Air Conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner that reverses and appropriately controls the stream of refrigerant between paths of a flow divider corresponding to an air conditioner heat exchanger having a plurality of paths to increase the heat exchange capacity is provided. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a restriction device, and an indoor heat exchanger including a plurality of paths. These members are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigerant circuit. A flow divider including a plurality of paths is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger, which includes the plurality of paths, and the restriction device. A refrigerant flow amount regulation valve is provided for each of the plurality of paths in the flow divider. In a predetermined operation state, more refrigerant is distributed to a predetermined passage in which the processing capacity is large and the refrigerant temperature at an outlet of the indoor heat exchanger is high in comparison with other paths.

1 . An air conditioner including a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a restriction device, and an indoor heat exchanger provided with a plurality of paths, wherein the four-way valve, outdoor heat exchanger, restriction device, and indoor heat exchanger are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigerant circuit, with a flow divider including a plurality of paths being arranged between the indoor heat exchanger, which includes the plurality of paths, and the restriction device, the air conditioner being characterized by:
 a refrigerant flow amount regulation valve provided for each of the plurality of paths in the flow divider, wherein in a predetermined operation state, more refrigerant is distributed to a predetermined path in which the processing capacity is large and the refrigerant temperature at an outlet of the indoor heat exchanger is high in comparison with other paths.   
   
   
       2 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , being characterized in that the predetermined operation state is an operation state in which the load is low, and in the low load state, an opening is decreased in the refrigerant flow amount regulation valve for the path at which the processing capacity is small and the refrigerant temperature at the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger is low so that a large amount of refrigerant flows to the predetermined path in which the processing capacity is large and the refrigerant temperature at the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger is high. 
   
   
       3 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , being characterized in that the predetermined path is a path in which the flow velocity is high, and in a low load state, an opening is decreased in the refrigerant flow amount regulation valve for a path in which the flow velocity is low so that more refrigerant flows to the path that has a margin in heat exchange capacity and a high flow velocity. 
   
   
       4 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , being characterized in that the predetermined operation state is an operation state during a rated load, and in the rated load state, the refrigerant flow amount regulation valve for each path is completely open, and the capacity of the heat exchanger is fully used.