Patent attributes
A heat pump is operable in a heating mode and a cooling mode and includes two identical heat exchangers. The heat exchangers alternate between operating as a condenser and an evaporator as the heat pump switches between the heating mode and the cooling mode. The heat exchangers include a fluid passageway for directing a refrigerant therethrough and a bypass bisecting the fluid passageway into a first portion and a second portion. A valve interconnects the first portion and the second portion of the fluid passageway and the bypass for directing the refrigerant through the first portion of the fluid passageway and into the bypass to prevent refrigerant flow through the second portion of the fluid passageway when the heat exchanger is operable as the evaporator.
