A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle circuit that has a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator that are connected through a pipe, the refrigeration cycle circuit being configured to allow refrigerant to circulate in the refrigeration cycle circuit, and a controller configured to determine whether the refrigerant leaks or whether the expansion device malfunctions on the basis of a degree of subcooling at an outlet of the condenser and a degree of superheat at an outlet of the evaporator or a degree of superheat at a suction port of the compressor.

An air conditioner comprises: a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, an LEV and an evaporator; a first temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of liquid refrigerant at the inlet port of the evaporator; and a controller configured to control the compressor and the LEV. In a case where a temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is lower than a frosting reference temperature, the controller increases the opening degree of the LEV and also increases the operating frequency of the compressor as compared with a case where the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is higher than the frosting reference temperature.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first refrigerant circuit including a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flow path of a second heat exchanger, a first expansion device, a third heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant flow path of a fourth heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant circuit including a second compressor, a fifth heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third refrigerant flow path of the second heat exchanger, and a fourth refrigerant flow path of the fourth heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flows through, in order, the first compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first refrigerant flow path, the first expansion device, the third heat exchanger, and the second refrigerant flow path, the second refrigerant flows through, in order, the second compressor, the fifth heat exchanger, the second expansion device, the third refrigerant flow path, and the fourth refrigerant flow path.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first refrigerant circuit including a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flow path of a second heat exchanger, a first expansion device, a third heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant flow path of a fourth heat exchanger, and a second refrigerant circuit including a second compressor, a fifth heat exchanger, a second expansion device, a third refrigerant flow path of the second heat exchanger, and a fourth refrigerant flow path of the fourth heat exchanger, a first refrigerant flows through, in order, the first compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first refrigerant flow path, the first expansion device, the third heat exchanger, and the second refrigerant flow path, the second refrigerant flows through, in order, the second compressor, the fifth heat exchanger, the second expansion device, the third refrigerant flow path, and the fourth refrigerant flow path.

A method of detecting electrical failure in a refrigeration system is provided. The method includes determining whether a present superheat of the refrigeration system is between a maximum superheat and a minimum superheat for the refrigeration system, the maximum superheat and the minimum superheat defining a normal operating range. The method also includes detecting an electrical property of an expansion valve assembly of the refrigeration system responsive to the superheat being outside the normal operating range. The method further includes determining whether the expansion valve assembly as experienced an electrical failure based on at least the electrical property. A signal indicating that the expansion valve has experienced an electrical failure is generated based on a determination that the expansion valve assembly has experienced the electrical failure.

A method of detecting electrical failure in a refrigeration system is provided. The method includes determining whether a present superheat of the refrigeration system is between a maximum superheat and a minimum superheat for the refrigeration system, the maximum superheat and the minimum superheat defining a normal operating range. The method also includes detecting an electrical property of an expansion valve assembly of the refrigeration system responsive to the superheat being outside the normal operating range. The method further includes determining whether the expansion valve assembly as experienced an electrical failure based on at least the electrical property. A signal indicating that the expansion valve has experienced an electrical failure is generated based on a determination that the expansion valve assembly has experienced the electrical failure.

A refrigeration cycle device includes: a compressor having a compression mechanism forming a compression chamber for compressing refrigerant, and a cooled portion cooled by the refrigerant before being compressed by the compression mechanism; a radiator that radiates the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; a decompressor that decompresses the refrigerant radiated by the radiator; an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the decompressor; an acquisition unit that acquires the state of the refrigerant after cooling the cooled portion and before flowing into the compression chamber; and a control unit that controls the superheat degree of the refrigerant flowing into the compression chamber based on the state of the refrigerant acquired by the acquisition unit.

A refrigeration cycle device includes: a compressor having a compression mechanism forming a compression chamber for compressing refrigerant, and a cooled portion cooled by the refrigerant before being compressed by the compression mechanism; a radiator that radiates the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; a decompressor that decompresses the refrigerant radiated by the radiator; an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the decompressor; an acquisition unit that acquires the state of the refrigerant after cooling the cooled portion and before flowing into the compression chamber; and a control unit that controls the superheat degree of the refrigerant flowing into the compression chamber based on the state of the refrigerant acquired by the acquisition unit.

A refrigerant charging device and a refrigerant charging system include a refrigerant charging flour path having a refrigerant charging port connected to a refrigerant flow path of an air conditioner, a valve provided at the refrigerant charging flow path, and a control device configured to control the valve. The control device includes a discharging superheat calculator configured to calculate the discharging superheat degree from a refrigerant temperature and a refrigerant pressure at a discharge side of a compressor, and a valve controller configured to control the opening and closing state of the valve based on the calculated discharging superheat degree calculated by the discharge super-heat calculator.

A refrigerant charging device and a refrigerant charging system include a refrigerant charging flour path having a refrigerant charging port connected to a refrigerant flow path of an air conditioner, a valve provided at the refrigerant charging flow path, and a control device configured to control the valve. The control device includes a discharging superheat calculator configured to calculate the discharging superheat degree from a refrigerant temperature and a refrigerant pressure at a discharge side of a compressor, and a valve controller configured to control the opening and closing state of the valve based on the calculated discharging superheat degree calculated by the discharge super-heat calculator.