Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a heat source unit, a plurality of indoor units, and a branch unit configured to transfer refrigerant. The branch unit includes a plurality of six-way valves each being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units. Each of the six-way valves includes a housing having a first port to a sixth port, and a valve body disposed inside the housing and provided with a first flow path and a second flow path. In a second switching state, the first port communicates with the second port through the first flow path, and the fourth port communicates with the fifth port through the second flow path. In a first switching state, the second port communicates with the third port through the first flow path, and the fifth port communicates with the sixth port through the second flow path.

1 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
 a heat source unit comprising a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger;   a plurality of indoor units; and   a branch unit connected between the heat source unit and the plurality of indoor units, the branch unit being configured to transfer refrigerant, wherein   the branch unit has
 a first pipe through which the refrigerant delivered from the heat source unit passes, 
 a second pipe through which the refrigerant returning to the heat source unit passes, 
 a third pipe, 
 a fourth pipe, 
 a first expansion valve provided between the first pipe and the third pipe, 
 a second expansion valve provided between the fourth pipe and the second pipe, and 
 a plurality of six-way valves, each of the plurality of six-way valves being provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units,
 each of the plurality of six-way valves has
 a first port connected to the second pipe, 
 a second port connected to one end of a refrigerant flow path of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units, 
 a third port connected to the first pipe, 
 a fourth port connected to the fourth pipe, 
 a fifth port connected to the other end of the refrigerant flow path of the corresponding one of the plurality of indoor units, 
 a sixth port connected to the third pipe, 
 a housing having the first port to the sixth port, and 
 a valve body disposed inside the housing, the valve body being provided with a first flow path and a second flow path, 
 
 
   the valve body is configured to switch a communication state of each of the plurality of six-way valves between a first switching state and a second switching state,   in the second switching state, the first port communicates with the second port through the first flow path, and the fourth port communicates with the fifth port through the second flow path, and   in the first switching state, the second port communicates with the third port through the first flow path, and the fifth port communicates with the sixth port through the second flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross sectional area of the first flow path is equal to or greater than a cross-sectional area of the second flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a minimum dimension of inner diameters of three pipes each connected to a corresponding one of the first port to the third port of each of the plurality of six-way valves is equal to or greater than a maximum dimension of inner diameters of three pipes each connected to a corresponding one of the fourth port to the sixth port of each of the plurality of six-way valves. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the valve body is configured to rotate or slide inside the housing to switch the communication state of each of the plurality of six-way valves between the first switching state and the second switching state, and   the first flow path is formed such that the second port communicates with at least one of the first port or the third port at an arbitrary position between a position in the first switching state and a position in the second switching state.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to perform control to switch the plurality of six-way valves, wherein
 when the controller switches communication states of a first six-way valve and a second six-way valve among the plurality of six-way valves, the controller is configured to start switching of the first six-way valve, and, after completion of the switching of the first six-way valve, start switching of the second six-way valve.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a switching state of the first six-way valve, wherein
 the controller is configured to determine completion of the switching of the first six-way valve based on an output from the sensor.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein, when the controller collectively switches the communication states of the first six-way valve and the second six-way valve, the controller is configured to start switching of the first six-way valve, and, after an clapse of a predetermined time period or longer, start switching of the second six-way valve.