Air-conditioning apparatus

An air-conditioning apparatus comprising:

• a main circuit in which a compressor, a refrigerant flow switching device, a load side heat exchanger, a load side expansion device, and a plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are sequentially connected by a pipe and in which refrigerant circulates,
• wherein the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers include a first heat source side heat exchanger and a second heat source side heat exchanger,
• when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as condensers, the first heat source side heat exchanger and the second heat source side heat exchanger are connected to each other in series by a series refrigerant flow path,
• when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as evaporators, the first heat source side heat exchanger and the second heat source side heat exchanger are connected to each other in parallel by a parallel refrigerant flow path, and
• a header is disposed at a position in a refrigerant flow path on an outlet side of at least the first heat source side heat exchanger when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are defrosted,
• the air-conditioning apparatus further comprises a heat exchanger flow switching device that switches between the series refrigerant flow path and the parallel refrigerant flow path,
• wherein the heat exchanger flow switching device includes
• a first opening and closing device arranged in a series pipe and configured to permit or block passage of the refrigerant through the series pipe, the series pipe coupling the first heat source side heat exchanger and the second heat source side heat exchanger together in series,
• a second opening and closing device arranged in a first parallel pipe and configured to permit or block passage of the refrigerant through the first parallel pipe, the first parallel pipe coupling the first heat source side heat exchanger and the load side expansion device together, and
• a third opening and closing device arranged in a second parallel pipe and configured to permit or block passage of the refrigerant through the second parallel pipe, the second parallel pipe coupling the refrigerant flow switching device and the second heat source side heat exchanger together,
• wherein when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as condensers or are defrosted, the series refrigerant flow path is established with the first opening and closing device opened, the second opening and closing device closed, and the third opening and closing device closed, and
• when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as evaporators, the parallel refrigerant flow path is established with the first opening and closing device closed, the second opening and closing device opened, and the third opening and closing device opened.

An air-conditioning apparatus comprising

• a main circuit in which a compressor, a refrigerant flow switching device, a load side heat exchanger, a load side expansion device, and a plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are sequentially connected by a pipe and in which refrigerant circulates,
• wherein the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers include a first heat source side heat exchanger and a second heat source side heat exchanger,
• when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as condensers, the first heat source side heat exchanger and the second heat source side heat exchanger are connected to each other in series by a series refrigerant flow path,
• when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as evaporators, the first heat source side heat exchanger and the second heat source side heat exchanger are connected to each other in parallel by a parallel refrigerant flow path, and
• a header is disposed at a position in a refrigerant flow path on an outlet side of at least the first heat source side heat exchanger when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are defrosted heat exchanger flow switching device that switches between the series refrigerant flow path and the parallel refrigerant flow path,
• a heat exchanger flow switching device that switches between the series refrigerant flow path and the parallel refrigerant flow path is provided,
• wherein the heat exchanger flow switching device includes
• a first opening and closing device arranged in a series pipe and configured to permit or block passage of the refrigerant through the series pipe, the series pipe coupling the first heat source side heat exchanger and the second heat source side heat exchanger together in series,
• a second opening and closing device arranged in a first parallel pipe and configured to permit or block passage of the refrigerant through the first parallel pipe, the first parallel pipe coupling the first heat source side heat exchanger and the load side expansion device together, and
• a third opening and closing device arranged in a second parallel pipe and configured to permit or block passage of the refrigerant through the second parallel pipe, the second parallel pipe coupling the refrigerant flow switching device and the second heat source side heat exchanger together,
• wherein when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as condensers or are defrosted, the series refrigerant flow path is established with the first opening and closing device opened, the second opening and closing device closed, and the third opening and closing device closed, and
• when the plurality of heat source side heat exchangers are used as evaporators, the parallel refrigerant flow path is established with the first opening and closing device closed, the second opening and closing device opened, and the third opening and closing device opened.