CN113316522B - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an air conditioner for a vehicle, which can add insufficient heat during heating without requiring a dedicated heater for heating air supplied to a vehicle interior. In the heat medium circuit (30), the heat medium heat exchanger (23) and the heat medium radiator (16) are connected in parallel with each other, and in the heat medium circuit (30), a flow path through which the heat medium having absorbed the heat released from the electric motor (M) flows is switched to the heat medium heat exchanger (23) side or the heat medium radiator (15) side. Accordingly, the heat released from the motor (M) can be used to fill up the heat that is insufficient in heating the vehicle interior, and thus, a dedicated heater for heating the air supplied into the vehicle interior is not required, and a reduction in manufacturing cost can be achieved.

Description

Air conditioner for vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle, which is applied to a vehicle including an electric motor for running, such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

Background

Conventionally, such a vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve, and is configured to perform cooling, heating, dehumidification, and the like in a vehicle room by supplying air, which has undergone heat exchange with a refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger, into the vehicle room (for example, refer to patent document 1).

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-63055

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In the above-described vehicle air conditioning apparatus, when heating the interior of the vehicle in an environment where the temperature of the exterior of the vehicle is low, such as in winter, there are cases where the heat release amount of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger is insufficient, and the heating capacity is insufficient. In the vehicle air conditioner, an electric heater is provided in an air flow path through which air supplied into the vehicle interior flows, and the vehicle interior is heated to a target temperature by supplying insufficient heat to the electric heater.

The present invention provides an air conditioner for a vehicle, which can add insufficient heat during heating without a special heater for heating air supplied to a vehicle interior.

Technical proposal adopted for solving the technical problems

In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention is an air conditioner for a vehicle including a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve, the indoor heat exchanger exchanging heat between air supplied into a vehicle interior and refrigerant, the air conditioner comprising: a heat medium circuit to which an electric motor provided in a vehicle is connected and through which a heat medium that absorbs heat released from the electric motor flows; a heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit, thereby releasing heat from the heat medium to absorb heat from the refrigerant; and a heat medium radiator that radiates heat by exchanging heat between a heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit and air supplied into the vehicle interior, wherein the heat medium circuit is configured such that the heat medium heat exchanger and the heat medium radiator are connected in parallel to each other, and wherein the heat medium circuit has a flow path switching unit that switches a flow path through which a heat medium that absorbs heat released from the electric motor flows to either the heat medium heat exchanger side or the heat medium radiator side.

Accordingly, the heat released from the electric motor is released to the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit or the air supplied into the vehicle interior, and therefore, the heat insufficient at the time of heating the vehicle interior is filled with the heat released from the electric motor.

Effects of the invention

According to the air conditioner for a vehicle of the present invention, the heat released from the electric motor can be used to fill up the heat that is insufficient in heating the vehicle interior, and therefore, a dedicated heater for heating the air supplied into the vehicle interior is not required, and a reduction in manufacturing cost can be achieved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an air conditioner for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner for a vehicle showing a heat release absorption operation.

Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner for a vehicle showing exhaust heat absorption and battery heating operation.

Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner for a vehicle showing exhaust heat discharge and battery cooling operation.

Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner for a vehicle showing a heat removal and heating operation.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle air conditioner 1 of the present invention is applied to a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, which can run by the driving force of an electric motor.

The vehicle has: an electric motor M for running; and a battery B for traveling as a constituent device for supplying electric power to the electric motor M. The electric motor M and the battery B release heat by use. Further, battery B is required to be used in a predetermined temperature range to exhibit predetermined performance. Therefore, battery B may need to be cooled or heated depending on the temperature of the outside air or the state of use. Battery B is preferably used in the range of, for example, 10 to 30 ℃.

As shown in fig. 1, the air conditioning apparatus 1 for a vehicle includes: an air conditioning unit 10 provided in a vehicle interior of a vehicle; a refrigerant circuit 20 provided across the vehicle interior and the vehicle exterior; and a heat medium circuit 30 through which a heat medium that absorbs heat released from the electric motor M and the battery B flows.

