Fluid flow reversing device for heat exchangers

Abstract

A flow reversing device is provided for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system having a heat exchanger. The flow reversing device included a first flow control device, a second flow control device, a third flow control device, and a fourth flow control device, each flow control device being a two-way flow control device. When the first flow control device and the fourth flow control device are opened and the second flow control device and the third flow control device are closed, a first flow is formed. When the second flow control device and the third flow control device are opened and the first flow control device and the fourth flow control device are closed, a second flow is formed. The first flow and the second flow are in opposite directions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow reversing device for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) system having a heat exchanger, the flow reversing device comprising:
 a first flow control device, a second flow control device, a third flow control device, and a fourth flow control device, each flow control device being a two-way flow control device;   wherein a first port of the first flow control device and a first port of the third flow control device connect to a fluid inlet, a first port of the second flow control device and a first port of the fourth flow control device connect to a fluid outlet, a second port of the first flow control device and a second port of the second flow control device connect to a first port of the heat exchanger, a second port of the third flow control device and a second port of the fourth flow control device connect to a second port of the heat exchanger,   when the first flow control device and the fourth flow control device are opened and the second flow control device and the third flow control device are closed, a first flow is formed from the fluid inlet, the first port and the second port of the first flow control device, the first port and the second port of the heat exchanger, the second port and the first port of the fourth flow control device, to the fluid outlet,   when the second flow control device and the third flow control device are opened and the first flow control device and the fourth flow control device are closed, a second flow is formed from the fluid inlet, the first port and the second port of the third flow control device, the second port and the first port of the heat exchanger, the second port and the first port of the second flow control device, to the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The flow reversing device of  claim 1 , wherein a rod of the first flow control device, a rod of the second flow control device, a rod of the third flow control device, and a rod of the fourth flow control device are disposed on a same plane and are connected through a connecting mechanism, such that when the first flow control device and the fourth flow control device are opened, the second flow control device and the third flow control device are closed, and such that when the second flow control device and the third flow control device are opened, the first flow control device and the fourth flow control device are closed. 
     
     
         3 . The flow reversing device of  claim 2 , wherein open and close states of the first flow control device, the second flow control device, the third flow control device, and the fourth flow control device are switched by an actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The flow reversing device of  claim 2 , wherein the rod of the first flow control device, the rod of the second flow control device, the rod of the third flow control device, and the rod of the fourth flow control device extend in a direction that is at or about 45 degrees to a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         5 . The flow reversing device of  claim 2 , wherein directions from the first port to the second port of the first flow control device, the second flow control device, the third flow control device, and the fourth flow control device are in a horizontal direction, and the first flow control device, the second flow control device, the third flow control device, and the fourth flow control device are arranged in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         6 . The flow reversing device of  claim 2 , wherein directions from the first port to the second port of the first flow control device and the third flow control device are in a vertical direction, the first flow control device and the third flow control device are arranged in series along a vertical direction, directions from the first port to the second port of the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device are in a horizontal direction, the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the first flow control device and the third flow control device that are arranged in series. 
     
     
         7 . The flow reversing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow control device and the third flow control device form a first three-way flow control device through a first three-way connector, the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device form a second three-way flow control device through a second three-way connector, each of the first three-way connector and the second three-way connector includes a first end, a second end, and a third end, the first end and the second end extend in a same direction different from a direction in which the third end extends,
 the first end of the first three-way connector connects to the fluid inlet, and the first flow control device and the third flow control device respectively connect to the second end and the third end of the first three-way connector;   the first end of the second three-way connector connects to the fluid outlet, and the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device respectively connect to the third end and he second end of the second three-way connector.   
     
     
         8 . The flow reversing device of  claim 7 , wherein the first flow control device and the fourth flow control device respectively connect to the first port and the second port of the heat exchanger through a first three-way pipeline and a second three-way pipeline, the first three-way pipeline and the second flow control device are connected through a first bent pipe, and the second three-way pipeline and the third flow control device are connected through a second bent pipe, wherein the first bent pipe and the second bent pipe are not in a plane where the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are located. 
     
     
         9 . The flow reversing device of  claim 7 , wherein the first flow control device and the fourth flow control device respectively connect to the first port and the second port of the heat exchanger through a first three-way pipeline and a second three-way pipeline, the first three-way pipeline and the second flow control device are connected through a first bent pipe, the second three-way pipeline and the third flow control device are connected through a second bent pipe, the first bent pipe is not in a plane where the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are located, and the second bent pipe is located in the plane where the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are located. 
     
     
         10 . The flow reversing device of  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the first three-way connector extends in a direction different from a direction in which the fluid inlet extends, and the first end of the second three-way connector extends in a same direction in which the fluid outlet extends. 
     
