Hitachi, Ltd.

Yasuo Minoshima

Seigo Miyamoto

Toshiharu Matsuda

In an air conditioning system including a compressor, a condenser for condensing a refrigerant through heat exchange with outdoor air, an expansion valve, an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant through heat exchange with air to be conditioned, and piping connecting these parts together to form a closed main circuit for the refrigerant, there is provided a bypass circuit connecting a point in the main circuit between the condenser and expansion valve to a point in the main circuit between the evaporator and compressor. The bypass circuit includes a relief valve adapted to open when the internal pressure of the condenser in the main circuit exceeds a predetermined level, pressure reducing means, and a heat exchanger for causing heat exchange to take place directly between the refrigerant in a high pressure section of the main circuit and the refrigerant having its pressure reduced by the pressure reducing means whereby an inordinate rise in the pressure of the refrigerant in the high pressure section of the main circuit due to a lowering in the capability of the condenser can be prevented.

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Yamaguchi, Japan

Yasuo Minoshima