The air conditioning unit 10 has an air flow path 11 through which air supplied into the vehicle interior flows. An outside air inlet 11a and an inside air inlet 11b are provided at one end side of the air flow path 11, wherein the outside air inlet 11a is used for flowing air outside the vehicle into the air flow path 11, and the inside air inlet 11b is used for flowing air inside the vehicle into the air flow path 11. A foot air outlet, not shown, that blows air flowing through the air flow path 11 toward the feet of the passenger, a natural air outlet, not shown, that blows air flowing through the air flow path 11 toward the upper body of the passenger, and a defogging air outlet, not shown, that blows air flowing through the air flow path 11 toward the surface of the vehicle interior side of the front windshield of the vehicle are provided at the other end of the air flow path 11.

A suction port switching damper 13 is provided on one end side of the air flow path 11, and the suction port switching damper 13 is capable of opening one of the outside air suction port 11a and the inside air suction port 11b and closing the other. The suction port switching damper 13 is capable of switching between an outside air supply mode in which the inside air suction port 11b is closed and the outside air suction port 11a is opened, an inside air circulation mode in which the outside air suction port 11a is closed and the inside air suction port 11b is opened, and an inside outside air suction mode in which the outside air suction port 11a and the inside air suction port 11b are opened by being positioned between the outside air suction port 11a and the inside air suction port 11b, respectively.

An indoor fan 12 such as a sirocco fan for circulating air from one end side to the other end side of the air flow path 11 is provided at one end side in the air flow path 11.

A heat absorber 14 as an indoor heat exchanger is provided on the downstream side in the air flow direction of the indoor blower 12 in the air flow path 11, and the heat absorber 14 is used for cooling and dehumidifying the air flowing through the air flow path 11. A radiator 15 as an indoor heat exchanger is provided downstream of the heat absorber 14 in the air flow path 11 in the air flow direction, and the radiator 15 is used for heating the air flowing through the air flow path 11.

The radiator 15 is disposed on one side in a direction orthogonal to the air flow path 11, and a radiator bypass flow path 11c bypassing the radiator 15 is formed on the other side in the direction orthogonal to the air flow path 11. A heat medium radiator 16 is provided between the heat absorber 14 and the radiator 15 on the side orthogonal to the air flow path 11, and the heat medium radiator 16 heats air supplied into the vehicle interior by exchanging heat between the air and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30.

An air mixing damper 17 is provided between the heat absorber 14 and the heat medium radiator 16 in the air flow path 11, and the air mixing damper 17 is used for adjusting the proportion of the air heated by the heat radiator 15 and the heat medium radiator 16 in the air flowing through the heat absorber 14. The air mixing damper 17 closes one of the heat radiator bypass flow path 11c and the heat medium radiator 16 on the upstream side in the air flow direction of the heat medium radiator 16 and the radiator bypass flow path 11c and opens the other, or opens both of the radiator bypass flow path 11c and the heat medium radiator 16, and adjusts the opening degree of the upstream side in the air flow direction of the heat medium radiator 16. The opening of the air mixing damper 17 is 0% in a state where the upstream side of the heat medium radiator 16 in the air flow path 11 in the air flow direction is closed and the radiator bypass flow path 11c is opened, and is 100% in a state where the upstream side of the heat medium radiator 16 in the air flow path 11 in the air flow direction is opened and the radiator bypass flow path 11c is closed.

The refrigerant circuit 20 has: the heat absorber 14; the radiator 15; a compressor 21 for compressing a refrigerant; an outdoor heat exchanger 22 for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air outside the vehicle; a heat medium heat exchanger 23 for exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30; a first expansion valve 24a, a second expansion valve 24b, and a third expansion valve 24c that can adjust the valve opening between full closed and full open; a first electromagnetic valve 25a and a second electromagnetic valve 25b for opening and closing the flow path of the refrigerant; a first check valve 26a and a second check valve 26b for restricting the flow direction of the refrigerant in the flow path of the refrigerant; and a receiver 27 for separating the gaseous refrigerant from the liquid refrigerant and preventing the liquid refrigerant from being sucked into the compressor 21, these members being connected by, for example, an aluminum pipe or a copper pipe. As the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20, R-134a, for example, is used.

