GB2542310A

GB2542310A - Refrigeration cycle device and refrigeration cycle system

Info

Publication number: GB2542310A
Application number: GB1700466.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nagata Yuki; Okoshi Yasushi; Ito Takuya
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2014-06-19
Filing date: 2014-06-19
Publication date: 2017-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-19
Also published as: GB2542310B; JP6338663B2; WO2015194020A1; JPWO2015194020A1; GB201700466D0

Abstract

This refrigeration cycle device, a plurality of which are coupled to constitute a refrigeration cycle system, comprises a refrigerant circuit (10) configured by connecting, via refrigerant piping, a compressor (1), a channel switching device (6), a heat source side heat exchanger (2), an expansion device (4), and a refrigerant channel of a heat carrier heat exchanger (50) having a heat carrier channel in which a heat carrier flows and the refrigerant channel in which a refrigerant which will exchange heat with the heat carrier flows, wherein the refrigerant is circulated inside the refrigerant circuit (10). The refrigeration cycle device further comprises: a heat carrier inlet pipe (60a), both ends of which are coupling portions and an intermediate portion of which is connected to a heat carrier inflow port (5a) of the heat carrier heat exchanger (50); a heat carrier outlet pipe (60b), both ends of which are coupling portions and an intermediate portion of which is connected to a heat carrier outflow port (5b) of the heat carrier heat exchanger (50); and a set of opening and closing means (61) that is installed between the intermediate portion and at least one end of the ends of the heat carrier inlet pipe (60a) and heat carrier outlet pipe (60b).

Description

DESCRIPTION Title of Invention REFRIGERATION CYCLE APPARATUS AND REFRIGERATION CYCLE SYSTEM Technical Field [0001]

The present invention relates to a refrigeration cycle apparatus that cools or heats a heat medium such as water and brine, and particularly to a refrigeration cycle apparatus being each of a plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses connected to each other to form a refrigeration cycle system and the refrigeration cycle system. Background Art [0002] A refrigeration cycle apparatus has been known that heats or cools a heat medium with a heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between refrigerant flowing through a load-side heat exchanger of a refrigerant circuit and a heat medium (such as water and brine). To heat or cool a heat medium having an amount that exceeds the capacity of the single refrigeration cycle apparatus, a refrigeration cycle apparatus of such a type has been known that is each of a plurality of refrigerant cycle apparatuses installed and having respective heat medium heat exchangers connected to a heat medium pipe to collect the heat medium heated or cooled in each of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses to the heat medium pipe (see Patent Literature 1).

Citation List Patent Literature [0003]

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. 08-012023 (page 4 and Fig. 1)

Summary of Invention Technical Problem [0004]

In recent years, in office buildings in which the air-conditioning load changes owing to effects by office automation equipment, solar radiation, or other factors, or in multi-tenant buildings, hotels, and other types of constructions in which the required air-conditioning is different between rooms, there has been an increasing need for a refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of flexibly performing cooling and heating.

Existing refrigeration cycle apparatuses described in Patent Literature 1 and other literature, however, have a configuration not capable of simultaneously heating and cooling the heat medium, and thus have difficulty in meeting such a need.

[0005]

The present invention has been made with the above-described issue as background, and aims to provide a refrigeration cycle apparatus being one of the plurality of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses connected to each other to form a refrigeration cycle system and capable of simultaneously and flexibly heating and cooling a heat medium, and the refrigeration cycle system.

Solution to Problem [0006] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is one of a plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses connected to each other to form a refrigeration cycle system, and includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a flow switching device, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a refrigerant passage of a heat medium heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes, and through which refrigerant circulates, the heat medium heat exchanger having a heat medium passage through which a heat medium flows and the refrigerant passage through which the refrigerant for exchanging heat with the heat medium flows; a heat medium inlet pipe having two end portions serving as connection portions and an intermediate portion connected to a heat medium inlet of the heat medium heat exchanger; a heat medium outlet pipe having two end portions serving as connection portions and an intermediate portion connected to a heat medium outlet of the heat medium heat exchanger; and an opening and closing unit set installed between the intermediate portions and at least ones of the end portions of the heat medium inlet pipe and the heat medium outlet pipe.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0007]

In the refrigeration cycle system having the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses according to the embodiment of the present invention connected to each other, the opening and closing unit set is installed to the heat medium inlet pipe and the heat medium outlet pipe on both sides of at least one heat exchanger. The heat medium can be flexibly heated and cooled by switching the opening and closing unit set installed to a heat medium inlet passage having the heat medium inlet pipes connected to each other and a heat medium outlet passage having the heat medium outlet pipes connected to each other to switch the heat medium passage through which the heat medium flows.

Brief Description of Drawings [0008] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a pipe configuration diagram illustrating an example of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of the refrigeration cycle apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a pipe configuration diagram illustrating an example of a refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram (schematic longitudinal sectional view) illustrating a state in which a plurality of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses illustrated in Fig. 2 are connected to each other.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 illustrates a comparative example to the example of Fig. 4.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 illustrates Modified Example 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 illustrates Modified Example 1 of the schematic configuration diagram illustrated in Fig. 4.

[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram (schematic longitudinal sectional view) illustrating a state in which a plurality of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses illustrated in Fig. 10 are installed to connect to each other.

[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 illustrates Modified Example 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus illustrated in Fig. 10.

[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 illustrates Modified Example 2 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus illustrated in Fig. 10.

[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 illustrates Modified Example 1 of the schematic configuration diagram illustrated in Fig. 11.

[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram (schematic longitudinal sectional view) of a state in which refrigeration cycle apparatuses according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention are connected to each other.

[Fig. 16] Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[Fig. 17] Fig. 17 is a table illustrating operation modes of the refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[Fig. 18] Fig. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Description of Embodiments [0009]

Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are assigned with the same signs, and description of the parts will be omitted or simplified as appropriate. Further, the sizes and layouts of configurations illustrated in the drawings may be changed as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0010]

Embodiment 1

Fig. 1 is a pipe configuration diagram illustrating an example of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As illustrated in Fig. 1, a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes a refrigerant circuit 10 and a heat medium circuit 60.

