Heat pump system for optimizing operational efficiencywithout charge imbalance and a method thereof

Abstract

A heat pump system for optimizing operational efficiency without charge imbalance, is disclosed. The heat pump system includes an indoor HVAC unit having an indoor coil and an outdoor HVAC unit in communication with the indoor HVAC unit. The outdoor HVAC unit includes a compressor in communication with a reversing valve, and an outdoor coil in communication with the indoor HVAC unit and the compressor. The outdoor coil includes at least one charge storage circuit. During a cooling mode, the liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor HVAC unit and the at least one charge storage circuit functions as a subcooling circuit. During a heating mode, the at least one charge storage circuit contains liquid refrigerant.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heat pump system for optimizing operational efficiency without charge imbalance, the heat pump system comprising:
 an indoor HVAC unit comprising an indoor coil; and   an outdoor HVAC unit in communication with the indoor HVAC unit, the outdoor HVAC unit comprising:
 a compressor in communication with a reversing valve; and 
 an outdoor coil in communication with the indoor HVAC unit and the compressor, the outdoor coil comprising at least one charge storage circuit, 
 wherein, during a cooling mode, the liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor HVAC unit and the at least one charge storage circuit functions as a subcooling circuit, and 
 wherein, during a heating mode, the at least one charge storage circuit contains liquid refrigerant. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor coil comprises:
 a plurality of fluid circuits; and   the at least one charge storage circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The heat pump system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor HVAC unit further comprises an expansion valve located between the at least one charge storage circuit and the plurality of fluid circuits. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fluid circuits are spaced apart from each other in a linear direction. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the number of plurality of fluid circuits are greater than the number of the at least one charge storage circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein, when operating in the cooling mode, the indoor HVAC unit is adapted to:
 receive liquid refrigerant from the outdoor coil; and   supply vapor refrigerant to the compressor before returning to the outdoor coil.   
     
     
         7 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein, when operating in the heating mode, the indoor HVAC unit is adapted to:
 receive vapor refrigerant exiting the compressor; and   return liquid refrigerant to the outdoor HVAC unit.   
     
     
         8 . An outdoor HVAC unit comprising:
 a compressor;   an outdoor coil in communication with an indoor HVAC unit and the compressor, the outdoor coil comprising:   a plurality of fluid circuits;   at least one charge storage circuit; and   an expansion valve located between the at least one charge storage circuit and the plurality of fluid circuits,   wherein, during a cooling mode, the liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor HVAC unit and the at least one charge storage circuit functions as a subcooling circuit, and   wherein, during a heating mode, the at least one charge storage circuit contains liquid refrigerant.   
     
     
         9 . A method for optimizing operational efficiency of a heat pump system without charge imbalance, the method comprising:
 operating the heat pump system, in at least one of a heating mode and a cooling mode, the heat pump system comprising:
 an indoor HVAC unit comprising an indoor coil; and 
 an outdoor HVAC unit in communication with the indoor HVAC unit, the outdoor HVAC unit comprising:
 a compressor in communication with a reversing valve; and 
 an outdoor coil in communication with the indoor HVAC unit and the compressor, the outdoor coil comprising at least one charge storage circuit; 
 
   supplying liquid refrigerant into the indoor HVAC unit during the cooling mode;   configuring the at least one charge storage circuit to function as a subcooling circuit during the cooling mode; and   configuring the at least one charge storage circuit to contain liquid refrigerant during the heating mode.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the outdoor coil comprises:
 a plurality of fluid circuits; and   the at least one charge storage circuit.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , including spacing the plurality of fluid circuits apart from each other in a linear direction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the number of plurality of fluid circuits are greater than the number of the at least one charge storage circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising when operating in the cooling mode, configuring the indoor HVAC unit to:
 receive liquid refrigerant from the outdoor coil; and   supply vapor refrigerant to the compressor before returning to the outdoor coil.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising when operating in the heating mode, configuring the indoor HVAC unit to:
 receive vapor refrigerant exiting the outdoor coil via the compressor; and   return liquid refrigerant to the outdoor coil.