A second flow path switching apparatus includes a first distribution apparatus configured to distribute refrigerant to a plurality of refrigerant paths in a first heat exchange portion, a second distribution apparatus configured to distribute refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant paths in the first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion, and a switch portion configured to switch connection of a refrigerant inlet of a first heat exchange apparatus to the first distribution apparatus or to the second distribution apparatus and switch whether refrigerant which flows out of a refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchange portion is allowed to pass through the second heat exchange portion or to merge with refrigerant which flows out of a refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchange portion in accordance with whether an order of circulation of the refrigerant is a first order (cooling) or a second order (heating).

An air conditioner performs a heating operation and a cooling operation with enhanced heat exchange performance and also performs a heating continuous operation, while preventing increases in manufacturing cost and packaging volume. An air conditioner comprises a refrigerant circuit through which refrigerant circulates. A second heat exchanger includes a first refrigerant flow path and a second refrigerant flow path. A first port of the flow path switching device is connected to a discharge portion of a compressor. A second port is connected to a first heat exchanger. A third port is connected to an intake portion of the compressor. A fourth port is connected to a pipe that connects a branch point to the first refrigerant flow path. A fifth port is connected to the second refrigerant flow path. A sixth port is connected to the first refrigerant flow path.

An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit including first and second load-side heat exchangers, a first flow switching unit located upstream of the second load-side heat exchanger, and a second flow switching unit located downstream of the second load-side heat exchanger, wherein the first flow switching unit is configured to be switched between a first state in which refrigerant communication between a compressor and the second load-side heat exchanger is blocked and a second state in which the compressor is in refrigerant communication with the first and second load-side heat exchangers, and the second flow switching unit is configured to be switched between a third state in which refrigerant communication between the second load-side heat exchanger and a heat-source-side heat exchanger is blocked and a fourth state in which the first load-side heat exchanger is in refrigerant communication with the second load-side heat exchanger and the heat-source-side heat exchanger.

An air-conditioning apparatus includes a main circuit in which a compressor, a refrigerant flow switching device, a load side heat exchanger, a load side expansion device, and a plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are sequentially connected. When the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as condensers, the first heat source side heat exchanger and the second heat source side heat exchanger are connected in series. When the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as evaporators, the first heat source side heat exchanger and the second heat source side heat exchanger are connected in parallel. A distribution adjustment header on an inlet side of at least either the first heat source side heat exchanger or the second heat source side heat exchanger when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as evaporators.

In a refrigeration cycle apparatus, each set of air heat exchangers among a plurality of sets of air heat exchangers is one set of one or more of single heat exchangers, and the single heat exchangers each have an upper header pipe, a lower header pipe, a heat transfer tube, and a fin. During a cooling operation, a series refrigerant flow path is formed in which refrigerant flows in series through each set of the air heat exchangers, and in the series refrigerant flow path, the refrigerant flows downward from above through the heat transfer tubes that all the single heat exchangers have. During a heating operation, a parallel refrigerant flow path is formed in which the refrigerant flows in parallel through each set of the air heat exchangers, and in the parallel refrigerant flow path, the refrigerant flows upward from below through the heat transfer tubes that all the single heat exchangers have.

Provided is an air conditioner capable of improving heating performance in a cold region by reducing a refrigerant pressure loss in an outdoor heat exchanger in a heating operation. The air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger may include a plurality of unit channels into which a refrigerant channel is partitioned, and a separating device installed in each of the plurality of unit channels and configured to separate a liquid refrigerant component and a vapor refrigerant component in each of the plurality of unit channels in a heating operation. The air conditioner may further include a compressor suction channel connecting a heating-operation outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger and an inlet of the compressor, and a bypass pipe connecting the separating device and the compressor suction channel.

A second flow path switching apparatus includes a first distribution apparatus configured to distribute refrigerant to a plurality of refrigerant paths in a first heat exchange portion, a second distribution apparatus configured to distribute refrigerant to the plurality of refrigerant paths in the first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion, and a switch portion configured to switch connection of a refrigerant inlet of a first heat exchange apparatus to the first distribution apparatus or to the second distribution apparatus and switch whether refrigerant which flows out of a refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchange portion is allowed to pass through the second heat exchange portion or to merge with refrigerant which flows out of a refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchange portion in accordance with whether an order of circulation of the refrigerant is a first order (cooling) or a second order (heating).

The present disclosure relates to a heat pump heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (heat pump HVAC) system, and more particularly to a system operable to use a refrigerant to heat or cool an indoor space with a refrigerant circuit performing a reversible vapor compression cycle between an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger. The heat pump HVAC system includes an ejector in fluid communication with the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a first flow of refrigerant upstream from the outdoor heat exchanger and a second flow of refrigerant downstream from the outdoor heat exchanger; and the ejector is configurable to combine the first flow and the second flow into a combined flow, at least a portion of which is returned to the compressor.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigeration circuit in which non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture circulates. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a four-way valve. The four-way valve is configured to assume a first state and a second state. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant flow paths and a linear flow path switching valve configured to switch connections of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths between a series state in which the non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture flows through the plurality of refrigerant flow paths in series and a parallel state in which the non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture flows through the plurality of refrigerant flow paths in parallel. A controller switches the linear flow path switching valve between the series state and the parallel state when a multi-way valve is in the second state.

An air conditioner including a hot gas line for receiving a portion of refrigerant compressed in a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor expansion device for expanding the refrigerant having exchanged heat in the indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger functioning as a condenser in a cooling mode while functioning as an evaporator in a heating mode, and a 4-way valve for receiving a remaining portion of the compressed refrigerant, to guide the refrigerant emerging from the compressor to the outdoor heat exchanger in the cooling mode and to the indoor heat exchanger in the heating mode. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a main heat exchanger section functioning as a condenser in the cooling mode while functioning as an evaporator in the heating mode, and an auxiliary heat exchanger for receiving the refrigerant from the hot gas line in a frosting prevention mode.