Heat exchanger assembly and air conditioning system having the same

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly and an air conditioning system having the same are disclosed. The heat exchanger assembly includes a first heat exchanger portion and a second heat exchanger portion, and a control valve having an open position in which the first heat exchanger portion and the second heat exchanger portion are in fluid communication through the control valve, and a closed position in which the first heat exchanger portion and the second heat exchanger portion are fluidly isolated from each other through the control valve. With the heat exchanger assembly of the present invention, the performance of the air conditioning system can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a heat exchanger assembly and an air conditioning system having the heat exchanger assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Air conditioning systems with reheaters have both cooling and reheat modes. In cooling mode, refrigerant flows through the condenser but not the reheater. In reheat mode, refrigerant flows through both the condenser and the reheater. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger assembly and an air conditioning system having the heat exchanger, thereby improving the performance of the air conditioning system, for example.

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention provides a heat exchanger assembly comprising: a first heat exchanger portion and a second heat exchanger portion; and a control valve having an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position, the first heat exchanger portion and the second heat exchanger portion are in fluid communication through the control valve, and in the closed position, the first heat exchanger portion and the second heat exchanger portion are in fluid isolation through the control valve.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are respectively the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes: a plurality of heat exchange tubes and two manifolds respectively connected to and in fluid communication with the two ends of each heat exchange tube. Each of the two manifolds includes a fluid-isolated first manifold section and a second manifold section, such that the heat exchanger is divided into a fluid-isolated first heat exchanger section and a second heat exchanger section. The control valve connects the first manifold section and the second manifold section of one of the two manifolds to connect the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section in series.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger further includes a baffle disposed in each of the two manifolds, the baffles dividing each manifold into a fluid-isolated first manifold portion and a second manifold portion.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger further includes a baffle disposed in one of the two manifolds, the baffle dividing the one manifold into a fluid-isolated first manifold portion and a second manifold portion, and the first manifold portion and the second manifold portion of the other of the two manifolds are two fluid-isolated sub-manifolds.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first manifold portion and the second manifold portion of one of the two manifolds are two fluid-isolated sub-manifolds, and the heat exchanger further includes a baffle disposed in the other of the two manifolds, the baffle dividing the other manifold into the fluid-isolated first manifold portion and the second manifold portion.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control valve is disposed inside the manifold and mounted on the baffle plate inside the manifold.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control valve is disposed outside the manifold and is connected to the first manifold portion and the second manifold portion of the manifold via a connecting pipe.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger assembly further includes: a first storage container, which is in fluid communication with a second manifold portion of the manifold and is connected between the control valve and the second manifold portion of the manifold.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger assembly further includes: a second storage container, the second storage container being in fluid communication with a second manifold portion of another manifold of the two manifolds, and the outlet of the heat exchanger being disposed on the second storage container.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of heat exchange tubes connected to the second manifold section is greater than the number of heat exchange tubes connected to the first manifold section, and the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger are respectively connected to the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section and are in fluid communication.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are two heat exchangers, and the control valve is connected between the two heat exchangers to connect the two heat exchangers in series.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the two heat exchangers is a microchannel heat exchanger or a finned tube heat exchanger.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control valve is a one-way valve, which only allows refrigerant in the first heat exchanger section to flow into the second heat exchanger section.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control valve is a two-position two-way valve.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the open position, the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are connected in series.

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a heat exchanger assembly, comprising: a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet; and a control valve connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger and having an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the control valve allows refrigerant to enter the heat exchanger through the control valve and the inlet of the heat exchanger, and in the closed position the control valve closes the inlet of the heat exchanger.

