Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a compressor in a first refrigerant path between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger; a first flow rate adjustment device in a second refrigerant path between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; a refrigerant storage device provided in a third refrigerant path between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, connected in parallel with a part of the second refrigerant path, and configured to store refrigerant flowing from the second refrigerant path; a second flow rate adjustment device provided in the third refrigerant path, and configured to adjust a flow rate of refrigerant between the refrigerant storage device and the second refrigerant path; and a controller configured to control the second flow rate adjustment device to block flow of refrigerant from the second refrigerant path into the refrigerant storage device when cooling operation is started.

1 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
 a first heat exchanger;   a second heat exchanger;   a compressor provided in a first refrigerant path located between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger;   a first flow rate adjustment device provided in a second refrigerant path located between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger;   a refrigerant storage device provided in a third refrigerant path located between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the third refrigerant path being connected in parallel with a part of the second refrigerant path, the refrigerant storage device being configured to store refrigerant flowing from the second refrigerant path;   a second flow rate adjustment device provided in the third refrigerant path and located between the refrigerant storage device and the second heat exchanger, the second flow rate adjustment device being configured to adjust a flow rate of refrigerant between the refrigerant storage device and the second refrigerant path located between the second heat exchanger and the first flow rate adjustment device; and   a controller configured to control, when cooling operation is started, the second flow rate adjustment device to block flow of refrigerant from the second refrigerant path into the refrigerant storage device.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flow rate adjustment device is controlled by the controller to adjust a flow rate of refrigerant for both cooling operation and heating operation. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a third flow rate adjustment device provided in a fourth refrigerant path located between the second refrigerant path and a suction side of the compressor, the third flow rate adjustment device being configured to supply liquid refrigerant to the compressor;   a first branch path that branches off from a path between the first heat exchanger and the first flow rate adjustment device in the second refrigerant path, and is connected to an inlet side of the third flow rate adjustment device;   a second branch path that branches off from a path between the second heat exchanger and the first flow rate adjustment device in the second refrigerant path, and is connected to the inlet side of the third flow rate adjustment device;   a first check valve located in the first branch path and configured to supply the liquid refrigerant in a single direction to the inlet side of the third flow rate adjustment device; and   a second check valve located in the second branch path and configured to supply the liquid refrigerant in a single direction to the inlet side of the third flow rate adjustment device.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature on a discharge side of the compressor, wherein
 the controller controls the third flow rate adjustment device to be in an open state, when the temperature on the discharge side of the compressor detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a threshold value.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flow rate adjustment device is located, in the second refrigerant path, in parallel with the refrigerant storage device,   the refrigeration cycle apparatus further comprises a third check valve provided in the third refrigerant path and is configured to discharge refrigerant in the refrigerant storage device in a single direction to the second refrigerant path located between the first heat exchanger and the first flow rate adjustment device, and   when starting defrosting operation, the controller controls the second flow rate adjustment device to discharge refrigerant in the refrigerant storage device until an amount of refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage device becomes less than or equal to a threshold value.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a storage amount detection sensor configured to detect an amount of refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage device, wherein
 when starting the defrosting operation, the controller controls, based on the amount of stored refrigerant detected by the storage amount detection sensor, the second flow rate adjustment device to discharge refrigerant in the refrigerant storage device through the second flow rate adjustment device until the amount of refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage device becomes less than or equal to a threshold value.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a storage amount detection sensor configured to detect an amount of refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage device, wherein
 when starting the defrosting operation, the controller controls, based on the amount of stored refrigerant detected by the storage amount detection sensor, the second flow rate adjustment device to discharge refrigerant in the refrigerant storage device through the third check valve until the amount of refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage device becomes less than or equal to a threshold value.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 when starting the defrosting operation, the controller controls the second flow rate adjustment device to discharge refrigerant in the refrigerant storage device through the third check valve for a predetermined time until the amount of refrigerant stored in the refrigerant storage device becomes less than or equal to a threshold value.