CN117916120A - Heat accumulation management system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a heat storage management system for switching between a heat storage mode and a heat storage utilization mode of a heat medium circuit, heat storage can be used without waste, frequent switching is avoided, and the switching loss of the heat medium circuit and the adverse effect on the service life of a switching valve are suppressed. The heat storage management system of the present invention includes: a heat storage unit that stores heat or cold generated by a heat source; a heat medium circuit in which the heat medium circulated in the heat medium circuit exchanges heat with the heat storage unit; and a control unit that performs flow path switching between a heat storage mode in which heat is stored in the heat storage unit and a heat storage use mode in which the heat stored in the heat storage unit is used, with respect to the heat medium circuit, wherein the control unit changes one or both of a first switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage mode to the heat storage use mode and a second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage use mode to the heat storage mode, based on the state of the heat storage unit.

Description

Heat accumulation management system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a heat storage management system that appropriately manages heat storage and utilization of heat storage.

Background

Conventionally, a thermal management system in an electric vehicle (EV: ELECTRIC VEHICLE) or the like uses a battery as a heat storage portion while performing temperature adjustment of the battery as a driving power source (refer to patent document 1 below). Heat stored in a battery is used for an air conditioner or the like by exchanging heat between a heat medium circuit for battery temperature adjustment (a so-called refrigerator) and a refrigerant in a heat pump (a refrigerant circuit).

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2014-37180

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In an electric vehicle or the like, a motor for driving, a power supply control unit (PCU: power Control Unit) or the like serves as a heat generating portion (heat source), and waste heat of the heat generating portion is not directly absorbed in a heat pump, but is stored in a battery or the like, thereby improving efficiency of waste heat utilization.

In this way, when the waste heat of the heat generating portion is stored in the battery, the heat medium circuit for regulating the battery temperature needs to be switched between a heat storage mode in which the waste heat is recovered from the heat generating portion and stored in the battery, and a heat storage utilization mode in which the heat stored in the battery is absorbed in the refrigerant circuit and the like for utilization. In this case, in order to avoid wasteful use of the heat storage, the timing of switching needs to be set appropriately according to various conditions.

The switching between the heat storage mode and the heat storage utilization mode of the heat medium circuit is premised on the control of the temperature of the battery within an appropriate temperature range. When the heat stored in the battery is used for heat absorption by the heat pump, if the amount of heat absorption is large, the battery temperature may be drastically reduced. In this case, in order to manage the temperature of the battery within a range of an appropriate temperature, it is necessary to quickly switch to the heat storage mode after switching from the heat storage mode to the heat storage utilization mode. In this case, the flow path switching of the heating medium circuit may be repeated at short time intervals, and switching loss of the heating medium circuit may occur, and frequent switching may adversely affect the life of the switching valve.

The present invention addresses such problems. Namely, the subject of the present invention is: in a heat storage management system for switching a heat storage mode and a heat storage utilization mode of a heat medium circuit, heat storage can be utilized without waste while maintaining the temperature of a heat storage unit within an appropriate management temperature range; by avoiding frequent mode switching, the switching loss of the heating medium circuit, adverse effects on the service life of the switching valve, and the like are suppressed.

Technical proposal for solving the technical problems

In order to solve such a problem, the heat storage management system of the present invention has the following configuration.

A thermal storage management system, comprising: a heat storage unit that stores heat or cold generated by a heat source; a heat medium circuit in which the heat medium circulated in the heat medium circuit exchanges heat with the heat storage unit; and a control unit that performs switching control of a heat storage mode in which heat is stored in the heat storage unit and a heat storage usage mode in which the heat stored in the heat storage unit is used, with respect to the heat medium circuit, wherein the control unit changes one or both of a first switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage mode to the heat storage usage mode and a second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage usage mode to the heat storage mode, based on the temperature of the heat storage unit.

Effects of the invention

The heat storage management system having such a feature can prevent wasteful use of heat storage while maintaining the temperature of the heat storage unit within an appropriate management temperature range, and can prevent frequent mode switching, and suppress the switching loss of the heat medium circuit and the adverse effect of the service life of the switching valve, by changing one or both of the first switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage mode to the heat storage use mode and the second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage use mode to the heat storage mode, based on the temperature of the heat storage unit, when performing switching control of the heat storage mode and the heat storage use mode of the heat medium circuit.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a thermal storage management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow path switching mode of the heat medium circuit (fig. 2 (a) shows a flow path switching mode of circulating between the heat generating portion and the heat storing portion, and fig. 2 (b) shows a flow path switching mode of circulating between the heat storing portion and the heat utilizing portion).

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the control device in the thermal storage management system.

Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a control map provided in a control device of the thermal storage management system (fig. 4 (a) is a control map at the time of heating operation, and fig. 4 (b) is a control map at the time of cooling operation).

