Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a refrigeration cycle apparatus that adjusts the opening degree of a valve disposed in each of a plurality of refrigerant flow paths passing through a heat exchanger in accordance with measurement results of the temperature near the outlets of the refrigerant flow paths.

<CIT> discloses a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism and a use-side heat exchanger are connected in sequence wherein the refrigeration cycle apparatus further comprises a temperature detection unit that detects temperatures at a plurality of points of a heat exchanger. This document also states a method for generating a temperature map of the vehicle evaporator core which is provided using an active thermocouple array sensor. The active thermocouple array sensor is attached to the HVAC enclosure and is positioned to read the temperature at multiple locations across the evaporator core. A controller generates a temperature map using data collected from the evaporator core by the active thermocouple array sensor. The temperature map facilitates optimization of the evaporator core temperature by the controller.

In such a refrigeration cycle apparatus, in which the temperature of each refrigerant flow path is measured using a contact-type temperature sensor, the number of temperature sensors increases with an increase in the number of refrigerant flow paths, resulting in an increase in cost.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention includes the features of claim <NUM>.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention can reduce cost with the use of a sensor capable of measuring the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths in a contactless manner. Further, the refrigeration cycle apparatus can easily measure the temperatures of the refrigerant flowing through the plurality of refrigerant flow paths.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a second aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the first aspect, in which the flow rate adjustment unit includes a valve whose opening degree is adjustable. The valve is disposed in at least one of the plurality of refrigerant pipes. The control unit is configured to adjust the opening degree of each valve on the basis of the temperatures detected by the temperature detection unit.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the second aspect can appropriately control the flow rates of the refrigerant in the plurality of refrigerant flow paths.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a third aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect, in which the temperature detection unit is configured to detect the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes by performing a surface measurement using an array sensor.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the third aspect can reduce cost with the use of a sensor capable of measuring the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths in a contactless manner.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect, in which the temperature detection unit is configured to detect the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes by performing a line measurement while scanning with a single sensor.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the fourth aspect can reduce cost with the use of a sensor capable of measuring the temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths in a contactless manner.

A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the control unit is configured to control the flow rate adjustment unit so that, when the heat-source-side heat exchanger or the use-side heat exchanger functions as a heat absorber, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a pipe having a relatively high temperature among the plurality of refrigerant pipes increases or the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a pipe having a relatively low temperature among the plurality of refrigerant pipes decreases. The control unit is further configured to control the flow rate adjustment unit so that, when the heat-source-side heat exchanger or the use-side heat exchanger functions as a radiator, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a pipe having a relatively high temperature among the plurality of refrigerant pipes decreases or the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a pipe having a relatively low temperature among the plurality of refrigerant pipes increases.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the fifth aspect can appropriately control the flow rates of the refrigerant in the plurality of refrigerant flow paths.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM> mainly includes a heat-source-side unit <NUM>, a use-side unit <NUM>, and a connection pipe <NUM>. The refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM> is used as a heat pump apparatus. In this embodiment, the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM> is used as an air conditioning apparatus that performs a cooling operation and a heating operation.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM> includes a refrigerant circuit <NUM> through which refrigerant circulates. In the refrigerant circuit <NUM>, a compressor <NUM>, a heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>, an expansion mechanism <NUM>, and a use-side heat exchanger <NUM> are connected in sequence.

The heat-source-side unit <NUM> is a heat pump unit that functions as a heat source. The heat-source-side unit <NUM> mainly includes the compressor <NUM>, a four-way switching valve <NUM>, the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>, a propeller fan <NUM>, the expansion mechanism <NUM>, an accumulator <NUM>, and a heat-source-side control unit <NUM>.

The compressor <NUM> sucks in and compresses low-pressure gas refrigerant and discharges high-pressure gas refrigerant. The compressor <NUM> include a compressor motor 11a. The compressor motor 11a supplies the power required for compressing the refrigerant to the compressor <NUM>.

The four-way switching valve <NUM> switches the connection state of an internal pipe of the heat-source-side unit <NUM>. In the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the four-way switching valve <NUM> achieves a connection state indicated by solid lines in <FIG>. In the heating operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the four-way switching valve <NUM> achieves a connection state indicated by broken lines in <FIG>.

The heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> has a heat-exchanger body 13a that performs heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circuit <NUM>.

In the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the heat-exchanger body 13a of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> functions as a radiator (a condenser). In the heating operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the heat-exchanger body 13a of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> functions as a heat absorber (an evaporator). The details of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> will be described below.

The propeller fan <NUM> forms an air flow that promotes heat exchange by the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>. The heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> performs heat exchange between the air in the air flow formed by the propeller fan <NUM> and the refrigerant. The propeller fan <NUM> is connected to a propeller fan motor 14a. The propeller fan motor 14a supplies the power required to operate the propeller fan <NUM> to the propeller fan <NUM>.

The expansion mechanism <NUM> is an electronic expansion valve whose opening degree is adjustable. The expansion mechanism <NUM> decompresses the refrigerant flowing through the internal pipe of the heat-source-side unit <NUM>. The expansion mechanism <NUM> controls the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the internal pipe of the heat-source-side unit <NUM>.

The accumulator <NUM> is installed in a pipe on the suction side of the compressor <NUM>. The accumulator <NUM> separates a gas-liquid refrigerant mixture flowing through the refrigerant circuit <NUM> into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant and stores the liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant separated by the accumulator <NUM> is delivered to a suction port of the compressor <NUM>.

The heat-source-side control unit <NUM> is a microcomputer including a CPU, a memory, and so on. The heat-source-side control unit <NUM> controls the compressor motor 11a, the four-way switching valve <NUM>, the propeller fan motor 14a, the expansion mechanism <NUM>, and so on.

The use-side unit <NUM> provides cold heat or hot heat to a user of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>. The use-side unit <NUM> mainly includes the use-side heat exchanger <NUM>, a use-side fan <NUM>, a liquid shutoff valve <NUM>, a gas shutoff valve <NUM>, and a use-side control unit <NUM>.

The use-side heat exchanger <NUM> has a heat-exchanger body (not illustrated) that performs heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circuit <NUM>.

In the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the heat-exchanger body of the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> functions as a heat absorber (an evaporator). In the heating operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the heat-exchanger body of the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> functions as a radiator (a condenser).

The use-side fan <NUM> forms an air flow that promotes heat exchange by the use-side heat exchanger <NUM>. The use-side heat exchanger <NUM> performs heat exchange between the air in the air flow formed by the use-side fan <NUM> and the refrigerant. The use-side fan <NUM> is connected to a use-side fan motor 23a. The use-side fan motor 23a supplies the power required to operate the use-side fan <NUM> to the use-side fan <NUM>.

The liquid shutoff valve <NUM> is a valve capable of shutting off the refrigerant flow path. The liquid shutoff valve <NUM> is installed between the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the expansion mechanism <NUM>. The liquid shutoff valve <NUM> is opened and closed by an operator, for example, at the time of installation or the like of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>.

The gas shutoff valve <NUM> is a valve capable of shutting off the refrigerant flow path. The gas shutoff valve <NUM> is installed between the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the four-way switching valve <NUM>. The gas shutoff valve <NUM> is opened and closed by an operator, for example, at the time of installation or the like of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>.

The use-side control unit <NUM> is a microcomputer including a CPU, a memory, and so on. The use-side control unit <NUM> controls the use-side fan motor 23a and so on.

The use-side control unit <NUM> transmits and receives data and commands to and from the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> via a communication line CL.

The connection pipe <NUM> guides the refrigerant moving between the heat-source-side unit <NUM> and the use-side unit <NUM>. The connection pipe <NUM> includes a liquid connection pipe <NUM> and a gas connection pipe <NUM>.

The liquid connection pipe <NUM> mainly guides liquid refrigerant or gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. The liquid connection pipe <NUM> connects the liquid shutoff valve <NUM> and the heat-source-side unit <NUM> to each other.

The gas connection pipe <NUM> mainly guides gas refrigerant. The gas connection pipe <NUM> connects the gas shutoff valve <NUM> and the heat-source-side unit <NUM> to each other.

The refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM> undergoes a change accompanied by a phase transition, such as condensation or evaporation, in the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the use-side heat exchanger <NUM>. However, the refrigerant may not necessarily undergo a change accompanied by phase transition in the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the use-side heat exchanger <NUM>.

