Air conditioner

Abstract

A refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner includes a compressor unit, an evaporator, and a solenoid valve comprising a flow control mechanism. The operation capacity of the compressor unit is adjusted by changing the number of compressors in operation. The evaporator includes a first heat exchanger section and a second heat exchanger section. A first flow pass of the first heat exchanger section and a second flow pass of the second heat exchanger section are connected to each other in parallel. In the state where the solenoid valve is open, refrigerant flows into both of the first flow pass and the second flow pass. In the state where the solenoid valve is closed, refrigerant flows only to the first flow pass.

1 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 a refrigerant circuit which performs a refrigeration cycle by circulating a refrigerant, for cooling air flowing in an air passage connected to a supply opening of each of a plurality of rooms by the refrigerant, wherein   the refrigerant circuit includes   a compressor unit having a plurality of compressors connected to each other in parallel,   an evaporator provided at the air passage and having a plurality of heat exchanger sections connected to each other in parallel to heat exchange the refrigerant with the air, and   a flow control mechanism configured to change the number of the heat exchanger sections through which the refrigerant passes.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the flow control mechanism changes the number of the heat exchanger sections through which the refrigerant passes, according to an operation capacity of the compressor unit.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the compressors in the compressor unit has a fixed capacity, the compressor unit is configured such that the operation capacity of the compressor unit is adjusted by changing the number of the compressors in operation, and   the flow control mechanism reduces the number of the heat exchanger sections through which the refrigerant passes, when the number of the compressors in operation is reduced.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit is provided with one expansion valve which expands the refrigerant that is not yet branched for flowing into the heat exchanger sections of the evaporator.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit is provided with a plurality of branch pipes each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the heat exchanger sections of the evaporator, and through which the refrigerant that is branched for flowing into the heat exchanger sections flows, and   each of the branch pipes is provided with a corresponding one of expansion valves which expand the refrigerant.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit is provided with one expansion valve which expands the refrigerant that is not yet branched for flowing into the heat exchanger sections of the evaporator.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit is provided with one expansion valve which expands the refrigerant that is not yet branched for flowing into the heat exchanger sections of the evaporator.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit is provided with a plurality of branch pipes each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the heat exchanger sections of the evaporator, and through which the refrigerant that is branched for flowing into the heat exchanger sections flows, and   each of the branch pipes is provided with a corresponding one of expansion valves which expand the refrigerant.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit is provided with a plurality of branch pipes each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the heat exchanger sections of the evaporator, and through which the refrigerant that is branched for flowing into the heat exchanger sections flows, and   each of the branch pipes is provided with a corresponding one of expansion valves which expand the refrigerant.