Specifically, the refrigerant inflow side of the radiator 15 is connected to the refrigerant discharge side of the compressor 21 to form the refrigerant flow path 20a. The refrigerant flow path 20b is formed by connecting the refrigerant inflow side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22 to the refrigerant outflow side of the radiator 15. The first expansion valve 24a is provided in the refrigerant flow path 20b. The refrigerant flow path 20c is formed by connecting the refrigerant inflow side of the heat absorber 14 to the refrigerant outflow side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22. The refrigerant flow path 20c is provided with a first check valve 26a and a second expansion valve 24b in this order from the outdoor heat exchanger 22 side. The refrigerant flow path 20d is formed by connecting the refrigerant suction side of the compressor 21 to the refrigerant outflow side of the heat absorber 14. A second check valve 26b and a receiver 27 are provided in the refrigerant flow path 20d in this order from the side of the heat absorber 14. Further, the refrigerant flow path 20e is formed by connecting between the first check valve 26a and the second expansion valve 24b of the refrigerant flow path 20c between the radiator 15 and the first expansion valve 24a in the refrigerant flow path 20b so as to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger 22. The first solenoid valve 25a is provided in the refrigerant flow path 20e. The refrigerant flow path 20f is formed by connecting between the heat absorber 14 and the second check valve 26b in the refrigerant flow path 20d between the outdoor heat exchanger 22 and the first check valve 25a in the refrigerant flow path 20c. The second electromagnetic valve 25b is provided in the refrigerant flow path 20f. In addition, the refrigerant flow path 20g is formed by connecting the refrigerant inflow side in the heat medium heat exchanger 23 between the first check valve 26a and the second expansion valve 24b in the refrigerant flow path 23 c. The third expansion valve 24c is provided in the refrigerant flow path 20g. The refrigerant flow path 20h is formed by connecting between the second check valve 26b in the refrigerant flow path 20d and the accumulator 27 to the refrigerant outflow side of the heat medium heat exchanger 23.

The outdoor heat exchanger 22 is a heat exchanger composed of fins and tubes, and is disposed outside a vehicle such as an engine compartment so that the direction of air flow through which heat is exchanged with the refrigerant is directed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. An outdoor blower 22a is provided near the outdoor heat exchanger 22, and the outdoor blower 22a is configured to circulate air outside the vehicle in the front-rear direction when the vehicle is stopped.

As shown in fig. 1, the heat medium circuit 30 includes: the heat medium radiator 16; the heat medium heat exchanger 23; a first heat medium pump 31a and a second heat medium pump 31b for pumping the heat medium; a radiator 32 for exchanging heat between the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 and air outside the vehicle; a first heat medium three-way valve 33a, a second heat medium three-way valve 33b, a third heat medium three-way valve 33c, and a fourth heat medium three-way valve 33d as flow path switching portions; a battery B for vehicle running; and an electric motor M for running the vehicle, these members being connected by, for example, an aluminum pipe or a copper pipe. As the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30, for example, an antifreeze such as ethylene glycol can be used.