[0011]

The refrigerant circuit 10 has a compressor 1, a heat source-side heat exchanger 2, an expansion device 4 being an expansion valve, for example, a load-side heat exchanger 5, and a flow switching device 6 being a four-way valve, for example, connected by refrigerant pipes, and refrigerant circulates through the interior of the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0012]

The flow switching device 6 switches the direction of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 10 between a heating operation and a cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100. For example, in the heating operation, the flow switching device 6 switches the direction of the refrigerant so that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 flows into the load-side heat exchanger 5.

Further, in the cooling operation, the flow switching device 6 switches the direction of the refrigerant so that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 flows into the heat source-side heat exchanger 2.

[0013]

The heat source-side heat exchanger 2 is, for example, an air heat exchanger (air-cooled heat exchanger) that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the heat source-side heat exchanger 2 and air. A fan 3 for guiding air to the heat source-side heat exchanger 2 is installed close to the heat source-side heat exchanger 2. The load-side heat exchanger 5 forms a heat medium heat exchanger 50 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the load-side heat exchanger 5 and a heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 60. The heat medium heat exchanger 50 may be any heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the load-side heat exchanger 5 and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 60.

[0014]

The heat medium circuit 60 guides the heat medium, such as water and brine, into the heat medium heat exchanger 50, and guides the heat medium heated or cooled by the heat medium heat exchanger 50 (that is, the heat medium having cooled or heated the refrigerant) to the downstream side (such as another refrigeration cycle apparatus, a cooling load, and a heating load). The heat medium circuit 60 includes the heat medium heat exchanger 50, a heat medium inlet pipe 60a, a heat medium outlet pipe 60b, a first opening and closing unit 61a, and a second opening and closing unit 61b.

[0015]

An intermediate portion of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a is connected to a heat medium inlet 5a of the heat medium heat exchanger 50, and causes the heat medium flowing from the upstream side (such as another refrigeration cycle apparatus, a cooling load, and a heating load) to flow into the heat medium heat exchanger 50 (see Fig. 2 described later).

[0016]

An intermediate portion of the heat medium outlet pipe 60b is connected to a heat medium outlet 5b of the heat medium heat exchanger 50, and guides the heat medium cooled by the heat medium heat exchanger 50 (that is, the heat medium having heated the refrigerant) to the downstream side (such as another refrigeration cycle apparatus, a cooling load, and a heating load) (see Fig. 2 described later).

[0017]

The first opening and closing unit 61a is a solenoid valve, for example, and is installed to the heat medium inlet pipe 60a on one side of the heat medium inlet 5a of the heat medium heat exchanger 50. The second opening and closing unit 61 b is a solenoid valve, for example, and is installed to the heat medium outlet pipe 60b on one side of the heat medium outlet 5b. In the following description, the first opening and closing unit 61a and the second opening and closing unit 61b will collectively be referred to as the opening and closing unit set 61 for easier understanding of the present invention. The opening and closing unit set corresponds to an opening and closing unit set described in the claims.

[0018]

Fig. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of the refrigeration cycle apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, illustration of some components such as the compressor 1, the fan 3, the expansion device 4, and the flow switching device 6 is omitted for easier understanding of the present invention.

[0019]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a casing 7, which is a hexahedron, for example. Further, components of the refrigerant circuit 10 and components of the heat medium circuit 60 are disposed inside the casing 7 except for an end portion (a right end portion in Fig. 2) of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b serving as a connection port.

[0020]

One end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b serving as a connection port is located inside the casing 7 and separated from a left end surface of the casing 7. For example, a left end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b is located inside the casing 7 and separated from the left end surface of the casing 7 by 100 to 200 mm.

[0021]

Further, the other end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b serving as a connection port projects from a right end surface of the casing 7. For example, the other end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b serving as a connection port projects from the right end surface of the casing 7 by approximately 100 to 200 mm.

[0022]

In the example of Embodiment 1, the opening and closing unit set 61 is installed closer to the projecting side of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b than the heat medium inlet 5a and the heat medium outlet 5b. The opening and closing unit set 61 may be installed closer to the end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b located inside the casing 7 than the heat medium inlet 5a and the heat medium outlet 5b. The opening and closing unit set 61 can be preferably protected by installing the opening and closing unit set 61 on the side of the end portion protected by the casing 7.

[0023]

In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1, the heat source-side heat exchanger 2, which is an air heat exchanger (air-cooled heat exchanger), for example, is installed in an upper part of the interior of the casing 7. Further, the compressor 1, the expansion device 4, the load-side heat exchanger 5, the heat medium inlet pipe 60a, the heat medium outlet pipe 60b, and the opening and closing unit set 61 are installed below the heat source-side heat exchanger 2 inside the casing 7.

[0024]

The casing 7 is formed with an air inlet and an air outlet (illustration omitted) for guiding air to the heat source-side heat exchanger 2. More specifically, the air inlet and the air outlet are formed in side surfaces of the casing 7 close to which the end portions of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b are not provided.

For example, in the case of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 illustrated in Fig. 2, the air inlet is formed in a side surface on the front side of the paper or in a side surface on the back side of the paper. In this case, the air outlet is formed in the side surface facing the side surface formed with the air inlet or in the upper surface of the casing 7.

For another example, in the case of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 illustrated in Fig. 2, the air inlet is formed in the upper surface of the casing 7. In this case, the air outlet is formed in the side surface on the front side of the paper or in the side surface on the back side of the paper.

As described later, when the plurality of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 are installed to connect to each other, each of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 is installed so that a side surface of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 close to the one end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b faces a side surface of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 close to the other end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b (hereinafter, the side surfaces facing each other may occasionally be referred to as the facing side surfaces).

