A heat exchanger includes: a heat exchanging part that includes flat tubes aligned vertically when the heat exchanger is installed; a first flow divider that includes a first pipe through which a refrigerant enters or exits from the first flow divider, second pipes that provide refrigerant flow paths between the heat exchanging part and the first pipe, and a main body that internally has a first space; and second flow dividers that each internally include one of second spaces that provide refrigerant flow paths between the heat exchanging part and the first flow divider. The first space communicates with a first end of the first pipe and a first end of each of the second pipes and causes the refrigerant to flow from the first pipe into the second pipes or from the second pipes into the first pipe.

An air conditioning system, comprising an outdoor unit (1) and an indoor heat exchange mechanism (2). The indoor heat exchange mechanism (2) comprises an air conditioner indoor unit (21) and a first heat exchange mechanism (3) used for at least one among water cooling, water heating and space heating. The present air conditioning system integrates various functions into one, such as air-conditioning refrigeration, air-conditioning heating, producing household cold water, producing household hot water, and home heating by means of connecting indoor units for cooling and heating, a water cooling mechanism, a water heating mechanism and a device for floor heating located indoors to one outdoor unit, thereby conserving space and facilitating installation. Moreover, the system directly utilizes high-temperature refrigerant to heat water for floor heating, which replaces coal heating and boiler heating, conserves energy and is environmentally friendly to a greater degree, and improves the living environment.

A switching mechanism (TV1, TV2, TV3, TV4, FV) includes an electric motor (74), a flow path switching portion (71) to be driven by the electric motor (74), a first port (P1) connected to a high-pressure flow path (7, 24, 28b, 31, 32) of a refrigerant circuit (6), a second port (P2) connected to a low-pressure flow path (8, 25, 28a, 33, 34) of the refrigerant circuit (6), and a third port (P3) connected to a predetermined flow path of the refrigerant circuit (6). The switching mechanism (TV1, TV2, TV3, TV4, FV) is switched between a first state in which the first port (P1) communicates with the third port (P3) and a second state in which the second port (P2) communicates with the third port (P3) in such a manner that the electric motor (74) drives the flow path switching portion (71).

An air conditioner includes: an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, an indoor fan, a compressor, a four-way valve, a temperature control assembly, an outdoor assembly, a signal control assembly, and an indoor assembly. The indoor heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between indoor air and a refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and a refrigerant flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger. The expansion valve is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and the expansion valve is configured to adjust a pressure of a refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, so that a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger is adjusted.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat pump assembly including a system or method for detecting a fault in the heat pump. Some embodiments include a method for detecting a switch over valve fault where the heat pump includes a refrigerant cycle, a compressor, a metering device, a first heat exchanger, an second heat exchanger, a temperature sensor, and a switch over valve, and where the method includes operating the HVAC system in one either a heating mode or a cooling mode, monitoring a refrigerant temperature associated with the refrigerant cycle using the temperature sensor, monitoring an outdoor ambient air temperature, determining a temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, determining whether the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined temperature difference threshold, and declaring a switch over valve fault when the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined temperature difference threshold.

An air conditioning system, which includes an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a throttling device, a four-way valve and an ejection device; the indoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger, the compressor and the throttling device form a closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit, the four-way valve is configured to switch the air conditioning system between a cooling mode and a heating mode, and the ejection device is configured to be capable of being connected to a discharge side of the compressor when the air conditioning system executes the heating mode, so as to improve a heating effect of the air conditioning system. This system has a lower cost and a simple structure for easier maintenance, and the energy efficiency ratio is improved, so that the heating effect of the air conditioning system can be improved when the air conditioning system executes the heating mode.

A refrigerant control system includes: a reversing valve including: a first inlet configured to receive refrigerant output from a condenser; a first outlet configured to output refrigerant to an inlet of an evaporator located inside of a building; a second inlet configured to receive refrigerant output from the evaporator; and a second outlet configured to output refrigerant to an inlet of a compressor that pumps refrigerant to the condenser; a reversing module configured to: selectively actuate the reversing valve to a first position such that: refrigerant flows directly from the second inlet to the second outlet; and refrigerant flows directly from the first inlet to the first outlet; and selectively actuate the reversing valve to a second position such that: refrigerant flows directly from the second inlet to the first outlet; and refrigerant flows directly from the first inlet to the second outlet.

A switching valve device for switching an intermediate flow path through which a fluid flows from an inlet to an outlet includes: a first valve which switches a flow path extending from the inlet to one of two flow paths; and a second valve which is provided on a downstream side of the first valve and switches the intermediate flow path by a differential pressure generated by depressurization in an external flow path Lout connected to the intermediate flow path connected to one of the two flow paths.

An energy efficient heat pump for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a compressor system having a plurality of compressors configured to direct a working fluid along a working fluid circuit of the heat pump, a suction conduit configured to direct the working fluid to the compressor system, a first suction conduit portion extending from the suction conduit to a first compressor of the plurality of compressors, a second suction conduit portion extending from the suction conduit to a second compressor of the plurality of compressors, and a control valve disposed along the suction conduit between the first suction conduit portion and the second suction conduit portion.

A cold source unit is connectable to an indoor heat exchanger and is provided for a refrigerant circuit. The cold source unit includes: a compressor; an outdoor heat exchanger having a gas header; an oil return path through which refrigeration oil is returned from the gas header to the compressor; an oil return adjusting unit configured to adjust a flow rate of refrigeration oil flowing through the oil return path; and a controller configured to control the refrigerant circuit. The controller is configured to control the oil return adjusting unit to prevent refrigeration oil from flowing through the oil return path when the compressor is driven at a frequency equal to or higher than a threshold value, and control the oil return adjusting unit to allow the refrigeration oil to flow through the oil return path when the compressor is driven at a frequency lower than the threshold value.