Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

In a refrigeration cycle apparatus, refrigerant circulates in order of a compressor, first and second heat exchangers. The refrigeration cycle apparatus has a refrigerant container, first and second switch units, and a controller. When a first condition meaning that an amount of refrigerant in liquid state stored in the refrigerant container is excessive is satisfied, the controller controls the first switch unit to guide the refrigerant from the compressor to the first heat exchanger through the refrigerant container and controls the second switch unit to guide the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger to the compressor not through the refrigerant container. When the first condition is not satisfied, the controller controls the first switch unit to guide the refrigerant from the compressor to the first heat exchanger not through the refrigerant container and controls the second switch unit to guide the refrigerant from the refrigerant container to the compressor.

1 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus in which refrigerant circulates in order of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a decompressor, and a second heat exchanger, the refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
 a refrigerant container configured to store the refrigerant in liquid state;   a first switch unit and a second switch unit; and   a controller configured to control the first switch unit and the second switch unit,   when a first condition is satisfied, the controller being configured to control the first switch unit to guide the refrigerant from the compressor to the first heat exchanger through the refrigerant container and to control the second switch unit to guide the refrigerant from the second heat exchanger to the compressor not through the refrigerant container, the first condition meaning that an amount of the refrigerant in liquid state stored in the refrigerant container is excessive,   when the first condition is not satisfied, the controller being configured to control the first switch unit to guide the refrigerant from the compressor to the first heat exchanger not through the refrigerant container and to control the second switch unit to guide the refrigerant from the refrigerant container to the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first condition includes a condition that an elapsed time from activation of the compressor is shorter than a reference time. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first condition includes a condition that a height of a surface of liquid stored in the refrigerant container is higher than a first reference height. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first condition includes a condition that a density of lubricating oil for the compressor in liquid stored in the refrigerant container is smaller than a first reference density. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant container includes a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port,   the first switch unit includes a first four-way valve,   the second switch unit includes a second four-way valve,   when the first condition is satisfied, the controller is configured to control the first four-way valve to cause a discharge port of the compressor and the first port to communicate with each other and cause the second port and the first heat exchanger to communicate with each other, and control the second four-way valve to cause the third port and the fourth port to communicate with each other and cause the second heat exchanger and a suction port of the compressor to communicate with each other, and   when the first condition is not satisfied, the controller is configured to control the first four-way valve to cause the discharge port and the first heat exchanger to communicate with each other and cause the first port and the second port to communicate with each other, and control the second four-way valve to cause the third port and the second heat exchanger to communicate with each other and cause the fourth port and the suction port to communicate with each other.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant container includes a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port,   the first switch unit includes a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve,   the first valve is connected between a discharge port of the compressor and the first heat exchanger,   the second valve is connected between the first port and a first flow path from the discharge port to the first valve,   the second switch unit includes a fourth valve, a fifth valve, and a sixth valve,   the third valve is connected between the second port and a second flow path from the first valve to the first heat exchanger,   the fourth valve is connected between the second heat exchanger and a suction port of the compressor,   the fifth valve is connected between the third port and a third flow path from the second heat exchanger to the fourth valve,   the sixth valve is connected between the fourth port and a fourth flow path from the fourth valve to the suction port,   when the first condition is satisfied, the controller is configured to close the first valve, open the second valve and the third valve, open the fourth valve, and close the fifth valve and the sixth valve, and   when the first condition is not satisfied, the controller is configured to open the first valve and open the sixth valve.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 when the first condition is not satisfied and a second condition meaning that an amount of lubricating oil stored in the compressor is excessive is satisfied, the controller is configured to open the first valve and the second valve, close the third valve, open the fourth valve, close the fifth valve, and open the sixth valve, and   when the first condition is not satisfied and the second condition is not satisfied, the controller is configured to open the first valve, close the second valve and the third valve, close the fourth valve, and open the fifth valve and the sixth valve.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the second condition includes a condition that an amount of change, per unit time, of a drive frequency of the compressor is smaller than a reference amount. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the second condition includes a condition that a temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is higher than a reference temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the second condition includes a condition that a height of a surface of liquid stored in the compressor is higher than a second reference height. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the second condition includes a condition that a density of lubricating oil for the compressor in liquid stored in the compressor is larger than a second reference density. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the second condition includes a condition that a height of a surface of liquid stored in the refrigerant container is lower than a third reference height. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein a height of the second port is lower than a height of each of the first port, the third port, and the fourth port.