Refrigeration cycle apparatus

A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising:

• a refrigerant circuit allowing refrigerant to circulate therethrough;
• and
• an outdoor heat exchanger provided to the refrigerant circuit, and configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air,
• the outdoor heat exchanger having
• a first heat exchange section,
• a second heat exchange section, and
• a third heat exchange section,
• the second heat exchange section being located below the first heat exchange section and connected to the first heat exchange section, and
• the third heat exchange section being located below the second heat exchange section and connected to the second heat exchange section,
• the refrigerant circuit including a first pressure reducing valve provided to a refrigerant passage connecting the second heat exchange section and the third heat exchange section, the first pressure reducing valve being configured to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant passing therethrough,
• the refrigeration cycle apparatus performing an operation mode being operated with the first heat exchange section and the second heat exchange section serving as an evaporator,
• during the operation mode, the third heat exchange section being located at a position more upstream than a position of the second heat exchange section in a refrigerant circulating direction, the third heat exchange section allowing the refrigerant having a temperature higher than a temperature of the outdoor air to pass therethrough,
• wherein the second heat exchange section includes a number of refrigerant passages that is smaller than a number of refrigerant passages included in the first heat exchange section, and that is larger than a number of refrigerant passages included in the third heat exchange section, and
• wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a first bypass passage that connects a refrigerant passage located on an inlet side of the third heat exchange section and a refrigerant passage located on an outlet side of the third heat exchange section, without extending through the third heat exchange section, and a second bypass passage that connects the refrigerant passage located on the inlet side of the third heat exchange section and the refrigerant passage located on the outlet side of the third heat exchange section, without extending through the third heat exchange section, and the second bypass passage is parallel to the first bypass passage.