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention also provide an air conditioning system, including: a reheater, wherein the reheater is the heat exchanger assembly described above.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning system further includes: a compressor; a first heat exchanger as one of a condenser and an evaporator; and a second heat exchanger as the other of a condenser and an evaporator; wherein the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are connected in sequence from the compressor through the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger, and wherein the reheater is connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the refrigeration mode, the first heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. The reheater is not in operation and the control valve of the reheater is closed, so that a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger flows into the second heat exchanger section of the reheater and is stored in the second heat exchanger section.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in reheat mode, the first heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. The reheater is in operation and the control valve of the reheater is opened, so that refrigerant flows into the first heat exchanger section of the reheater and flows from the first heat exchanger section into the second heat exchanger section via the control valve.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first heat exchanger section is disposed above the second heat exchanger section.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are two heat exchangers, with the heat exchanger serving as the first heat exchanger section disposed above the heat exchanger serving as the second heat exchanger section.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are two heat exchangers arranged side by side in the horizontal direction.

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention also provide an air conditioning system, including: a reheater, wherein the reheater is the heat exchanger assembly described above.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning system further includes: a compressor; a first heat exchanger as one of a condenser and an evaporator; and a second heat exchanger as the other of a condenser and an evaporator; wherein the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are connected in sequence from the compressor through the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger, and wherein the reheater is connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the refrigeration mode, the first heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. The reheater is not in operation and the control valve of the reheater is closed, so that a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger flows into the reheater and is stored in the reheater.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in reheat mode, the first heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. The reheater is in operation and the control valve of the reheater is opened, so that refrigerant flows into the reheater through the control valve.

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention also provide an air conditioning system, comprising: a compressor; a first heat exchanger serving as one of a condenser and an evaporator; a second heat exchanger serving as the other of a condenser and an evaporator; and a reheater connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger; wherein the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are connected in sequence from the compressor through the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger, and in a cooling mode, the first heat exchanger serves as a condenser, and the second heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, the reheater is not operating, and a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger flows into the reheater and is stored in at least a portion of the reheater.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reheater is the heat exchanger assembly described above.

[0033] Using a heat exchanger assembly and an air conditioning system having the heat exchanger assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention can, for example, improve the performance of the air conditioning system. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger assembly according to a modified embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger assembly according to another variation of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger assembly according to a variation of another embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger assembly according to another variation of another embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a heat exchanger assembly according to yet another variation of a different embodiment of the present invention; and

[0042] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0044] First, a heat exchanger assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0045] See Figures 1 to 8 According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heat exchanger assembly 100 includes: a first heat exchanger section 11 and a second heat exchanger section 12; and a control valve 20 having an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 are in fluid communication through the control valve 20, while in the closed position, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 are fluidly isolated through the control valve 20. In the open position, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 are connected in series. The control valve may be a one-way valve as shown in the figure, which only allows refrigerant in the first heat exchanger section 11 to flow into the second heat exchanger section 12 through the one-way valve, while refrigerant in the second heat exchanger section 12 cannot flow into the first heat exchanger section 11 through the one-way valve. The one-way valve may be a common form in the prior art, for example, one that can only open in one direction under a certain pressure difference to achieve a one-way sealing function. Control valve 20 connects the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12, allowing refrigerant in the first heat exchanger section 11 to flow into the second heat exchanger section 12, while preventing refrigerant in the second heat exchanger section 12 from flowing into the first heat exchanger section 11. The control valve can also be a two-position, two-way valve, etc.

[0046] See Figures 2 to 4In some embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchanger portion 11 and the second heat exchanger portion 12 are respectively the first heat exchanger portion 11 and the second heat exchanger portion 12 of the heat exchanger 10. The heat exchanger 10 includes: a plurality of heat exchange tubes 13, fins 14 arranged alternately with the plurality of heat exchange tubes 13, and two manifolds 15 respectively connected to and in fluid communication with the two ends of each heat exchange tube 13. Each of the two manifolds 15 includes a fluid-isolated first manifold portion 151 and a second manifold portion 152, such that the heat exchanger is divided into a fluid-isolated first heat exchanger portion 11 and a second heat exchanger portion 12. The control valve 20 connects the first manifold portion 151 and the second manifold portion 152 of one of the two manifolds 15 to connect the first heat exchanger portion 11 and the second heat exchanger portion 12 in series. The inlet and outlet of heat exchanger 10 are connected and in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12, respectively. For example, the inlet and outlet of heat exchanger 10 are located on another manifold 15 and are connected and in fluid communication with the first manifold section 151 and the second manifold section 152, respectively. Figures 2 to 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the heat exchanger is a microchannel heat exchanger.

