Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a multi-stage compression mechanism, heat source-side and usage side heat exchangers each operable as a radiator/evaporator, a switching mechanism switchable between cooling and heating operation states, a second-stage injection tube, an intermediate heat exchanger and an intermediate heat exchanger bypass tube. The intermediate heat exchanger bypass tube ensures that refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element is not cooled by the intermediate heat exchanger during a heating operation. Injection rate optimization controls a flow rate of refrigerant returned to the second-stage compression element through the second-stage injection tube so that an injection ratio is greater during the heating operation than during a cooling operation.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus performs heat exchange on a water tube system having a water inlet tube leading exterior water to a water branching point, first and second branching water tubes extending from the water branching point, and a water outlet tube leading to the exterior from a convergent point of the first and second branching water tubes. Active refrigerant is in a supercritical state in at least part of a refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration apparatus includes a main expansion mechanism connected to an evaporator, first and second compression elements connected by a first refrigerant tube, a first heat exchanger exchanging heat between the first refrigerant tube and the first branching water tubes, second refrigerant tubes connecting the second compression element and the main expansion mechanism, and a second heat exchanger in which the second refrigerant tubes exchange heat with the second branching water tubes and does not exchange heat with the water inlet tube.

Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus, where refrigerant reaches a supercritical state in at least part of a refrigeration cycle, includes at least one expansion mechanism, an evaporator connected to the expansion mechanism, first and second sequential compression elements, a radiator connected to the discharge side of the second compression element, a first refrigerant pipe interconnecting the radiator and the expansion mechanism, a heat exchanger arranged to cause heat exchange between the first refrigerant pipe and another refrigerant pipe. Preferably, a heat exchanger switching mechanism is switchable so that refrigerant flows in the first refrigerant pipe through the first heat exchanger or in a heat exchange bypass pipe connected to the first refrigerant pipe.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses supercritical range refrigerant, and includes a multi-stage compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger, a switching mechanism switchable between cooling and heating operation states, and a second-stage injection tube. The second-stage injection tube branches off refrigerant, which has radiated heat in the heat source-side heat exchanger or the usage-side heat exchanger, and returns the refrigerant to the second-stage compression element. Refrigerant is prevented from returning to the second-stage compression element through the second-stage injection tube at least during a beginning of a reverse cycle defrosting operation, which is performed to defrost the heat source-side heat exchanger by switching the switching mechanism to the cooling operation state.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses supercritical range refrigerant, and includes a multi-stage compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger, a switching mechanism switchable between cooling and heating operation states, an intermediate heat exchanger integrated with the heat source-side heat exchanger, and an intermediate heat exchanger bypass tube connected to the intermediate refrigerant tube so as to bypass the intermediate heat exchanger. The intermediate heat exchanger is connected to an intermediate refrigerant tube to draw refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element, and functions as a cooler of the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element. The intermediate heat exchanger bypass tube ensures that refrigerant does not flow to the intermediate heat exchanger when a reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger, a switching mechanism and an intermediate heat exchanger. Refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element is sequentially compressed by a second-stage compression element. Each of the heat source-side heat exchanger and the usage-side heat exchanger functions an evaporator or radiator. The switching mechanism is configured to switch between a cooling operation state and a heating operation state. The intermediate heat exchanger is configured to cool refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element when the switching mechanism has been set to the cooling operation state, and to evaporate refrigerant whose heat is radiated in the usage-side heat exchanger when the switching mechanism has been set to the heating operation state.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger and an intercooler. The compression mechanism has compression elements arranged so that refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element is sequentially compressed by a second-stage compression element. The intercooler is connected to an intermediate refrigerant tube arranged and configured to draw refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element. The intercooler is arranged and configured to cool the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a usage-side heat exchanger, an intercooler, an intercooler bypass tube and an intake return tube. The compression mechanism has a plurality of compression elements configured so that refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element is sequentially compressed by a second-stage compression element. The intercooler is connected to an intermediate refrigerant tube configured to draw refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element to cool the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element and drawn into the second-stage compression element. The intercooler bypass tube is connected to the intermediate refrigerant tube so as to bypass the intercooler.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, and includes comprises a two-stage-compression-type compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a usage-side heat exchanger, and an intercooler. The intercooler uses air as a heat source. The intercooler is configured and arranged to cool refrigerant flowing through an intermediate refrigerant tube that draws refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element. The intercooler is integrated with the heat source-side heat exchanger to form an integrated heat exchanger, with the intercooler disposed in an upper part of the integrated heat exchanger.

