Air conditioning apparatus

Abstract

A supercooling heat exchanger of an air conditioning apparatus is configured to exchange heat between a high-pressure refrigerant and a low-pressure refrigerant. The supercooling heat exchanger is divided into first and second heat exchangers. One of the first and second heat exchangers is disposed so that the high-pressure refrigerant and the low-pressure refrigerant flow countercurrent to each other. The other of the first and second heat exchangers is disposed so that the high-pressure refrigerant and the low-pressure refrigerant flow parallel to each other. Preferably, both heat exchangers have a high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe that is wound around the external periphery of a low-pressure refrigerant suction pipe. The heat exchangers are thereby reduced in size.

1 . An air conditioning apparatus comprising:
 a supercooling heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a low-pressure refrigerant and a high-pressure refrigerant,   the supercooling heat exchanger being divided into first and second heat exchangers;   one of the first and second heat exchangers being arranged such that the high-pressure refrigerant and the low-pressure refrigerant flow countercurrent to each other; and   the other of the first and second heat exchangers being arranged such that the high-pressure refrigerant and the low-pressure refrigerant flow parallel to each other.   
   
   
       2 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the first and second heat exchangers has a high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe wound around an external periphery of a low-pressure refrigerant suction pipe.   
   
   
       3 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the first and second heat exchangers a high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe fitted around an external periphery of a low-pressure refrigerant suction pipe in a coaxial manner, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant pipe being larger in diameter than the low-pressure refrigerant suction pipe.