That is, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1, the air inlet and the air outlet are formed in surfaces other than the facing side surfaces of the casing 7. With the air inlet and the air outlet formed at such positions, the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 can be installed to connect to each other, without blocking the air inlet and the air outlet.

[0025]

The placement positions of the heat source-side heat exchanger 2, the compressor 1, the expansion device 4, the load-side heat exchanger 5, the heat medium inlet pipe 60a, the heat medium outlet pipe 60b, and the opening and closing unit set 61 illustrated in Fig. 2 are only illustrative. For example, the heat source-side heat exchanger 2 may be installed in a lower part of the interior of the casing 7. Further, the compressor 1, the expansion device 4, the load-side heat exchanger 5, the heat medium inlet pipe 60a, the heat medium outlet pipe 60b, and the opening and closing unit set 61 may be installed above the heat source-side heat exchanger 2 inside the casing 7.

[0026]

Further, for example, when the air inlet or the air outlet is formed in the upper surface of the casing 7, one of the side surfaces other than the facing side surfaces is not formed with the air inlet or the air outlet. In such a case, at least some of the heat source-side heat exchanger 2, the compressor 1, the expansion device 4, the load-side heat exchanger 5, the heat medium inlet pipe 60a, the heat medium outlet pipe 60b, and other devices may be provided on the side surface not formed with the air inlet or the air outlet.

[0027] A refrigeration cycle system 300 according to Embodiment 1 will be described below. Fig. 3 is a pipe configuration diagram illustrating an example of a refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram (schematic longitudinal sectional view) illustrating a state in which the plurality of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 illustrated in Fig. 2 are connected to each other.

[0028]

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the refrigeration cycle system 300 according to Embodiment 1 is formed of the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 connected to each other, and is incorporated in an air-conditioning apparatus, for example. The following description will be made of an example of the refrigeration cycle system 300 formed of three refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 connected to each other, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Solid-white arrows illustrated in Fig. 4 indicate the flow direction of the heat medium.

Further, in the following description, the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 will sequentially be referred to as a first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A, a second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B, and a third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C from the right side in Fig. 4. Further, the opening and closing unit sets 61 will sequentially be referred to as a first opening and closing unit set 61 A, a second opening and closing unit set 61B, a third opening and closing unit set 61C, and a fourth opening and closing unit set 61D from the right side in Fig. 4.

[0029]

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the refrigeration cycle system 300 is formed with the heat medium inlet pipes 60a and the heat medium outlet pipes 60b of the first to third refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100C connected to each other. The heat medium inlet pipes 60a are connected to each other to form a heat medium inlet passage 60A, and the heat medium outlet pipes 60b are connected to each other to form a heat medium outlet passage 60B.

[0030] A first load 70 is connected to an end portion of an endmost one of the connected heat medium inlet pipes 60a and an end portion of an endmost one of the connected heat medium outlet pipes 60b (in Fig. 4, the right end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b in the rightmost disposed first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A).

[0031]

Further, a second load 80 is connected to an end portion of the other endmost one of the connected heat medium inlet pipes 60a and an end portion of the other endmost one of the connected heat medium outlet pipes 60b (in Fig. 4, the left end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b in the leftmost disposed refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C). The second load 80 is connected to the heat medium inlet passage 60Aand the heat medium outlet passage 60B via the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D. The fourth opening and closing unit set 61D may be installed to the corresponding heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the corresponding heat medium outlet pipe 60b.

[0032]

Each of the first load 70 and the second load 80 is installed with a heat medium sending device (illustration omitted) formed of a pump, for example. Driving the heat medium sending device causes the heat medium to flow through the heat medium inlet passage 60A and the heat medium outlet passage 60B.

[0033]

An example in which the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 are installed to connect to each other will be described below.

[0034]

As illustrated in Fig. 4, when the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 are installed to connect to each other, each of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 is installed so that a side surface (the right side surface in Fig. 4) of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 close to one end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b and a side surface (the left side surface in Fig. 4) of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 close to the other end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b face each other. Further, the one end portions (the right end portions in Fig. 4) and the other end portions (the left end portions in Fig. 4) of the heat medium inlet pipes 60a and the heat medium outlet pipes 60b are connected inside the casings 7.

In this case, the one end portions (the right end portions in Fig. 4) of the heat medium inlet pipes 60a and the heat medium outlet pipes 60b are disposed to project from the casings 7, and thus are directly connectable to the other end portions (the left end portions in Fig. 4) of the heat medium inlet pipes 60a and the heat medium outlet pipes 60b disposed inside the casings 7. The method of connecting the end portions is not particularly limited, and the end portions are only required to be connected by a publicly known method, such as connection using pipe fittings.

[0035]

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 1. The refrigeration cycle system 300 includes a control unit 15 formed of a CPU or a signal processing circuit that performs a specific process. The control unit 15 controls the compressor 1, the flow switching device 6, the opening and closing unit set 61, and other devices on the basis of inputs to an input unit 16, a temperature detection unit 17, and a compressor operating frequency detection unit 18, for example. The control unit 15 is installed in one of the first to third refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100C, for example.

[0036]

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 1.

In step S101, a user sets or changes the operation mode of the refrigeration cycle system 300 with the input unit 16 illustrated in Fig. 5, for example. In Embodiment 1, the user is allowed to select a mode from first to third operation modes, for example.

[0037]

When the first operation mode is selected in step S101, the procedure sequentially proceeds to step S102 and step S103. In step S103, the control unit 15 illustrated in Fig. 5 controls switching the respective flow switching devices 6 illustrated in Fig. 3 so that all of the first to third refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100A to 100C illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 perform a cooling operation.

[0038]

Then, in step S104 illustrated in Fig. 6, the control unit 15 controls to open the first opening and closing unit set 61 A, the second opening and closing unit set 61B, and the third opening and closing unit set 61C, and close the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D.

[0039]

As described above, in the first operation mode, all of the first to third refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100C perform the cooling operation.

Further, to make the first load 70 communicate with these apparatuses, the first opening and closing unit set 61 A, the second opening and closing unit set 61B, and the third opening and closing unit set 61C are opened, while the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D is closed. In the first operation mode, consequently, the heat medium cooled in all of the first to third refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100C circulates through the first load 70. In the first operation mode, the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D is closed, and thus the heat medium does not circulate in the side of the second load 80.

[0040]

When the second operation mode is selected in step S101, the procedure sequentially proceeds to step S102, step S105, and step S106. In step S106, the control unit 15 controls switching the respective flow switching devices 6 so that the first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100Aand the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B perform the cooling operation, and the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C performs the heating operation.

[0041]

Then, in step S107, the control unit 15 controls to open the first opening and closing unit set 61A and the second opening and closing unit set 61B, close the third opening and closing unit set 61C, and open the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D.

[0042]

As described above, in the second operation mode, the first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A and the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B perform the cooling operation. Further, to make the first load 70 communicate with these apparatuses, the first opening and closing unit set 61A and the second opening and closing unit set 61B are opened, while the third opening and closing unit set 61C is closed. Further, in the second operation mode, the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C performs the heating operation, and the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D is opened to make the second load 80 communicate with the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C, while the third opening and closing unit set 61C is closed. In the second operation mode, consequently, the heat medium cooled in the first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100Aand the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B circulates through the first load 70, and the heat medium heated in the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C circulates through the second load 80.

[0043]

When the third operation mode is selected in step S101, the procedure sequentially proceeds to step S102, step S105, step S108, and step S109. In step S109, the control unit 15 controls switching the respective flow switching devices 6 so that all of the first to third refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100A to 100C perform the heating operation.

[0044]

Then, in step S110, the control unit 15 controls to open the second opening and closing unit set 61B, the third opening and closing unit set 61C, and the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D, and close the first opening and closing unit set 61 A.

[0045]

As described above, in the third operation mode, all of the first to third refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100C perform the heating operation.

Further, to make the second load 80 communicate with these apparatuses, the second opening and closing unit set 61B, the third opening and closing unit set 61C, and the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D are opened, while the first opening and closing unit set 61A is closed. In the third operation mode, consequently, the heat medium heated in all of the first to third refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100C circulates through the second load 80. In the third operation mode, the first opening and closing unit set 61A is closed, and thus the heat medium does not circulate in the side of the first load 70.

[0046]

Although the foregoing description has been made of the example of circulating the cooled heat medium through the first load 70 and circulating the heated heat medium through the second load 80, the cooled heat medium can circulate through the second load 80 and the heated heat medium can circulate through the first load 70.

[0047]

Further, a fourth operation mode, for example, may be added to the three operation modes of the first to third operation modes. In the fourth operation mode, the first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A performs the cooling operation, and the first opening and closing unit set 61A is opened to make the first load 70 communicate with the first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A, while the second opening and closing unit set 61B is closed. Further, in the fourth operation mode, the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B and the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C perform the heating operation, and the third opening and closing unit set 61C and the fourth opening and closing unit set 61D are opened to make the second load 80 communicate with these apparatuses, while the second opening and closing unit set 61B is closed. In the fourth operation mode, consequently, the heat medium cooled in the first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A circulates through the first load 70, and the heat medium heated in the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B and the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C circulates through the second load 80.

[0048]

As described above, in the refrigeration cycle system 300 with the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100C according to Embodiment 1 installed to connect to each other, the passage through which the heat medium flows can be changed by switching the opening and closing unit sets 61A to 61D. Further, the heat medium can be simultaneously and flexibly heated and cooled by switching between the cooling operation and the heating operation in each of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100.

[0049]

Further, in Embodiment 1, the refrigeration cycle system 300 may be formed by connecting the standardized refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100. Further, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1, one end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b projects from the casing 7. Thus, when the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 are to be installed to connect to each other, these components are easily positioned. Further, the direction of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 can be visually checked, and thus the refrigeration cycle system 300 can be easily formed by aligning connection directions of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100.

[0050]

Fig. 7 illustrates a comparative example to the example of Fig. 4. In a refrigeration cycle system 3000 according to the comparative example illustrated in Fig. 7, connection ports of heat medium heat exchangers of refrigeration cycle apparatuses 1000 project outside casings (that is, the connection ports and a heat medium pipe are connected outside the casings). Consequently, heat medium pipes 1002 for connecting the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 1000 are installed outside the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 1000, thereby increasing the size of the refrigeration cycle system 3000. Further, in the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 1000, since the heat medium pipes 1002 for connecting the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 1000 are installed outside the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 1000, person-hours of connection work of the heat medium pipes 1002 at an installation site are not substantially reduced, still leaving open the issue of the demand for a reduction in work.

[0051]

As compared with the comparative example illustrated in Fig. 7, in the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 configured as in Embodiment 1, the other end portions (the right end portions in Fig. 3) of the heat medium inlet pipes 60a and the heat medium outlet pipes 60b are disposed to project from the casings 7, and thus are directly connectable to the one end portions (the left end portions in Fig. 3) of the heat medium inlet pipes 60a and the heat medium outlet pipes 60b disposed inside the casings 7 when the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 are installed to connect to each other. At the installation site of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100, consequently, installation work (fixing work) of heat medium pipes is unnecessary, making the connection work of heat medium pipes at the installation site omissible. Further, the heat medium inlet pipes 60a and the heat medium outlet pipes 60b can be disposed inside the casings of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100, and thus an installation space (more specifically, a pipe space) can be reduced.

[0052]

Embodiment 1 is not limited to the above-described example.

Fig. 8 illustrates Modified Example 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 illustrates Modified Example 1 of the schematic configuration diagram illustrated in Fig. 4.

