Abstract: An air conditioner, which automatically detects malfunction, and a method for detecting a malfunction thereof are provided. The method includes: measuring an indoor unit pipe temperature around an indoor heat exchanger during operation of the air conditioner; actuating an indoor expansion valve connected to the indoor heat exchanger to a first state; and detecting whether or not a variation of the indoor unit pipe temperature is abnormal by measuring the indoor unit pipe temperature after actuating the indoor expansion valve to the first state.

Abstract: A multi-air conditioner capable of simultaneous cooling and heating, includes: a first duct connected to a discharge side of a compressor, through which a refrigerant discharged from the compressor passes at the time of cooling operation; a second duct diverged from the first duct, through which a refrigerant discharged from the compressor passes at the time of heating operation; and an oil accumulation preventing portion formed at a certain section of the second duct to have a height difference, for preventing oil, which is introduced to the second duct from the compressor together with a refrigerant, from being accumulated in the second duct. Accordingly, the multi-air conditioner capable of simultaneous cooling and heating can prevent damage to the compressor due to a shortage of oil and thusly improve reliability of a compressor by preventing oil accumulation within a duct.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-compressor equipped with plurality of compression means comprising a vibrating plate forming the outer wall of the pressure chamber, inlet valve and outlet valve attached to the vibrating plate. The compression means are operated by a certain number of piezo-actuators that are attached to the vibrating plate, inlet valve and outlet valve and perform the function of indraft, compression and exhaustion of working fluid. The piezo-actuators enable the swift operation and precise control in the micro-refrigerator with the size of semiconductor chip. The compression means do not alter the flowing direction of working fluid and the openings for the indraft and exhaustion of working fluid can be aligned in a straight line. As a result, plurality of compression means can be arranged in parallel to maximize the compression capacity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an active micro cooler comprising: an evaporator which, directly attached to a heat source, vaporizes refrigerant; a compressor which inhales and compresses vaporized refrigerant gas; a condenser which condenses compressed refrigerant gas for condensed refrigerant to release heat; a conduit which directs condensed refrigerant to the evaporator; and a expansion valve which, mounted on the conduit, expands condensed refrigerant. The evaporator and the condenser each comprises a heat transfer enhancement device which is mounted on a plate element having walls on the circumference of the element and several channel connectors for transmitting refrigerant.