Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a first three-way valve Each of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve is configured to be switched independently to one of a first state In the first state, a first space is arranged in the valve chamber, the first space communicating with the first aperture and the second aperture and being separated from the third aperture. In the second state, a second space is arranged in the valve chamber, the second space communicating with the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture. In the third state, a third space is arranged in the valve chamber, the third space communicating with the first aperture and the third aperture and being separated from the second aperture.

1 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising a refrigerant circuit in which refrigerant circulates, the refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a flow path switching portion, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompressing apparatus, a first indoor heat exchanger, a first connecting pipe through which the refrigerant flows into the first indoor heat exchanger, and a second connecting pipe through which the refrigerant flows from the first indoor heat exchanger,
 the flow path switching portion being configured to switch between a cooling operation state in which the outdoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser and a heating operation state in which the outdoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator,   the refrigerant circuit further comprising:
 a first three-way valve arranged downstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged upstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state; and 
 a second three-way valve arranged upstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged downstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state, 
   each of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve comprising:
 a valve seat having a valve chamber and provided with a first aperture, a second aperture and a third aperture, the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture being connected to the valve chamber; and 
 a valve body configured to move among a first position, a second position, and a third position in the valve chamber, 
   the first aperture of each of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve being connected to one end or the other end of the first indoor heat exchanger in the refrigerant circuit,   the second aperture of each of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve being connected to the first connecting pipe,   the third aperture of each of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve being connected to the second connecting pipe,   each of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve being configured to be switched independently to one of a first state in which the valve body is located at the first position, a second state in which the valve body is located at the second position, and a third state in which the valve body is located at the third position,   in the first state, a first space being arranged in the valve chamber,   the first space communicating with the first aperture and the second aperture and being separated from the third aperture,   in the second state, a second space being arranged in the valve chamber,   the second space communicating with the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture,   in the third state, a third space being arranged in the valve chamber,   the third space communicating with the first aperture and the third aperture and being separated from the second aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the valve seat has a first surface facing the valve chamber and provided with the first aperture and the third aperture, and a second surface provided with the second aperture,   the first aperture is arranged beside the third aperture with an interval being interposed between the first aperture and the third aperture in a first direction.   the valve body has a third surface slidable on the first surface, and is provided with a recess arranged beside the third surface in the first direction and recessed with respect to the third surface,   in the first state, when viewed from the second aperture side, the third surface is arranged to overlap with the third aperture and the recess is arranged not to overlap with the first aperture and the third aperture, and   in the third state, the recess is arranged to overlap with the first aperture and the third aperture and the third space is formed in the recess.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the second surface faces the first surface with the valve body being interposed between the second surface and the first surface,   the valve body is provided to rotate about a rotation axis extending along a second direction, and   the first direction is a peripheral direction with respect to the rotation axis.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the valve body is provided to allow the second space to be continuous to a whole of each of the first aperture and the third aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a second indoor heat exchanger connected to the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe in parallel with the first indoor heat exchanger; 
 a third three-way valve arranged downstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged upstream of the second indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state; and 
 a fourth three-way valve arranged upstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged downstream of the second indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state, 
   the third three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve have the same configurations as configurations of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve, each of the third three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve being configured to be switched independently to one of the first state, the second state, and the third state,   in the cooling operation state in which load of the first indoor heat exchanger is lower than load of the second indoor heat exchanger, each of the first three-way valve and the third three-way valve is in the third state, the second three-way valve is in the second state, and the fourth three-way valve is in the first state, and   in the heating operation state in which the load of the first indoor heat exchanger is lower than the load of the second indoor heat exchanger, each of the second three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve is in the third state, the first three-way valve is in the second state, and the third three-way valve is in the first state.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein when switching is made between the first state and the second state, a driving frequency of the compressor is constant. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a first check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the first connecting pipe, the first check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to the first connecting pipe; 
 a second check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the second connecting pipe, the second check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the outdoor heat exchanger; 
 a third check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the first connecting pipe, the third check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the flow path switching portion to the first connecting pipe; and 
 a fourth check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the second connecting pipe, the fourth check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the flow path switching portion. 
   
