| 摘要 |
Operation switching units (5), each changing directions of a refrigerant flowing through its associated indoor unit (3) in response to a switch from a cooling operation to a heating operation, or vice versa, are each connected with the associated indoor unit (3) through indoor communication pipes (13, 14); a gas-liquid separation unit (4) is connected with an outdoor unit (2) through outdoor communication pipes (11, 12); and the operation switching units (5) are connected with the gas-liquid separation unit (4) through two intermediate communication pipes (15, 16) preinstalled and one intermediate communication pipe (17) newly installed. This provides a simple and cost-effective means for upgrading a preinstalled air conditioner making a switch from cooling to heating, and vice versa, into an air conditioner (1) that can perform a cooling operation and a heating operation in parallel with each other. |
