Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle apparatus ( 100 ) includes a first compressor ( 101 ), a second compressor ( 102 ), a radiator ( 4 ), an evaporator ( 6 ), and a pipe branching portion ( 30 ). The first compressor ( 101 ) has a first compression mechanism ( 1 ) and an expansion mechanism ( 5 ). The second compressor ( 102 ) has a second compression mechanism ( 2 ). The pipe branching portion ( 30 ) serves as a flow passage for introducing a refrigerant from the evaporator ( 6 ) to the first compression mechanism ( 1 ) and the second compression mechanism ( 2 ), respectively. The pipe branching portion ( 30 ) includes an inlet pipe ( 31 ) for receiving the refrigerant from the evaporator ( 6 ), a first branch outlet pipe ( 32 ) for introducing the refrigerant flowing into the inlet pipe ( 31 ) to the first compression mechanism ( 1 ), and a second branch outlet pipe ( 33 ) for introducing the refrigerant flowing into the inlet pipe ( 31 ) to the second compression mechanism ( 2 ). The inlet pipe ( 31 ) and the first branch outlet pipe ( 32 ) form an obtuse angle or an angle of 180° therebetween, and the inlet pipe ( 31 ) and the second branch outlet pipe ( 33 ) form an acute angle therebetween.

1 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
 a first compressor having a first compression mechanism, an expansion mechanism, a shaft coupling the first compression mechanism and the expansion mechanism to each other, and a first closed casing accommodating the first compression mechanism, the expansion mechanism, and the shaft;   a second compressor having a second compression mechanism disposed in parallel with the first compression mechanism, and a second closed casing accommodating the second compression mechanism;   a radiator for cooling a refrigerant compressed by the first compression mechanism and the refrigerant compressed by the second compression mechanism;   an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant expanded by the expansion mechanism; and   a pipe branching portion serving as a flow passage for introducing the refrigerant from the evaporator to the first compression mechanism and the second compression mechanism, respectively, the pipe branching portion including an inlet pipe for receiving the refrigerant from the evaporator, a first branch outlet pipe for introducing the refrigerant flowing into the inlet pipe to the first compression mechanism, and a second branch outlet pipe for introducing the refrigerant flowing into the inlet pipe to the second compression mechanism, wherein the inlet pipe and the first branch outlet pipe form an obtuse angle or an angle of 180° therebetween, and the inlet pipe and the second branch outlet pipe form an acute angle therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle formed between the inlet pipe and the first branch outlet pipe is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first branch outlet pipe and the second branch outlet pipe are located on the same straight line. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first branch outlet pipe extends downwardly and the second branch outlet pipe extends upwardly in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an inlet port of the first compression mechanism formed in the first closed casing is located below a branch point of the pipe branching portion in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first branch outlet pipe has a larger flow passage area than that of the second branch outlet pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve provided in a suction passage communicating the pipe branching portion with an inlet port of the first compression mechanism, wherein
 an internal flow passage of the valve has a constant area throughout the passage between an inlet and an outlet of the valve when the valve is opened.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the suction passage includes a portion parallel to a vertical direction, and the valve is provided in the portion.