Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10753645-B2
Application number	US-201616066703-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2016
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

Provided is a refrigeration cycle apparatus configured to perform a heating operation and a simultaneous heating and hot-water supply operation. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to execute an operation mode circulating refrigerant through, in order, a discharge outlet of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, a second heat exchanger provided to a water tank, and a suction inlet of the compressor, and causing the refrigerant flowing through the second heat exchanger to evaporate by heat generated by a heat source provided to the water tank.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigeration cycle apparatus, comprising: a water tank; a heat source wound around an outer peripheral portion of the water tank and configured to heat water stored in the water tank; a refrigeration cycle including: a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion valve provided downstream of the first heat exchanger in a refrigerant flow direction, the downstream being in an operation in which the first heat exchanger serves as a condenser, and a second heat exchanger wound around the outer peripheral portion of the water tank and configured to exchange heat with the water stored in the water tank; and a controller configured to execute an operation mode circulating refrigerant through, in order, a discharge outlet of the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the first expansion valve, the second heat exchanger, and a suction inlet of the compressor, and operate the heat source to evaporate the refrigerant flowing through the second heat exchanger by heat generated by the heat source, wherein the heat source is an electric heater or a gas heater.

2. The refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration cycle further includes:
a third heat exchanger;
a first flow switching valve configured to switch a flow passage of refrigerant between:
a first passage, by which the third heat exchanger and the discharge outlet of the compressor communicate with each other and by which the second heat exchanger and the suction inlet of the compressor communicate with each other, and
a second passage, by which a refrigerant flow path is formed between the third heat exchanger and the suction inlet of the compressor and by which a refrigerant flow path is formed between the second heat exchanger and the discharge outlet of the compressor;

a first pipe connected to the first heat exchanger, in a middle of which the first expansion valve is provided;
a second pipe connected to the second heat exchanger;
a second expansion valve provided to the second pipe;
a third pipe having a first end portion connected to the first pipe and the second pipe and a second end portion connected to the third heat exchanger; and
a valve provided to the third pipe.

3. The refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature in an installation environment of the third heat exchanger,
wherein the controller is configured to control the first flow switching valve, the first expansion valve, the second expansion valve, and the valve, and
when an operation time period of the compressor exceeds a preset time period under a state in which a detection value of the temperature sensor is equal to or less than a preset temperature, the controller executes the operation mode of the refrigeration cycle.

4. The refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature in an installation environment of the third heat exchanger, wherein
the controller is configured to control the first flow switching valve, the first expansion valve, the second expansion valve, and
the valve, and when a detection value of the temperature sensor is equal to or less than a preset temperature, the controller executes the operation mode of the refrigeration cycle.

5. The refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second flow switching valve configured to switch between forming a third passage, by which the first heat exchanger and the discharge outlet of the compressor communicate with each other, and a fourth passage, by which the first heat exchanger and the suction inlet of the compressor communicate with each other.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Matsuda Takuya
• Tanaka Kosuke

Classifications

• F25B2313/02334

  during heating · CPC title

• F25B2313/008

  Refrigerant heaters · CPC title

• F25B2313/02742

  using two four-way valves · CPC title

• F25B2313/02341

  during cooling · CPC title

• F25B2313/02344

  during heating · CPC title