     
         11 . The flow reversing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow control device and the third flow control device form a first three-way flow control device through a first three-way connector, the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device form a second three-way flow control device through a second three-way connector, each of the first three-way connector and the second three-way connector includes a first end, a second end, and a third end, the first end and the second end extends in a same direction different from a direction in which the third end extends,
 the third end of the first three-way connector connects to the fluid inlet, and the first flow control device and the third flow control device symmetrically connect to the first end and the second end of the first three-way connector respectively;   the third end of the second three-way connector connect to the fluid outlet, and the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device symmetrically connect to the first end and the second end of the second three-way connector respectively.   
     
     
         12 . The flow reversing device of  claim 11 , wherein the first flow control device and the second flow control device symmetrically connect to the first port of the heat exchanger through a first Y-shaped three-way pipeline, and the third flow control device and the fourth flow control device symmetrically connect to the second port of the heat exchanger through a second Y-shaped three-way pipeline. 
     
     
         13 . The flow reversing device of  claim 11 , wherein the first flow control device and the second flow control device connect to the first port of the heat exchanger through a first F-shaped three-way pipeline, the third flow control device and the fourth flow control device connect to the second port of the heat exchanger through a second F-shaped three-way pipeline, and the first F-shaped three-way pipeline and the second F-shaped three-way pipeline are located in a same plane. 
     
     
         14 . The flow reversing device of  claim 7 , wherein a rod of the first flow control device and a rod of the third flow control device connect together through a connecting rod mechanism, such that when the first flow control device is opened, the third flow control device is closed, and such that when the third flow control device is opened, the first flow control device is closed;
 a rod of the second flow control device and a rod of the fourth flow control device connect together through another connecting rod mechanism, such that when the second flow control device is opened, the fourth flow control device is closed, and such that when the fourth flow control device is opened, the second flow control device is closed.   
     
     
         15 . The flow reversing device of  claim 14 , wherein open and close states of the first flow control device and the third flow control device are switched via a first actuator, and open and close states of the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device are switched via a second actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The flow reversing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow control device and the second flow control device form a first three-way flow control device through a first three-way connector, the third flow control device and the fourth flow control device form a second three-way flow control device through a second three-way connector, the first flow control device and the third flow control device connect through a third three-way connector, the first three-way connector, the second three-way connector and the third three-way connector each includes a first end, a second end and a third end, the first end and the second end extend in a same direction different from a direction in which the third end extends,
 the first flow control device and the second flow control device respectively connect to the third end and the first end of the first three-way connector, and the second end of the first three-way connector connect to the first port of the heat exchanger;   the third flow control device and the fourth flow control device respectively connect to the third end and the first end of the second three-way connector, and the second end of the second three-way connector connect to the second port of the heat exchanger;   the first flow control device and the third flow control device symmetrically connect to the first end and the second end of the third three-way connector respectively, and the third end of the third three-way connector connects to the fluid inlet;   the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device connect to the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         17 . The flow reversing device of  claim 16 , wherein a rod of the first flow control device and a rod of the second flow control device connect together through a connecting rod mechanism, such that when the first flow control device is opened, the second flow control device is closed, and such that when the second flow control device is opened, the first flow control device is closed;
 a rod of the third flow control device and a rod of the fourth flow control device connect together through another connecting rod mechanism, such that when the third flow control device is opened, the fourth flow control device is closed, and such that when the fourth flow control device is opened, the third flow control device is closed.   
     
     
         18 . The flow reversing device of  claim 17 , wherein open and close states of the first flow control device and the second flow control device are switched via a first actuator, and open and close states of the third flow control device and the fourth flow control device are switched via a second actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The flow reversing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow control device and the second flow control device form a first three-way flow control device through a first three-way connector, the third flow control device and the fourth flow control device form a second three-way flow control device through a second three-way connector, the first flow control device and the third flow control device connect through a third three-way connector, the first three-way connector, the second three-way connector and the third three-way connector each includes a first end, a second end and a third end, the first end and the second end extend in a same direction different from a direction in which the third end extends,
 the first flow control device and the second flow control device respectively connect to the third end and the first end of the first three-way connector, and the second end of the first three-way connector connect to the first port of the heat exchanger;   the third flow control device and the fourth flow control device respectively connect to the third end and the first end of the second three-way connector, and the second end of the second three-way connector connect to the second port of the heat exchanger;   the first flow control device and the third flow control device connect to the first end and the third end of the third three-way connector respectively, and the second end of the third three-way connector connects to the fluid inlet;   the second flow control device and the fourth flow control device connect to the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         20 . A heat pump unit, comprising:
 the flow reversing device of  claim 1 ; and   the heat exchanger,   wherein the heat exchanger has a first heat exchange side and a second heat exchange side, the first heat exchange side is a working fluid side, the flow reversing device is located at the second heat exchange side,   when the heat pump unit is in a cooling mode, the flow reversing device forms the first flow; and when the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, the flow reversing device forms the second flow.