A valve mechanism (14a, 14b, 63a, 63b, 90) includes: a valve body (80, 95); a first flow path (81) located opposite a distal end (80a, 95b) of the valve body (80, 95); a driver (85) configured to move the valve body (80, 95) to a first position where the distal end (80a, 95b) of the valve body (80, 95) closes the first flow path (81) and a second position where the distal end (80a, 95b) of the valve body (80) opens the first flow path (81); and a second flow path (82) configured to communicate with the first flow path (81) when the valve body (80) is at the second position. The high-pressure flow path (I1, I2, O2, O3, 48) causes the high-pressure refrigerant to always flow through the second flow path (82) and first flow path (81) of the valve mechanism (14a, 14b, 63a, 63b, 90) in this order.

A system and method for heating and/or cooling at least one space uses a second heat transfer fluid which comprises or consists of water, at least one first encapsulated phase change material and at least one second encapsulated phase change material, wherein the first phase change material has a phase change temperature which is lower than the phase change temperature of the second phase change material. At least two indoor heat exchangers are employed, wherein each of the at least two indoor heat exchangers has a temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature information of the indoor space in which the indoor heat exchanger is located. A controller is employed which receives a temperature information from the temperature sensors and controls the system based on said temperature information. The system and method show an improved efficiency in heating and/or cooling at least one space compared to known systems and methods.

A primary refrigerant circuit allows circulation of a primary refrigerant and includes a primary compressor, a cascade heat exchanger, a primary heat exchanger, and a primary switching mechanism. A secondary refrigerant circuit allows circulation of a secondary refrigerant and includes a secondary compressor, the cascade heat exchanger, a utilization heat exchanger, and a secondary switching mechanism. The secondary refrigerant circuit includes a bypass flow path connecting a portion between the utilization heat exchanger and the cascade heat exchanger and a suction flow path of the secondary compressor, and a bypass expansion valve provided on the bypass flow path. Executed is defrosting operation of circulating the primary refrigerant in the order of the primary compressor, the primary heat exchanger, and the cascade heat exchanger, and circulating the second refrigerant in the order of the secondary compressor, the cascade heat exchanger, and the bypass flow path.

A primary refrigerant circuit allows circulation of a primary refrigerant and includes a primary compressor, a cascade heat exchanger, a primary heat exchanger, and a primary switching mechanism. A secondary refrigerant circuit allows circulation of a secondary refrigerant and includes a secondary compressor, the cascade heat exchanger, and a utilization heat exchanger; and an indoor fan configured to supply air to exchange heat with the secondary refrigerant flowing in the utilization heat exchanger When a defrosting condition is satisfied during normal operation, the primary refrigerant circulates in the order of the primary compressor, the primary heat exchanger, and the cascade heat exchanger after the indoor fan is stopped and the secondary compressor is operated.

A multi-air conditioner for heating/cooling operations, including at least one indoor unit for heating/cooling operations including an indoor heat exchanger; and an outdoor unit for heating/cooling operations including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a switching unit configured to be disposed in a discharge side of the compressor to switch a flow of refrigerant. The outdoor unit includes a receiver that selectively stores refrigerant or oil according to a cooling or heating operation mode and provides the stored refrigerant or oil to the compressor. Accordingly, in the accumulator of the multi-air conditioner using the receiver, the receiver which is not used in the heating mode may be converted and used for oil storage, thereby preventing oil burnout without adding structure.

A heat source system includes heat source apparatuses each with refrigerant circuit and water heat exchanger. A water supply header pipe merges and supplies, to a load, water flowing in from the heat exchangers. A water return header pipe splits, into the heat exchangers, water flowing in from the load. Pumps feed water to the heat exchangers. A bypass pipe with bypass valve connects the supply and return header pipes. A differential pressure gauge measures a water pressure difference between supply and return. A controller determines the number of heat source apparatuses to operate, from heat generated by refrigerant circuits and heat required, determines whether an operating frequency of the pump connected to a heat source apparatus to be operated is a minimum frequency, and controls the pump operating frequency and/or an opening degree of the bypass valve such that the water pressure difference falls within a target range.

