Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

An object is to provide a refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of reducing freezing in a lower part of a heat exchanger in which drainage water tends to accumulate and reducing an amount of refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes the refrigerant circuit 1 connecting, by refrigerant pipes, a compressor, a first expansion device, and a first heat exchanger configured to serve as evaporator during heating operation. The first heat exchanger is provided with a first heat exchange unit and a second heat exchange unit connected to the first heat exchange unit in series in the refrigerant circuit. The first expansion device is connected in parallel with the second heat exchange unit in the refrigerant circuit, and the second heat exchange unit is placed at a position lower than a position of the first heat exchange unit.

1 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus, comprising
 a refrigerant circuit connecting, by refrigerant pipes, a compressor, a first expansion device, and a first heat exchanger configured to serve as evaporator during heating operation,   the first heat exchanger being provided with   a first heat exchange unit,   a second heat exchange unit connected to the first heat exchange unit in series in the refrigerant circuit; and   a second expansion device connected between the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit,   the first expansion device being connected in parallel with the second heat exchange unit in the refrigerant circuit,   the second heat exchange unit being placed at a position lower than a position of the first heat exchange unit,   the second expansion device being connected in parallel with the first expansion device and connected to the second heat exchange unit in series in the refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchange unit has a larger number of refrigerant flow passages than does the second heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat transfer pipes arranged in parallel with each other in a vertical direction, and   each of the plurality of heat transfer pipes is a flat pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant circuit includes
 a second heat exchanger configured to serve at least partially as condenser during heating operation, and   a bifurcation at which one of the refrigerant pipes bifurcates into one to the second heat exchanger and an other one to the first expansion device.