Patent ID: 7434414

Claim:
A refrigeration apparatus which performs a refrigeration cycle by circulating refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit, comprising: an expander, disposed in said refrigerant circuit, for producing power by expansion of high-pressure refrigerant; a first compressor, disposed in said refrigerant circuit and connected to a first electric motor and said expander, for compressing refrigerant when driven by power produced in said first electric motor and said expander; a variable capacity second compressor, disposed in parallel with said first compressor in said refrigerant circuit and connected to a second electric motor, for compressing refrigerant when driven by power produced in said second electric motor; a bypass passage for establishing fluid communication between an entrance and exit sides of said expander in said refrigerant circuit; a control valve for regulating the flow rate of refrigerant in said bypass passage; control means for regulating the capacity of said second compressor and the valve opening of said control valve so that the high pressure of said refrigeration cycle assumes a predetermined target value, wherein said refrigeration apparatus is configured so that: when said control valve is in the fully closed state and the high pressure of said refrigeration cycle falls below said predetermined target value, said control means sets said second compressor in operation and regulates the capacity of said second compressor; and, when said second compressor is in the stopped state and the high pressure of said refrigeration cycle exceeds said predetermined target value, said control means places said control valve in the open state and regulates the valve opening of said control valve.