Specifically, the heat medium flow path 30a is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow side of the electric motor M to the heat medium discharge side of the first heat medium pump 31 a. The heat medium flow path 30b is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow port of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a to the heat medium outflow side of the electric motor M. The heat medium flow path 30c is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow port of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b to one of the two heat medium outflow ports of the first heat medium three-way valve 33 a. The heat medium flow path 30d is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow side of the heat medium heat exchanger 23 to one of the two heat medium outflow ports of the second heat medium three-way valve 33 b. the heat medium flow path 30e is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow port of the third heat medium three-way valve 33c to the heat medium outflow side of the heat medium heat exchanger 23. The heat medium flow path 30f is formed by connecting the heat medium suction side of the first heat medium pump 31a to one of the two heat medium outflow ports of the third heat medium three-way valve 33 c. Further, the heat medium flow path 30g is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow port of the fourth heat medium pump 33d to the other heat medium outflow port of the first heat medium three-way valve 33 a. The heat medium flow path 30h is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow side of the heat medium radiator 16 to one of the two heat medium outflow ports of the fourth heat medium three-way valve 33 d. The heat medium flow path 30i is formed by connecting the heat medium flow path 30f to the heat medium outflow side of the heat medium radiator 16. Further, the heat medium flow path 30j is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow side of the battery B to the other heat medium outflow port of the second heat medium three-way valve 33B. The heat medium flow path 30k is formed by connecting the heat medium flow path 30d to the heat medium outflow side of the battery B. Further, the heat medium flow path 30l is formed by connecting the heat medium suction side of the second heat medium pump 31b to the other heat medium outflow port of the third heat medium three-way valve 33 c. The heat medium flow path 30m is formed by connecting the heat medium flow path 30c to the heat medium discharge side of the second heat medium pump 31 b. Further, the heat medium flow path 30n is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow side of the radiator 32 to the other heat medium outflow port of the fourth heat medium three-way valve 33 d. The heat medium flow path 30o is formed by connecting the heat medium flow path 30i to the heat medium outflow side of the radiator 32. The first heat medium three-way valve 33a switches the destination to which the heat medium flow path 30b communicates to the heat medium flow path 30c side or the heat medium flow path 30g side. The second heat medium three-way valve 33b switches the destination to which the heat medium flow path 30c communicates to the heat medium flow path 30d side or the heat medium flow path 30j side. The third heat medium three-way valve 33c switches the destination to which the heat medium flow path 30e communicates to the heat medium flow path 30f side or the heat medium flow path 30l side. The fourth heat medium three-way valve 33d switches the destination to which the heat medium flow path 30g communicates to the heat medium flow path 30h side or the heat medium flow path 30n side.

The radiator 32 is a heat exchanger composed of fins and tubes, and is provided adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 22 in the air flow direction.

The amount of heat generated by the electric motor M varies according to the magnitude of the load applied. The electric motor M can change the magnitude of the load to be applied, and can adjust the amount of heat generated by driving.

In the vehicle air conditioner 1 configured as described above, the temperature and humidity of the air in the vehicle interior are adjusted using the air conditioning unit 10 and the refrigerant circuit 20.

For example, in the case of performing the cooling operation, in the air conditioning unit 10, the indoor blower 12 is driven, and the opening degree of the air mix damper 17 is set to 0%. In the refrigerant circuit 20, the compressor 21 is driven with the first expansion valve 24a fully opened, the second expansion valve 24b set to a predetermined valve opening, the first solenoid valve 25a closed, and the second solenoid valve 25b closed.

As a result, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 flows through the radiator 15, the outdoor heat exchanger 22, the second expansion valve 24b, and the heat absorber 14 in this order as indicated by the solid arrows in the refrigerant circuit 20 in fig. 1, and is then sucked into the compressor 21.

Since the opening degree of the air mix damper 17 is 0%, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 does not emit heat in the radiator 15, but emits heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 22, and absorbs heat in the heat absorber 14.

The air flowing through the air flow path 11 is cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerant having absorbed heat in the heat absorber 14, and is blown out into the vehicle interior.

In addition, for example, in the dehumidifying cooling operation for reducing the temperature and humidity of the vehicle interior, the opening degree of the air mixing damper 17 of the air conditioning unit 10 is set to be greater than 0% in the refrigerant flow path of the refrigerant circuit 20 at the time of the cooling operation.

As a result, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 releases heat in the radiator 15 and the outdoor heat exchanger 22, and absorbs heat in the heat absorber 14.

The air flowing through the air flow path 11 is dehumidified and cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerant that absorbs heat in the heat absorber 15, and is blown into the vehicle interior after being heated to the target blowing temperature in the radiator 15.

