To provide an air conditioning system which simultaneously eliminates shortage
of lubricating oil of a variable displacement compressor and degradation of cooling
efficiency of the system. An air conditioning system is configured to have a variable
displacement compressor under flow rate control by a proportional flow rate control
solenoid valve forming a variable orifice in a discharge-side refrigerant flow
passage, and a constant differential pressure valve for controlling a differential
pressure (PdH-PdL) across the variable orifice, developed depending on a flow rate
Qd of refrigerant, to a constant level, and an expansion valve of a normal charge
type. By providing the expansion valve of the normal charge type, it is possible
to always hold refrigerant at an outlet of an evaporator in a superheated state,
whereby even during low load operation, high cooling efficiency can be maintained.
Further, the proportional flow rate control solenoid valve can be controlled such
that it causes refrigerant to flow at a minimum flow rate required for circulation
of oil in response to an external signal. This makes it possible to prevent the
variable displacement compressor from falling short of lubricating oil during the
low load operation.