Air-conditioning apparatus

Abstract

An air-conditioning apparatus includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a first outdoor heat exchanger and a second outdoor heat exchanger, a valve between the second outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger switching between an opened state and a closed state, a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of refrigerant that flows into the second outdoor heat exchanger and liquefies, and a condensing-temperature detection device, wherein during first cooling operation in which the first outdoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser, the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the valve is in the closed state, when a comparative temperature becomes equal to or higher than a prescribed temperature, the air-conditioning apparatus switches to second cooling operation in which the valve is brought into the opened state, the comparative temperature being a value obtained by subtracting a temperature detected by the temperature sensor from the condensing temperature.

1 . An air-conditioning apparatus comprising:
 a compressor;   an indoor heat exchanger;   a first outdoor heat exchanger and a second outdoor heat exchanger connected in parallel between the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger;   a valve provided between the second outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to switch between an opened state in which a flow passage between the second outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger is opened, and a closed state in which the flow passage between the second outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger is closed;   a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of refrigerant that flows into the second outdoor heat exchanger and liquefies; and   a condensing-temperature detection device configured to detect a condensing temperature of refrigerant, wherein   during first cooling operation in which the first outdoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser, the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the valve is in the closed state, when a comparative temperature becomes equal to or higher than a prescribed temperature, the air-conditioning apparatus switches to second cooling operation in which the valve is brought into the opened state, the comparative temperature being a value obtained by subtracting a temperature detected by the temperature sensor from the condensing temperature, and wherein   the valve has an opening degree selectable from among a plurality of levels in the opened state, and   when a state, in which the comparative temperature at a time of switching the first cooling operation to the second cooling operation is a first comparative temperature, is defined as a first state, and   when a state, in which the comparative temperature at a time of switching the first cooling operation to the second cooling operation is a second comparative temperature higher than the first comparative temperature, is defined as a second state,   an opening degree of the valve at a time of performing the second cooling operation in the second state is increased relative to an opening degree of the valve at a time of performing the second cooling operation in the first state.   
     
     
         2 . The air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising an outdoor fan configured to supply outside air to the first outdoor heat exchanger and the second outdoor heat exchanger, wherein
 an airflow amount of the outdoor fan during the second cooling operation is reduced relative to an airflow amount of the outdoor fan during the first cooling operation.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled)