# US 10,767,912 B2 · Refrigeration cycle apparatus

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- Number: US 10,767,912 B2
- Document ID: US10767912B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/754,616
- Filed: 2015-10-08
- Published: 2018-09-06
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-08
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Inventors: Masahiro Ito; Takuya Ito; Yasushi Okoshi; Kazuyuki Ishida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767912B2

## CPC

- F25B 41/20: Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31)
- F25B 13/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02)
- F25B 41/385: Dispositions with two or more expansion means arranged in parallel on a refrigerant line leading to the same evaporator
- F25B 43/00: Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids (in analysers or rectifiers F25B33/00); Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat (F25B40/00 takes precedence)
- F25B 45/00: Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant
- F25B 47/025: {by reversing the cycle}
- F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F25B 2313/003: Indoor unit with water as a heat sink or heat source
- F25B 2345/002: Collecting refrigerant from a cycle
- F25B 2345/006: characterised by charging or discharging valves
- F25B 2400/0411: for expansion valves or capillary tubes
- F25B 2400/0415: for receivers
- F25B 2400/053: between the storage receiver and another part of the system
- F25B 2400/16: Receivers
- F25B 2400/19: Pumping down refrigerant from one part of the cycle to another part of the cycle, e.g. when the cycle is changed from cooling to heating, or before a defrost cycle is started
- F25B 2400/23: Separators
- F25B 2500/23: High amount of refrigerant in the system
- F25B 2600/17: by controlling the pressure of the condenser
- F25B 2600/21: Refrigerant outlet evaporator temperature
- F25B 2700/1931: Discharge pressures
- F25B 2700/1933: Suction pressures
- F25B 2700/21151: at the suction side of the compressor
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A refrigeration cycle apparatus is provided with a refrigerant circuit, a refrigerant tank circuit, and a degassing pipe. The refrigerant circuit is configured by connecting a compressor, a flow path switching apparatus, a first heat exchanger, a decompressing apparatus, and a second heat exchanger. The refrigerant tank circuit is connected to the first and second heat exchangers in parallel with the decompressing apparatus. The degassing pipe has a first end and a second end. The flow path switching apparatus is configured to switch a flow of refrigerant discharged from the compressor to any of the first and second heat exchangers. The refrigerant tank circuit contains a refrigerant tank. The degassing pipe has the first end connected to the refrigerant tank and has the second end connected to at least any of the refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant tank circuit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:
a refrigerant circuit configured by connecting a compressor, a flow path switching apparatus, a first heat exchanger, a decompressing apparatus, and a second heat exchanger;
a refrigerant tank circuit connected to the first and second heat exchangers in parallel with the decompressing apparatus; and
a degassing pipe having a first end and a second end, wherein
the flow path switching apparatus is configured to switch a flow of refrigerant discharged from the compressor to any of the first and second heat exchangers,
the refrigerant tank circuit comprises a refrigerant tank,
the first end of the degassing pipe is connected to the refrigerant tank, and the second end of the degassing pipe is connected to at least any of the refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant tank circuit between the refrigerant tank and the second heat exchanger,
the refrigerant tank circuit further comprises a flow rate regulation apparatus and a valve,
in a cooling mode, the flow rate regulation apparatus and the valve are fully closed,
in a refrigerant collection operation, the flow rate regulation apparatus and the valve are opened or the flow rate regulation apparatus is opened and the valve is closed, and
in a heating mode, the flow rate regulation apparatus is fully closed, and the valve is fully opened.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according claim 1, wherein
the refrigerant tank comprises a main body portion and a tubular portion connected to the main body portion,
the tubular portion is arranged on a side of the first heat exchanger relative to the main body portion, and
the first end of the degassing pipe is connected to the tubular portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve is arranged between the refrigerant tank and the second heat exchanger.