Abstract: A first power semiconductor element and a second power semiconductor element of a power semiconductor device are such that, when heat generated by the first power semiconductor element is larger than heat generated by the second power semiconductor element, a first distance from an end of the first power semiconductor element to an end of the conductor plate is larger than a second distance from an end of the second power semiconductor element to an end, connected to the second power semiconductor element, of a second conductor plate.

Abstract: In a refrigeration cycle apparatus, refrigerant circulates successively through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a detection unit, a heating unit, and a controller. The detection unit is configured to detect a temperature of refrigeration oil in the compressor. The heating unit is configured to heat the refrigeration oil. The controller is configured to operate the heating unit when the temperature detected by the detection unit is lower than a pour point of the refrigeration oil, and to stop the heating by the heating unit when the temperature detected by the detection unit reaches the pour point. Preferably, the heating unit includes a heater provided on an outer side of a compressor casing and at a lower portion of a motor unit.

Abstract: An oil separator has a filter portion in a differential pressure generation mechanism configured to collect, by a differential pressure, lubricating oil that is in a form of mist included in high-pressure refrigerant that flows in a first pipe that is connected to a discharge port of a compressor and allows the collected lubricating oil to move downstream along an internal wall of the first pipe.

Abstract: Provided are a separator with improved oil separation efficiency, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the separator. The separator includes an inflow pipe portion, an oil storage portion, an oil return pipe portion, and an outflow pipe portion. The inflow pipe portion includes a swirling portion that defines a flow direction of refrigerant so as to swirl the refrigerant. The oil storage portion is connected to the inflow pipe portion. The oil return pipe portion is connected to a vertically lower side of the oil storage portion. The outflow pipe portion includes an opening end that faces the swirling portion. The outflow pipe portion extends from a region that faces the swirling portion to the outside of the oil storage portion. The opening end is configured such that the refrigerant discharged from the swirling portion can directly flow thereinto.

Abstract: A refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a high-pressure side heat exchanger, a decompressor, and a low-pressure side heat exchanger, which are annularly interconnected by a refrigerant pipe, and is configured to circulate refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit performs an oil recovery operation based on an operation history of the compressor ring a normal operation of the refrigerant circuit and an amount of oil in the compressor detected by an oil depletion sensor.

Abstract: A refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a high-pressure side heat exchanger, a decompressor, and a low-pressure side heat exchanger, which are annularly connected by a refrigerant pipe, and is configured to circulate refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit is configured to perform an oil recovery operation based on an operation history of the compressor during a normal operation of the refrigerant circuit and a property of the refrigerant circuit. The property of the refrigerant circuit includes at least one selected from the group of a length of the refrigerant pipe, a height difference of the refrigerant pipe, and an outside air temperature.

Abstract: An oil separator includes a separation container. The separation container has a side surface portion to which an inlet pipe is attached. The separation container has an upper surface portion to which an outlet pipe is attached. An oil reservoir is provided in a lower portion of the separation container. The separation container has a lower surface portion to which an oil return pipe is attached. The separation container has an inner wall surface provided with a liquid passage section. The liquid passage section is provided with a groove. The groove is disposed to extend in a direction of gravity toward the oil reservoir. The groove is formed to be gradually increased in depth from an upper portion of the groove toward a lower portion thereof.

Abstract: An oil separation device includes a container, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, an oil return pipe, and an oil return regulating valve. The container includes a separation chamber, a storage chamber, and a partition portion. The oil return regulating valve is connected to the oil return pipe. The partition portion is configured to allow the refrigeration oil separated from the fluid mixture to flow from the separation chamber to the storage chamber. The oil return regulating valve is configured to regulate the quantity of refrigeration oil that is returned from the storage chamber to the compressor.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a plurality of outdoor units. Each of the plurality of outdoor units includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and a sensor to detect the quantity of refrigeration oil in the outdoor unit. A controller has a first operation mode in which a part of the plurality of outdoor units is operated and another outdoor unit is stopped; and a second operation mode in which all of the plurality of outdoor units are operated. In the first operation mode, when the operating time of an operating outdoor unit exceeds a prescribed time and the quantity of refrigeration oil in the compressor of the operating outdoor unit is equal to or larger than a prescribed quantity, the controller stops the operating outdoor unit and makes a switch to bring a stopped outdoor unit of the plurality of outdoor units into operation.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention performs cooling by circulation of refrigerant. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes an evaporator, a condenser, a pump, a compressor, and a controller. The evaporator is arranged in a first space. The condenser is arranged in a second space. The pump is configured to compress refrigerant from the condenser and output the refrigerant to the evaporator. The compressor is configured to compress refrigerant from the evaporator and output the refrigerant to the condenser. The controller is configured to control the pump and the compressor to cool the first space. The controller is configured to turn on the pump after turn-on of the compressor while a temperature of the first space is higher than a temperature of the second space.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes: a supercooling heat exchanger configured to supercool refrigerant flowing in a first flow path between an outdoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve; a flow path switching valve configured to switch a flow path between an indoor heat exchanger and a compressor to one of a second flow path that does not extend through the supercooling heat exchanger and a third flow path that extends through the supercooling heat exchanger; a bypass circuit that is branched from the first flow path and extends through the supercooling heat exchanger; and a bypass regulating valve provided in the bypass circuit; and a controller. In a cooling operation, when a load is not low, the controller selects the second flow path and opens the bypass regulating valve, whereas when the load is low, the controller selects the third flow path and closes the bypass regulating valve.