In the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the refrigerant circulates in a first direction indicated by an arrow C in <FIG>. In this case, the heat-exchanger body 13a of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the heat-exchanger body of the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> function as a radiator and a heat absorber, respectively.

The high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> passes through the four-way switching valve <NUM> and reaches the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>. In the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>, the high-pressure gas refrigerant exchanges heat with the air, condenses, and changes to high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Thereafter, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant reaches the expansion mechanism <NUM>. In the expansion mechanism <NUM>, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed into low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. Thereafter, the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant passes through the liquid connection pipe <NUM> and the liquid shutoff valve <NUM> and reaches the use-side heat exchanger <NUM>. In the use-side heat exchanger <NUM>, the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant exchanges heat with the air, evaporates, and changes to low-pressure gas refrigerant. In this process, the temperature of the air in the space where the user is located is decreased. Thereafter, the low-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the gas shutoff valve <NUM>, the gas connection pipe <NUM>, the four-way switching valve <NUM>, and the accumulator <NUM> and reaches the compressor <NUM>. Thereafter, the compressor <NUM> sucks in the low-pressure gas refrigerant.

In the heating operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the refrigerant circulates in a second direction indicated by an arrow W in <FIG>. In this case, the heat-exchanger body 13a of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the heat-exchanger body of the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> function as a heat absorber and a radiator, respectively.

The high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> passes through the four-way switching valve <NUM>, the gas connection pipe <NUM>, and the gas shutoff valve <NUM> and reaches the use-side heat exchanger <NUM>. In the use-side heat exchanger <NUM>, the high-pressure gas refrigerant exchanges heat with the air, condenses, and changes to high-pressure liquid refrigerant. In this process, the temperature of the air in the space where the user is located is increased. Thereafter, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant passes through the liquid shutoff valve <NUM> and the liquid connection pipe <NUM> and reaches the expansion mechanism <NUM>. In the expansion mechanism <NUM>, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed into low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. Thereafter, the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant reaches the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>. In the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>, the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant exchanges heat with the air, evaporates, and changes to low-pressure gas refrigerant. Thereafter, the low-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the four-way switching valve <NUM> and the accumulator <NUM> and reaches the compressor <NUM>. Thereafter, the compressor <NUM> sucks in the low-pressure gas refrigerant.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> includes a plurality of heat-exchanger bodies 13a, a plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b, one branch unit 13d, and one temperature detection unit <NUM>. The refrigerant pipes 13b pass through the heat-exchanger bodies 13a. Each of the refrigerant pipes 13b passes through a corresponding one of the heat-exchanger bodies 13a. The refrigerant pipes 13b are each a pipe through which the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged in the corresponding one of the heat-exchanger bodies 13a flows.

The branch unit 13d branches the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit <NUM>, which is directed toward the heat-exchanger bodies 13a, into the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b. In the heating operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the refrigerant flows in a second direction indicated by an arrow W in <FIG>. The branch unit 13d distributes the refrigerant directed toward the heat-exchanger bodies 13a (the refrigerant flowing in the second direction) to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b. To this end, the branch unit 13d is disposed between the expansion mechanism <NUM> and the heat-exchanger bodies 13a. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the heating operation, the flows of refrigerant distributed to the refrigerant pipes 13b and heat-exchanged in the heat-exchanger bodies 13a are joined together in a header 13p, and the joint flow of the refrigerant is delivered to the refrigerant circuit <NUM>.

At least one of the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b includes a flow rate adjustment unit 13c. As illustrated in <FIG>, in this embodiment, each of the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b includes one flow rate adjustment unit 13c. In other words, the number of flow rate adjustment units 13c is the same as the number of refrigerant pipes 13b. The flow rate adjustment units 13c are attached to the refrigerant pipes 13b, for example. The flow rate adjustment units 13c are disposed between the expansion mechanism <NUM> and the heat-exchanger bodies 13a. Specifically, the flow rate adjustment units 13c are disposed between the branch unit 13d and the heat-exchanger bodies 13a.

