A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, and a secondary condenser. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a third airflow to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the third airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser.

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, and a water pump. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the flow of refrigerant and outputs the flow of refrigerant at a lower temperature through heat transfer with a flow of fluid. The flow of fluid is directed, by the water pump, to a heat exchanger or an external source, where heat is rejected from the flow of fluid.

A dehumidification system includes a compressor, a primary evaporator, a primary condenser, a secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser, and a water pump. The secondary evaporator receives an inlet airflow and outputs a first airflow to the primary evaporator. The primary evaporator receives the first airflow and outputs a second airflow to the secondary condenser. The secondary condenser receives the second airflow and outputs a dehumidified airflow. The compressor receives a flow of refrigerant from the primary evaporator and provides the flow of refrigerant to the primary condenser. The primary condenser receives the flow of refrigerant and outputs the flow of refrigerant at a lower temperature through heat transfer with a flow of fluid. The flow of fluid is directed, by the water pump, to a heat exchanger or an external source, where heat is rejected from the flow of fluid.

A multi-type air conditioner is provided including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit by a liquid pipe and a gas pipe. The plurality of indoor units includes a first indoor unit including first and second heat exchangers and first and second heat exchanger connecting pipes, and a second indoor unit. An indoor heat exchanger connecting pipe connects the first and second indoor units, and a liquid pipe connecting tube connects the first indoor unit and the liquid pipe. Opening amounts of a first indoor expansion valve, and first and second bypass expansion valves provided in the first indoor unit are opened selectively to operate the first heat exchanger as a condenser and the second heat exchanger as an evaporator to continuously drive a dehumidification mode while maintaining a room temperature within a predefined range.

A multi-type air conditioner is provided including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit by a liquid pipe and a gas pipe. The plurality of indoor units includes a first indoor unit including first and second heat exchangers and first and second heat exchanger connecting pipes, and a second indoor unit. An indoor heat exchanger connecting pipe connects the first and second indoor units, and a liquid pipe connecting tube connects the first indoor unit and the liquid pipe. Opening amounts of a first indoor expansion valve, and first and second bypass expansion valves provided in the first indoor unit are opened selectively to operate the first heat exchanger as a condenser and the second heat exchanger as an evaporator to continuously drive a dehumidification mode while maintaining a room temperature within a predefined range.

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. The air conditioner according to the present embodiment has a refrigeration capacity of 7 kW to 11 kW, inclusive, and uses a refrigerant R32 as a refrigerant, and since a refrigerant pipe therein is made of a ductile stainless steel material having 1% or less of a delta-ferrite matrix structure with respect to the grain size area thereof, and includes a suction pipe guiding the suction of the refrigerant into a compressor and having an outer diameter of 15.88 mm, the refrigerant pipe can maintain strength and hardness as good as or better than those of a copper pipe, while also maintaining good processability.

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. The air conditioner according to the present embodiment has a refrigeration capacity of 7 kW to 11 kW, inclusive, and uses a refrigerant R32 as a refrigerant, and since a refrigerant pipe therein is made of a ductile stainless steel material having 1% or less of a delta-ferrite matrix structure with respect to the grain size area thereof, and includes a suction pipe guiding the suction of the refrigerant into a compressor and having an outer diameter of 15.88 mm, the refrigerant pipe can maintain strength and hardness as good as or better than those of a copper pipe, while also maintaining good processability.

The disclosed technology includes a heat pump having a thermal energy storage (TES) material. The heat pump can include a first heat exchanger to exchange heat between ambient air and refrigerant, a second heat exchanger to exchange heat between the refrigerant and air supplied to a climate-controlled space, and a third heat exchanger to exchange heat between the TES material and the refrigerant in a first fluid path and the refrigerant in a second fluid path. The heat pump can include a first compressor to circulate refrigerant to the first, second, and third heat exchangers and a second compressor to circulate refrigerant to the second and third heat exchangers. The first compressor can facilitate heat exchange between the ambient air and the TES material and the second compressor can facilitate heat exchange between the TES material and the air supplied to the climate-controlled space.

A refrigeration cycle system includes: a heat source circuit including a secondary-side compressor, a cascade heat exchanger, a secondary-side switching mechanism, and a suction flow path; a plurality of utilization circuits respectively including utilization-side heat exchanger; a first communication pipe; a second communication pipe; a third communication pipe; a connection path; and a first on-off valve. The first communication pipe and the first heat source pipe connect the plurality of utilization-side heat exchangers and the secondary-side switching mechanism. The second communication pipe and the second heat source pipe connect the plurality of utilization-side heat exchangers and suction flow path. The third communication pipe, the fourth heat source pipe, and the fifth heat source pipe connect the plurality of utilization-side heat exchangers and the cascade heat exchanger. The connection path connects the first communication pipe and the second communication pipe. The first on-off valve switches between a state in which the first communication pipe and the second communication pipe connect and a state in which they do not connect.

A refrigeration cycle system includes: a heat source circuit including a secondary-side compressor, a cascade heat exchanger, a secondary-side switching mechanism, and a suction flow path; a plurality of utilization circuits respectively including utilization-side heat exchanger; a first communication pipe; a second communication pipe; a third communication pipe; a connection path; and a first on-off valve. The first communication pipe and the first heat source pipe connect the plurality of utilization-side heat exchangers and the secondary-side switching mechanism. The second communication pipe and the second heat source pipe connect the plurality of utilization-side heat exchangers and suction flow path. The third communication pipe, the fourth heat source pipe, and the fifth heat source pipe connect the plurality of utilization-side heat exchangers and the cascade heat exchanger. The connection path connects the first communication pipe and the second communication pipe. The first on-off valve switches between a state in which the first communication pipe and the second communication pipe connect and a state in which they do not connect.