Air conditioning device

Abstract

An indoor heat exchanger (40) has: a heat exchanger body (B) that has a plurality of fins (41) that are arranged in a first direction, and a heat transfer tube (42) that penetrates the plurality of fins (41); and a plate structure (50) that is disposed side by side with the heat exchanger body (B) in the first direction, a refrigerant flow path (51) that communicates with the heat transfer tube (42) being formed therein. Restriction mechanisms (60, 80) are disposed within an indoor casing (31) so as to overlap the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate structure (50) as seen in the first direction.

Description

Air conditioner

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner.

[0002] The air conditioner of Patent Document 1 has a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and a four-way switching valve. The air conditioner performs a cooling cycle and a heating cycle by switching the four-way switching valve. In this air conditioner, a flow path switching valve, which is a regulating mechanism, is provided in the refrigerant circuit. The flow path switching valve is arranged in the indoor unit and regulates the direction of the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger. Specifically, the flow path switching valve regulates the flow of the refrigerant so that the air and the refrigerant become counterflows in the indoor heat exchanger in both the cooling cycle and the heating cycle. As a result, the performance of the heat exchanger of the indoor heat exchanger is improved.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-12016

[0004] As described in Patent Document 1, when the regulating mechanism is arranged inside the indoor casing, the indoor casing becomes large.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioner capable of downsizing the indoor casing.

[0006] A first aspect targets an air conditioner. The air conditioner has a compressor (21), an outdoor heat exchanger (22), a decompression mechanism (23), an indoor heat exchanger (40), and a flow path switching mechanism (24), and includes a refrigerant circuit (11) in which the refrigerant circulates to perform a refrigeration cycle, an indoor unit (30) having an indoor casing (31) that houses the indoor heat exchanger (40), and an outdoor unit (20) having an outdoor casing (20a) that houses the compressor (21) and the outdoor heat exchanger (22).

[0007] The flow path switching mechanism (24) is configured to switch the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (11) so as to switch between a first refrigeration cycle in which the outdoor heat exchanger (22) functions as a heat radiator and the indoor heat exchanger (40) functions as an evaporator, and a second refrigeration cycle in which the indoor heat exchanger (40) functions as a heat radiator and the outdoor heat exchanger (22) functions as an evaporator. The refrigerant circuit (11) further has regulating mechanisms (60, 80) that restrict the direction of the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger (40) to the same direction in both the first and second refrigeration cycles. The indoor heat exchanger (40) has a heat exchanger body (B) having a plurality of fins (41) arranged in a first direction and heat transfer tubes (42) penetrating the plurality of fins (41), and a plate structure (50) arranged in the first direction parallel to the heat exchanger body (B) and forming a refrigerant flow path (51) that communicates with the heat transfer tubes (42). The regulatory mechanisms (60, 80) are positioned within the indoor casing (31) such that they overlap with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate structure (50) when viewed from the first direction.

[0008] In the first embodiment, a plate structure (50) is provided inside the indoor casing (31) alongside the heat exchanger body (B) in the first direction. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which refrigerant piping is connected to the heat exchanger body (B), the space adjacent to the heat exchanger body (B) in the first direction can be increased. The regulating mechanisms (60, 80) are arranged to overlap with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate structure (50) when viewed in the first direction. Therefore, the regulating mechanisms (60, 80) can be placed in the space increased in the first direction. As a result, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction and in directions perpendicular to the first direction.

[0009] In the second aspect, the length (L1) in the first direction of the regulatory mechanism (60,80) is shorter than the length (L2) in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction of the regulatory mechanism (60,80).

[0010] In the second embodiment, since the length (L1) of the regulatory mechanism (60,80) in the first direction is short, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0011] In a third embodiment, the flow path switching mechanism (24) is located inside the outdoor casing (20a) as in the first or second embodiment.

[0012] In the third embodiment, the flow path switching mechanism (24) is located in the outdoor casing (20a), so the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller.

[0013] In the fourth embodiment, in any one of the first to third embodiments, the plate structure (50) is positioned between the heat exchanger body (B) and the regulating mechanism (60, 80) in the first direction.

[0014] In the fourth embodiment, the regulating mechanisms (60, 80) are arranged in the space opposite the heat exchanger body (B) with the plate structure (50) in between. This allows the indoor casing (31) to be made smaller in the first direction.

[0015] The fifth embodiment is one of the first to fourth embodiments, wherein the refrigerant circuit (11) has a functional component (91) housed in an indoor casing (31). The functional component (91) is an expansion valve (91), a solenoid valve, or a flow divider. The regulating mechanism (60, 80) and the functional component (91) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction.

[0016] In the fifth embodiment, the expansion valve (91), solenoid valve, or diverter and the regulating mechanism (60, 80) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction. Therefore, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0017] The sixth aspect is a plate structure (50) in any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the plate structure (50) is a plate laminate having a plurality of plates (P) stacked in a first direction. The plurality of plates (P) is five or fewer.

[0018] In the sixth embodiment, the plate structure (50) is made of a plate laminate, and the number of plates (P) is five or less, thereby reducing the thickness of the plate structure (50) in the first direction. As a result, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0019] The seventh aspect is a plate structure (50) in any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the plate structure (50) is a plate laminate having a plurality of plates (P) stacked in a first direction. The thickness of at least one of the plurality of plates (P) in the first direction is 3 mm or less.

[0020] In the seventh embodiment, the plate structure (50) is made of a plate laminate, and the thickness of the plate (P) in the first direction is made 3 mm or less, thereby reducing the thickness of the plate structure (50) in the first direction. As a result, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0021] The eighth aspect is a rotary flow path switching valve (60) having a motor (63) and a valve body (65) that is rotationally driven by the motor (63), in any one of the first to seventh aspects.

[0022] The ninth aspect is the eighth aspect, wherein the motor (63) and the valve body (65) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction.

[0023] In the ninth embodiment, the motor (63) and the valve body (65) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction, so the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0024] The tenth embodiment is a bridge mechanism (80) in any one of the first to seventh embodiments, in which the regulating mechanism (60, 80) is a bridge mechanism (80) having four pipes (81, 82, 83, 84) connected in a bridge-like manner, and a check valve (CV) provided in each pipe (81, 82, 83, 84).

