Intermediate unit for refrigeration apparatus, and refrigeration apparatus

Abstract

An intermediate unit includes a liquid-side pipe, a first valve, and a refrigerant pressure sensor. The liquid-side pipe is connected to a liquid connection pipe connecting a heat source unit and a utilization unit together. A controller of the intermediate unit adjusts the opening degree of the first valve based on a value measured by the refrigerant pressure sensor. The pressure of a refrigerant to be sent through the liquid connection pipe from the intermediate unit to the utilization unit is adjusted by the first valve.

1 . An intermediate unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the intermediate unit being provided between a heat source unit and a utilization unit, the heat source unit and the utilization unit being connected together through a liquid connection pipe and a gas connection pipe to form the refrigeration apparatus, the intermediate unit comprising:
 a liquid-side pipe connected to the liquid connection pipe;   a first valve provided for the liquid-side pipe, the first valve having a variable opening degree;   a refrigerant pressure sensor disposed in a portion of the liquid-side pipe closer to the utilization unit than the first valve is, the refrigerant pressure sensor being configured to measure a pressure of a refrigerant flowing through the liquid-side pipe; and   a controller configured to adjust the opening degree of the first valve based on a value measured by the refrigerant pressure sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The intermediate unit of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a gas-side pipe connected to the gas connection pipe; 
 a joint pipe connecting the portion of the liquid-side pipe closer to the utilization unit than the first valve is and the gas-side pipe together; and 
 a second valve provided for the joint pipe. 
 
     
     
         3 . The intermediate unit of  claim 2 , wherein
 the controller adjusts the opening degree of the first valve so that the value measured by the refrigerant pressure sensor is less than or equal to a reference pressure, and opens the second valve if the value measured by the refrigerant pressure sensor is greater than the reference pressure with the first valve closed.   
     
     
         4 . The intermediate unit of  claim 1 , wherein
 the intermediate unit is installed indoors, and is connected to the heat source unit installed outdoors.   
     
     
         5 . A refrigeration apparatus, comprising:
 the intermediate unit of  claim 1 ;   a heat source unit;   a utilization unit; and   a liquid connection pipe and a gas connection pipe connecting the intermediate unit, the heat source unit, and the utilization unit together to form a refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         6 . A refrigeration apparatus, comprising:
 the intermediate unit of  claim 2 ;   a heat source unit;   a plurality of utilization units;   a liquid connection pipe including a liquid-side trunk pipe and a plurality of liquid-side branch pipes, the liquid-side trunk pipe being connected to the heat source unit, the liquid-side branch pipes each connecting an associated one of the utilization units to the liquid-side trunk pipe; and   a gas connection pipe including a gas-side trunk pipe and a plurality of gas-side branch pipes, the gas-side trunk pipe being connected to the heat source unit, the gas-side branch pipes each connecting an associated one of the utilization units to the gas-side trunk pipe,   the liquid-side pipe of the intermediate unit being connected to the liquid-side trunk pipe of the liquid connection pipe,   the gas-side pipe of the intermediate unit being connected to the gas-side trunk pipe of the gas connection pipe.