction flow to the suction port, and a second position, in which the discharge port provides the discharge flow to the second reversing port and the first reversing port provides the suction flow to the suction port. 
     
     
         17 . The reversing valve of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator assembly is constructed from a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         18 . The reversing valve of  claim 16 , wherein the reversing valve is a rotating four-way valve, and the actuator assembly is a rotating actuator assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The reversing valve of  claim 15 , wherein the means for reducing heat transfer comprises a baffle configured to separate the suction and discharge flows. 
     
     
         20 . The reversing valve of  claim 15 , wherein the discharge port is constructed with a tapering diameter configured to increase or decrease a velocity of the discharge flow.