A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit that is formed by connecting a compressor, a flow passage switching device, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and an indoor heat exchanger via pipes, and through which refrigerant flows, an outdoor air-sending device configured to blow outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor air temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the outdoor air, and a controller configured to control an operation of the outdoor air-sending device.

A combination air and ground source heating and/or cooling system. The system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit and an in-ground unit, each of which has a coil, an inlet line and an outlet line. The system also comprises a flow connector, a coupling and a controller. The controller is configured to control the flow connector and coupling so that the system is selectively operable in three different modes. In the first mode, refrigerant bypasses the coil of the outdoor unit, while, in the second mode, refrigerant bypasses the coil of the in-ground unit. In the third mode, refrigerant flows through the coils of the in-ground and outdoor units.

A method for controlling an air conditioning system, an outdoor apparatus of an air conditioning system and an air conditioning system are provided. The method includes: obtaining a working mode of the air conditioning system and starting a variable-frequency compressor in an outdoor apparatus of the air conditioning system according to the working mode; obtaining a target refrigerant saturation temperature; performing a variable-frequency control on the variable-frequency compressor according to the target refrigerant saturation temperature; during the variable-frequency control, obtaining a working time of the variable-frequency compressor and a stop-start number of time of the variable-frequency compressor in a first predetermined period; and adjusting the target refrigerant saturation temperature according to the working time of the variable-frequency compressor and the stop-start number of time of the variable-frequency compressor in the first predetermined time.

An air conditioner 1 includes: an outdoor heat exchanger 14; an outdoor fan 12 for blowing air to the outdoor heat exchanger; an outdoor fan motor 20 that drives the outdoor fan; an outdoor fan inverter 21 that drives the outdoor fan motor; and a control unit 31 that generates a rotation-speed command voltage for controlling the rotation number of the outdoor fan motor. In addition, the control unit starts a defrost operation of the outdoor heat exchanger, based on the rotation-speed command voltage. In this manner, it is possible to achieve an outdoor device of an air conditioner in which there is no need to provide a current detecting sensor, and it is possible to detect frost formation over the heat exchanger during a heating operation and to perform a defrost operation at low costs.

A controller of an inverter control apparatus includes an A/D conversion unit that performs digital conversion of an input signal when a signal for either an A/D converter start trigger or an A/D converter start trigger is input thereinto; a first inverter control unit that generates the A/D converter start trigger which starts the A/D conversion unit, based on A/D converter start timing information and a first carrier signal; a second inverter control unit that generates the A/D converter start trigger which starts the A/D conversion unit, based on A/D converter start timing information and a second carrier signal; and an A/D start factor selection unit that receives either the A/D converter start trigger or the A/D converter start trigger and selects an A/D start factor at a predetermined period timing of an operation period of the first carrier signal and the second carrier signal.

A heat pump system includes a refrigerant circuit, at least one compressor, an evaporator, and a controller programmed to defrost the evaporator in a defrost mode, wherein in the defrost mode the controller is programmed to monitor the evaporator to detect frost creation thereon, and reduce the speed of the at least one compressor and/or reduce the number of some, but not all operating compressors of the at least one compressor, if frost creation is detected on the evaporator. In some embodiments, the controller is programmed to defrost the evaporator in a second defrost mode. In the second defrost mode the controller is programmed to monitor the evaporator to detect frost creation thereon, turn off the at least one compressor when frost is detected on the evaporator, and operate a fan to force ambient air over the evaporator to defrost the evaporator.

A method of controlling an air conditioner including activating a refrigeration cycle by driving an compressor; detecting a high pressure and a low pressure when the refrigeration cycle is activated; adjusting an operating frequency of the compressor based on the detected high pressure or low pressure of the refrigeration cycle; determining a current load of an inside space through a load detecting unit; determining a load level of the inside space by comparing the current load with a reference load; and determining the operating frequency of the compressor based on the determined load level.

A heat-exchange ventilation device includes: a heater connection terminal to which an external connection heater is connected; a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of a supply air flow passing through an air supply passage; and a control unit that controls operations of an air supply fan and an air exhaust fan and turning-on and turning-off of the external connection heater based on a measurement result of the temperature sensor. The external connection heater is installed in an outdoor air-supply duct and heats a supply air flow flowing through the air supply passage into a heat exchanger. The air supply fan is operable at a plurality of intensities, and the control unit prohibits a state in which the air supply fan is operated at an intensity lower than an intensity set in advance and the external connection heater is turned on.

A system includes a compressor, an indoor fan, a thermostat, an indoor fan controller, and a compressor controller. The thermostat provides first and second signals based on indoor loading. The fan controller operates the fan in low speed mode and the compressor controller operates the compressor in low capacity mode when only the first signal is asserted. The compressor controller automatically switches the compressor to high capacity mode if only the first signal remains asserted past the low capacity mode runtime. The fan controller operates the fan in high speed mode when the second signal is asserted while the first signal is still asserted. The compressor controller continues to operate the compressor in high capacity mode and the fan controller operates the fan in low speed mode after the second signal is de-asserted, until the first signal is de-asserted, at which point the fan and compressor are turned off.

A CPU 110 compares the extracted outside air temperature with a first low pressure saturation temperature. When the outside air temperature is lower than the first low pressure saturation temperature, the CPU 110 switches a first three-way valve 22 and a second three-way valve 23 so that a second outdoor heat exchanger 25 is used as a condenser and that a first outdoor heat exchanger 24 is not used. When the outside air temperature is higher than a second low pressure saturation temperature which is the first low pressure saturation temperature to which a predetermined temperature is added, the CPU 110 switches the first three-way valve 22 and the second three-way valve 23 so that the first outdoor heat exchanger 24 is used as a condenser and that the second outdoor heat exchanger 25 is not used.