The flow rate adjustment units 13c are each a mechanism for adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the inside of the corresponding one of the refrigerant pipes 13b. Specifically, each of the flow rate adjustment units 13c includes an electromagnetic valve whose opening degree is adjustable. The flow rate adjustment units 13c are capable of increasing or decreasing the flow rates of the refrigerant flowing through the inside of the corresponding refrigerant pipes 13b in accordance with the opening degrees of the electromagnetic valves.

The temperature detection unit <NUM> detects temperatures at a plurality of points in a contactless manner. Specifically, the temperature detection unit <NUM> detects the respective surface temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b in a contactless manner. As illustrated in <FIG>, the temperature detection unit <NUM> is an array sensor that detects in a contactless manner a temperature distribution in a predetermined detection region R, which is a two-dimensional plane. The array sensor is, for example, a radiation thermometer that measures the intensity of infrared or visible light emitted from an object to measure the temperature of the object. As illustrated in <FIG>, the temperature detection unit <NUM> performs a surface measurement of the surface temperature near the outlet of each of the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b. The outlets of the refrigerant pipes 13b are ends of the refrigerant pipes 13b closer to the header 13p.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> is connected to the temperature detection unit <NUM> and the flow rate adjustment units 13c. The heat-source-side control unit <NUM> automatically adjusts the opening degrees of the electromagnetic valves of the flow rate adjustment units 13c on the basis of data related to the temperatures detected by the temperature detection unit <NUM>. The data related to the temperatures detected by the temperature detection unit <NUM> is, as illustrated in <FIG>, temperatures at respective points in the detection region R. In <FIG>, temperature detection points are arranged in a matrix, and the temperature of each point is represented by a numerical value.

The heat-source-side control unit <NUM> controls the flow rate adjustment units 13c on the basis of the temperatures detected by the temperature detection unit <NUM>. Specifically, the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> adjusts the opening degrees of the electromagnetic valves of the respective flow rate adjustment units 13c on the basis of the data illustrated in <FIG> to control the flow rates of the refrigerant flowing through the inside of the corresponding refrigerant pipes 13b. The heat-source-side control unit <NUM> controls the opening degrees of the electromagnetic valves of the flow rate adjustment units 13c so that the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant pipe 13b having a relatively high temperature among the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b increases or the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant pipe 13b having a relatively low temperature among the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b decreases. Accordingly, the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> can reduce the differences in surface temperature between the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM> includes the temperature detection unit <NUM> that performs a surface measurement of the temperature of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> in a contactless manner. The temperature detection unit <NUM> detects the surface temperatures near the outlets of the refrigerant pipes 13b of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>. The heat-source-side control unit <NUM> predicts the flow rates of the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipes 13b on the basis of the detected temperatures and controls the opening degrees of the electromagnetic valves of the flow rate adjustment units 13c attached to the corresponding refrigerant pipes 13b.

The heat-source-side control unit <NUM> controls the opening degrees of the electromagnetic valves so that, for example, the surface temperatures near the outlets of the refrigerant pipes 13b become uniform. Specifically, the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> controls the opening degrees of the electromagnetic valves so that the temperatures detected by the temperature detection unit <NUM> in the detection region R are as uniform as possible. Accordingly, during the heating operation, the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has passed through the expansion mechanism <NUM> is likely to be equally divided into flows to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b by the branch unit 13d. In other words, the flow rates of the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipes 13b are equal. Accordingly, the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> can suppress the uneven flow of the refrigerant during the heating operation, and a reduction in the performance of the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM> is suppressed.

The measurement of the surface temperatures of the refrigerant pipes 13b using contact-type temperature sensors requires a temperature sensor that is attached to the surface of each of the refrigerant pipes 13b. When contact-type temperature sensors are used, an increase in the number of refrigerant pipes 13b increases the number of required temperature sensors, resulting in an increase in cost. However, the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, which is configured to perform a surface measurement of the surface temperatures of the refrigerant pipes 13b in a contactless manner using the temperature detection unit <NUM>, can reduce the number of temperature sensors and the number of input/output ports of an electric component, and can reduce cost.