[0025] In the eleventh embodiment, in any one of the first to tenth embodiments, the indoor unit (30) is wall-mounted. The indoor casing (31) has a length in the first direction greater than its length in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0026] In the eleventh embodiment, the interior casing (31) is formed to be horizontally elongated in the first direction.

[0027] The twelfth embodiment is one of the first to eleventh embodiments, wherein the refrigerant is a non-azeotropic refrigerant.

[0028] In the twelfth embodiment, in a refrigerant circuit (11) using a non-azeotropic refrigerant, the regulating mechanism (60, 80) can restrict the flow of refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger (40) to the same direction. Therefore, in the indoor heat exchanger (40), the refrigerant and air can be in counterflow in both the first refrigeration cycle and the second refrigeration cycle, thereby improving the performance of the indoor heat exchanger (40).

[0029] Figure 1 is a piping diagram of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a front view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner along line AA. Figure 4 is a front view showing the internal structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection structure between the heat transfer tubes and the plate stack. Figure 6 is a top view of the main part of the indoor heat exchanger. Figure 7 is a view of the indoor heat exchanger from the right side. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the flow path switching valve, where Figure 8(A) shows the flow path switching valve in the first state and Figure 8(B) shows the flow path switching valve in the second state. Figure 9 is a piping diagram showing the flow of refrigerant during cooling operation. Figure 10 is a piping diagram showing the flow of refrigerant during heating operation. Figure 11 is a piping diagram of an air conditioning system according to Modification 1. Figure 12 is a top view of the main part of the indoor heat exchanger of Modification 1. Figure 13 is a view of the indoor heat exchanger of Modification 1 from the right side. Figure 14 shows the indoor heat exchanger of modified example 2, viewed from the right side.

[0030] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown below, and various modifications are possible without departing from the technical idea of ​​this disclosure. Since the drawings are for conceptual illustration of this disclosure, dimensions, ratios, or numbers may be exaggerated or simplified as necessary for ease of understanding.

[0031] (1) Overall configuration of the air conditioning system The air conditioning system (10) of this embodiment adjusts the temperature of the air in the indoor space (I), which is the target space. As shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning system (10) is an example of a refrigeration cycle system equipped with a refrigerant circuit (11). The refrigerant circuit (11) is filled with refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit (11) performs a refrigeration cycle by circulating the refrigerant.

[0032] The air conditioning system (10) comprises an outdoor unit (20), an indoor unit (30), a first connecting pipe (12), and a second connecting pipe (13). The air conditioning system (10) is a paired system having one outdoor unit (20) and one indoor unit (30). The first connecting pipe (12) is a gas connecting pipe, and the second connecting pipe (13) is a liquid connecting pipe. In the air conditioning system (10), a refrigerant circuit (11) is formed by connecting the outdoor unit (20) and the indoor unit (30) with the first connecting pipe (12) and the second connecting pipe (13). The refrigerant circuit (11) includes a compressor (21), an outdoor heat exchanger (22), an outdoor expansion valve (23), an indoor heat exchanger (40), a four-way switching valve (24), and a flow path switching valve (60).

[0033] The outdoor unit (20) is installed outdoors. The outdoor unit (20) includes an outdoor casing (20a), a compressor (21) housed in the outdoor casing (20a), an outdoor heat exchanger (22), an outdoor expansion valve (23), a four-way switching valve (24), and an outdoor fan (25). The outdoor expansion valve is an example of a pressure reducing mechanism, and the four-way switching valve (24) is an example of a flow path switching mechanism.

[0034] The compressor (21) is a rotary or scroll type compressor. The outdoor heat exchanger (22) exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the outdoor air. The outdoor heat exchanger (22) is a fin-and-tube type air heat exchanger. The outdoor expansion valve (23) reduces the pressure of the refrigerant. The outdoor expansion valve (23) is an electronic expansion valve. The outdoor fan (25) transports the air flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger (22). The outdoor fan (25) is a propeller fan.

[0035] The indoor unit (30) includes an indoor casing (31), an indoor fan (32), an indoor heat exchanger (40), and a flow control valve (60). The indoor fan (32), the indoor heat exchanger (40), and the flow control valve (60) are housed in the indoor casing (31).

[0036] The four-way directional control valve (24) switches between a first state (shown by the solid line in Figure 1) and a second state (shown by the dashed line in Figure 1). In the first state, the four-way directional control valve (24) connects the discharge port of the compressor (21) to the gas end of the outdoor heat exchanger (22), and also connects the suction port of the compressor (21) to the first connecting pipe (12). By operating the compressor (21) in this state, the refrigerant circuit (11) performs a first refrigeration cycle (cooling cycle) in which the outdoor heat exchanger (22) functions as a heat radiator (condenser) and the indoor heat exchanger (40) functions as an evaporator. In the second state, the four-way directional control valve (24) connects the discharge port of the compressor (21) to the first connecting pipe (12), and also connects the suction port of the compressor (21) to the gas end of the outdoor heat exchanger (22). In this state, by operating the compressor (21), a second refrigeration cycle (heating cycle) is performed in the refrigerant circuit (11) in which the indoor heat exchanger (40) functions as a heat radiator (condenser) and the outdoor heat exchanger (22) functions as an evaporator.

[0037] The refrigerant in this embodiment is a non-azeotropic refrigerant. A non-azeotropic refrigerant is a mixed refrigerant consisting of two or more refrigerants with different evaporation temperatures. Specifically, the refrigerant is R454C. R454C is a mixed refrigerant consisting of 21.5% by weight of R32 (difluoromethane) and 78.5% by weight of R-1234yf (2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene).

[0038] (2) Details of the indoor unit (30), which is the indoor unit of the air conditioning system, will be explained with reference to Figures 2 to 7. The indoor unit (30) of this embodiment is a wall-mounted type installed on the wall of the indoor space (I). The terms "up," "down," "right," "left," "front," and "back" described below correspond to the directions of the arrows shown in Figures 2 and 3, and indicate the direction when viewing the indoor casing (31) from the front.

