Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a heat-source-side unit; load-side units; and a relay unit including three-way valves that are connected between the heat-source-side unit and the load-side units, and are each provided in association with an associated one of the load-side units to switch a flow direction of refrigerant. The relay unit supplies low-temperature refrigerant to one of the load-side units that performs a cooling operation and supplies high-temperature refrigerant to one of the load-side units that performs a heating operation. Depending on an operating state, each of the three-way valves switches the flow direction of refrigerant that flows out from the heat-source-side unit such that the refrigerant flows into an associated one of the load-side units or switch the flow direction of refrigerant that flows out from the associated one of the load-side units such that the refrigerant flows into the heat-source-side unit.

1 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
 a heat-source-side unit including a compressor and a heat-source-side heat exchanger;   a plurality of load-side units including respective expansion devices and respective load-side heat exchangers; and   a relay unit including a plurality of three-way valves connected between the heat-source-side unit and the load-side units, the three-way valves being each provided in association with an associated one of the load-side units and configured to switch a flow direction of refrigerant between plural flow directions, the relay unit being configured to supply the refrigerant having a low temperature to one of the load-side units that performs a cooling operation and supply the refrigerant having a high temperature to one of the load-side units that performs a heating operation,   wherein each of the three-way valves is configured to switch the flow direction of the refrigerant that flows out from the heat-source-side unit such that the refrigerant flows into an associated one of the load-side units or switch the flow direction of the refrigerant that flows out from the associated one of the load-side units such that the refrigerant flows into the heat-source-side unit, depending on an operating state.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when at least one of the load-side units performs the cooling operation, at least one of the three-way valves that is associated with the at least one load-side unit switches the flow direction of the refrigerant that flows out from the at least one load-side unit such that the refrigerant flows into the heat-source-side unit. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when at least one of the load-side units performs the heating operation, at least one of the three-way valves that is associated with the at least one load-side unit switches the flow direction of the refrigerant that flows out from the heat-source-side unit such that the refrigerant flows into the at least one load-side unit. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein in a partial load stopped operation in which at least one of the load-side units is stopped, a state of at least one of the three-way valves that is associated with the at least one load-side unit is switched such that the at least one three-way valve shuts off the flow of the refrigerant. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the expansion device of the at least one load-side unit is caused to be in a closed state. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein when at least one of the load-side units performs the heating operation, at least one of the three-way valves that is associated with the at least one load-side unit switches the flow direction of the refrigerant that flows out from the heat-source-side unit such that the refrigerant flows into the at least one load-side unit. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein in a partial load stopped operation in which at least one of the load-side units is stopped, a state of at least one of the three-way valves that is associated with the at least one load-side unit is switched such that the at least one three-way valve shuts off the flow of the refrigerant. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of any one of  claim 3 , wherein in a partial load stopped operation in which at least one of the load-side units is stopped, a state of at least one of the three-way valves that is associated with the at least one load-side unit is switched such that the at least one three-way valve shuts off the flow of the refrigerant. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the expansion device of the at least one load-side unit is caused to be in a closed state. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the expansion device of the at least one load-side unit is caused to be in a closed state.