Fig. 5 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing switching control at the time of heating operation, and fig. 5 (b) is an explanatory diagram showing switching control at the time of cooling operation.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a main flow of control performed by the control apparatus.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a sub-flow (heating operation time) of the predictive control (stored heat amount optimizing control).

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a sub-flow (at the time of cooling operation) of the predictive control (heat storage unit optimization control).

Fig. 9a is an explanatory diagram of the condition a (step S12). Fig. 9B is an explanatory diagram of the condition B1 (step S13A). Fig. 9 c is an explanatory diagram of the condition B2 (step S13B).

Fig. 10a is an explanatory diagram of the condition C (step S21). Fig. 10b is an explanatory diagram of the condition D1 (step S22A). Fig. 10 c is an explanatory diagram of the condition D2 (step S22B).

Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a system configuration example (heat storage mode (heat quantity) and heat storage use mode (heat quantity)) of the heat storage management system.

Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a system configuration example (heat storage mode (heat quantity) and heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity)) of the heat storage management system.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a system configuration example (heat storage mode (cooling capacity) and heat storage use mode (cooling capacity)) of the heat storage management system.

Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a system configuration example of the thermal storage management system.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings denote the same functional parts, and repetitive description in the drawings is appropriately omitted.

(Basic structure)

As shown in fig. 1, the heat storage management system 1 manages heat and cold generated by a heat source in an EV or the like while storing the heat, and includes a heat generating unit 2, a heat storage unit 3, a heat utilizing unit 4, a control unit 5, and a heat medium circuit 10.

In EV, the heat generating portion 2 may include a motor, a PCU, or the like that generates heat (waste heat) during driving, a heater (PCT (Positive Temperature Coefficient: positive temperature coefficient) heater, or the like) that actively generates heat during heating, or the like. In addition, a heat pump type refrigerant circuit that releases heat from a condenser (radiator) during operation may be used as the heat generating portion 2. The heat generated during the driving of the heat generating portion 2 becomes one of the heat sources in the heat storage management system 1.

The heat storage unit 3 is a portion having a large heat capacity for storing heat generated by a heat source, and the heat storage unit 3 includes a driving battery or the like in the EV. Further, a tank for storing the heat medium may be provided in the heat medium circuit 10, and the tank may be used as the heat storage portion 3.

The heat utilization portion 4 is provided to utilize the heat stored in the heat storage portion 3. The heat utilization unit 4 includes a heat pump type refrigerant circuit that absorbs heat stored in an evaporator (heat absorber), an in-vehicle air conditioner that adjusts the interior of a vehicle, an external heat exchanger that exchanges heat with external air, and the like. Here, the heat pump type refrigerant circuit is one of the heat sources in the heat storage management system 1, and may be the heat generating unit 2 described above or may be a heat utilizing unit.

The control unit 5 performs switching control to switch the flow path of the heat medium circuit 10 from the heat storage mode in which heat is stored in the heat storage unit 3 to the heat storage use mode in which heat stored in the heat storage unit 3 is used by the heat utilization unit 4, or vice versa from the heat storage use mode to the heat storage mode. The control unit 5 includes a control device 100, flow path switching valves V1 and V2 for switching the flow paths of the heat medium circuit 10 by the control device 100, and the like.

The heat medium circulated in the heat medium circuit 10 exchanges heat with the heat source or the heat storage unit 3, and performs each control mode of a heat storage mode in which heat is stored in the heat storage unit 3 and a heat storage utilization mode in which heat stored in the heat storage unit 3 is utilized by the heat utilization unit 4. The heat medium circuit 10 includes heat exchange portions (heat exchangers) 10A, 10B, and 10C for exchanging heat between the heat generating portion 2, the heat accumulating portion 3, and the heat utilizing portion 4 and the heat medium, and includes a pump P for circulating the heat medium.

For example, as shown in fig. 2, switching control of the heating medium circuit 10 is performed. The flow path switching state (control mode) of the heat medium circuit shown in fig. 2 (a) is a heat storage mode (heat quantity) in which the heat generated in the heat generating portion 2 is stored in the heat storage portion 3, and is a heat storage utilization mode (cold quantity) in which the heat generating portion 2 is cooled by the cold quantity stored in the heat storage portion 3. The flow path switching state (control mode) of the heat medium circuit shown in fig. 2b is a heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity) in which the heat stored in the heat storage unit 3 is absorbed in the refrigerant circuit of the heat utilization unit 4, and is a heat storage mode (cold quantity) in which the cold quantity generated by the heat absorption in the refrigerant circuit of the heat utilization unit 4 is stored in the heat storage unit 3.

As the heat storage mode, for example, a refrigerant circuit that releases heat from a condenser (radiator) during operation may be used as the heat generating portion 2, and waste heat during heating operation may be stored in the heat storage portion 3. In the heat storage use mode, the refrigerant circuit may be used as the heat utilization unit 4, the heating operation may be performed by absorbing heat from the heat storage unit 3 by an evaporator (heat absorber), or an external heat exchanger (radiator) that exchanges heat with external air may be used as the heat utilization unit 4, and defrosting may be performed by using heat from the heat storage unit 3.