[0039] (2-1) Casing The interior casing (31) is formed in a horizontally elongated box shape from left to right. The interior casing (31) has a front plate (31a), a rear plate (31b), an upper plate (31c), a lower plate (31d), a first side plate (31e), and a second side plate (31f).

[0040] The front plate (31a) is formed on the front side of the interior casing (31) and constitutes the front surface of the interior casing (31). The rear plate (31b) is formed on the rear side of the interior casing (31) and constitutes the rear surface of the interior casing (31). The top plate (31c) is formed on the upper side of the interior casing (31) and constitutes the upper surface of the interior casing (31). The bottom plate (31d) is formed on the lower side of the interior casing (31) and constitutes the lower surface of the interior casing (31). The first side plate (31e) is formed on the right side of the interior casing (31) and constitutes the right surface of the interior casing (31). The second side plate (31f) is formed on the left side of the interior casing (31) and constitutes the left surface of the interior casing (31).

[0041] An intake port (33) is formed in the upper plate (31c), and an outlet port (34) is formed in the lower plate (31d). Inside the indoor casing (31), an air passage (38) is formed from the intake port (33) to the outlet port (34). The intake port (33) extends in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the indoor casing (31). The intake port (33) is an opening for drawing air from the indoor space (I) into the air passage (38). An outlet port (34) is formed in the lower plate (31d). The outlet port (34) extends in the longitudinal direction of the indoor casing (31). The outlet port (34) is an opening for blowing air from the air passage (38) into the indoor space (I).

[0042] (2-2) The filter indoor unit (30) is equipped with a filter (35). The filter (35) is located at the back of the intake port (33) and upstream of the indoor heat exchanger (40). The filter (35) collects dust in the air sent from the intake port (33) to the indoor heat exchanger (40). The indoor unit (30) may be equipped with a dust removal mechanism to remove the dust collected by the filter (35).

[0043] (2-3) Indoor fan The indoor fan (32) is located in the air passage (38). The indoor fan (32) is located downstream of the indoor heat exchanger (40) in the air passage (38). The indoor fan (32) is a cross-flow fan. The fan rotor of the indoor fan (32) extends in the longitudinal direction of the indoor casing (31).

[0044] (2-4) The flap chamber unit (30) has a flap (36) for adjusting the wind direction of the air blown out from the air outlet (34). The flap (36) adjusts the wind direction in the vertical direction. The indoor unit (30) may have a plurality of flaps (36). The flap (36) may adjust the wind direction in the horizontal direction.

[0045] (3) Indoor heat exchanger The indoor heat exchanger (40) exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the air. The indoor heat exchanger (40) includes a heat exchanger body (B), a plate laminate (50), and a plurality of connecting pipes (53).

[0046] (3-1) Heat exchanger body The heat exchanger body (B) is a fin-and-tube type air heat exchanger. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat exchanger body (B) has a plurality of fins (41) arranged in the first direction and a plurality of heat transfer pipes (42) extending in the first direction. The first direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction (here, the left-right direction) of the indoor casing (31). The fin (41) is in the shape of a rectangular plate having a long side and a short side. The thickness direction of the fin (41) corresponds to the arrangement direction of the fins (41). The plurality of fins (41) are arranged at a predetermined interval in the thickness direction. An air flow path is formed between adjacent fins (41). The material of the fin (41) is aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0047] The material of the plurality of heat transfer pipes (42) is aluminum or an aluminum alloy. A refrigerant flow path is formed inside the heat transfer pipe (42). The plurality of heat transfer pipes (42) extend parallel to each other so as to penetrate the fins (41). The right end portion, which is one end portion of the heat transfer pipe (42), protrudes to the right side of the fin (41). One end portion of the heat transfer pipe (42) is connected to the plate laminate (50). A U-shaped hairpin structure is provided on the other end side of the plurality of heat transfer pipes (42).

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchanger body (B) of the present embodiment includes a front heat exchange section (40A) and a rear heat exchange section (40B). The front heat exchange section (40A) is located closer to the front side of the indoor casing (31), and the rear heat exchange section (40B) is located closer to the rear side of the indoor casing (31). The front heat exchange section (40A) and the rear heat exchange section (40B) are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction with the indoor fan (32) interposed therebetween.

[0049] The front heat exchange section (40A) includes a front main heat exchange section (43), a first auxiliary heat exchange section (44), and a second auxiliary heat exchange section (45). The front main heat exchange section (43) is arranged closer to the indoor fan (32) in the front heat exchange section (40A). The first auxiliary heat exchange section (44) is provided on the inflow side (front side) of the front main heat exchange section (43). The front main heat exchange section (43) includes an upper heat exchange section (43a) located at its upper part and a lower heat exchange section (43b) located at its lower part. The upper heat exchange section (43a) and the lower heat exchange section (43b) are continuous so as to form a V-shaped outer shape as a whole.

[0050] The rear heat exchange section (40B) includes a rear main heat exchange section (46) and a third auxiliary heat exchange section (47). The rear main heat exchange section (46) is arranged closer to the indoor fan (32) in the rear heat exchange section (40B). The third auxiliary heat exchange section (47) is provided on the inflow side (rear side) of the rear main heat exchange section (46).

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5, one end of the heat transfer tube (42) has a flared portion (48). The flared portion (48) has a diameter-expanded portion (48a) whose diameter expands as it approaches the plate laminate (50), and a cylindrical portion (48b) that extends axially with the same diameter from the end of the diameter-expanded portion (48a) on the side of the plate laminate (50).

[0052] (3-2) Plate Laminate The plate laminate (50) is positioned adjacent to the heat exchanger body (B) on one end side in the first direction (right side in Figure 4). The plate laminate (50) is positioned to the right of the rightmost fin (41), parallel to the fin (41). As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the plate laminate (50) in this embodiment is connected to the heat transfer tubes (42) of the front heat exchange section (40A). More precisely, the plate laminate (50) is connected to the heat transfer tubes (42) of the upper heat exchange section (43a). The plate laminate (50) and the heat exchanger body (B) (more precisely, the upper heat exchange section (43a)) overlap each other when viewed in the first direction.