In the heating operation for raising the temperature in the vehicle interior, for example, the air conditioning unit 10 drives the indoor blower 12 and sets the opening degree of the air mixing damper 17 to an opening degree of more than 0%. In the refrigerant circuit 20, the compressor 21 is driven in a state in which the first expansion valve 24a is opened to a predetermined valve opening degree smaller than the full opening, the second expansion valve 24b is fully closed, the first solenoid valve 25a is closed, and the second solenoid valve 25b is opened.

As a result, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 flows through the radiator 15, the first expansion valve 24a, and the outdoor heat exchanger 22 in this order as indicated by the arrows of the broken lines in fig. 1, and is sucked into the compressor 21.

The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 releases heat in the radiator 15 and absorbs heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 22.

The air flowing through the air flow path 11 of the air conditioning unit 10 is heated by heat exchange with the refrigerant in the radiator 15 without heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat absorber 14, and is blown out into the vehicle interior.

In the vehicle air conditioner 1, for example, when the air outside the vehicle is at a low temperature during the heating operation, there is a case where the heat absorption amount from the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is insufficient, and the heating capacity is insufficient. Accordingly, in the vehicle air conditioner 1, the heat release absorption operation for absorbing the heat released from the electric motor M in the refrigerant circuit 20 is performed in a state where the temperature and the humidity of the vehicle interior are adjusted using the air conditioner unit 10 and the refrigerant circuit 20.

In the exhaust heat absorption operation, the first solenoid valve 25a is opened and the third expansion valve 24c is set to a predetermined valve opening in the refrigerant circuit 20. In the exhaust heat absorption operation, in the heat medium circuit 30, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30c side, the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30d side, the flow path of the third heat medium three-way valve 33c is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30f, and the first heat medium pump 31a is driven while the second heat medium pump 31b is stopped. At this time, the electric motor M is driven to generate the required heat.

As a result, in the refrigerant circuit 20, a part of the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator 15 flows through the third expansion valve 24c and is depressurized as shown in fig. 2, exchanges heat with the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 in the heat medium heat exchanger 23 to absorb heat, flows through the accumulator 27, and is then sucked into the compressor 21.

In the heat medium circuit 30, the heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump 31a flows through the electric motor M and the heat medium heat exchanger 23 in this order as shown in fig. 2, and is sucked into the first heat medium pump 31a. The heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump 31a and flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 is heated by the heat released from the electric motor M, and exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the heat medium heat exchanger 23 to release heat.

The electric motor M is cooled by the heat medium after heat exchange with the refrigerant via the heat medium heat exchanger 23.

In the vehicle air conditioner 1, for example, during the heating operation, the refrigerant circuit 20 absorbs heat released from the electric motor M, and the exhaust heat absorption and battery heating operation for heating the battery B are performed simultaneously.

In the exhaust heat absorption+battery heating operation, in the refrigerant circuit 20 performing the heating operation, the first solenoid valve 25a is opened, and the third expansion valve 24c is set to a predetermined valve opening. In the exhaust heat absorption and battery heating operation, in the heat medium circuit 30, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30c side, the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30j side, the flow path of the third heat medium three-way valve 33c is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30f, and the first heat medium pump 31a is driven while the second heat medium pump 31b is stopped. At this time, the electric motor M is driven to generate the required heat.

As a result, in the refrigerant circuit 20, a part of the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator 15 flows through the third expansion valve 24c and is depressurized as shown in fig. 3, exchanges heat with the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 in the heat medium heat exchanger 23 to absorb heat, flows through the accumulator 27, and is then sucked into the compressor 21.

In the heat medium circuit 30, the heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump 31a flows through the electric motor M, the battery B, and the heat medium heat exchanger 23 in this order, and is sucked into the first heat medium pump 31a, as shown in fig. 3. The heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump 31a and flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 is heated by the heat released from the electric motor M, and releases heat by heating the battery B, and releases heat by exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the heat medium heat exchanger 23.

The electric motor M is cooled by the heat medium after heat exchange with the refrigerant via the heat medium heat exchanger 23.

In the vehicle air conditioner 1, for example, during the cooling operation, the heat released from the electric motor M is discharged to the outside of the vehicle cabin, and the exhaust heat discharge that cools the battery B is performed.

