| CPC F25B 49/022 (2013.01) [F24F 11/36 (2018.01); F25B 41/24 (2021.01); F25B 49/02 (2013.01); F25B 2500/22 (2013.01); F25B 2500/222 (2013.01); F25B 2600/0251 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2513 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2515 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2519 (2013.01); F25B 2700/19 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
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1. An air conditioner, comprising:
an outdoor unit having a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a first pressure sensor disposed at an inlet of the compressor, and a second pressure sensor disposed at an outlet of the compressor;
at least one indoor unit having at least one indoor heat exchanger, in which the refrigerant is heat exchanged, at least one indoor expansion valve that expands the refrigerant by adjusting an opening thereof, and at least one leak sensor that senses leakage of the refrigerant;
a gaseous line that connects the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit and through which gaseous refrigerant flows;
a liquid line that connects the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit and through which liquid refrigerant flows;
at least one first shut-off valve disposed adjacent to the at least one indoor unit that opens and closes the gaseous line;
at least one second shut-off valve disposed adjacent to the at least one indoor unit that opens and closes the liquid line;
a subcooling pipe branched off from the liquid line and connected to an inlet of the compressor;
a subcooling expansion valve that expands refrigerant, flowing through the subcooling pipe, by adjusting an opening thereof; and
a controller configured to control operation of the compressor and to control opening and closing of the at least one first shut-off valve, the at least one second shut-off valve, the at least one indoor expansion valve, and the subcooling expansion valve,
wherein the outdoor unit comprises an outdoor expansion valve disposed in the liquid line and expanding the refrigerant by adjusting an opening,
wherein when the at least one leak sensor senses the leakage of the refrigerant during a heating operation of the air conditioner, the controller is to:
close the at least one first shut-off valve and the at least one second shut-off valve;
expand the opening of the at least one indoor expansion valve and the opening of the subcooling expansion valve; and
expand the opening of the outdoor expansion valve,
wherein when the at least one leak sensor senses the leakage of the refrigerant during a cooling operation of the air conditioner, the controller is to:
close the at least one second shut-off valve,
expand the opening of the at least one indoor expansion valve, and
reduce a frequency of the compressor when low pressure measured by the first pressure sensor is less than a first set value or high pressure measured by the second pressure sensor is higher than a second set value.
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