A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a reversible valve having an outlet configured to direct refrigerant to a reheat heat exchanger of the HVAC system. The reversible valve is further configured to be in a first configuration to direct the refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit in a first flow direction in a heating mode of the HVAC system and to be in a second configuration to direct the refrigerant through the refrigerant circuit in a second flow direction in a cooling mode of the HVAC system.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a heat exchanger, and a flow switching circuit configured to switch the heat exchanger to act as any one of an evaporator and a condenser, the flow switching circuit is configured to allow refrigerant to flow into the heat exchanger in the same direction both in a case where the heat exchanger acts as an evaporator and in a case where the heat exchanger acts as a condenser, the heat exchanger includes a path switching circuit including a plurality of paths, and the path switching circuit is configured to switch an order of the plurality of paths through which refrigerant flows between an order of the plurality of paths in the case where the heat exchanger acts as an evaporator and another order of the plurality of paths in the case where the heat exchanger acts as a condenser.

A second flow path switching apparatus includes a first distribution apparatus configured to distribute refrigerant to a plurality of refrigerant paths in a first heat exchange portion, a second distribution apparatus configured to distribute refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant paths in the first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion, and a switch portion configured to switch connection of a refrigerant inlet of a first heat exchange apparatus to the first distribution apparatus or to the second distribution apparatus and switch whether refrigerant which flows out of a refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchange portion is allowed to pass through the second heat exchange portion or to merge with refrigerant which flows out of a refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchange portion in accordance with whether an order of circulation of the refrigerant is a first order (cooling) or a second order (heating).

An air conditioner performs a heating operation and a cooling operation with enhanced heat exchange performance and also performs a heating continuous operation, while preventing increases in manufacturing cost and packaging volume. An air conditioner comprises a refrigerant circuit through which refrigerant circulates. A second heat exchanger includes a first refrigerant flow path and a second refrigerant flow path. A first port of the flow path switching device is connected to a discharge portion of a compressor. A second port is connected to a first heat exchanger. A third port is connected to an intake portion of the compressor. A fourth port is connected to a pipe that connects a branch point to the first refrigerant flow path. A fifth port is connected to the second refrigerant flow path. A sixth port is connected to the first refrigerant flow path.

A second flow path switching apparatus includes a first distribution apparatus configured to distribute refrigerant to a plurality of refrigerant paths in a first heat exchange portion, a second distribution apparatus configured to distribute refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant paths in the first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion, and a switch portion configured to switch connection of a refrigerant inlet of a first heat exchange apparatus to the first distribution apparatus or to the second distribution apparatus and switch whether refrigerant which flows out of a refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchange portion is allowed to pass through the second heat exchange portion or to merge with refrigerant which flows out of a refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchange portion in accordance with whether an order of circulation of the refrigerant is a first order (cooling) or a second order (heating).

There is provided a valve for a reversible heat pump system, including six ports and three flow paths for a refrigerant, the three flow paths being selectable between different pairs of the six ports, wherein: two of the three flow paths are non-restrictive flow paths; and one of the three flow paths is a restrictive flow path. There is also provided a reversible heat pump system, including: the valve; a compressor; a process heat exchanger having input and output sides through which refrigerant is supplied and discharged respectively; and a rejection heat exchanger having input and output sides through which the refrigerant is supplied and discharged respectively, wherein the valve interconnects the compressor, the process heat exchanger and the rejection heat exchanger such that a refrigeration cycle can be established.

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a reversible valve having an outlet configured to direct refrigerant to a reheat heat exchanger of the HVAC system. The reversible valve is further configured to be in a first configuration to direct the refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit in a first flow direction in a heating mode of the HVAC system and to be in a second configuration to direct the refrigerant through the refrigerant circuit in a second flow direction in a cooling mode of the HVAC system.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigeration circuit in which non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture circulates. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a four-way valve. The four-way valve is configured to assume a first state and a second state. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant flow paths and a linear flow path switching valve configured to switch connections of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths between a series state in which the non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture flows through the plurality of refrigerant flow paths in series and a parallel state in which the non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture flows through the plurality of refrigerant flow paths in parallel. A controller switches the linear flow path switching valve between the series state and the parallel state when a multi-way valve is in the second state.

An air conditioner performs a heating operation and a cooling operation with enhanced heat exchange performance and also performs a heating continuous operation, while preventing increases in manufacturing cost and packaging volume. An air conditioner comprises a refrigerant circuit through which refrigerant circulates. A second heat exchanger includes a first refrigerant flow path and a second refrigerant flow path. A first port of the flow path switching device is connected to a discharge portion of a compressor. A second port is connected to a first heat exchanger. A third port is connected to an intake portion of the compressor. A fourth port is connected to a pipe that connects a branch point to the first refrigerant flow path. A fifth port is connected to the second refrigerant flow path. A sixth port is connected to the first refrigerant flow path.

An energy efficient heat pump for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a vapor compression circuit, a heat exchanger of the vapor compression circuit configured to place a working fluid in a heat exchange relationship with an air flow directed across the heat exchanger, and a valve system of the vapor compression circuit. The valve system is adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the heat pump is configured to operate in a cooling mode with the valve system in the first configuration and in a heating mode with the valve system in the second configuration, and the valve system is configured to direct the working fluid into the heat exchanger to place the working fluid in a counterflow heat transfer arrangement with the air flow in the first configuration and in the second configuration.