In a cooling mode, the reversing valve directs the refrigerant to flow through the evaporator coil, where it absorbs heat from the indoor air. This cooled air is then circulated throughout the building by the air conditioning system's fan.
In a heating mode, the reversing valve directs the refrigerant to flow through the condenser coil, where it releases heat to the outdoor air. This heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the outdoor air by the condenser coil, which is typically located outside the building. The air conditioning system's fan then circulates the warm air throughout the building.
The reversing valve is controlled by a thermostat, which detects the temperature inside the building and sends a signal to the air conditioning system to switch between heating and cooling modes as needed.
The reversing valve itself is typically a solenoid-operated valve that is controlled by an electrical signal. When the thermostat sends a signal to switch to heating mode, the solenoid activates and directs the refrigerant to flow through the condenser coil. When the thermostat sends a signal to switch to cooling mode, the solenoid deactivates and directs the refrigerant to flow through the evaporator coil.
It's worth noting that not all air conditioner use a reversing valve, some air conditioner use a separate unit for heating and cooling (such as a furnace for heating and separate air conditioner for cooling) . However, systems that use a reversing valve are often more energy efficient because they do not require separate units for heating and cooling. This is because the reversing valve allows the same refrigerant to be used for both heating and cooling, which eliminates the need for separate units and reduces the overall cost of the system.
In summary, a reversing valve is a component found in air conditioning systems that allows the direction of refrigerant flow to be reversed, allowing the system to switch between heating and cooling modes. It is controlled by a thermostat, and is typically a solenoid-operated valve that is controlled by an electrical signal. Systems that use a reversing valve are often more energy efficient because they do not require separate units for heating and cooling.