[0053] As shown in Figure 5, the plate stack (50) has a refrigerant flow path (51) inside. The refrigerant flow path (51) communicates with the heat exchanger body (B) and the refrigerant piping. The plate stack (50) is a thick plate-shaped member formed by stacking a plurality of plates (P). The stacking direction of the plurality of plates (P) corresponds to the first direction. In this embodiment, the plate stack (50) has a first plate (P1), a second plate (P2), a third plate (P3), a fourth plate (P4), and a fifth plate (P5) as plates (P). In the plate stack (50), the first plate (P1), the second plate (P2), the third plate (P3), the fourth plate (P4), and the fifth plate (P5) are stacked in order from the side closest to the heat exchanger body (B). The first plate (P1) is a cover plate on the heat exchanger body (B) side in the axial direction of the heat transfer tube (42). The fifth plate (P5) is a cover plate on the side opposite to the heat exchanger body (B) in the axial direction of the heat transfer tube (42) (the side of the first side plate (31e) of the indoor casing (31)). The second plate (P2), third plate (P3), and fourth plate (P4) are intermediate plates sandwiched between the first plate (P1) and the fifth plate (P5). The five plates (P) are flat members with a common outer edge shape. Each plate (P) is made of the same material as the heat transfer tube (42) and connecting tube (53). In this embodiment, the material of each plate (P) is aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The thickness of the first plate (P1) and the fifth plate (P5) is 1.5 mm. The thickness of the second plate (P2), third plate (P3), and fourth plate (P4) is 3.0 mm. Each plate is joined to each other by furnace brazing. The number of plates (P) is, as an example, preferably five or fewer. The thickness in the first direction of at least one of the multiple plates (P) is preferably 3 mm or less, and the thickness in the first direction of all of the multiple plates (P) is preferably 3 mm or less.

[0054] The plate stack (50) has a first surface (50a) and a second surface (50b). The first surface (50a) is the surface of the plate stack (50) on the other end side (heat exchanger body (B) side) in the first direction. The second surface (50b) is the surface of the plate stack (50) on the one end side in the first direction. The second surface (50b) is the surface of the fifth plate (P5) opposite to the heat exchanger body (B).

[0055] (3-3) Connecting pipes As shown in Figure 5, a plurality of connecting pipes (53) are provided on the first surface (50a) of the plate stack (50). The connecting pipes (53) protrude in a first direction from the first surface (50a) toward the heat exchanger body (B).

[0056] The connecting tube (53) is a cylindrical tube. The material of the connecting tube (53) is aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The tip of the connecting tube (53) is inserted into the end of the corresponding heat transfer tube (42). In other words, the end of the heat transfer tube (42) is externally fitted onto the connecting tube (53). The connecting tube (53) is inserted into the flared portion (48) of the corresponding heat transfer tube (42). The connecting tube (53) is inserted into the flared portion (48) and joined to the cylindrical portion (48b) of the flared portion (48) by burner brazing.

[0057] (4) Flow path switching valve and its surrounding configuration As shown in Figure 4, a first space (S1) is formed inside the indoor casing (31) on one end side in the first direction from the plate stack (50). The first space (S1) is formed between the second surface (50b) of the plate stack (50) and the first side plate (31e) of the indoor casing (31). The flow path switching valve (60) is arranged in the first space (S1). The liquid side relay pipe (55), the gas side relay pipe (56), the first relay pipe (57), and the second relay pipe (58) are arranged in the first space (S1) as refrigerant piping.

[0058] (4-1) Details of the flow path switching valve The flow path switching valve (60) is an example of a regulating mechanism. The flow path switching valve (60) restricts the direction of the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger (40) to the same direction in both the cooling cycle and the heating cycle. Specifically, the flow path switching valve (60) restricts the flow of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger (40) to be counterflow in both the cooling cycle and the heating cycle. Counterflow here means not only that the airflow and refrigerant flow are completely in the same direction, but also that they are substantially opposite each other. In this embodiment, in the indoor heat exchanger (40) during the cooling cycle and the heating cycle, the refrigerant flows from the row downstream of the airflow to the row upstream of the airflow. When a non-azeotropic refrigerant is used as the refrigerant, the temperature difference between the air and the refrigerant tends to become small downstream of the refrigerant flow in the indoor heat exchanger (40) due to so-called temperature glide. In contrast, by using a counter-flow configuration for the indoor heat exchanger (40) in both the cooling and heating cycles, this temperature difference can be increased in both cycles. As a result, the heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger (40) can be improved in both the cooling and heating cycles.

[0059] The flow path switching valve (60) shown in Figures 6 to 8 is an electrically operated rotary switching valve. The flow path switching valve (60) comprises a motor case (61), a valve case (62), a motor (63), a transmission mechanism (64), and a ball valve (65).

[0060] The motor case (61) is positioned above the valve case (62). The motor case (61) has a cylindrical peripheral wall (61a). A motor (63) is housed inside the peripheral wall (61a). The axis of the motor (63) extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, specifically in the vertical direction. The motor (63) constitutes a drive source that rotates the ball valve (65). The motor (63) has a drive shaft (63a) that extends downward.

[0061] The valve case (62) is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape. A housing chamber (66) is formed inside the valve case (62). As schematically shown in Figure 7, the transmission mechanism (64) is located at the top of the housing chamber (66). The transmission mechanism (64) has a pinion (64a), a gear (64b), and an output shaft (64c). The axial directions of these components all correspond to the vertical direction. The pinion (64a) is provided at the lower end of the drive shaft (63a). The gear (64b) is located adjacent to the front side of the pinion (64a). The pinion (64a) and the gear (64b) mesh with each other in the horizontal direction. One end of the output shaft (64c) is connected to the axis of the gear (64b). The output shaft (64c) extends downward from the gear (64b). A ball valve (65) is connected to the output shaft (64c). The ball valve (65) rotates around the output shaft (64c) as its axis.

