Air conditioner having hot/cold water producing device

An air conditioner, comprising:

• a compressor compressing a refrigerant to produce a high temperature refrigerant;
• a hot water producing device to produce hot water by performing a heat exchanging process wherein heat is transferred between the high temperature refrigerant from said compressor and water having a relatively low temperature;
• a hot/cold water producing device to produce hot or cold water, depending on a temperature of the refrigerant passing the hot/cold water producing device, by performing a heat exchanging process wherein heat is transferred between said refrigerant and water;
• an outdoor heat exchanger performing a heat exchanging process wherein heat is transferred between the refrigerant fed from the hot water producing device and outside air in a cooling mode, or performing a heat exchanging process wherein heat is transferred between the refrigerant fed from the hot/cold water producing device and the outside air in a heating mode;
• a four-way valve controlling a flowing direction of the refrigerant such that the refrigerant from said compressor flows into a selected one of the hot/cold water producing device and the outdoor heat exchanger according to a selected mode, that is, the cooling mode or the heating mode;
• and
• an expansion valve controlling pressure of the refrigerant such that the expansion valve reduces pressure of the refrigerant fed from the outdoor heat exchanger in the cooling mode, and reduces pressure of the refrigerant fed from the hot/cold water producing device in the heating mode.

A method of conditioning air comprising:

• compressing a refrigerant to produce a high temperature and high pressure gaseous refrigerant;
• producing hot water by performing a heat exchanging process to transfer heat between water and the high temperature refrigerant fed from a compressor;
• performing a heat exchanging process to transfer heat between the refrigerant and outside air;
• and
• producing hot water by performing a heat exchanging process whereby heat is transferred between water and the high temperature refrigerant fed from a hot water producing device or producing cold water by performing a heat exchanging process whereby heat is transferred between water and the refrigerant fed from an outdoor heat exchanger.