In the exhaust heat discharge+battery cooling operation, the third expansion valve 24c is set to a predetermined valve opening in the refrigerant circuit 20 performing the cooling operation. In the exhaust heat discharge and battery cooling operation, in the heat medium circuit 30, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30g side, the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30j side, the flow path of the third heat medium three-way valve 33c is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30l, the flow path of the fourth heat medium three-way valve 33d is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30n, and the first heat medium pump 31a and the second heat medium pump 31b are driven.

As a result, in the refrigerant circuit 20, a part of the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator 15 flows through the third expansion valve 24c and is depressurized as shown in fig. 4, exchanges heat with the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 in the heat medium heat exchanger 23 to absorb heat, flows through the accumulator 27, and is then sucked into the compressor 21.

In the heat medium circuit 30, the heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump 31a flows through the electric motor M and the radiator 32 in this order as shown in fig. 4, and is sucked into the first heat medium pump 31a. The heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump 31a and flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 is heated by the heat released from the electric motor M, and exchanges heat with the air outside the vehicle to release heat in the radiator 32.

In the heat medium circuit 30, the heat medium discharged from the second heat medium pump 31B flows through the battery B and the heat medium heat exchanger 23 in this order as shown in fig. 4, and is sucked into the second heat medium pump 31B. The heat medium discharged from the second heat medium pump 31B and flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 absorbs heat by cooling the battery B, and releases heat by exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the heat medium heat exchanger 23.

The electric motor M is cooled by a heat medium which exchanges heat with air outside the vehicle via the radiator 32.

The battery B is cooled by the heat medium released in the heat medium heat exchanger 23.

In the vehicle air conditioner 1, for example, when the heating capacity is insufficient or when the driving of the compressor is stopped due to a failure or the like, an exhaust heat heating operation is performed in which the air supplied into the vehicle interior is heated by the heat released from the electric motor M.

In the exhaust heat heating operation, the indoor blower 12 is driven in the air conditioning unit 10, and the opening degree of the air mixing damper 17 is set to be greater than 0%. In the refrigerant circuit 20, the heating operation may be performed or the compressor 21 may be stopped. In the heat medium circuit 30, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30g side, the flow path of the fourth heat medium three-way valve 33d is communicated with the heat medium flow path 30h side, and the first heat medium pump 31a is driven while the second heat medium pump 31b is stopped. At this time, the electric motor M is driven to generate the required heat.

As a result, in the heat medium circuit 30, the heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump 31a flows through the electric motor M and the heat medium radiator 16 in this order, and is sucked into the first heat medium pump 31a, as shown in fig. 5. The heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump 31a and flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 is heated by the heat released from the electric motor M, and heat is exchanged with the air flowing through the air flow path 11 in the heat medium radiator 16 to release heat.

In the air conditioning unit 10, the air flowing through the air flow path 11 is heated by heat exchange with the heat medium in the heat medium heat exchanger 16, and is supplied into the vehicle interior.

The electric motor M is cooled by a heat medium that exchanges heat with air supplied into the vehicle interior via the heat medium heat exchanger 16.

As described above, according to the air conditioner for a vehicle of the present embodiment, in the heat medium circuit 30, the heat medium heat exchanger 23 and the heat medium radiator 16 are connected in parallel to each other, and in the heat medium circuit 30, a flow path through which the heat medium that absorbs the heat released from the electric motor M flows is switched to the heat medium heat exchanger 23 side or the heat medium radiator 16 side.

Accordingly, the heat released from the electric motor M can be used to fill up the heat that is insufficient in heating the vehicle interior, and therefore, a dedicated heater for heating the air supplied into the vehicle interior is not required, and a reduction in manufacturing cost can be achieved.

A radiator 32 that discharges heat from the heat medium to the air outside the vehicle cabin is connected to the heat medium circuit 30.

Accordingly, the heat released from the electric motor M can be discharged from the radiator 32 to the air outside the vehicle cabin without requiring the heat released from the electric motor M, and thus, occurrence of a problem due to the heat of the electric motor M can be prevented.