Abstract: Provided are a separator with improved oil separation efficiency, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the separator. The separator includes an inflow pipe portion, an oil storage portion, an oil return pipe portion, and an outflow pipe portion. The inflow pipe portion includes a swirling portion that defines a flow direction of refrigerant so as to swirl the refrigerant. The oil storage portion is connected to the inflow pipe portion. The oil return pipe portion is connected to a vertically lower side of the oil storage portion. The outflow pipe portion includes an opening end that faces the swirling portion. The outflow pipe portion extends from a region that faces the swirling portion to the outside of the oil storage portion. The opening end is configured such that the refrigerant discharged from the swirling portion can directly flow thereinto.

Abstract: An oil separator includes a capturing member inside a main body container, which includes a first capturing member portion arranged on a side closer to an inflow pipe and a second capturing member portion being arranged on a side closer to an outflow pipe and having a porosity smaller than that of the first capturing member portion. Therefore, a driving force is generated by the capturing member having the different porosities. Through the driving force, a force of gravity, and a capillary phenomenon, oil inside the main body container is transported to an oil return pipe to prevent re-scattering of the oil, thereby being capable of suppressing reduction in oil separation efficiency. At the same time, oil return efficiency to the compressor is improved.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor, first and second heat exchangers, an expansion valve, a four-way valve, and a controller. The four-way valve is configured to switch a direction of flow of the refrigerant between a first direction and a second direction. The controller is configured to control the four-way valve to switch an operation from a defrosting operation in which the refrigerant flows in the second direction, to a heating operation in which the refrigerant flows in the first direction, to perform a heating preparation control for increasing a degree of superheat of the refrigerant output to the compressor from the second heat exchanger, and thereafter to start the heating operation.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, a fan configured to send air to a heat exchanger, and a controller. The controller is configured to switch among a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation. In the first operation, the heat exchanger is caused to act as an evaporator. In the second operation, the heat exchanger is caused to act as a radiator to defrost the heat exchanger. In the third operation that is performed after the second operation, a compressor is stopped and the fan is operated at a constant rotational speed. The controller is configured to finish the third operation and start the first operation when a physical value positively correlated with electric power supplied to the fan falls to or below a threshold value during the third operation.

Abstract: An oil separator has a filter portion in a differential pressure generation mechanism configured to collect, by a differential pressure, lubricating oil that is in a form of mist included in high-pressure refrigerant that flows in a first pipe that is connected to a discharge port of a compressor and allows the collected lubricating oil to move downstream along an internal wall of the first pipe.

Abstract: An oil separator includes a separation container. The separation container has a side surface portion to which an inlet pipe is attached. The separation container has an upper surface portion to which an outlet pipe is attached. An oil reservoir is provided in a lower portion of the separation container. The separation container has a lower surface portion to which an oil return pipe is attached. The separation container has an inner wall surface provided with a liquid passage section. The liquid passage section is provided with a groove. The groove is disposed to extend in a direction of gravity toward the oil reservoir. The groove is formed to be gradually increased in depth from an upper portion of the groove toward a lower portion thereof.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes: a compressor; a condenser; an expansion valve; an evaporator; and a control device. The compressor compresses refrigerant. The condenser condenses the refrigerant output from the compressor. The expansion valve decompresses the refrigerant output from the condenser. The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant output from the expansion valve for output to the compressor. In the case of stopping the compressor, the control device executes control for increasing a degree of superheat of the refrigerant output from the evaporator to the compressor, and then stops the compressor.

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes: a supercooling heat exchanger configured to supercool refrigerant flowing in a first flow path between an outdoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve; a flow path switching valve configured to switch a flow path between an indoor heat exchanger and a compressor to one of a second flow path that does not extend through the supercooling heat exchanger and a third flow path that extends through the supercooling heat exchanger; a bypass circuit that is branched from the first flow path and extends through the supercooling heat exchanger; and a bypass regulating valve provided in the bypass circuit; and a controller. In a cooling operation, when a load is not low, the controller selects the second flow path and opens the bypass regulating valve, whereas when the load is low, the controller selects the third flow path and closes the bypass regulating valve.

Abstract: An oil separation device includes a container, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, an oil return pipe, and an oil return regulating valve. The container includes a separation chamber, a storage chamber, and a partition portion. The oil return regulating valve is connected to the oil return pipe. The partition portion is configured to allow the refrigeration oil separated from the fluid mixture to flow from the separation chamber to the storage chamber. The oil return regulating valve is configured to regulate the quantity of refrigeration oil that is returned from the storage chamber to the compressor.