For example, a refrigeration cycle system 301 (see Fig. 9) similar to the refrigeration cycle system 300 can be obtained by replacing the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C illustrated in Fig. 4 with a refrigeration cycle apparatus 101 illustrated in Fig. 8. As illustrated in Fig. 8, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 101, the opening and closing unit set 61 is installed to the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b on both sides of the heat medium inlet 5a and the heat medium outlet 5b. In the refrigeration cycle system 301 illustrated in Fig. 9, the first load 70 and the second load 80 can be directly connected to both sides of the heat medium inlet passage 60Aand the heat medium outlet passage 60B.

[0053]

Further, although the foregoing description has been made of the refrigeration cycle system 300 with the three refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 installed to connect to each other, a refrigeration cycle system capable of flexibly heating and cooling the heat medium can be obtained by connecting at least two refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100. That is, the opening and closing unit set installed to the heat medium inlet pipe and the heat medium outlet pipe is switched on both sides of the heat exchanger to change the passage through which the heat medium flows. Consequently, the cooling operation and the heating operation are switched in the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100, thereby flexibly heating and cooling the heat medium.

[0054]

Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 1, only one end portion of each of the heat medium inlet pipe 60a and the heat medium outlet pipe 60b is disposed inside the casing 7. As compared with the description in Embodiment 1, a description in Embodiment 2 will be made of an example in which both end portions of each of a heat medium inlet first pipe portion and a heat medium outlet first pipe portion are located inside the casing and separated from end surfaces of the casing. In Embodiment 2, items not particularly described are similar to those in Embodiment 1, and the same functions or configurations will be described with the same signs.

[0055]

Fig. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, in a refrigeration cycle apparatus 102 according to Embodiment 2, both end portions of each of a heat medium inlet first pipe portion 60a1 and a heat medium outlet first pipe portion 60b1 serving as connection ports are located inside the casing 7 and separated from end surfaces of the casing 7. For example, both end portions of each of the heat medium inlet first pipe portion 60a1 and the heat medium outlet first pipe portion 60b1 are located inside the casing 7 and separated from end surfaces of the casing 7 by 100 to 200 mm.

[0056]

When the plurality of the thus-configured refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 are installed to connect to each other, the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 are installed to connect to each other as follows, for example.

[0057]

Fig. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram (schematic longitudinal sectional view) illustrating a state in which the plurality of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses illustrated in Fig. 10 are installed to connect to each other.

As described above, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 102 according to Embodiment 2, both end portions of each of the heat medium inlet first pipe portion 60a1 and the heat medium outlet first pipe portion 60b1 serving as the connection ports are located inside the casing 7 and separated from the end surfaces of the casing 7 by 100 to 200 mm.

When the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 according to Embodiment 2 are installed to connect to each other, consequently, the end portions of the heat medium inlet first pipe portions 60a1 in adjacent ones of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 are connected to each other via a heat medium inlet second pipe portion 200a.

Similarly, when the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 according to Embodiment 2 are installed to connect to each other, the end portions of the heat medium outlet first pipe portions 60b1 in adjacent ones of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 are connected to each other via a heat medium outlet second pipe portion 200b.

Further, the first opening and closing unit 61a is installed to the heat medium inlet second pipe portion 200a, and the second opening and closing unit 61b is installed to the heat medium outlet second pipe portion 200b.

[0058]

As described above, when the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 configured as in Embodiment 2 are installed to connect to each other, the end portions of the heat medium inlet first pipe portions 60a1 and the heat medium outlet first pipe portions 60b1 can be connected inside the casings 7 simply by inserting the short second pipe portions 200a and 200b (approximately 200 to 400 mm, for example, in Embodiment 2) into the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102. In this case, in one of the adjacent refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102, an end portion of the heat medium inlet second pipe portion 200a not connected to the heat medium inlet first pipe portion 60a1 and an end portion of the heat medium outlet second pipe portion 200b not connected to the heat medium outlet first pipe portion 60b1 project from an end surface of the casing 7.

[0059]

In Embodiment 2, connection work of heat medium pipes can be reduced at an installation site of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102. Further, the heat medium inlet first pipe portions 60a1, the heat medium outlet first pipe portions 60b1, and the second pipe portions 200a and 200b can be disposed inside the casings 7 of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102, and thus to reduce an installation space (more specifically, a pipe space).

[0060]

Further, in the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 according to Embodiment 2, the end portions of the heat medium inlet first pipe portions 60a1 and the heat medium outlet first pipe portions 60b1 do not project from the casings 7. Thus, effectively, the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 can also be easily installed.

[0061]

Further, a refrigeration cycle system 302 (see Fig. 11) similar to the refrigeration cycle system 300 according to Embodiment 1 described above can be obtained by simply connecting the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 according to Embodiment 2 with the heat medium inlet second pipe portions 200a installed with the first opening and closing units 61a and the heat medium outlet second pipe portions 200b installed with the second opening and closing units 61b.

[0062]

Embodiment 2 is not limited to the above-described example.

Fig. 12 illustrates Modified Example 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus illustrated in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 illustrates Modified Example 2 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus illustrated in Fig. 10. Fig. 14 illustrates Modified Example 1 of the schematic configuration diagram illustrated in Fig. 11. A refrigeration cycle system 303 (see Fig. 14) similar to the refrigeration cycle system 302 illustrated in Fig. 11 can be obtained by replacing each of the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 illustrated in Fig. 11 with a refrigeration cycle apparatus 103 illustrated in Fig. 12 or a refrigeration cycle apparatus 103 illustrated in Fig. 13. As illustrated in Fig. 12, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 103, the opening and closing unit set 61 is installed to the heat medium inlet first pipe portion 60a1 and the heat medium outlet first pipe portion 60b1 on one side of the heat medium inlet 5a and the heat medium outlet 5b. Further, as illustrated in Fig. 13, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 103, the opening and closing unit set 61 is installed to the heat medium inlet first pipe portion 60a1 and the heat medium outlet first pipe portion 60b1 on both sides of the heat medium inlet 5a and the heat medium outlet 5b. As illustrated in Fig. 14, these refrigeration cycle apparatuses are to be connected to each other, the refrigeration cycle apparatuses are only required to be connected via second pipe portions 200a1 and 200b1 not installed with the first opening and closing unit 61a and the second opening and closing unit 61b.