[0062] As shown in Figure 8, the valve case (62) has a first wall (62a) and a second wall (62b). The first wall (62a) constitutes the front surface of the valve case (62), and the second wall (62b) forms the rear surface of the valve case (62). The first wall (62a) and the second wall (62b) face each other via a housing chamber (66). A first port (71) and a second port (72) are formed in the first wall (62a). The first port (71) is located to the right of the second port (72). A third port (73) and a fourth port (74) are formed in the second wall (62b). The third port (73) is located to the right of the fourth port (74).

[0063] The ball valve (65) is positioned in the center of the housing chamber (66) when viewed in a horizontal cross-section. The ball valve (65) is formed in a spherical shape with a portion cut off. A cylindrical communication passage (67) is formed inside the ball valve (65). The communication passage (67) penetrates the ball valve (65). The communication passage (67) is isolated from the housing chamber (66) by the ball valve (65). One end of the communication passage (67) selectively communicates with the first port (71) and the second port (72). The other end of the communication passage (67) selectively communicates with the third port (73) and the fourth port (74).

[0064] The ball valve (65) changes position between a first state and a second state by being rotationally driven by the drive shaft (63a). The first state of the ball valve (65) corresponds to the state shown by the solid line in Figure 1 and the state in Figure 8(A). The second state of the ball valve (65) corresponds to the state shown by the dashed line in Figure 1 and the state in Figure 8(B). When the ball valve (65) is in the first state, the first port (71) and the third port (73) communicate via the communication passage (67), and at the same time, the second port (72) and the fourth port (74) communicate via the housing chamber (66). When the ball valve (65) is in the second state, the first port (71) and the fourth port (74) communicate via the communication passage (67), and at the same time, the second port (72) and the third port (73) communicate via the housing chamber (66).

[0065] (4-2) One end of the refrigerant piping liquid side relay pipe (55) is connected to the third port (73) of the flow path switching valve (60). The liquid side relay pipe (55) extends rearward from the flow path switching valve (60) and then extends in the first direction along the rear plate (31b) of the indoor casing (31). The other end of the liquid side relay pipe (55) is connected to the second connecting pipe (13), which is a liquid pipe. One end of the gas side relay pipe (56) is connected to the fourth port (74) of the flow path switching valve (60). The gas side relay pipe (56) extends rearward from the flow path switching valve (60) and then extends along the rear plate (31b) of the indoor casing (31). The other end of the gas side relay pipe (56) is connected to the first connecting pipe (12), which is a gas pipe.

[0066] One end of the first relay pipe (57) is connected to the first port (71) of the flow path switching valve (60). The other end of the first relay pipe (57) is connected to the first surface (50a) of the plate stack (50) and communicates with the refrigerant flow path (51). One end of the second relay pipe (58) is connected to the second port (72) of the flow path switching valve (60). The other end of the second relay pipe (58) is connected to the first surface (50a) of the plate stack (50) and communicates with the refrigerant flow path (51).

[0067] (5) Operation The air conditioning system (10) performs cooling operation and heating operation.

[0068] (5-1) Cooling Operation In the cooling operation shown in Figure 9, the controller of the air conditioning unit (10) operates the compressor (21), the outdoor fan (25), and the indoor fan (32), sets the four-way switching valve (24) to the first state, adjusts the opening degree of the outdoor expansion valve (23) as appropriate, and sets the flow path switching valve (60) to the first state.

[0069] During cooling operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (21) dissipates heat (condenses) in the outdoor heat exchanger (22) and is depressurized by the outdoor expansion valve (23). The depressurized refrigerant is sent to the indoor unit (30). This refrigerant flows sequentially through the liquid-side relay pipe (55), the third port (73), the containment chamber (66), the first port (71), and the first relay pipe (57), and flows into the refrigerant flow path (51) of the plate stack (50). The refrigerant in the refrigerant flow path (51) flows into the heat exchanger body (B) via the connecting pipe (53). In the heat exchanger body (B), the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air and evaporates. In the heat exchanger body (B), the refrigerant and indoor air flow in opposite directions. The refrigerant that has flowed out of the heat exchanger body (B) flows into the refrigerant flow path (51) of the plate stack (50) via the connecting pipe (53). The refrigerant in the refrigerant flow path (51) flows sequentially through the second relay pipe (58), the second port (72), the connecting passage (67), the fourth port (74), and the gas-side relay pipe (56), before being sent to the outdoor unit (20) and drawn into the compressor (21).

[0070] The indoor unit (30) draws indoor air from the indoor space (I) into the air passage (38) via the intake port (33). The air in the air passage (38) is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger (40). The cooled air is supplied to the indoor space (I) from the outlet (34).

[0071] (5-2) Heating Operation In the heating operation shown in Figure 10, the controller of the air conditioning unit (10) operates the compressor (21), the outdoor fan (25), and the indoor fan (32), sets the four-way switching valve (24) to the second state, adjusts the opening degree of the outdoor expansion valve (23) as appropriate, and sets the flow path switching valve (60) to the second state.

[0072] During heating operation, refrigerant discharged from the compressor (21) is sent to the indoor unit (30). This refrigerant flows sequentially through the gas-side relay pipe (56), the fourth port (74), the connecting passage (67), the first port (71), and the first relay pipe (57), and flows into the refrigerant flow path (51) of the plate stack (50). The refrigerant in the refrigerant flow path (51) flows into the heat exchanger body (B) via the connecting pipe (53). In the heat exchanger body (B), the refrigerant condenses as it releases heat into the indoor air. In the heat exchanger body (B), the refrigerant and indoor air flow in opposite directions. The refrigerant that has flowed out of the heat exchanger body (B) flows into the refrigerant flow path (51) of the plate stack (50) via the connecting pipe (53). The refrigerant in the refrigerant flow path (51) flows sequentially through the second relay pipe (58), the second port (72), the containment chamber (66), the third port (73), and the liquid-side relay pipe (55) before being sent to the outdoor unit (20). This refrigerant is depressurized by the outdoor expansion valve (23), evaporates in the outdoor heat exchanger (22), and is then drawn into the compressor (21).

