A heat exchanger connected to a refrigerant pipe includes: heat transfer tubes; and a header that connects the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer tubes, and that forms a refrigerant flow path between the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer tubes. The header includes a first member that includes a first plate-shaped portion, and a second member that includes a second plate-shaped portion that is stacked on a heat transfer tubes side of the first plate-shaped portion. The first plate-shaped portion has a first opening that forms the refrigerant flow path. The second plate-shaped portion has a second opening that forms the refrigerant flow path. When viewed in a stacking direction of the first plate-shaped portion and the second plate-shaped portion, the second opening and the first opening overlap each other at a first region and at a second region that is different from the first region.

A variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, which includes: a first outdoor unit, the first outdoor unit at least including three external interfaces, namely, a gas-side stop valve, a liquid-side stop valve, and a multi-functional pipe stop valve; a first indoor unit, two ends of a refrigerant pipeline of the first indoor unit being respectively in communication with the gas-side stop valve and the liquid-side stop valve; and a replaceable module, one end of a refrigerant pipeline of the replaceable module being in communication with the multi-functional pipe stop valve, and the other end being in communication with the liquid-side stop valve.

A heating and cooling system includes a reversing valve configured to adjust a flow of refrigerant through the heating and cooling system, where the reversing valve includes a first configuration to flow the refrigerant through a first circuit of the heating and cooling system and a second configuration to flow the refrigerant through a second circuit of the heating and cooling system. The heating and cooling system also includes a controller configured to determine an operating parameter of a compressor of the heating and cooling system, where the controller is configured to adjust operation of the compressor based on the operating parameter to adjust a position of the reversing valve.

Embodiments include heat pump systems with gas bypasses and related methods. In one embodiment, a system may include a gas bypass tank having a bypass inlet, a liquid outlet, and a vapor outlet, and a first splitting valve having a first splitter outlet in fluid communication with the bypass inlet, a first splitter inlet in fluid communication with the liquid outlet, and a first switching path configured to switch between a first conduit path in fluid communication with a first coil system and a second conduit path in fluid communication with a second coil system.

A reversible flow heat exchange system includes a heat exchanger system that includes a canister configured to receive a first fluid from a machine and a heat exchanger disposed within the canister. The reversible flow heat exchange system also includes a cooling system coupled to the heat exchanger and configured to circulate a second fluid between the heat exchanger system and the cooling system and a reversing valve coupled to the heat exchanger and configured to selectively direct a flow of the first fluid in a first direction through the canister and in a second direction through the canister that is opposite the first direction.

Systems and methods for controlled subcooling of working fluid in a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) system through a suction line heat exchanger are disclosed. The suction line heat exchanger may receive a first fluid flow travelling to a suction of the compressor in the HVACR system and second flow of working fluid that is travelling from a heat exchanger receiving the discharge of the compressor to an expansion device. Superheating of the first working fluid may be determined based on temperature measurements prior to and following the suction line heat exchanger. The superheating may be used to control the quantity of the second flow of working fluid introduced into the suction line heat exchanger, for example to maintain superheat that is below a threshold value. These systems may include chillers and heat pump systems, and methods may be applied to chillers or heat pump systems.

A liquid slug reduction and charge compensator device for use in air conditioning and heat pump systems includes a housing having a cavity. The housing includes an inlet port providing an entry path into the cavity and an outlet port providing an exit path from the cavity. The housing further includes a liquid line port providing a refrigerant pathway into and out of the cavity. The liquid slug reduction and charge compensator device further comprises a flash tube extending through the cavity and providing a passageway through the cavity such that a hot gas refrigerant that enters the cavity through the inlet port causes a liquid refrigerant that enters the flash tube to evaporate.

A heat pump apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a first operation using a load-side heat exchanger as a condenser, and a second operation using the load-side heat exchanger as an evaporator. A suction pipe provided between a refrigerant flow switching valve and a compressor has a container. To the heat medium circuit, an overpressure protection relief valve and a refrigerant leakage detector are connected. When leakage of refrigerant into the heat medium circuit is detected, the refrigerant flow switching valve is switched to a second state, an expansion device is set to a closed state, and the compressor is operated. When a requirement for ending the operation of the compressor is satisfied after the leakage is detected, the compressor is stopped, and the refrigerant flow switching valve is switched to a first state.

Systems and methods for controlled subcooling of working fluid in a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) system through a suction line heat exchanger are disclosed. The suction line heat exchanger may receive a first fluid flow travelling to a suction of the compressor in the HVACR system and second flow of working fluid that is travelling from a heat exchanger receiving the discharge of the compressor to an expansion device. Superheating of the first working fluid may be determined based on temperature measurements prior to and following the suction line heat exchanger. The superheating may be used to control the quantity of the second flow of working fluid introduced into the suction line heat exchanger, for example to maintain superheat that is below a threshold value. These systems may include chillers and heat pump systems, and methods may be applied to chillers or heat pump systems.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat pump assembly including a system or method for detecting a fault in the heat pump. Some embodiments include a method for detecting a switch over valve fault where the heat pump includes a refrigerant cycle, a compressor, a metering device, a first heat exchanger, an second heat exchanger, a temperature sensor, and a switch over valve, and where the method includes operating the HVAC system in one either a heating mode or a cooling mode, monitoring a refrigerant temperature associated with the refrigerant cycle using the temperature sensor, monitoring an outdoor ambient air temperature, determining a temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, determining whether the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined temperature difference threshold, and declaring a switch over valve fault when the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined temperature difference threshold.