An air conditioner, a control device thereof, and a method of controlling the same are provided. The air conditioner includes a control device including a plurality of indoor unit operation changers, and an indoor unit connected to any one of the plurality of indoor unit operation changers, where at least one of the indoor unit and the control device determines an operation mode of each of the plurality of indoor unit operation changers respectively connected to a plurality of indoor units, detects an indoor unit operation changer at an operation mode corresponding to an operation of any one of the plurality of indoor units among the plurality of indoor unit operation changers, and determines an indoor unit operation changer connected to the indoor unit among the plurality of indoor unit operation changers on based on a result of detecting at least one of the indoor unit operation changers.

Provided is a multi-type air conditioner, including: an outdoor unit comprising a liquid pipe through which liquid refrigerant flows and a gas pipe through which gas refrigerant flows; a plurality of indoor units comprising a first indoor unit and a second indoor unit each connected to the liquid and gas pipelines to circulate a refrigerant; a gas pipe connecting tube connecting the gas pipe and a plurality of indoor units so that a gas refrigerant flows therethrough; a first gas branch pipe connecting the first indoor unit and the gas pipe connecting tube so that a gas refrigerant flows therethrough; a second gas branch pipe connecting the second indoor unit and the gas pipe connecting tube so that a gas refrigerant flows therethrough; an indoor heat exchanger connecting pipe connecting the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit so that a liquid refrigerant flows therethrough; and a liquid pipe connecting tube connecting the first indoor unit and the liquid pipe so that a liquid refrigerant flows therethrough.

The first indoor unit may include: a first heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between indoor air and a refrigerant, a second heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between indoor air and a refrigerant and arranged in a stacked fashion with the first heat exchanger; a first indoor fan configured to blow air to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; a first liquid branch pipe connecting the indoor heat exchanger connecting pipe and the first indoor heat exchanger; a first heat exchanger connecting pipe connecting the first liquid branch pipe and the first heat exchanger of the first indoor heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger connecting pipe connecting the first liquid branch pipe and a second heat exchanger of the first indoor heat exchanger; and a first indoor expansion valve disposed at the second heat exchanger connecting pipe, wherein an opening amount of the first indoor expansion valve is adjusted in response to an input signal from the controller to selectively expand a flowing refrigerant.

The liquid pipe connecting tube may connect the first heat exchanger and a liquid pipe, and the first gas branch pipe may connect the second heat exchanger and the gas pipe.

Since the multi-type air conditioner according to the present disclosure can operate the first heat exchanger as a condenser and the second heat exchanger as an evaporator among the indoor heat exchangers, it is possible to continuously drive the dehumidification mode while maintaining the room temperature within a certain range There are advantages.

An air conditioner includes a heat source unit having a compressor, a first heat exchanger configured to cause heat exchange between a refrigerant and liquid fluid, a second heat exchanger configured to cause heat exchange between the refrigerant and air, and a valve configured to switch to supply or not to supply the second heat exchanger with the refrigerant, and a controller configured to control to operate the compressor and to open or close the valve. The controller opens the valve to supply the second heat exchanger with the refrigerant to cause the second heat exchanger to function as a heat absorber when assessing that the refrigerant sent to the utilization unit needs to be decreased in quantity during cooling operation in which the first heat exchanger functions as a radiator.

The application relates to an air conditioner/heat pump expansion function box and an air conditioner/heat pump heat storage refrigeration system, and belongs to the technical field of air conditioner/heat pump systems. Two distribution pipelines are arranged in the air conditioner/heat pump expansion function box body; each distribution pipeline comprises a main pipeline and at least one branch pipeline; the two ends of each main path are provided with an outdoor unit nut head and an indoor unit nut head respectively. The end portion, far away from the main path, of each branch path is provided with a radiation assembly nut head; an outdoor unit nut head is connected with an outdoor unit, an indoor unit nut head is connected with an indoor unit, and a radiation assembly nut head is connected with a radiation assembly. Therefore, an air conditioner/heat pump heat storage refrigeration system is formed, reasonable distribution of water-free floor heating pipelines is achieved, the energy efficiency ratio of the air conditioner/heat pump system is increased, pipeline connection of a unit is achieved under the non-oxidation condition, it is guaranteed that no impurities exist in the system pipelines, the service life of the unit is long, the assembling efficiency is improved, no welding process exists on site, operation is easy, and the appearance is attractive.