[0047] See Figures 2 to 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger 10 further includes a partition 16 disposed in each of the two manifolds 15, the partition 16 dividing each manifold 15 into a fluid-isolated first manifold portion 151 and a second manifold portion 152.

[0048] See Figures 2 to 4 In other embodiments of the invention, the heat exchanger 10 further includes a baffle 16 disposed in one of the two manifolds 15, the baffle 16 dividing the manifold 15 into a fluid-isolated first manifold portion 151 and a second manifold portion 152, and the first manifold portion 151 and the second manifold portion 152 of the other manifold 15 are two fluid-isolated sub-manifolds.

[0049] See Figures 2 to 4 In some other embodiments of the invention, the first manifold portion 151 and the second manifold portion 152 of one of the two manifolds 15 are two fluid-isolated sub-manifolds, and the heat exchanger 10 further includes a partition 16 disposed in the other of the two manifolds 15, the partition 16 dividing the other manifold 15 into the fluid-isolated first manifold portion 151 and the second manifold portion 152.

[0050] See Figure 4In some embodiments of the present invention, the control valve 20 is disposed inside the manifold 15 and mounted on the baffle 16 within the manifold 15. See also Figure 2 , Figure 3 In some other embodiments of the invention, the control valve 20 is disposed outside the manifold 15 and is connected to the first manifold portion 151 and the second manifold portion 152 of the manifold 15 via a connecting pipe 21.

[0051] To increase the volume of the second heat exchanger section 12, see [reference needed]. Figure 3 In some embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger assembly 100 may further include a first storage container 31, which is in fluid communication with a second manifold portion 152 of the manifold 15 (e.g., via a connecting pipe 30) and connected between the control valve 20 and the second manifold portion 152 of the manifold 15. Refrigerant in the first heat exchanger portion 11 can flow into the second heat exchanger portion 12 through the first storage container 31 and the control valve 20. In other embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger assembly 100 may further include a second storage container, which is in fluid communication with a second manifold portion 12 of the other manifold 15, and the outlet of the heat exchanger 10 is disposed on the second storage container. The heat exchanger assembly 100 may include only the first storage container 31 or the second storage container, or may include both the first storage container 31 and the second storage container. Furthermore, the number of heat exchange tubes 13 connected to the second manifold portion 152 may be greater than the number of heat exchange tubes 13 connected to the first manifold portion 151. Furthermore, the ratio of the second heat exchanger section 12 to the first heat exchanger section 11 can be increased.

[0052] See Figures 5 to 8 In some embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 are two heat exchangers, and the control valve 20 is connected between the two heat exchangers to connect them in series. Figures 5 to 8 As shown, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section can be arranged vertically or horizontally. It is understood that the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section can also be arranged front-to-back. At least one of the two heat exchangers can be a microchannel heat exchanger or a finned tube heat exchanger. Figure 5 , Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 are two heat exchangers, and the heat exchanger serving as the first heat exchanger section 11 and the heat exchanger serving as the second heat exchanger section 12 are microchannel heat exchangers. Figure 7 , Figure 8In the illustrated embodiment, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 are two heat exchangers, and both the heat exchanger in the first heat exchanger section 11 and the heat exchanger in the second heat exchanger section 12 are finned tube heat exchangers. Figures 2 to 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the heat exchange tube is straight; however, it can be understood that the heat exchange tube can also be... Figure 7 and Figure 8 The serpentine shape shown is folded vertically, with a certain distance between adjacent folded sections, where fins 14 can be installed. The serpentine heat exchange tubes can be formed by bending straight heat exchange tubes, or by connecting multiple heat exchange tubes with U-shaped connecting pipes. The first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 each include one or more heat exchange tubes. Figures 2 to 6 The manifold 15 shown is for illustrative purposes only. The manifold of the present invention refers to a component connected to a heat exchange tube and having a cavity for distributing or receiving heat exchange medium from the heat exchange tube.

