An air conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor device that is configured to circulate refrigerant and that includes a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor devices configured to circulate water, and a heat exchange device connecting the outdoor device with the indoor device. The heat exchange device includes a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the water, and a switch device configured to control flow of refrigerant between the indoor devices and the heat exchanger.

Air recirculation systems for heat pumps are disclosed. The air recirculation systems include a heat pump subsystem and a recirculation subsystem. The recirculation subsystem can include one or more arms that direct cool, dehumidified air flowing from the heat pump subsystems back to air inlets. The recirculation subsystems can transition from open to closed configurations either manually or via motors. The air recirculation systems can include a controller that outputs a control signal to the motors to open or close the recirculation subsystems. The control signals can be based on temperature data, current data, and the like.

Proposed a gas heat-pump system including: a compressor compressing refrigerant and discharging the compressed refrigerant; an engine providing a drive force to the compressor; a radiator that cools coolant which is heated while passing through the engine; an indoor heat exchanger causing heat exchange to occur between indoor air and the refrigerant and thus cooling or heating an indoor space; an outdoor heat exchanger condensing the refrigerant; a four-way valve switching a flow direction of the refrigerant in such a manner that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows to the outdoor heat exchanger in a cooling operation mode and flows to the indoor heat exchanger in a heating operation mode; and a hot-water storage tank causing the heat exchange to occur between stored water and the refrigerant, and thus cooling the refrigerant in the cooling operation mode and heating the refrigerant in the heating operation mode.

A heating system having a plurality of outdoor air source heat pumps. An indoor heat transfer system receives heat from the plurality of outdoor air source heat pumps, and uses the heat for a heating application. The heating system is configured to control the plurality of outdoor air source heat pumps so as to reduce an occurrence of the plurality of outdoor air source heat pumps simultaneously being in a defrost cycle. Water to water heat pump(s) are provided in a cascade configuration with the indoor units to produce higher temperature water for the heating application.

Air recirculation systems for heat pumps are disclosed. The air recirculation systems include a heat pump subsystem and a recirculation subsystem. The recirculation subsystem can include one or more arms that direct cool, dehumidified air flowing from the heat pump subsystems back to air inlets. The recirculation subsystems can transition from open to closed configurations either manually or via motors. The air recirculation systems can include a controller that outputs a control signal to the motors to open or close the recirculation subsystems. The control signals can be based on temperature data, current data, and the like.

An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.

An apparatus includes a high side heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a load, a variable speed compressor, and a three-way valve. The high side heat exchanger removes heat from a refrigerant. The second heat exchanger removes heat from the refrigerant. The load uses the refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The variable speed compressor compresses the refrigerant from the load and directs the compressed refrigerant to the high side heat exchanger. The three-way valve, when operating in a first mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the load and when operating in a second mode, directs the refrigerant from the high side heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.

An air conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor device that is configured to circulate refrigerant and that includes a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor devices configured to circulate water, and a heat exchange device that connects the outdoor device with the indoor device. The heat exchange device includes a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the water, and a switch device configured to control flow of refrigerant between the indoor device and the heat exchanger.

An air conditioning system includes a refrigerant circuit including a use-side circuit, heat-source-side circuit and refrigerant release circuit, a refrigerant leakage detection unit in the use-side circuit, a heat-source-side control valve that enables, when in an opened state, the heat-source-side circuit to communicate with the refrigerant release circuit, a rupture disk that is disposed in the refrigerant release circuit and enables, when in a first state (an open state), the refrigerant release circuit to communicate with an external space to release refrigerant, and a controller. When no leakage of refrigerant in the use-side circuit is detected, the controller controls the heat-source-side control valve to a. closed state. When leakage of refrigerant, in the use-side circuit is detected by the refrigerant leakage detection unit, the controller switches the heat-source-side control valve to the opened state and causes the rupture disk to shift to the first state.

An operation controlling apparatus of a reciprocating compressor includes: a detector configured to detect a torque output by a motor of the reciprocating compressor, a rotation speed of the motor, a counter electromotive voltage of the motor, and a current applied to the motor; a controller configured to determine a mode switching time point for switching an operation mode of the reciprocating compressor based on the torque, the rotation speed, the counter electromotive voltage, and the current of the motor, and output a control signal for changing a wire ratio of the motor corresponding to the operation mode; and a driver configured to change the wire ratio of the motor based on the control signal and operate the reciprocating compressor in the operation mode among at least two operation modes.