Patent ID: 7594409

Claim:
A refrigerator comprising: a compressor for compressing refrigerant; a first liquid heat exchanger performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and first liquid heat medium; an expander expanding the refrigerant; a second liquid heat exchanger performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and second liquid heat medium; an air heat exchanger performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and air; a refrigerant flow rate adjuster adjusting refrigerant flow rates in the first liquid heat exchanger, the second liquid heat exchanger and the air heat exchanger; and a controller controlling the refrigerant flow rate adjuster so that the refrigerant flows to the air heat exchanger at a flow rate not lower than a minimum flow rate which prevents stagnation of the refrigerant in the air heat exchanger in a situation where the refrigerant is made to flow to both the first liquid heat exchanger and the air heat exchanger such that the first liquid heat exchanger and the air heat exchanger operate as condensers.