[0053] An air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below.

[0054] See Figure 1 An air conditioning system 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a reheater 100A, which is the heat exchanger assembly 100 described above. The air conditioning system 1000 may further include: a compressor 200; a first heat exchanger 300 as one of a condenser and an evaporator; and a second heat exchanger 400 as the other of the condenser and evaporator. The compressor 200, the first heat exchanger 300, and the second heat exchanger 400 are connected in sequence from the compressor 200 through the first heat exchanger 300 to the second heat exchanger 400. The reheater 100A is connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger 300. The air conditioning system 1000 may further include: a throttling device 500, such as an expansion valve. Figure 1 In the diagram, the arrow indicates the direction of refrigerant flow in the reheat mode of the air conditioning system 1000.

[0055] See Figure 1In some embodiments of the present invention, in refrigeration mode, the first heat exchanger 300 acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger 400 acts as an evaporator. A control valve 600 allows refrigerant from the compressor 200 to flow to the first heat exchanger 300 but not to the refrigerant from the compressor 200 to the reheater 100A. The reheater 100A is not operating, and its control valve 20 is closed, causing a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger 300 to the second heat exchanger 400 to flow into the second heat exchanger section 12 of the reheater 100A. For example, a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger 300 to the throttling device 500 flows into and is stored in the second heat exchanger section 12 of the reheater 100A. In reheat mode, the first heat exchanger 300 acts as a condenser, and the second heat exchanger 400 acts as an evaporator. Control valve 600 allows refrigerant from compressor 200 to flow to the first heat exchanger 300 and to reheater 100A. Reheater 100A operates, and control valve 20 of reheater 100A opens, allowing refrigerant to flow into the first heat exchanger section 11 of reheater 100A and then from the first heat exchanger section 11 into the second heat exchanger section 12 via control valve 20. Finally, it flows out from the second heat exchanger section 12.

[0056] See Figures 2 to 6 In some embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchanger portion 11 is disposed above the second heat exchanger portion 12. Figure 5 , Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 are two heat exchangers, with the heat exchanger serving as the first heat exchanger section 11 positioned above the heat exchanger serving as the second heat exchanger section 12. Figure 7 , Figure 8 In the embodiment shown, the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 are two heat exchangers arranged side by side in the horizontal direction.

[0057] Air conditioning systems with reheaters have both cooling and reheat modes. If the refrigerant level is just right in cooling mode, then in reheat mode, some refrigerant needs to be diverted to the reheater, resulting in insufficient refrigerant in the condenser. This triggers the low-pressure protection of the air conditioning system, causing it to stop operating.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reheater has the function of storing refrigerant in cooling mode. In cooling mode, the reheater stores a portion of the refrigerant. In reheat mode, there is no need to divert refrigerant from the condenser, avoiding the risk of low-pressure protection due to refrigerant shortage causing the air conditioning system to stop operating, while also ensuring the heat exchange capacity of the condenser.

[0059] See Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the air conditioning system of the present invention, in reheat mode, reheater 100A operates and control valve 20 of reheater 100A is open, enabling the air conditioning system to operate normally, and the first heat exchanger section 11 and the second heat exchanger section 12 perform heat exchange normally. In cooling mode, reheater 100A does not operate and control valve 20 of reheater 100A is closed, causing a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger 300 to the second heat exchanger 400 to flow back through the outlet of reheater 100A to the second heat exchanger section 12 of reheater 100A. Because control valve 20 is closed, this portion of refrigerant is stored in the second heat exchanger section 12 of reheater 100A.

