Systems and methods for increasing the heating capacity of a heat pump system using at least two reversible valves

Abstract

A valve system is disclosed for use with a compressor, an indoor heat exchange coil, and an outdoor heat exchange coil. The valve system may include a first reversible valve and a second reversible valve. The first reversible valve may be configured to receive heated refrigerant from the compressor. The second reversible valve may be configured to provide cooled refrigerant to the compressor. In a heating mode, the first reversible valve may be configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the indoor heat exchange coil. In the heating mode, the second reversible valve may be configured to receive the cooled refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchange coil.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve system for use with a compressor, an indoor heat exchange coil, and an outdoor heat exchange coil, the valve system comprising:
 a first reversible valve; and   a second reversible valve;   wherein the first reversible valve is configured to receive heated refrigerant from the compressor,   wherein the second reversible valve is configured to provide cooled refrigerant to the compressor,   wherein in a heating mode, the first reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the indoor heat exchange coil, and   wherein in the heating mode, the second reversible valve is configured to receive the cooled refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         2 . The valve system of  claim 1 , wherein in a cooling mode, the first reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the second reversible valve. 
     
     
         3 . The valve system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first reversible valve includes a first reversible valve port, a second reversible valve port, a third reversible valve port, and a fourth reversible valve port,   wherein the second reversible valve includes a first reversible valve port, a second reversible valve port, a third reversible valve port, and a fourth reversible valve port,   wherein the first reversible valve port of the first reversible valve is configured to receive the heated refrigerant from the compressor, and   wherein the third reversible valve port of the second reversible valve is configured to provide cooled refrigerant to the compressor.   
     
     
         4 . The valve system of  claim 3 ,
 wherein, in the heating mode, the fourth reversible valve port of the first reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the indoor heat exchange coil, and   wherein, in the heating mode, the second reversible valve port of the second reversible valve is configured to receive the cooled refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         5 . The valve system of  claim 3 ,
 wherein, in the cooling mode, the second reversible valve port of the first reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the first reversible valve port of the second reversible valve,   wherein, in the cooling mode, the second reversible valve port of the second reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the outdoor heat exchange coil,   wherein, in the cooling mode, the fourth reversible valve port of the second reversible valve is configured to receive the cooled refrigerant from the indoor heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         6 . A method of using a valve system with a compressor, an indoor heat exchange coil, and an outdoor heat exchange coil, the method comprising:
 configuring a first reversible valve to receive heated refrigerant from the compressor;   configuring a second reversible valve to provide cooled refrigerant to the compressor;   configuring, in a heating mode, the first reversible valve to provide the heated refrigerant to the indoor heat exchange coil; and   configuring, in the heating mode, the second reversible valve to receive the cooled refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, configuring, in a cooling mode, the first reversible valve to provide the heated refrigerant to the second reversible valve. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 configuring, in the first reversible valve that includes a first reversible valve port, a second reversible valve port, a third reversible valve port, and a fourth reversible valve port, the first reversible valve port to receive the heated refrigerant from the compressor; and   configuring, in the second reversible valve that includes a first reversible valve port, a second reversible valve port, a third reversible valve port, and a fourth reversible valve port, the third reversible valve port to provide cooled refrigerant to the compressor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 configuring, in the heating mode, the fourth reversible valve port of the first reversible valve to provide the heated refrigerant to the indoor heat exchange coil; and   configuring, in the heating mode, the second reversible valve port of the second reversible valve to receive the cooled refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 configuring, in the cooling mode, the second reversible valve port of the first reversible valve to provide the heated refrigerant to the first reversible valve port of the second reversible valve;   configuring, in the cooling mode, the second reversible valve port of the second reversible valve to provide the heated refrigerant to the outdoor heat exchange coil; and   configuring, in the cooling mode, the fourth reversible valve port of the second reversible valve to receive the cooled refrigerant from the indoor heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         11 . A heat pump system comprising:
 a compressor, a first heat exchange coil, and a second heat exchange coil;   a first reversible valve; and   a second reversible valve;   wherein the first reversible valve is configured to receive heated refrigerant from the compressor,   wherein the second reversible valve is configured to provide cooled refrigerant to the compressor,   wherein in a heating mode, the first reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the first heat exchange coil, and   wherein in the heating mode, the second reversible valve is configured to receive the cooled refrigerant from the second heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         12 . The heat pump system of  claim 11 , wherein in a cooling mode, the first reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the second reversible valve. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump system of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first reversible valve includes a first reversible valve port, a second reversible valve port, a third reversible valve port, and a fourth reversible valve port,   wherein the second reversible valve includes a first reversible valve port, a second reversible valve port, a third reversible valve port, and a fourth reversible valve port,   wherein the first reversible valve port of the first reversible valve is configured to receive the heated refrigerant from the compressor, and   wherein the third reversible valve port of the second reversible valve is configured to provide cooled refrigerant to the compressor.   
     
     
         14 . The heat pump system of  claim 13 ,
 wherein, in the heating mode, the fourth reversible valve port of the first reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the first heat exchange coil, and   wherein, in the heating mode, the second reversible valve port of the second reversible valve is configured to receive the cooled refrigerant from the second heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         15 . The heat pump system of  claim 13 ,
 wherein, in the cooling mode, the second reversible valve port of the first reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the first reversible valve port of the second reversible valve,   wherein, in the cooling mode, the second reversible valve port of the second reversible valve is configured to provide the heated refrigerant to the second heat exchange coil,   wherein, in the cooling mode, the fourth reversible valve port of the second reversible valve is configured to receive the cooled refrigerant from the first heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         16 . The heat pump system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to transmit a first reversible valve cooling signal, a second reversible valve cooling signal, a first heat exchange coil cooling signal, and a second heat exchange coil cooling signal,   wherein the first reversible valve is configured to operate in the cooling mode based on the first reversible valve cooling signal,   wherein the second reversible valve is configured to operate in the cooling mode based on the second reversible valve cooling signal,   wherein the first heat exchange coil is configured to operate in the cooling mode based on the first heat exchange coil cooling signal, and   wherein the second heat exchange coil is configured to operate in the cooling mode based on the second heat exchange coil cooling signal.   
     
     
         17 . The heat pump system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a thermostat configured to output a cooling mode signal to the controller,   wherein the controller is configured to transmit the first reversible valve cooling signal, the second reversible valve cooling signal, the first heat exchange coil cooling signal, and the second heat exchange coil cooling signal based on the cooling mode signal.   
     
     
         18 . The heat pump system of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the thermostat is further configured to output a heating mode signal to the controller, and   wherein the controller is configured to transmit a first reversible valve heating signal, a second reversible valve heating signal, a first heat exchange coil heating signal, and a second heat exchange coil heating signal based on the heating mode signal,   wherein the first reversible valve is configured to operate in the heating mode based on the first reversible valve heating signal,   wherein the second reversible valve is configured to operate in the heating mode based on the second reversible valve heating signal,   wherein the first heat exchange coil is configured to operate in the heating mode based on the first heat exchange coil heating signal, and   wherein the second heat exchange coil is configured to operate in the heating mode based on the second heat exchange heating signal.   
     
     
         19 . The heat pump system of  claim 17 , wherein the thermostat comprises a user interface configured to enable a user to set a first temperature associated with the cooling mode and to set a second temperature associated with the heating mode. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pump system of  claim 13 , wherein the second reversible valve port of the first reversible valve is separated from the first reversible valve port of the second reversible valve by a length of refrigerant conduit.