In the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, furthermore, the temperature detection unit <NUM> is used to monitor the surface temperature of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> (the surface temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b) in a wide range. Accordingly, the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> detects, based on detection data obtained by the temperature detection unit <NUM>, a decrease in the surface temperature of any of the refrigerant pipes 13b due to the leakage of the refrigerant from the refrigerant pipe 13b. As described above, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus <NUM>, the temperature detection unit <NUM> and the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> is used to identify a failure caused in any of the refrigerant pipes 13b.

Like the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> according to the embodiment, the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> may include a plurality of heat-exchanger bodies. In this case, like the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> according to the embodiment, the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> may further include a plurality of refrigerant pipes that pass through the heat-exchanger bodies, a branch unit that divides the refrigerant into flows to the plurality of refrigerant pipes, flow rate adjustment units attached to the respective refrigerant pipes, and a temperature detection unit. In other words, the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> may have a configuration and functions similar to those of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. In this case, the use-side control unit <NUM> controls the flow rate adjustment units of the refrigerant pipes on the basis of the temperatures of the refrigerant pipes, which are detected by the temperature detection unit of the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> in a contactless manner.

In this modification, only the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> may include a plurality of heat-exchanger bodies, or both the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the use-side heat exchanger <NUM> may include a plurality of heat-exchanger bodies. In this case, a heat exchanger including a plurality of heat-exchanger bodies may have a configuration and functions similar to those of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

This modification is also applicable to other modifications.

The embodiment relates to control of the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> in a case where the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> functions as a heat absorber. However, when the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> functions as a radiator, the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> may perform control different from that in the embodiment. Specifically, the heat-source-side control unit <NUM> may control the flow rate adjustment units 13c so that the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant pipe 13b having a relatively high temperature among the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b decreases or the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant pipe 13b having a relatively low temperature among the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b increases.

The temperature detection unit <NUM> may detect the respective temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b by performing a line measurement while scanning with a single sensor. In this case, the temperature detection unit <NUM> scans a predetermined detection region of the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> along a predetermined path using a contactless temperature sensor to detect the surface temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes 13b. <FIG> illustrates an example of a scanning path S of the single sensor. <FIG> illustrates an example of measurement data obtained by scanning with the single sensor. In <FIG>, the horizontal axis represents the scanning time, and the vertical axis represents the detected temperature. The data illustrated in <FIG> corresponds to a linear expansion of the matrix data illustrated in <FIG> from the right side (the side of the header 13p) to the left side (the side of the flow rate adjustment units 13c) as illustrated in <FIG>.

In the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM>, the number of flow rate adjustment units 13c may be smaller than the number of refrigerant pipes 13b by <NUM>. In this case, the heat-source-side heat exchanger <NUM> includes one refrigerant pipe 13b that does not include a flow rate adjustment unit 13c. The flow resistance of the refrigerant pipe 13b that does not include a flow rate adjustment unit 13c can be adjusted by the design of the flow rate adjustment units 13c of the other refrigerant pipes 13b, for example.

Claim 1:
A refrigeration cycle apparatus (<NUM>) including a refrigerant circuit (<NUM>) in which a compressor (<NUM>), a heat-source-side heat exchanger (<NUM>), an expansion mechanism (<NUM>), and a use-side heat exchanger (<NUM>) are connected in sequence, the refrigeration cycle apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a temperature detection unit (<NUM>) that is configured to detect temperatures at a plurality of points in a contactless manner; and
a control unit (<NUM>), wherein
at least one of the heat-source-side heat exchanger (<NUM>) and the use-side heat exchanger (<NUM>) includes
a plurality of refrigerant pipes (13b) through which refrigerant to be heat-exchanged flows, and
a flow rate adjustment unit (13c) for adjusting a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through each of the plurality of refrigerant pipes (13b),
the temperature detection unit (<NUM>) is configured to detect surface temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes (13b) near outlets of the plurality of refrigerant pipes (13b),
the control unit is configured to control the flow rate adjustment unit on the basis of the temperatures detected by the temperature detection unit (<NUM>) so that the surface temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes : (13b) near the outlets of the plurality of refrigerant pipes (13b) become uniform, and
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to detect, on the basis of the temperatures detected by the temperature detection unit (<NUM>), a decrease in the surface temperatures of the plurality of refrigerant pipes (13b) due to leakage of refrigerant from the refrigerant pipes (13b), to identify a failure caused in the refrigerant pipes (13b).