Refrigeration circuit

Abstract

A refrigeration circuit includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, an indoor heat exchanger, and a refrigerant storage tank provided between the outdoor heat exchanger and the expansion value. Refrigerant sequentially flows through the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve and the indoor heat exchanger during an air-cooling operation. Refrigerant sequentially flows through the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the outdoor heat exchanger during an air-warming operation. Preferably the indoor heat exchanger is a cross-fin heat exchanger, and the outdoor heat exchanger is a stacked heat exchanger. Preferably, a capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger is no more than 100% of a capacity of the indoor heat exchanger.

1 . A refrigeration circuit comprising:
 a compressor;   an outdoor heat exchanger;   an expansion valve;   an indoor heat exchanger; and   a refrigerant storage tank provided between the outdoor heat exchanger and the expansion valve,   refrigerant sequentially flowing through the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve and the indoor heat exchanger during an air-cooling operation,   refrigerant sequentially flowing through the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the outdoor heat exchanger during an air-warming operation,   the indoor heat exchanger being a cross-fin heat exchanger, and   the outdoor heat exchanger being a stacked heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . A refrigeration circuit comprising:
 a compressor;   an outdoor heat exchanger;   an expansion valve;   an indoor heat exchanger, and   a refrigerant storage tank provided between the outdoor heat exchanger and the expansion valve,   refrigerant sequentially flowing through the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve and the indoor heat exchanger during an air-cooling operation,   refrigerant sequentially flowing through the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the outdoor heat exchanger during an air-warming operation, and   a capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger being no more than 100% of a capacity of the indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the outdoor heat exchanger is a stacked heat exchanger having
 a plurality of flattened tubes arranged so as to overlap with spaces therebetween, and 
 fins placed between adjacent flattened tubes. 
   
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the outdoor heat exchanger is a stacked heat exchanger having
 a flattened tube molded into a serpentine shape, and 
 fins placed between mutually adjacent surfaces of the flattened tube. 
   
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger are both cross-fin heat exchangers, and   a heat transfer tube diameter of the outdoor heat exchanger is smaller than a heat transfer tube diameter of the indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 2 , further comprising
 a bypass channel arranged to lead a gas component of refrigerant retained in the refrigerant storage tank to one of the compressor and a refrigerant tube on an intake side of the compressor.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the bypass channel has a flow-rate-regulating mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the refrigerant storage tank is a gas-liquid separator.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the stacked outdoor heat exchanger has
 a plurality of flattened tubes arranged so as to overlap with spaces therebetween, and 
 fins placed between adjacent flattened tubes. 
   
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the stacked outdoor heat exchanger has
 a flattened tube molded into a serpentine shape, and 
 fins placed between mutually adjacent surfaces of the flattened tube. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a bypass channel arranged to lead a gas component of refrigerant retained in the refrigerant storage tank to one of the compressor and a refrigerant tube on an intake side of the compressor.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 1  wherein
 the bypass channel has a flow-rate-regulating mechanism. 
 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant storage tank is a gas-liquid separator.