Patent ID: 7434415

Claim:
A system for providing humidity control and cooling, the system comprising: a compressor having a low-pressure inlet and a high-pressure outlet; a condenser in fluid communication with both the low-pressure inlet and the high-pressure outlet of the compressor; an expansion device in fluid communication with the condenser, the expansion device having an inlet and an outlet; an evaporator in fluid communication with the outlet of the expansion device and the low-pressure inlet of the compressor; and a reheat heat exchanger in fluid communication with the inlet of the expansion device, the low-pressure inlet of the compressor, and the high-pressure outlet of the compressor; and a flow-control subsystem configured to control flow from the high-pressure outlet of the compressor to the condenser, from the high-pressure outlet of the compressor to the reheat heat exchanger, from the reheat heat exchanger to the low-pressure inlet of the compressor, and from the condenser to the low-pressure inlet of the compressor; the flow-control subsystem further configured to be switchable between at least a first state and a second state, wherein, in the first state, which is provided for cooling, the flow control subsystem substantially allows flow of refrigerant from the high-pressure outlet of the compressor to the condenser, substantially prevents flow of refrigerant from the high-pressure outlet of the compressor to the reheat heat exchanger, substantially allows flow of refrigerant from the reheat heat exchanger to the low-pressure inlet of the compressor to suction refrigerant present in the reheat heat exchanger, and substantially prevents flow of refrigerant from the condenser to the low-pressure inlet of the compressor; and wherein, in the second state, which is provided for humidity control, the flow control subsystem substantially prevents flow of refrigerant from the high-pressure outlet of the compressor to the condenser, substantially allows flow of refrigerant from the high-pressure outlet of the compressor to the reheat heat exchanger, substantially prevents flow of refrigerant from the reheat heat exchanger to the low-pressure inlet of the compressor, and substantially permits flow of refrigerant from the condenser to the low-pressure inlet of the compressor to suction refrigerant present in the condenser.