[0073] The indoor unit (30) draws indoor air from the indoor space (I) into the air passage (38) via the intake port (33). The air in the air passage (38) is heated by the indoor heat exchanger (40). The heated air is supplied to the indoor space (I) from the outlet (34).

[0074] (6) Layout Features As shown in Figure 7, the flow path switching valve (60) is positioned in the first space (S1) such that it overlaps with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate stack (50) when viewed in the first direction. Specifically, the motor (63) and the ball valve (65) overlap with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate stack (50) when viewed in the first direction.

[0075] As shown in Figure 6, the plate stack (50) is positioned between the heat exchanger body (B) and the flow path switching valve (60) in the first direction. In other words, the flow path switching valve (60) is positioned on the opposite side of the plate stack (50) from the heat exchanger body (B) in the first direction.

[0076] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the flow path switching valve (60) has a first length (L1) in the first direction that is shorter than the length in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction and the length in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the first direction. In this embodiment, the vertical length of the flow path switching valve (60) is defined as the second length (L2), and the front-rear length is defined as the third length (L3). In this case, the first length (L1) is shorter than the second length (L2) and the third length (L3). The first length (L1), second length (L2), and third length (L3) strictly mean the maximum length of the flow path switching valve (60) in each direction. The flow path switching valve (60) in this embodiment is configured to satisfy the relationship third length (L3) > second length (L2) > first length (L1).

[0077] As shown in Figure 7, the motor (63) and the ball valve (65) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction. The motor (63) and the ball valve (65) overlap when viewed in the second direction (vertical direction). The motor case (61) and the valve case (62) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction. The motor case (61) and the valve case (62) overlap when viewed in the second direction (vertical direction). The motor case (61) is located slightly rearward relative to the valve case (62).

[0078] In this embodiment, the first relay pipe (57) and the second relay pipe (58) overlap with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate stack (50) when viewed in the first direction. The first relay pipe (57) and the second relay pipe (58) are positioned opposite the first surface (50a) in the first direction.

[0079] The first relay pipe (57) and the second relay pipe (58) extend in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first relay pipe (57) and the second relay pipe (58) are not connected to the faces of the valve case (62) at both ends in the first direction. The first relay pipe (57) and the second relay pipe (58) are connected to one end face (first wall portion (62a)) in the third direction (front-rear direction) perpendicular to the first direction.

[0080] (7) Effects of the Embodiment (7-1) The indoor heat exchanger (40) has a heat exchanger body (B) and a plate stack (50). The heat exchanger body (B) has a plurality of fins (41) arranged in a first direction and heat transfer tubes (42) that penetrate the plurality of fins (41). The plate stack (50) is arranged in the first direction alongside the heat exchanger body (B) and forms a refrigerant flow path (51) that communicates with the heat transfer tubes (42). The flow path switching valve (60), which is a regulating mechanism, is arranged in the indoor casing (31) so as to overlap the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate stack (50) when viewed in the first direction.

[0081] In this configuration, the indoor heat exchanger (40) can be miniaturized in the first direction by providing a plate stack (50) adjacent to the heat exchanger body (B). This is because the plate stack (50) can integrate the refrigerant flow path at a higher density compared to typical refrigerant piping. As a result, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0082] Furthermore, by providing the plate stack (50) in this manner, a first space (S1) can be secured between the indoor heat exchanger (40) and the first side plate (31e) of the indoor casing (31). Therefore, the first space (S1) can be used as installation space for the flow path switching valve (60) and multiple refrigerant pipes connected to the flow path switching valve (60).

[0083] In the first space (S1), the flow path switching valve (60) is positioned so as to overlap with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate stack (50) when viewed in the first direction. This prevents the indoor casing (31) from becoming larger in the direction perpendicular to the first direction. Specifically, the indoor unit (30) in this embodiment is wall-mounted and is horizontally elongated in the first direction, which is also the longitudinal direction of the indoor fan (32). Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the indoor casing (31) from becoming larger in the vertical and front-back directions, which are the shorter directions.

[0084] Furthermore, since the plate stack (50) is positioned between the heat exchanger body (B) and the flow path switching valve (60) in the first direction, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0085] As described above, in this embodiment, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction (left-right direction), the second direction (up-down direction), and the third direction (front-back direction).

[0086] (7-2) The length (L1) in the first direction of the flow path switching valve (60) is shorter than the length (L2) in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction of the flow path switching valve (60). This makes the indoor casing (31) smaller in the first direction.

[0087] The motor (63) and the ball valve (65) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction. Therefore, the indoor casing (31) can be made even smaller in the first direction.

[0088] (7-3) The four-way switching valve (24), which serves as the flow path switching mechanism, is located inside the outdoor casing (20a). This allows the indoor casing (31) to be made smaller.

[0089] (7-4) The number of plates (P) is five or less. Therefore, the plate stack (50) can be made smaller in the first direction, and furthermore, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0090] The thickness of at least one of the multiple plates (P) in the first direction is 3 mm or less. This allows the laminated plates (P) to be made smaller in the first direction, and furthermore, the indoor casing (31) can be made smaller in the first direction.

[0091] (8) Modifications The embodiments described above may also be modified as follows. The differences from the embodiments described above will be explained below.

[0092] (8-1) Modification 1 The air conditioning system of Modification 1 differs from the embodiment described above in the configuration of the regulating mechanism. The regulating mechanism of Modification 1 is composed of a bridge mechanism (80). The bridge mechanism (80) has four pipes and a check valve connected to each pipe. As shown in Figure 11, the four pipes consist of a first pipe (81), a second pipe (82), a third pipe (83), and a fourth pipe (84). Inside each of these pipes (81, 82, 83, 84), there is one check valve (CV). The check valve (CV) allows the flow of refrigerant in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 11 and prohibits the flow of refrigerant in the opposite direction.

[0093] The inlet end of the first pipe (81) and the outlet end of the second pipe (82) are connected to the first connecting pipe (12) via a gas-side relay pipe (56). The outlet end of the first pipe (81) and the outlet end of the third pipe (83) are connected to the inlet side of the indoor heat exchanger (40) via a first relay pipe (57). The inlet end of the third pipe (83) and the outlet end of the fourth pipe (84) are connected to the second connecting pipe (13) via a liquid-side relay pipe (55). The inlet end of the second pipe (82) and the inlet end of the fourth pipe (84) are connected to the outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger (40) via a second relay pipe (58).