[0063]

Further, in Embodiment 1 described above, the description has been made of the example in which only the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 according to Embodiment 1 are installed to connect to each other. In Embodiment 2, the description has been made of the example in which only the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 102 according to Embodiment 2 are installed to connect to each other. However, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 and the refrigeration cycle apparatus 102 according to Embodiment 2 may, of course, be combined to be installed to connect to each other.

In this case, when the end portions projecting from the casings 7 and the end portions disposed inside the casings 7 are to be connected, these end portions are only required to be directly connected to each other, for example. Further, when the end portions disposed inside the casings 7 are to be connected to each other, these end portions are only required to be connected via the second pipe portions 200a and 200b, for example.

[0064]

Embodiment 3

In Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the description has been made of the example of the refrigeration cycle system formed of three refrigeration cycle apparatuses connected to each other. In Embodiment 3, a description will be made of a refrigeration cycle system formed of four refrigeration cycle apparatuses connected to each other. In Embodiment 3, items not particularly described are similar to those in Embodiment 1 or 2, and the same functions or configurations will be described with the same signs.

[0065]

Fig. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram (schematic longitudinal sectional view) of a state in which refrigeration cycle apparatuses according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention are connected to each other. In Embodiment 3, a description will be made of an example in which the first load 70 is a cooling load and the second load 80 is a heating load. However, the first load 70 may be a heating load, and the second load 80 may be a cooling load.

In the following description, the refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100 will sequentially be referred to as a first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A, a second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B, a third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C, and a fourth refrigeration cycle apparatus 100D from the right side in Fig. 15. Further, the opening and closing unit sets 61 will sequentially be referred to as a first opening and closing unit set 61 A, a second opening and closing unit set 61B, a third opening and closing unit set 61C, a fourth opening and closing unit set 61D, and a fifth opening and closing unit set 61E from the right side.

[0066]

In a refrigeration cycle system 304 according to Embodiment 3, the temperature detection unit 17 is installed in each of the endmost installed first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100Aand the endmost installed fourth refrigeration cycle apparatus 100D. The temperature detection unit 17 is installed closer to the first load 70 or the second load 80 than the heat medium inlet 5a between the heat medium inlet 5a and the opening and closing unit set 61. The temperature detection unit 17 detects the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium inlet passage 60A. Information concerning the temperature of the heat medium detected by the temperature detection unit 17 is input to the control unit 15 illustrated in Fig. 5.

[0067]

Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

In step S201, the control unit 15 illustrated in Fig. 5 determines whether or not a temperature t1 of the heat medium is between a first lower limit rated temperature T1 and a first upper limit rated temperature T2. The first lower limit rated temperature T1 is 6 degrees Celsius, for example, and the first upper limit rated temperature T2 is 8 degrees Celsius, for example. When the temperature t1 of the heat medium is not between the first lower limit rated temperature T1 and the first upper limit rated temperature T2 in step S201, the control unit 15 changes the operation of the first to fourth refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100D in step S202. After the control unit 15 changes the operation of the first to fourth refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100D in step S202, the control unit 15 switches the first to fifth opening and closing unit sets 61A to 61E in step S203.

[0068]

When the temperature t1 of the heat medium is between the first lower limit rated temperature T1 and the first upper limit rated temperature T2 in step S201, the control unit 15 proceeds to step S204 to determine whether or not the temperature t1 of the heat medium is between a second lower limit rated temperature T3 and a second upper limit rated temperature T4. The second lower limit rated temperature T3 is 44 degrees Celsius, for example, and the first upper limit rated temperature T2 is 46 degrees Celsius, for example. When the temperature t2 of the heat medium is not between the second lower limit rated temperature T3 and the second upper limit rated temperature T4 in step S204, the control unit 15 changes the operation of the first to fourth refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100A to 100D in step S205. After the control unit 15 changes the operation of the first to fourth refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100D in step S205, the control unit 15 switches the first to fifth opening and closing unit sets 61A to 61E in step S206.

[0069] A specific example of the operation of the refrigeration cycle system 304 will be described below.

Fig. 17 is a table illustrating operation modes of the refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

The refrigeration cycle system 304 is operating in the first operation mode, for example. In the first operation mode, the first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A is performing the cooling operation, and the fourth refrigeration cycle apparatus 100D is performing the heating operation. In this state, the first opening and closing unit set 61A is open, the second to fourth opening and closing unit sets 61B to 61D are closed, and the fifth opening and closing unit set 61E is open. That is, the refrigerant cooled in the first refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A circulates through the first load 70, and the refrigerant heated in the fourth refrigeration cycle apparatus 100D circulates through the second load 80.

In this state, the operation is stopped in the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B, which includes the heat medium heat exchanger 50 located between the closed second opening and closing unit set 61B and the closed third opening and closing unit set 61C, and the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C, which includes the heat medium heat exchanger 50 located between the closed third opening and closing unit set 61C and the closed fourth opening and closing unit set 61D.

If the temperature t1 of the heat medium exceeds the first upper limit rated temperature T2 in step S201 illustrated in Fig. 16 when the refrigeration cycle system 304 is operating in the first operation mode, the cooling load of the first load 70 is considered to be high. The control unit 15 switches from the first operation mode to the second operation mode illustrated in Fig. 17 accordingly, for example. That is, the control unit 15 starts the cooling operation of the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B in step S202. Then, the control unit 15 opens the second opening and closing unit set in step S203. The control unit 15 thus additionally activates a refrigeration cycle apparatus when the cooling load of the first load 70 is increased.

Although the foregoing description has been made of the example in which the single second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B is additionally activated, the control unit 15 may additionally activate the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B and the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C. Further, the control unit 15 may additionally activate the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B, the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C, and the fourth refrigeration cycle apparatus 100D.

