Systems and Methods for Charge Imbalance Correction in Heat Pumps

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for charge imbalance correction in heat pumps. Particularly, a tank may be provided between a vapor conduit and a liquid refrigerant conduit of a heat pump that may be used to temporarily store at least some of the refrigerant when the heat pump is in a heating mode. When the heat pump transitions back to a cooling mode, the refrigerant may be returned back into the heat pump. The flow of refrigerant to and from the tank may be regulated by a three-way valve. The valve is connected to the vapor conduit through one port, the tank through a second port, and the liquid refrigerant conduit through a third port. The valve includes a spring and a slide with a cut-out region that allows two of the three ports to be in fluid communication depending on a position of the slide within the valve.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pump system comprising:
 an indoor coil;   an outdoor coil;   a first conduit and a second conduit connecting the indoor coil and the outdoor coil; and   an apparatus in fluid communication with the first conduit and the second conduit, the apparatus comprising:
 a tank configured to receive liquid refrigerant from the first conduit or the second conduit in a heating mode of the heat pump system, and to provide the liquid refrigerant to the first conduit or the second conduit in a cooling mode of the heat pump system; and 
 a first valve disposed between the tank and the first conduit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve comprises a spring, wherein the spring is coupled to a slide disposed in the first valve, and wherein the slide comprises a cut-out region. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the first valve further comprises a first port, a second port, and a third port, wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the first conduit through a third conduit, wherein the second port is in fluid communication with the tank through a fourth conduit, and wherein the third port is in fluid communication with the second conduit through a fifth conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the spring is in a default position while the heat pump system is in the heating mode, wherein the slide is located in a first position in the first valve while the spring is in the default position, wherein a first port and a second port of the first valve are in fluid communication via the cut-out region while the slide is in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the spring is in a compressed position while the heat pump system is in the cooling mode, wherein the slide is located in a second position within the first valve while the spring is in the compressed position, wherein the second port and a third port of the first valve are in fluid communication through the cut-out region while the slide is in the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the slide of the first valve is configured to translate from a first position to a second position based on a pressure difference between the first conduit and the second conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve is a three-way valve or a four-way valve. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve is different than an existing reversing valve in the heat pump system. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein gaseous refrigerant flows through the first conduit between the indoor coil and outdoor coil, and wherein liquid refrigerant flows through the second conduit between the indoor coil and outdoor coil. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of a heat pump system comprising:
 a tank configured to receive liquid refrigerant from a first conduit of a heat pump system or a second conduit of the heat pump system in a heating mode of the heat pump system, and to provide the liquid refrigerant to the first conduit or the second conduit in a cooling mode of the heat pump system; and   a first valve disposed between the tank and the first conduit, wherein the first valve comprises a spring, wherein the spring is coupled to a slide disposed in the first valve, and wherein the slide comprises a cut-out region.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first valve further comprises a first port, a second port, and a third port, wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the first conduit through a third conduit, wherein the second port is in fluid communication with the tank through a fourth conduit, and wherein the third port is in fluid communication with the second conduit through a fifth conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the spring is in a default position while the heat pump system is in the heating mode, wherein the slide is located in a first position in the first valve while the spring is in the default position, wherein a first port and a second port of the first valve are in fluid communication via the cut-out region while the slide is in the first position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the spring is in a compressed position while the heat pump system is in the cooling mode, wherein the slide is located in a second position within the first valve while the spring is in the compressed position, wherein the second port and a third port of the first valve are in fluid communication through the cut-out region while the slide is in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first valve is a three-way valve or a four-way valve. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the tank is configured to adjust from a first internal volume to a second internal volume. 
     
     
         16 . A valve for a heat pump, the valve comprising:
 a spring;   a slide connected to the spring and comprising a cut-out region;   a first port in fluid communication with a first conduit;   a second port in fluid communication with a tank configured to temporarily store refrigerant; and   a third port in fluid communication with a second conduit.   
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the first conduit through a third conduit, wherein the second port is in fluid communication with the tank through a fourth conduit, and wherein the third port is in fluid communication with the second conduit through a fifth conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the slide is located in a first position in the valve while the spring is in a default position, wherein a first port and a second port of the valve are in fluid communication via the cut-out region while the slide is in the first position. 
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 17 , wherein the spring is in a compressed position while the heat pump is in a cooling mode, wherein the slide is located in a second position within the valve while the spring is in the compressed position, wherein the second port and a third port of the valve are in fluid communication through the cut-out region while the slide is in the second position. 
     
     
         20 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein the valve is a three-way valve or a four-way valve.