[0094] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the bridge mechanism (80) has a piping unit (85) which is composed of four pipes (81, 82, 83, 84) arranged in a first space (S1). The piping unit (85) has a first straight pipe section (86), a second straight pipe section (87), an upper U-shaped section (88), and a lower U-shaped section (89). The first straight pipe section (86) and the second straight pipe section (87) extend vertically parallel to each other. The first straight pipe section (86) is located in front of the second straight pipe section (87). The upper U-shaped section (88) is connected to the upper end of the first straight pipe section (86) and the upper end of the second straight pipe section (87). The lower U-shaped section (89) is connected to the lower end of the first straight pipe section (86) and the lower end of the second straight pipe section (87).

[0095] As shown in Figure 13, the first pipe (81) is composed of the lower part of the first straight pipe section (86) and the front part of the lower U-shaped section (89). The second pipe (82) is composed of the upper part of the first straight pipe section (86) and the front part of the upper U-shaped section (88). The third pipe (83) is composed of the lower part of the second straight pipe section (87) and the rear part of the lower U-shaped section (89). The fourth pipe (84) is composed of the upper part of the second straight pipe section (87) and the rear part of the upper U-shaped section (88).

[0096] In modified example 1, one end of the liquid-side relay pipe (55) is connected to the middle of the second straight pipe section (87) in the vertical direction. One end of the gas-side relay pipe (56) is connected to the middle of the first straight pipe section (86) in the vertical direction. One end of the first relay pipe (57) is connected to the middle of the lower U-shaped section (89) in the front-to-back direction, in other words, to the lower end of the lower U-shaped section (89). One end of the second relay pipe (58) is connected to the middle of the upper U-shaped section (88) in the front-to-back direction, in other words, to the upper end of the upper U-shaped section (88).

[0097] In Modification 1, one end of each of the liquid-side relay pipe (55), gas-side relay pipe (56), first relay pipe (57), and second relay pipe (58) is connected to the other end (left side) of the piping unit (85) in the first direction. These ends may also be connected to the other end (right side) of the piping unit (85) in the first direction, or to any other side.

[0098] In the modified example 1, the regulating bridge mechanism (80) also regulates the flow of the refrigerant so that the indoor heat exchanger (40) operates in a counter-flow manner during both cooling and heating operations. During cooling operation, the gaseous refrigerant from the gas-side relay pipe (56) flows sequentially through the first pipe (81), the first relay pipe (57), the indoor heat exchanger (40), the second relay pipe (58), and the fourth pipe (84) before being sent to the liquid-side relay pipe (55). During heating operation, the liquid refrigerant from the liquid-side relay pipe (55) flows sequentially through the third pipe (83), the first relay pipe (57), the indoor heat exchanger (40), the second relay pipe (58), and the second pipe (82) before being sent to the gas-side relay pipe (56).

[0099] As shown in Figure 13, in the modified example 1, the regulating bridge mechanism (80) is positioned within the indoor casing (31) so as to overlap with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate stack (50) when viewed in the first direction. More precisely, the first straight pipe section (86) and the second straight pipe section (87) of the piping unit (85) are positioned within the indoor casing (31) so as to overlap with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate stack (50). This prevents the indoor casing (31) from becoming larger in the direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0100] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the bridge mechanism (80) (piping unit (85)) has a first length (L1) in the first direction that is shorter than the vertical length perpendicular to the first direction and the longitudinal length perpendicular to the first direction. In Modification 1, the vertical length of the bridge mechanism (80) is defined as the second length (L2), and the longitudinal length is defined as the third length (L3). In this case, the first length (L1) is shorter than the second length (L2) and the third length (L3). The first length (L1), second length (L2), and third length (L3) strictly mean the maximum length of the flow path switching valve (60) in each direction. The bridge mechanism (80) in Modification 1 is configured to satisfy the relationship second length (L2) > third length (L3) > first length (L1). This configuration suppresses the indoor casing (31) from becoming larger in the first direction. The piping unit (85) may also have a horizontally elongated shape in the front-to-back direction.

[0101] In modified example 1, the upper U-shaped section (88) and the lower U-shaped section (89) are positioned so as not to overlap with the plate stack (50) when viewed in the first direction. This allows for more flexibility in routing the piping from the piping unit (85) to the plate stack (50).

[0102] (8-2) Modification 2 As shown in Figure 14, the air conditioning unit (10) of Modification 2 has a functional component housed in the indoor casing (31). The functional component in this example is an indoor expansion valve (91). The indoor expansion valve (91) is used to reheat and dehumidify the indoor air by using a part of the indoor heat exchanger (40) as a heat radiator during cooling operation. The indoor expansion valve (91) is located in the first space (S1). In this example, the indoor expansion valve (91) is located below the flow path switching valve (60). In Modification 2, the indoor expansion valve (91) and the regulating mechanism (for example, the flow path switching valve (60)) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the indoor casing (31) from becoming larger in the first direction. The functional component may be other components housed in the indoor casing (31), such as a solenoid valve or a flow divider.

[0103] (9) Other embodiments The refrigeration cycle device may be any device that performs a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle and is not limited to an air conditioning device. The refrigeration cycle device may be a cooling device that cools the inside of a refrigerator or cold storage warehouse, a chiller device that cools or heats a heat transfer medium such as water, or a heat pump type water heater that heats water to produce hot water.

[0104] The refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (11) does not have to be a non-azeotropic refrigerant, and may be a single refrigerant consisting of one type of refrigerant.

[0105] The air conditioning system (10) does not have to be a paired system; it may also be a multi-system system.

[0106] The indoor unit (30) may be ceiling-mounted or floor-standing.

[0107] The flow path switching mechanism does not have to be a four-way switching valve (24); it may be configured by combining two three-way valves or four solenoid valves, etc.

