Refrigeration device

Abstract

A refrigeration device comprises a compressor ( 1 ), a plurality of utilization side heat exchangers, an expansion mechanism ( 4 ) and a heat source side heat exchanger ( 5 ), which are fluidly connected in series to constitute a refrigeration circuit. The refrigeration device further comprises a first refrigerant pipe ( 6 ), which extends from the compressor ( 1 ) to a first utilization side heat exchanger ( 2 ) of the plurality of utilization side heat exchangers. The first refrigerant pipe ( 6 ) comprises a first valve ( 7 ) configured to at least fully open and fully close the first refrigerant pipe ( 6 ). The refrigeration device also comprises a second refrigerant pipe ( 8 ), which extends from the compressor ( 1 ) to a second utilization side heat exchanger ( 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 ) of the plurality of utilization side heat exchangers. The second refrigerant pipe ( 8 ) comprises a second valve ( 9 ) configured to at least fully open and fully close the second refrigerant pipe ( 8 ). The refrigeration device also comprises a controller, which is configured to fully close the first valve ( 7 ) when the operation of the first utilization side heat exchanger ( 2 ) is stopped and/or which is configured to fully close the second valve ( 9 ) when the operation of the second utilization side heat exchanger ( 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 ) is stopped. In addition, the refrigeration device comprises a first bypass pipe ( 10 ) extending from a downstream side ( 6.2 ) of the first valve ( 7 ) when the refrigeration device is used in a heating mode to a suction side of the compressor ( 1 ) and a second bypass pipe ( 11 ) extending from a downstream side ( 8.2 ) of the second valve ( 9 ) when the refrigeration device is used in a heating mode to a suction side of the compressor ( 1 ). The first and second bypass pipes ( 10, 11 ) each comprise pressure-reducing means ( 12 ) that are configured to reduce the pressure of a refrigerant in the first and second bypass pipes ( 10, 11 ).

1 . A refrigeration device comprising:
 a compressor, a plurality of utilization side heat exchangers, an expansion mechanism and a heat source side heat exchanger fluidly connected in series to constitute a refrigeration circuit;   a first refrigerant pipe, which extends from the compressor to a first utilization side heat exchanger of the plurality of utilization side heat exchangers and comprises a first valve configured to at least fully open and fully close the first refrigerant pipe,   a second refrigerant pipe, which extends from the compressor to a second utilization side heat exchanger of the plurality of utilization side heat exchangers and comprises a second valve configured to at least fully open and fully close the second refrigerant pipe,   a controller, which is configured to fully close the first valve when the operation of the first utilization side heat exchanger is stopped and/or which is configured to fully close the second valve when the operation of the second utilization side heat exchanger is stopped,   characterised by   a first bypass pipe extending from a downstream side of the first valve when the refrigeration device is used in a heating mode to a suction side of the compressor,   a second bypass pipe extending from a downstream side of the second valve when the refrigeration device is used in a heating mode to a suction side of the compressor,   wherein the first and second bypass pipes each comprise pressure-reducing means configured to reduce the pressure of a refrigerant in the first and second bypass pipes.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second valves are solenoid valves. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second refrigerant pipes extend in parallel from the compressor, preferably via a branching pipe arranged on a downstream side of the compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the expansion mechanism comprises a first expansion valve arranged downstream of the first utilization side heat exchanger, when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode, and
 wherein the expansion mechanism comprises a second expansion valve arranged downstream of the second utilization side heat exchanger, when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to fully close the first valve and the first expansion valve when the operation of the first utilization side heat exchanger is stopped and/or which is configured to fully close the second valve and the second expansion valve when the operation of the second utilization side heat exchanger is stopped. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein, on the downstream side of the second valve in the second refrigerant pipe, a plurality, preferably three, second utilization side heat exchangers are arranged in parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 6 , wherein,
 when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode,   
       the expansion mechanism comprises the first expansion valve arranged downstream of the first utilization side heat exchanger,
 the expansion mechanism comprises a single second expansion valve arranged downstream of and connected to the second utilization side heat exchangers, or the expansion mechanism comprises a plurality of second expansion valves arranged downstream of and respectively connected to the second utilization side heat exchangers. 
 
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to fully close the second valve and the second expansion valve or the second expansion valves when the operation of the second utilization side heat exchangers is stopped. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-reducing means is a capillary. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-reducing means is a motor-operated valve. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first utilization side heat exchanger is a hot water supply unit, preferably a coil in a water tank, for producing domestic hot water when the refrigeration device is used in a heating mode. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second utilization side heat exchanger is an air conditioning indoor unit or a radiator for heating a space in which the second utilization side heat exchanger is positioned when the refrigeration device is used in a heating mode and/or for cooling the space in which the second utilization side heat exchanger is positioned when the refrigeration device is used in a cooling mode. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration device further comprises an accumulator arranged upstream of the compressor in the refrigeration circuit,
 wherein the first bypass pipe extends from the downstream side of the first valves, when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode, to a suction side of the accumulator, and   wherein the second bypass pipe extends from the downstream side of the second valves, when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode, to a suction side of the accumulator.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second refrigerant pipes are gas pipes containing the refrigerant in at least partial gaseous state when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration device further comprises a switching device, preferably a four-way switching valve,
 wherein the switching device is configured to switch the refrigeration circuit from the heating mode to the cooling mode.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second refrigerant pipes extend in parallel from the compressor, preferably via a branching pipe arranged on a downstream side of the compressor. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 2 , wherein the expansion mechanism comprises a first expansion valve arranged downstream of the first utilization side heat exchanger, when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode, and
 wherein the expansion mechanism comprises a second expansion valve arranged downstream of the second utilization side heat exchanger, when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 3 , wherein the expansion mechanism comprises a first expansion valve arranged downstream of the first utilization side heat exchanger, when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode, and
 wherein the expansion mechanism comprises a second expansion valve arranged downstream of the second utilization side heat exchanger, when the refrigeration device is used in the heating mode.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 2 , wherein, on the downstream side of the second valve in the second refrigerant pipe, a plurality, preferably three, second utilization side heat exchangers are arranged in parallel. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration device according to  claim 3 , wherein, on the downstream side of the second valve in the second refrigerant pipe, a plurality, preferably three, second utilization side heat exchangers are arranged in parallel.