An HVAC system is disclosed, comprising: (a) a compressor, (b) a source heat exchanger for exchanging heat with a source fluid, (c) a first load heat exchanger operable for heating/cooling air in a space, (d) a second load heat exchanger for heating water, (e) first and second reversing valves, (f) first and second 3-way valves, (f) a bi-directional electronic expansion valve, (g) a first bi-directional valve, and (h) a second bi-directional valve to modulate exchange of heat in the first load heat exchanger when operating as an evaporator and to control flashing of the refrigerant entering the source heat exchanger when operating as an evaporator, (h) a source pump for circulating the source fluid through the first load heat exchanger, (i) a water pump for circulating water through the second load heat exchanger, and (j) a controller to control operation of the foregoing.

An HVAC system is disclosed, comprising: (a) a compressor, (b) a source heat exchanger for exchanging heat with a source fluid, (c) a first load heat exchanger operable for heating/cooling air in a space, (d) a second load heat exchanger for heating water, (e) first and second reversing valves, (f) first and second 3-way valves, (f) a bi-directional electronic expansion valve, (g) a first bi-directional valve, and (h) a second bi-directional valve to modulate exchange of heat in the first load heat exchanger when operating as an evaporator and to control flashing of the refrigerant entering the source heat exchanger when operating as an evaporator, (h) a source pump for circulating the source fluid through the first load heat exchanger, (i) a water pump for circulating water through the second load heat exchanger, and (j) a controller to control operation of the foregoing.

A heat exchanger passage switching device according to an embodiment includes: a communication tube having an internal passage communicating with a heat exchange passage for performing heat exchange inside a heat exchanger, and one or more communication holes communicating with the internal passage; and at least one chamber having an insertion hole into which the communication tube is inserted to slidably support the communication tube inserted in the insertion hole. The communication tube is capable of switching a communication state between the one or more communication holes and the at least one chamber by a relative position of the communication tube to the at least one chamber in an axial direction.

A heat exchanger passage switching device according to an embodiment includes: a communication tube having an internal passage communicating with a heat exchange passage for performing heat exchange inside a heat exchanger, and one or more communication holes communicating with the internal passage; and at least one chamber having an insertion hole into which the communication tube is inserted to slidably support the communication tube inserted in the insertion hole. The communication tube is capable of switching a communication state between the one or more communication holes and the at least one chamber by a relative position of the communication tube to the at least one chamber in an axial direction.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprises a refrigerant circuit and a refrigerant storage circuit. In the refrigerant circuit, a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger are connected together by a pipe. The pipe has a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion. The first pipe portion connects the outdoor heat exchanger to the expansion valve. The second pipe portion connects the indoor heat exchanger to the compressor. The refrigerant storage circuit has a storage container, an expander, and a valve device. The storage container stores refrigerant. The expander is located between the storage container and the second pipe. The valve device is located between the first pipe and the expander. The valve device is configured to open and close the refrigerant storage circuit.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprises a refrigerant circuit and a refrigerant storage circuit. In the refrigerant circuit, a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger are connected together by a pipe. The pipe has a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion. The first pipe portion connects the outdoor heat exchanger to the expansion valve. The second pipe portion connects the indoor heat exchanger to the compressor. The refrigerant storage circuit has a storage container, an expander, and a valve device. The storage container stores refrigerant. The expander is located between the storage container and the second pipe. The valve device is located between the first pipe and the expander. The valve device is configured to open and close the refrigerant storage circuit.

A fluid pump for pumping a fluid. One or more piston-cylinder arrangements each include a respective cylinder portion, a respective head portion and a respective piston portion together defining a respective pumping chamber. One or more connecting arrangements connect a crank member to the one or more piston-cylinder arrangements to drive the respective piston portion of each of the one or more piston-cylinder arrangements. A housing and the respective piston portion of each of the one or more piston-cylinder arrangements together house the crank member in an interior. The interior is sealed to capture blow-by. A transmission is arranged to transmit power, for rotating the crank member, into the housing magnetically, electrically or both.

An air conditioning system includes: an outdoor unit; indoor units; one or more refrigerant flow path switching devices that switch flow paths of a refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the indoor units; and external pipes extending from the outdoor unit to the indoor units. The air conditioning system is configured such that a sum of a first value and a first correction value is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit value determined based on an industrial standard, where the first value is based on a total length of the external pipes from the outdoor unit to the indoor units via the one or more refrigerant flow path switching device, and the first correction value is based on a sum of capabilities of the indoor units connected to the one or more refrigerant flow path switching devices.

An air conditioning system includes: an outdoor unit; indoor units; one or more refrigerant flow path switching devices that switch flow paths of a refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the indoor units; and external pipes extending from the outdoor unit to the indoor units. The air conditioning system is configured such that a sum of a first value and a first correction value is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit value determined based on an industrial standard, where the first value is based on a total length of the external pipes from the outdoor unit to the indoor units via the one or more refrigerant flow path switching device, and the first correction value is based on a sum of capabilities of the indoor units connected to the one or more refrigerant flow path switching devices.

A flow passage switching valve includes a U-turn valve member that has a first valve component and a second valve component in a quadrangular cylindrical shape. The first valve component includes a first U-turn passage formed in an end surface facing a first valve seat and an annular wall portion which is formed in an end surface near a second valve seat and in which an end portion of the second valve component near the first valve seat is fitted. The end surface of the first valve component and an inner circumferential surface of the second valve component form a second U-turn passage.