[0070]

Further, if the temperature t1 of the heat medium falls below the first lower limit rated temperature T1 in step S201 illustrated in Fig. 16 when the refrigeration cycle system 304 is operating in the first operation mode, the cooling load of the first load 70 is considered to be low (the refrigeration cycle system 304 is overcooling). The control unit 15 switches from the first operation mode to the third operation mode illustrated in Fig. 17 accordingly, for example. That is, the control unit 15 stops the cooling operation of the second refrigeration cycle apparatus 100B in step S202. Then, the control unit 15 closes the first opening and closing unit set in step S203. The control unit 15 thus reduces the number of driven refrigeration cycle apparatuses when the cooling load of the first load 70 is reduced.

[0071]

If the temperature t2 of the heat medium falls below the second lower limit rated temperature T3 in step S204 illustrated in Fig. 16 when the refrigeration cycle system 304 is operating in the first operation mode, the heating load of the second load 80 is considered to be high. The control unit 15 switches from the first operation mode to the sixth operation mode illustrated in Fig. 17 accordingly, for example. That is, the control unit 15 starts the heating operation of the third refrigeration cycle apparatus 100C in step S205. Then, the control unit 15 opens the fourth opening and closing unit set in step S206. The control unit 15 thus additionally activates a refrigeration cycle apparatus when the heating load of the second load 80 is increased.

[0072]

Further, if the temperature t2 of the heat medium exceeds the second upper limit rated temperature T4 in step S204 illustrated in Fig. 16 when the refrigeration cycle system 304 is operating in the first operation mode, the heating load of the second load 80 is considered to be low (the refrigeration cycle system 304 is overheating). The control unit 15 switches from the first operation mode to the fifth operation mode illustrated in Fig. 17 accordingly, for example. That is, the control unit 15 stops the heating operation of the fourth refrigeration cycle apparatus 100D in step S202. Then, the control unit 15 closes the fifth opening and closing unit set in step S203. The control unit 15 thus reduces the number of driven refrigeration cycle apparatuses when the heating load of the first load 70 is reduced.

[0073]

As described above, in Embodiment 3, the operation mode is automatically switched to one of the first to seventh operation modes on the basis of the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium inlet passage 60A. Consequently, in Embodiment 3, the heat medium can be simultaneously and flexibly heated and cooled. Further, in Embodiment 3, energy saving is achieved since the operation mode is automatically switched to one of the first to seventh operation modes on the basis of the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium inlet passage 60A.

[0074]

Embodiment 4

In Embodiment 3, the description has been made of the example in which the operation mode of the refrigeration cycle system is switched on the basis of the temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium inlet passage. In Embodiment 4, the operation mode of the refrigeration cycle system is switched on the basis of the operating frequency of the compressor. In Embodiment 4, items not particularly described are similar to those in Embodiment 3, and the same functions or configurations will be described with the same signs.

[0075]

Fig. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a refrigeration cycle system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

In step S301, the control unit 15 illustrated in Fig. 5 determines whether or not an operating frequency f1 of the compressor 1 is between a first lower limit frequency F1 and a first upper limit frequency F2. For example, the cooling load is low when the operating frequency f1 equals or falls below the first lower limit frequency F1, and the cooling load is high when the operating frequency f1 equals or exceeds the first upper limit frequency F2. Flerein, the operating frequency f1 of the compressor 1 is the sum of operating frequencies of a plurality of compressors 1 or a single compressor 1 being operated. The operating frequency f1 of the compressor 1 may be the operating frequency of each of compressors 1 being operated. When the operating frequency f1 of the compressor 1 is not between the first lower limit frequency F1 and the first upper limit frequency F2 in step S301, the control unit 15 changes the operation of the first to fourth refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100D in step S302. After the control unit 15 changes the operation of the first to fourth refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100D in step S302, the control unit 15 switches the first to fifth opening and closing unit sets 61A to 61E in step S303.

[0076]

When the operating frequency f1 of the compressor 1 is between the first lower limit frequency F1 and the first upper limit frequency F2 in step S301, the control unit 15 proceeds to step S304 to determine whether or not an operating frequency f2 of the compressor 1 is between a second lower limit frequency F3 and a second upper limit frequency F4. For example, the heating load is low when the operating frequency f2 equals or falls below the second lower limit frequency F3, and the heating load is high when the operating frequency f2 equals or exceeds the second upper limit frequency F4. Flerein, the operating frequency f2 of the compressor 1 is the sum of operating frequencies of a plurality of compressors 1 or a single compressor 1 being operated. The operating frequency f2 of the compressor 1 may be the operating frequency of each of compressors 1 being operated. When the operating frequency f2 of the compressor 1 is not between the second lower limit frequency F3 and the second upper limit frequency F4 in step S304, the control unit 15 changes the operation of the first to fourth refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100A to 100D in step S305. After the control unit 15 changes the operation of the first to fourth refrigeration cycle apparatuses 100Ato 100D in step S305, the control unit 15 switches the first to fifth opening and closing unit sets 61A to 61E in step S306.

[0077]

As described above, in Embodiment 4, the operation mode is automatically switched to one of the first to seventh operation modes illustrated in Fig. 17 on the basis of the operating frequency of the compressor 1. Consequently, in Embodiment 4, the heat medium can be simultaneously and flexibly heated and cooled. Further, in Embodiment 4, energy saving is achieved since the operation mode is automatically switched to one of the first to seventh operation modes on the basis of the operating frequency of the compressor 1.