[0060] See Figure 9 A modified embodiment of the heat exchanger assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a heat exchanger 10 having an inlet and an outlet; and a control valve 20 connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger 10 and having an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the control valve 20 allows refrigerant to enter the heat exchanger 10 through the control valve 20 and the inlet of the heat exchanger 10, while in the closed position, the control valve 20 closes the inlet of the heat exchanger 10. The control valve 20 may be a one-way valve or a two-position two-way valve, etc.

[0061] See Figure 9 An air conditioning system 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a reheater 100B, which is the aforementioned heat exchanger assembly 100. The air conditioning system 1000 may further include: a compressor 200; a first heat exchanger 300 as one of a condenser and an evaporator; and a second heat exchanger 400 as the other of the condenser and evaporator. The compressor 200, the first heat exchanger 300, and the second heat exchanger 400 are connected in sequence from the compressor 200 through the first heat exchanger 300 to the second heat exchanger 400. The reheater 100A is connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger 300. The air conditioning system 1000 may further include: a throttling device 500, such as an expansion valve. Figure 9 In the diagram, the arrow indicates the direction of refrigerant flow in the reheat mode of the air conditioning system 1000.

[0062] See Figure 9In some embodiments of the present invention, in refrigeration mode, the first heat exchanger 300 acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger 400 acts as an evaporator. A control valve 600 allows refrigerant from the compressor 200 to flow to the first heat exchanger 300, but does not allow refrigerant from the compressor 200 to flow to the reheater 100B. The reheater 100B is not operating, and its control valve 20 is closed, causing a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger 300 to the second heat exchanger 400 to flow into and be stored in the reheater 100B. For example, a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger 300 to the throttling device 500 flows into and is stored in the reheater 100B. In reheat mode, the first heat exchanger 300 acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger 400 acts as an evaporator. The control valve 600 allows refrigerant from the compressor 200 to flow to the first heat exchanger 300 and to the reheater 100B. The reheater 100B operates and the control valve 20 of the reheater 100A is opened, allowing refrigerant to flow into the reheater 100B via the control valve 20.

[0063] See Figure 1 and Figure 9 An air conditioning system 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a compressor 200; a first heat exchanger 300 serving as one of a condenser and an evaporator; a second heat exchanger 400 serving as the other of a condenser and an evaporator; and reheaters 100A and 100B, the reheaters 100A and 100B being connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger 300. The compressor 200, the first heat exchanger 300, and the second heat exchanger 400 are connected in sequence from the compressor 200 through the first heat exchanger 300 to the second heat exchanger 400. In cooling mode, the first heat exchanger 300 acts as a condenser, and the second heat exchanger 400 acts as an evaporator. The reheaters 100A and 100B are not in operation. A portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger 300 to the second heat exchanger 400 flows into the reheaters 100A and 100B and is stored in at least a portion of the reheaters 100A and 100B. The reheaters 100A and 100B can be the heat exchanger assembly 100 described above.

[0064] According to an embodiment of the air conditioning system of the present invention, the reheater has the function of storing refrigerant when the air conditioning system is in cooling mode. The refrigerant can be stored in at least a portion of the reheater, ensuring the required amount of refrigerant in both cooling and reheating modes, thereby guaranteeing heat exchange performance in each mode. Furthermore, using the heat exchanger assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention does not add any unnecessary components to the air conditioning system.

[0065] for Figure 9The air conditioning system shown can store refrigerant in its entire reheater during cooling mode, allowing the system to store more refrigerant. This is advantageous when the air conditioning system needs to store a large amount of refrigerant.

[0066] for Figure 1 The air conditioning system shown and Figures 2 to 8 The heat exchanger assembly shown stores refrigerant in the second heat exchanger section during cooling mode, which is sufficient to meet the needs of the air conditioning system and saves refrigerant.

[0067] Although the above embodiments have been described, some features of the above embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments.