Abstract: In a storage system, a judgment is made as to whether respective programs installed in storage regions assigned to a plurality of channel control portions exchanging data input/output requests based on designated filenames with information processors connected to the storage system through a network are licensed or not. When a decision is made that the respective programs are licensed, the programs installed in the channel control portions in the storage system are managed to be controlled to be enabled to be used.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses a refrigerant that operates in a region including critical processes, and includes a compression mechanism having first and second compressors, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a utilization-side heat exchanger, an intercooler, and an intermediate refrigerant pipe. The first compressor has a first low-pressure compression element and a first high-pressure compression element to increase pressure of refrigerant more than the first low-pressure compression element. The second compressor has a second low-pressure compression element and a second high-pressure compression element to increase pressure of refrigerant more than the second low-pressure compression element. The intermediate refrigerant pipe causes refrigerant discharged by the first and second low-pressure compression elements to pass through the intercooler and be sucked into first and second high-pressure the compression elements.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses a refrigerant that operates in a supercritical range. The refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a usage-side heat exchanger, a switching mechanism, an intercooler which functions as a cooler of refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element of the compression mechanism and drawn into a second-stage compression element of the compression mechanism, and an intercooler bypass tube. The switching mechanism is configured to switch between cooling and heating operation states in which refrigerant is circulated differently. When a defrosting operation for defrosting the heat source-side heat exchanger is performed, refrigerant flows to the heat source-side heat exchanger and the intercooler. After defrosting of the intercooler is detected as being complete, the intercooler bypass tube is used to ensure that the refrigerant does not flow to the intercooler.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses a refrigerant that operates in a supercritical range. The refrigeration apparatus includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a usage-side heat exchanger, a switching mechanism, an intercooler, a bypass tube, and an injection tube. The switching mechanism is configured to switch between cooling and heating operation states. When the switching mechanism is switched to the cooling operation state to allow refrigerant to flow to the heat source-side heat exchanger and a reverse cycle defrosting operation for defrosting the heat source-side heat exchanger is performed, the refrigerant is caused to flow to the heat source-side heat exchanger, the intercooler and the injection tube. After the defrosting of the intercooler is detected as being complete, the bypass tube is used so as to ensure that the refrigerant does not flow to the intercooler and the injection valve is controlled so that the opening degree is increased.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus uses a refrigerant that operates in a supercritical range, and includes a compression mechanism, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, a usage-side heat exchanger, an intercooler and an intermediate oil separation mechanism. The compression mechanism has a plurality of compression elements, and is configured and arranged so that refrigerant discharged from a first-stage compression element is sequentially compressed by a second-stage compression element. The intercooler is configured and arranged to cool refrigerant flowing through an intermediate refrigerant tube that draws refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element into the second-stage compression element. The intermediate oil separation mechanism is configured and arranged to separate a refrigeration oil from the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element.

Abstract: A storage system including: channel control portions each including a circuit board on which a file access processing portion for receiving file-by-file data input/output requests sent from information processors through a network and an I/O processor for outputting I/O requests corresponding to the data input/output requests to storage devices are formed; disk control portions for performing data input/output of the storage devices in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processors; and a computer communicatably connected to the channel control portions and the disk control portions. The storage system is formed so that when one of the channel control portions detects occurrence of failure in the channel control portion, the channel control portion gives a notice of occurrence of failure to the computer.

Abstract: A storage device controller including: channel control portions each including a circuit board on which a file access processing portion for receiving file-by-file data input/output requests sent from information processors and an I/O processor for outputting I/O requests corresponding to the data input/output requests to storage devices are formed, the channel control portions being classified into groups for the sake of fail-over; and a device for storing data updated by each of the channel control portions and handed over at the time of the fail-over in a shared volume which is a storage region logically set on physical storage regions provided by the storage devices and which can be accessed commonly by any other channel control portion belonging to the same group as the channel control portion updating the data.

Abstract: A storage device controller including: channel control portions each including a circuit board on which a file access processing portion for receiving file-by-file data input/output requests sent from information processors and an I/O processor for outputting I/O requests corresponding to the data input/output requests to storage devices are formed, the channel control portions being classified into groups for the sake of fail-over; and a device for storing data updated by each of the channel control portions and handed over at the time of the fail-over in a shared volume which is a storage region logically set on physical storage regions provided by the storage devices and which can be accessed commonly by any other channel control portion belonging to the same group as the channel control portion updating the data.

Abstract: A storage system including: channel control portions each including a circuit board on which a file access processing portion for receiving file-by-file data input/output requests sent from information processors through a network and an I/O processor for outputting I/O requests corresponding to the data input/output requests to storage devices are formed; disk control portions for performing data input/output of the storage devices in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processors; and a computer communicatably connected to the channel control portions and the disk control portions. The storage system is formed so that when one of the channel control portions detects occurrence of failure in the channel control portion, the channel control portion gives a notice of occurrence of failure to the computer.

Abstract: A storage system including: channel control portions each including a circuit board on which a file access processing portion for receiving file-by-file data input/output requests sent from information processors through a network and an I/O processor for outputting I/O requests corresponding to the data input/output requests to storage devices are formed; disk control portions for performing data input/output of the storage devices in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processors; and a computer communicatably connected to the channel control portions and the disk control portions. The storage system is formed so that when one of the channel control portions detects occurrence of failure in the channel control portion, the channel control portion gives a notice of occurrence of failure to the computer.

Abstract: A data management method for managing performance data of a computer system which includes: a storage area for storing the performance data as data including performance information of the computer system and other data; and a controller for controlling the storage area, is provided. The data management method includes: a step in which the controller detects free space of the storage area; a step in which the controller determines a method for storing the performance data depending on the detected free space; a step in which the controller acquires the performance data; and a step in which the controller stores the acquired performance data in the storage area according to the storing method determined in the method determination step.