A battery B that supplies electric power to the electric motor M is connected to the heat medium circuit 30.

As a result, the refrigerant circuit 20 can absorb heat released from the battery B, or the battery B can be heated by the heat released from the electric motor M, and the temperatures of a plurality of devices can be adjusted by one heat medium circuit 30.

In the heat medium circuit 30, a flow path of the heat medium that discharges the heat released from the electric motor M from the radiator 32 to the outside of the vehicle can be set, and a flow path of the heat medium that discharges the heat released from the battery to the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 30 in the heat medium heat exchanger 23 can be set.

Accordingly, the electric motor M and the battery B can be cooled while radiating heat, and thus occurrence of a problem due to heat of the electric motor M and the battery B in an environment where the outside air is high in temperature such as summer can be prevented.

Further, the electric motor M can adjust the amount of heat generation.

Accordingly, the temperature can be reliably adjusted to the set temperature in the vehicle interior by adjusting the amount of heat generated by the electric motor M in accordance with the amount of heat insufficient for heating in the vehicle interior or the amount of suction required in the refrigerant circuit 20.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the battery B is connected to the heat medium circuit 30 as a device requiring temperature adjustment, but is not limited thereto. As a constituent device of the vehicle that needs to be temperature-controlled, for example, a power supply device such as a converter, an electronic component, or the like may be connected to the heat medium circuit 30.

In the above embodiment, the antifreeze is used as the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As long as heat exchange with air is possible in the heat medium heat exchanger 23, water or oil, for example, may be used as the heat medium.

In the above embodiment, the heat medium radiator 16 is disposed on the upstream side of the radiator 15 in the air flow direction in the air flow path 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. The heat medium radiator 16 may be disposed downstream of the radiator 15 in the air flow direction as long as the air flowing through the air flow path 11 can be heated.

In the above embodiment, the heat absorption by the refrigerant in the heat medium heat exchanger 23 is not performed during the heat removal and heating operation, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the exhaust heat heating operation, the second heat medium pump 31B may be driven, and the heat medium heat exchanger 23 may absorb heat released from the battery B.

(Symbol description)

1 An air conditioner for a vehicle;

16 a heat medium radiator;

A 20 refrigerant circuit;

a 21 compressor;

22 an outdoor heat exchanger;

23a heat medium heat exchanger;

24a first expansion valve;

24b second expansion valve;

30 a thermal medium circuit;

32a heat sink;

33a first thermal medium three-way valve;

33b a second thermal medium three-way valve;

33c a third thermal medium three-way valve;

33d a fourth thermal medium three-way valve;

A B cell;

M electric motor.

Claims (5)

1. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve, wherein heat exchange is performed between air supplied into a vehicle interior and refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The air conditioning device for a vehicle includes:

a heat medium circuit to which an electric motor provided in a vehicle is connected and through which a heat medium that absorbs heat released from the electric motor flows;

A heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit, thereby releasing heat from the heat medium to absorb heat from the refrigerant; and

A heat medium radiator that radiates heat from a heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit by exchanging heat between the heat medium and air supplied into the vehicle interior, and heats the air,

In the heat medium circuit, the heat medium heat exchanger and the heat medium radiator are connected in parallel with each other,

The heat medium circuit has a flow path switching unit that switches a flow path through which a heat medium that absorbs heat released from the electric motor flows to either a heat medium heat exchanger side or a heat medium radiator side,

The indoor heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit is a radiator that heats air in a vehicle interior.

2. The vehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

A radiator that discharges heat from the heat medium to the air outside the vehicle cabin is connected to the heat medium circuit.

3. The vehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein,

A battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor is connected to the heat medium circuit.

4. The vehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein,

In the heat medium circuit, a flow path for discharging heat released from the electric motor from the radiator to the heat medium outside the vehicle interior can be set, and a flow path for discharging heat released from the battery to the heat medium in the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit in the heat medium heat exchanger can be set.

5. The vehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

The electric motor can adjust the amount of heat generation.