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises a gas-liquid separator, and   the gas-liquid separator has an flow inlet connected to the first connecting pipe, a first flow outlet which is connected to the second aperture of the first three-way valve and via which gas-phase refrigerant flows out, and a second flow outlet which is connected to the second aperture of the second three-way valve and via which liquid-phase refrigerant flows out.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe are arranged between an outdoor unit and a branch unit, the outdoor unit being configured to accommodate the compressor, the flow path switching portion, and the outdoor heat exchanger, the branch unit being configured to accommodate the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a second indoor heat exchanger connected to the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe in parallel with the first indoor heat exchanger; 
 a third three-way valve arranged downstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged upstream of the second indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state; and 
 a fourth three-way valve arranged upstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged downstream of the second indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state, 
   the third three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve have the same configurations as configurations of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve, each of the third three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve being configured to be switched independently to one of the first state, the second state, and the third state,   in the cooling operation state in which load of the first indoor heat exchanger is lower than load of the second indoor heat exchanger, each of the first three-way valve and the third three-way valve is in the third state, the second three-way valve is in the second state, and the fourth three-way valve is in the first state, and   in the heating operation state in which the load of the first indoor heat exchanger is lower than the load of the second indoor heat exchanger, each of the second three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve is in the third state, the first three-way valve is in the second state, and the third three-way valve is in the first state.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a second indoor heat exchanger connected to the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe in parallel with the first indoor heat exchanger; 
 a third three-way valve arranged downstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged upstream of the second indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state; and 
 a fourth three-way valve arranged upstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged downstream of the second indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state, 
   the third three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve have the same configurations as configurations of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve, each of the third three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve being configured to be switched independently to one of the first state, the second state, and the third state,   in the cooling operation state in which load of the first indoor heat exchanger is lower than load of the second indoor heat exchanger, each of the first three-way valve and the third three-way valve is in the third state, the second three-way valve is in the second state, and the fourth three-way valve is in the first state, and   in the heating operation state in which the load of the first indoor heat exchanger is lower than the load of the second indoor heat exchanger, each of the second three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve is in the third state, the first three-way valve is in the second state, and the third three-way valve is in the first state.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a second indoor heat exchanger connected to the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe in parallel with the first indoor heat exchanger; 
 a third three-way valve arranged downstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged upstream of the second indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state; and 
 a fourth three-way valve arranged upstream of the first indoor heat exchanger in the cooling operation state and arranged downstream of the second indoor heat exchanger in the heating operation state, 
   the third three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve have the same configurations as configurations of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve, each of the third three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve being configured to be switched independently to one of the first state, the second state, and the third state,   in the cooling operation state in which load of the first indoor heat exchanger is lower than load of the second indoor heat exchanger, each of the first three-way valve and the third three-way valve is in the third state, the second three-way valve is in the second state, and the fourth three-way valve is in the first state, and   in the heating operation state in which the load of the first indoor heat exchanger is lower than the load of the second indoor heat exchanger, each of the second three-way valve and the fourth three-way valve is in the third state, the first three-way valve is in the second state, and the third three-way valve is in the first state.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein when switching is made between the first state and the second state, a driving frequency of the compressor is constant. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein when switching is made between the first state and the second state, a driving frequency of the compressor is constant. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein when switching is made between the first state and the second state, a driving frequency of the compressor is constant. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein when switching is made between the first state and the second state, a driving frequency of the compressor is constant. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a first check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the first connecting pipe, the first check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to the first connecting pipe; 
 a second check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the second connecting pipe, the second check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the outdoor heat exchanger; 
 a third check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the first connecting pipe, the third check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the flow path switching portion to the first connecting pipe; and 
 a fourth check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the second connecting pipe, the fourth check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the flow path switching portion. 
   
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a first check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the first connecting pipe, the first check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to the first connecting pipe; 
 a second check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the second connecting pipe, the second check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the outdoor heat exchanger; 
 a third check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the first connecting pipe, the third check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the flow path switching portion to the first connecting pipe; and 
 a fourth check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the second connecting pipe, the fourth check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the flow path switching portion. 
   
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a first check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the first connecting pipe, the first check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to the first connecting pipe; 
 a second check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the second connecting pipe, the second check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the outdoor heat exchanger; 
 a third check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the first connecting pipe, the third check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the flow path switching portion to the first connecting pipe; and 
 a fourth check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the second connecting pipe, the fourth check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the flow path switching portion. 
   
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the refrigerant circuit further comprises:
 a first check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the first connecting pipe, the first check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to the first connecting pipe; 
 a second check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor heat exchanger and the second connecting pipe, the second check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the outdoor heat exchanger; 
 a third check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the first connecting pipe, the third check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the flow path switching portion to the first connecting pipe; and 
 a fourth check valve arranged in a refrigerant flow path between the flow path switching portion and the second connecting pipe, the fourth check valve being configured to permit only flow of the refrigerant from the second connecting pipe to the flow path switching portion.