Refrigeration apparatus with reduced constraints on placement of utilization unit relative to heat source unit

A refrigeration apparatus comprising:

• a heat source unit having a heat source circuit connecting a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, and a heat-source-side expansion valve;
• and
• a utilization unit having a utilization circuit connecting a utilization-side heat exchanger and a utilization-side expansion valve, and being placed at a level lower than the heat source unit,
• the heat source circuit and the utilization circuit being connected to provide a refrigerant circuit for performing cooling operation by circulating a refrigerant so that the heat-source-side heat exchanger functions as a condenser, and the utilization-side heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, wherein
• the heat-source-side expansion valve and the utilization-side expansion valve in the refrigerant circuit are connected through a liquid connecting pipe,
• a heat-source-side valve opening controller is provided for controlling a degree of opening of the heat-source-side expansion valve so that pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the utilization-side expansion valve in the cooling operation becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined reference pressure value, and
• the heat-source-side valve opening controller controls the degree of opening of the heat-source-side expansion valve in the cooling operation so that the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the utilization-side expansion valve becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined reference pressure value, using a target control value for the cooling operation determined based on a height difference between a placement position of the heat source unit and a placement position of the utilization unit.