(19)
(11) EP 1 873 466 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
17.03.2010 Bulletin 2010/11

(43) Date of publication A2:
02.01.2008 Bulletin 2008/01

(21) Application number: 07252602.3

(22) Date of filing: 27.06.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F25B 40/00(2006.01)
F25B 13/00(2006.01)
 F25B 9/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK RS

(30) Priority: 28.06.2006 JP 2006177463

(71) Applicant: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
Minato-ku Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Matsumura, Kenji, c/o Hitachi Appliances Inc.
    Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka (JP)
  • Yokozeki, Atsuhiko, c/o Hitachi Appliances Inc.
    Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka (JP)

(74) Representative: Calderbank, Thomas Roger et al
Mewburn Ellis LLP 33 Gutter Lane
London EC2V 8AS
London EC2V 8AS (GB)

   


(54) Refrigeration cycle and water heater


(57) In order to regulate discharge pressure in a refrigeration cycle without using a tank for regulating a refrigerant, there is provided a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor (10), a condenser (30), a variable pressure reducer (90) and an evaporator (100) are connected in sequence by a refrigerant pipe, wherein an internal heat exchanger (60) which causes heat exchange between a refrigerant which exits from the condenser or a gas cooler (30,200) and a refrigerant which is sucked into the compressor is provided, and the discharge pressure is regulated by changing the refrigerant amount stored in the evaporator by regulating the pressure reduction amount of the variable pressure reducer. Also, it is preferable that the pressure reduction amount of the variable pressure reducer is decreased when the discharge pressure becomes a predetermined pressure or more.







Search report