[0108] The pressure reduction mechanism does not have to be an outdoor expansion valve (23); it may be an indoor expansion valve, a capillary tube, an expander, or the like.

[0109] The plate structure may consist of a single plate rather than being a plate laminate made up of multiple stacked plates. In this case, the plate structure is manufactured by sintering metal powder using a 3D printer.

[0110] The indoor heat exchanger (40) may not have a front heat exchange section (40A) and a rear heat exchange section (40B), but may have a configuration with only one heat exchange section.

[0111] The heat transfer tubes (42) and fins (41) of the heat exchanger body (B) may be made of copper. In this case, it is preferable that the plate structure and the refrigerant piping connected to the plate structure be made of copper. The plate structure and the refrigerant piping connected to the plate structure may be made of stainless steel.

[0112] The heat transfer tube (42) may be a flattened tube. The cross-sectional shape of the flattened tube perpendicular to the axial direction is an ellipse, oblong, or roughly rectangular shape extending along the direction of airflow. More precisely, the flattened tube is a flattened multi-hole tube having multiple passages through which the refrigerant flows.

[0113] The heat transfer tube (42) does not have to have a flared portion (48) at one end. The plate stack (50) does not have to have a connecting pipe (53). One end of the heat transfer tube (42) without a flared portion (48) may be directly connected to the refrigerant flow path (51) of the plate stack (50). In this case, the heat transfer tube (42) and the plate stack (50) are joined to each other, for example, by furnace brazing.

[0114] A header manifold connected to the heat transfer tubes (42) may be provided at the other end of the heat exchanger (40) in the first direction. In this case, a header manifold is provided instead of the hairpin structure of the embodiment described above. The header manifold has a refrigerant flow path formed inside it that communicates with a plurality of heat transfer tubes (42). The header manifold is formed in a cylindrical shape with both axial ends closed. The header manifold is formed in a cylindrical or rectangular shape.

[0115] Although embodiments and modifications have been described above, it will be understood that a variety of changes in form and details are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Elements of the above embodiments, modifications, and other embodiments may be combined or substituted as appropriate.

[0116] The designations "first," "second," "third," etc., mentioned above are used to distinguish between the terms to which these designations are attached, and do not limit the number or order of those terms.

[0117] As described above, this disclosure is useful for air conditioning systems.

[0118] 10 Air conditioning system 11 Refrigerant circuit 20 Outdoor unit 20a Outdoor casing 21 Compressor 22 Outdoor heat exchanger 23 Outdoor expansion valve (pressure reducing mechanism) 24 Four-way switching valve (flow path switching mechanism) 30 Indoor unit 31 Indoor casing 40 Indoor heat exchanger 41 Fins 42 Heat transfer tubes 50 Plate laminate (plate structure) 51 Refrigerant flow path 60 Flow path switching valve 60,80 Regulating mechanism 63 Motor 65 Ball valve (valve body) 80 Bridge mechanism 91 Indoor expansion valve (functional component) B Heat exchanger body CV Check valve P Plate

Claims

1. The system comprises a refrigerant circuit (11) having a compressor (21), an outdoor heat exchanger (22), a pressure reducing mechanism (23), an indoor heat exchanger (40), and a flow path switching mechanism (24), through which the refrigerant circulates to perform a refrigeration cycle; an indoor unit (30) having an indoor casing (31) housing the indoor heat exchanger (40); and an outdoor unit (20) having an outdoor casing (20a) housing the compressor (21) and the outdoor heat exchanger (22), wherein the flow path switching mechanism (24) is configured to switch the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (11) to switch between a first refrigeration cycle in which the outdoor heat exchanger (22) functions as a heat radiator and the indoor heat exchanger (40) functions as an evaporator, and a second refrigeration cycle in which the indoor heat exchanger (40) functions as a heat radiator and the outdoor heat exchanger (22) functions as an evaporator. The refrigerant circuit (11) further includes regulating mechanisms (60, 80) that restrict the direction of the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger (40) in the same direction in both the first refrigeration cycle and the second refrigeration cycle, the indoor heat exchanger (40) includes a heat exchanger body (B) having a plurality of fins (41) arranged in a first direction and heat transfer tubes (42) penetrating the plurality of fins (41), and a plate structure (50) arranged in the first direction alongside the heat exchanger body (B) and forming a refrigerant flow path (51) that communicates with the heat transfer tubes (42), the regulating mechanisms (60, 80) are arranged in the indoor casing (31) such that they overlap with the heat exchanger body (B) and the plate structure (50) when viewed in the first direction, the air conditioning device.

2. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the length (L1) in the first direction of the regulating mechanism (60, 80) is shorter than the length (L2) in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction of the regulating mechanism (60, 80).

3. The air conditioning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow path switching mechanism (24) is arranged inside the outdoor casing (20a).

4. The air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plate structure (50) is positioned between the heat exchanger body (B) and the regulating mechanism (60, 80) in the first direction.

5. The air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the refrigerant circuit (11) has a functional component (91) housed in the indoor casing (31), the functional component (91) is an expansion valve (91), a solenoid valve, or a flow divider, and the regulating mechanism (60, 80) and the functional component (91) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction.

6. The air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plate structure (50) is a plate laminate having a plurality of plates (P) stacked in the first direction, and the plurality of plates (P) is five or less.

7. The air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plate structure (50) is a plate laminate having a plurality of plates (P) stacked in the first direction, and the thickness of at least one of the plurality of plates (P) in the first direction is 3 mm or less.

8. The air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the regulating mechanism (60, 80) is a rotary flow path switching valve (60) having a motor (63) and a valve body (65) that is rotationally driven by the motor (63).

9. The air conditioning device according to claim 8, wherein the motor (63) and the valve body (65) do not overlap when viewed in the first direction.

10. The air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the regulating mechanism (60, 80) is a bridge mechanism (80) having four pipes (81, 82, 83, 84) connected in a bridge-like manner, and a check valve (CV) provided in each pipe (81, 82, 83, 84).

11. The air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the indoor unit (30) is wall-mounted, and the length of the indoor casing (31) in the first direction is greater than the length in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

12. The air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the refrigerant is a non-azeotropic refrigerant.

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