Patent ID: 8899056

Claim:
An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a first heat exchanger connected to a discharge port of the compressor to function as a condenser; a high pressure piping extending from the first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger via the high pressure piping to function as an evaporator; a low pressure piping connecting the second heat exchanger to a suction port of the compressor; a pressure reducing mechanism arranged to reduce pressure of refrigerant in the high pressure piping; a bypass passageway arranged to divert refrigerant from the high pressure piping to the low pressure piping without passing through the second heat exchanger; a vessel connected to the bypass passageway; a first opening/closing mechanism arranged to open/close a first portion of the bypass passageway that connects the high pressure piping to the vessel; a second opening/closing mechanism arranged to open/close a second portion of the bypass passageway that connects an upper part of the vessel to the low pressure piping; and a third opening/closing mechanism arranged to open/close a third portion of the bypass passageway in order to selectively block the refrigerant that flows from the vessel to the low pressure piping through the third portion, the third portion of the bypass passageway connecting a lower part of the vessel and the low pressure piping separately from the second portion and being provided with a bypass pressure reducing mechanism arranged to reduce pressure of refrigerant therein.