Reference Signs List [0078] 1 compressor 2 heat source-side heat exchanger 3 fan 4 expansion device 5 load-side heat exchanger 5a heat medium inlet 5b heat medium outlet 6 flow switching device 7 casing 10 refrigerant circuit 15 control unit 16 input unit 17 temperature detection unit 18 compressor operating frequency detection unit 50 heat medium heat exchanger 60 heat medium circuit 60A heat medium inlet passage 60B heat medium outlet passage 60a heat medium inlet pipe 60a1 heat medium inlet first pipe portion 60b heat medium outlet pipe 60b1 heat medium outlet first pipe portion 61 opening and closing unit set 61a first opening and closing unit 61b second opening and closing unit 70 first load 80 second load 100 refrigeration cycle apparatus 101 refrigeration cycle apparatus 102 refrigeration cycle apparatus 103 refrigeration cycle apparatus 200a heat medium inlet second pipe portion 200a1 second pipe portion 200b heat medium outlet second pipe portion 200b1 second pipe portion 300 refrigeration cycle system 301 refrigeration cycle system 302 refrigeration cycle system 303 refrigeration cycle system 304 refrigeration cycle system 1000 refrigeration cycle apparatus 1002 heat medium pipe 3000 refrigeration cycle system F1 first lower limit frequency F2 first upper limit frequency F3 second lower limit frequency F4 second upper limit frequency T1 first lower limit rated temperature T2 first upper limit rated temperature T3 second lower limit rated temperature T4 second upper limit rated temperature f1 operating frequency f2 operating frequency t1 temperature t2 temperature

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1] A refrigeration cycle apparatus being one of a plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses connected to each other to form a refrigeration cycle system, the refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising: a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a flow switching device, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a refrigerant passage of a heat medium heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes, and through which refrigerant circulates, the heat medium heat exchanger having a heat medium passage through which a heat medium flows and the refrigerant passage through which the refrigerant for exchanging heat with the heat medium flows; a heat medium inlet pipe having two end portions serving as connection portions and an intermediate portion connected to a heat medium inlet of the heat medium heat exchanger; a heat medium outlet pipe having two end portions serving as connection portions and an intermediate portion connected to a heat medium outlet of the heat medium heat exchanger; and an opening and closing unit set installed between the intermediate portions and at least ones of the end portions of the heat medium inlet pipe and the heat medium outlet pipe. [Claim 2] The refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a casing housing the refrigerant circuit, wherein at least one of the heat medium inlet pipe and the heat medium outlet pipe has one of the end portions located inside the casing and separated from an end surface of the casing and an other of the end portions projecting from an end surface of the casing. [Claim 3] The refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a casing housing the refrigerant circuit, wherein at least one of the heat medium inlet pipe and the heat medium outlet pipe includes a first pipe portion including the intermediate portion and extending from the intermediate portion toward two sides and a second pipe portion connected to at least one side of the first pipe portion, wherein two end portions of the first pipe portion are located inside the casing and separated from end surfaces of the casing, wherein the second pipe portion has an end portion not connected to the first pipe portion and projecting from an end surface of the casing to be connected, and wherein the opening and closing unit set is provided to the first pipe portion. [Claim 4] The refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a casing housing the refrigerant circuit, wherein at least one of the heat medium inlet pipe and the heat medium outlet pipe includes a first pipe portion including the intermediate portion and extending from the intermediate portion toward two sides and a second pipe portion connected to at least one side of the first pipe portion, wherein two end portions of the first pipe portion are located inside the casing and separated from end surfaces of the casing, wherein the second pipe portion has an end portion not connected to the first pipe portion and projecting from an end surface of the casing to be connected, and wherein the opening and closing unit set is provided to the second pipe portion. [Claim 5] A refrigeration cycle system comprising the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses connected to each other, each of the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses comprising the refrigeration cycle apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the end portions of the heat medium inlet pipe and the heat medium outlet pipe are connected inside one of the casings. [Claim 6] A refrigeration cycle system comprising the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses, each of the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses comprising the refrigeration cycle apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a first load is connected to one end side of a heat medium inlet passage formed by connecting the heat medium inlet pipes to each other and one end side of a heat medium outlet passage formed by connecting the heat medium outlet pipes to each other, and a second load is connected to an other end side of the heat medium inlet passage and an other end side of the heat medium outlet passage, and wherein the plurality of refrigeration cycle apparatuses are connected to each other so that the opening and closing unit set is installed on the heat medium inlet passage and the heat medium outlet passage on each of two sides of the heat medium inlet and the heat medium outlet of at least one of the heat medium heat exchangers. [Claim 7] A refrigeration cycle system comprising: a plurality of refrigerant circuits in each of which a compressor, a flow switching device, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a refrigerant passage of a heat medium heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes, and through each of which refrigerant circulates, the heat medium heat exchanger having a heat medium passage through which a heat medium flows and the refrigerant passage through which the refrigerant for exchanging heat with the heat medium flows; a heat medium inlet passage connected to a heat medium inlet of each of the heat medium heat exchangers; a heat medium outlet passage connected to a heat medium outlet of each of the heat medium heat exchangers; and an opening and closing unit set installed on the heat medium inlet passage and the heat medium outlet passage on each of two sides of the heat medium inlet and the heat medium outlet of at least one of the heat medium heat exchangers, a first load being connected to one end side of the heat medium inlet passage and one end side of the heat medium outlet passage, and a second load being connected to an other end side of the heat medium inlet passage and an other end side of the heat medium outlet passage. [Claim 8] The refrigeration cycle system of claim 6 or 7, further comprising a control unit configured to control the flow switching device and the opening and closing unit set to supply the first load with the heated heat medium and supply the second load with the cooled heat medium. [Claim 9] The refrigeration cycle system of claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to stop an operation of the compressor connected to the heat medium heat exchanger when the opening and closing unit sets located on both sides of the heat medium heat exchanger are closed. [Claim 10] The refrigeration cycle system of claim 8 or 9, further comprising a temperature detection unit provided to the heat medium inlet passage and configured to detect a temperature of the heat medium inside the heat medium inlet passage, wherein the control unit is configured to control the compressor, the flow switching device, and the opening and closing unit set on a basis of a result of detection by the temperature detection unit. [Claim 11] The refrigeration cycle system of any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising a compressor operating frequency detection unit configured to detect an operating frequency of the compressor, wherein the control unit is configured to control the compressor, the flow switching device, and the opening and closing unit set on a basis of a result of detection by the compressor operating frequency detection unit.