[0068] Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are merely examples used to facilitate understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art can modify the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system, comprising a heat exchanger assembly, the heat exchanger assembly comprising: First heat exchanger section and second heat exchanger section; as well as A control valve has an open position and a closed position. In the open position, a first heat exchanger section and a second heat exchanger section are in fluid communication through the control valve, while in the closed position, the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are fluidly isolated from each other through the control valve. Wherein: the heat exchanger assembly serves as a reheater, the reheater is connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger, in the cooling mode of the air conditioning system, the reheater is not operating and the control valve of the reheater is closed, so that a portion of the refrigerant flowing from the first heat exchanger, which serves as the condenser of the air conditioning system, to the second heat exchanger, which serves as the evaporator of the air conditioning system, flows into the second heat exchanger section of the reheater and is stored in the second heat exchanger section.

2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein: The first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are respectively the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes: a plurality of heat exchange tubes and two manifolds respectively connected to the two ends of each heat exchange tube and in fluid communication. Each of the two manifolds includes a fluid-isolated first manifold section and a second manifold section, such that the heat exchanger is divided into a fluid-isolated first heat exchanger section and a second heat exchanger section. The control valve connects the first manifold section and the second manifold section of one of the two manifolds to connect the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section in series.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein: The heat exchanger also includes a baffle disposed in each of the two manifolds, the baffles dividing each manifold into a fluid-isolated first manifold portion and a second manifold portion.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein: The heat exchanger further includes a baffle plate disposed in one of the two manifolds, the baffle plate dividing the one manifold into a fluid-isolated first manifold portion and a second manifold portion, and the first manifold portion and the second manifold portion of the other of the two manifolds are two fluid-isolated sub-manifolds.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein: The first and second manifold portions of one of the two manifolds are two fluid-isolated sub-manifolds, and The heat exchanger also includes a baffle disposed in another of the two manifolds, the baffle dividing the other manifold into a fluid-isolated first manifold portion and a second manifold portion.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The control valve is located inside one of the manifolds and is mounted on the baffle plate inside the manifold.

7. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: The control valve is located outside the manifold and is connected to the first manifold section and the second manifold section of the manifold via a connecting pipe.

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, further comprising: A first storage container is in fluid communication with a second manifold portion of the manifold and is connected between the control valve and the second manifold portion of the manifold.

9. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, further comprising: The second storage container is in fluid communication with a second manifold portion of the other manifold of the two manifolds, and the outlet of the heat exchanger is located on the second storage container.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein: The number of heat exchange tubes connected to the second manifold section is greater than the number of heat exchange tubes connected to the first manifold section, and the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger are connected to the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section respectively and are in fluid communication.

11. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein: The control valve is a one-way valve, which only allows refrigerant in the first heat exchanger section to flow into the second heat exchanger section.

12. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein: The control valve is a two-position two-way valve.

13. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein: In the open position, the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are connected in series.

14. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: In reheat mode, the first heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. The reheater is running and the control valve of the reheater is open, so that refrigerant flows into the first heat exchanger section of the reheater and flows from the first heat exchanger section into the second heat exchanger section via the control valve.

15. The air conditioning system according to claim 14, wherein: The first heat exchanger section is positioned above the second heat exchanger section.

16. An air conditioning system according to claim 1, comprising: The first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section are two separate heat exchangers, and a control valve is connected between the two separate heat exchangers to connect the two heat exchangers in series.

17. The air conditioning system according to claim 16, wherein: At least one of the two heat exchangers is a microchannel heat exchanger or a finned tube heat exchanger.

18. The air conditioning system according to claim 16, wherein: The heat exchanger, which is the first heat exchanger section, is positioned above the heat exchanger, which is the second heat exchanger section.

19. The air conditioning system according to claim 16, wherein: The two heat exchangers are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction.

20. The air conditioning system according to claim 16, wherein: In reheat mode, the first heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the second heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. The reheater is in operation and the control valve of the reheater is opened, allowing refrigerant to flow into the reheater through the control valve.

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