Abstract: A drying apparatus is disclosed. The drying apparatus comprises: a drum; a compressor for compressing a refrigerant; a first temperature sensor provided at an air discharge port of the drum; a second temperature sensor provided at a refrigerant discharge port of the compressor; and a processor which, when a drying cycle for an object to be dried begins, compares a first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor with a predetermined threshold temperature so as to obtain an operation frequency of the compressor, and when a second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor reaches a predetermined first target temperature, adjusts the operation frequency of the compressor on the basis of a third temperature calculated on the basis of the first temperature and the second temperature.

Abstract: A drying apparatus is disclosed. The drying apparatus comprises: a drum; a compressor for compressing a refrigerant; a first temperature sensor provided at an air discharge port of the drum; a second temperature sensor provided at a refrigerant discharge port of the compressor; and a processor which, when a drying cycle for an object to be dried begins, compares a first temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor with a predetermined threshold temperature so as to obtain an operation frequency of the compressor, and when a second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor reaches a predetermined first target temperature, adjusts the operation frequency of the compressor on the basis of a third temperature calculated on the basis of the first temperature and the second temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a flowpath switching valve disposed on a refrigerant flowpath between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor units configured to operate in a cooling mode or in a heating mode, a mode controller configured to selectively guide refrigerant received from the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units. The mode controller guiding the refrigerant through one or more of: a first refrigerant pipe extending from the flowpath switching valve to the mode control unit, a second refrigerant pipe extending from the flowpath switching valve and diverging to the outdoor heat exchanger, and to the mode control unit, and a third refrigerant pipe extending from the outdoor heat exchanger to the mode controller.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a flowpath switching valve disposed on a refrigerant flowpath between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor units configured to operate in a cooling mode or in a heating mode, a mode controller configured to selectively guide refrigerant received from the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units. The mode controller guiding the refrigerant through one or more of: a first refrigerant pipe extending from the flowpath switching valve to the mode control unit, a second refrigerant pipe extending from the flowpath switching valve and diverging to the outdoor heat exchanger, and to the mode control unit, and a third refrigerant pipe extending from the outdoor heat exchanger to the mode controller.

Abstract: A heat exchanger that effectively distributes a refrigerant by varying the cross-sectional area of a header and an air conditioner having the same. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes disposed spaced apart from each other, a header joined to both ends of each of the refrigerant tubes, at least one baffle to divide the refrigerant tubes into a plurality of mutually adjacent groups and block a longitudinal flow of a refrigerant flowing in the header, each of the groups causing the refrigerant to flow in one direction, and a booster installed to vary a cross-sectional area of the header to uniformly distribute the refrigerant to refrigerant tubes in the same group among the refrigerant tubes. The booster to vary the cross-sectional area of the header may allow a refrigerant flowing through a header to be effectively distributed to the refrigerant tubes.

Abstract: A heat pipe provided with an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor units provided to be driven at a cooling mode or a heating mode. an indoor unit mode control unit to control the each of the plurality of indoor units to be driven at a cooling mode or a heating mode. and a flow path conversion apparatus connected to a first refrigerant pipe and a second refrigerant pipe connected from the outdoor unit, connected to a high pressure gas pipe and a low pressure gas pipe connected to the indoor unit mode controlling unit, and configured to change the flow path of a refrigerant by selectively connect all or some of the first refrigerant pipe, the second refrigerant pipe, the high pressure gas pipe, and the low pressure gas pipe according to the mode at which the indoor units are driven.

Abstract: A heat exchanger that effectively distributes a refrigerant by varying the cross-sectional area of a header and an air conditioner having the same. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes disposed spaced apart from each other, a header joined to both ends of each of the refrigerant tubes, at least one baffle to divide the refrigerant tubes into a plurality of mutually adjacent groups and block a longitudinal flow of a refrigerant flowing in the header, each of the groups causing the refrigerant to flow in one direction, and a booster installed to vary a cross-sectional area of the header to uniformly distribute the refrigerant to refrigerant tubes in the same group among the refrigerant tubes. The booster to vary the cross-sectional area of the header may allow a refrigerant flowing through a header to be effectively distributed to the refrigerant tubes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for controlling the capacity of an air conditioner and a control method using the same. The capacity control apparatus is configured in such a fashion that a 3-way or 4-way direction-switching member and a low-pressure equalizing solenoid valve are provided at a refrigerant path of the air conditioner having a pair of first and second compressors, so that the compression capacity of the air conditioner is adjusted into three stages of 100%, 60%, and 40% using the first and second compressors, enabling easy variable-capacity operation. This has the effect of considerably reducing energy consumption and of preventing wear of the first and second compressors via a rapid compensation of a pressure unbalance between both the compressors.