In the switching control between the heat storage mode and the heat storage utilization mode, the switching control between the heat storage mode (heat quantity) and the heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity) is performed during the air-conditioning heating operation in the EV, and the switching control between the heat storage mode (cold quantity) and the heat storage utilization mode (cold quantity) is performed during the air-conditioning cooling operation in the EV.

Taking the case of being installed in an EV as an example, the hardware configuration of the control device 100 in the control unit 5 is described. As shown in fig. 3, the control device 100 in the thermal storage management system 1 is configured as one ECU connected to various ecus (Electronic Control Unit: electronic control unit) that perform EV control via the in-vehicle network L. The control device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit: central processing unit) 101, a ROM (read only memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory: random access memory) 103, an input/output (interface) 104, an external I/F (interface) 105, and the like, and the respective hardware are connected to each other via a bus.

The CPU 101 executes various programs stored in the ROM 102, thereby executing control of the control device 100 described later. The ROM 102 is a nonvolatile memory. For example, the ROM 102 stores a program executed by the CPU 101, data necessary for the CPU 101 to execute the program, and the like. RAM 103 is a main storage device such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory: dynamic random access memory) and SRAM (Static Random Access Memory: static random access memory). For example, the RAM 103 is used as a work area used when the CPU 101 executes a program. The input/output I/F104 is connected to various sensors and monitors provided on the EV, inputs data to the CPU 101, and outputs data after arithmetic processing by the CPU 101. The external I/F105 controls data transmission and reception with other ECUs set on the EV by being connected to the in-vehicle network L.

The control device 100 executes switching control shown below by a program executed by the CPU 101 by inputting outside air temperature, battery temperature, and the like, or data related to the operation condition of the EV, via the input/output I/F104 or the outside I/F105. In the following description, the battery for EV driving is described as the heat storage unit 3, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

(Control map)

The control device 100 includes, for example, the control map shown in fig. 4. The control map performs initial setting of the control modes based on the state (temperature) of the heat storage unit 3, and in the illustrated example, each control mode is set based on the outside air temperature and the battery temperature input to the control device 100. At this time, a management temperature range is set for the temperature of the battery as the heat storage unit 3, and if the upper limit (for example, 40 ℃) of the management temperature range is exceeded, the heat medium circuit 10 is controlled to cool the battery, and if the lower limit (for example, 10 ℃) of the management temperature range is fallen below, the heat medium circuit 10 is controlled to heat the battery.

In fig. 4, (a) is a control map during heating operation, and is suitable for a case where the outside air temperature is lower than the set upper limit temperature for heating use, and (b) is a control map during cooling operation, and is suitable for a case where the outside air temperature is higher than the set lower limit temperature for cooling use.

The control map shown in fig. 4 (a) is applied when the battery temperature is within the management temperature range during the heating operation, and the control mode of the heating medium circuit 10 is set to the heat storage mode (heat) in which heat is stored in the battery or the heat storage utilization mode (heat) in which heat stored in the battery is utilized, based on the current outside air temperature and the battery temperature.

Similarly, when the control map shown in fig. 4 (b) is applied, the control mode of the heating medium circuit 10 is set to a heat storage mode (cooling capacity) in which cooling capacity is stored in the battery or a heat storage utilization mode (cooling capacity) in which cooling capacity stored in the battery is utilized, based on the current outside air temperature and the battery temperature, when the battery temperature is within the management temperature range.

In this control map, the mode switching region is set so that the battery temperature reaches the target temperature within the management temperature range. The mode switching region is a region between a switching region upper limit and a switching region lower limit, which are an upper limit and a lower limit of a target temperature when the battery is temperature-regulated.

Specifically, the switching region upper limit, which is the battery temperature (target temperature) =the outside air temperature+the first set temperature, and the switching region lower limit, which is the battery temperature (target temperature) =the outside air temperature+the second set temperature, are set according to the outside air temperature. At this time, in the heating operation shown in fig. 4 (a), for example, when the outside air temperature is 0 ℃, the first set temperature is 15 to 20 ℃, the second set temperature is 10 ℃, and in the cooling operation shown in fig. 4 (b), for example, when the outside air temperature is 35 ℃, the first set temperature is-10 ℃, and the second set temperature is-20 ℃.

The mode switching region in the control map is a default value (initial value) at the time of mode switching control, and at this time, the difference between the first set temperature and the second set temperature is set to be, for example, in the range of 5 ℃ to 10 ℃.

When the battery temperature is within the management temperature range, if the current outside air temperature and battery temperature exceed the upper limit of the switching region, the heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity) is set in the control map at the time of heating operation shown in fig. 4 (a), and the heat storage mode (cooling quantity) is set in the control map at the time of cooling operation shown in fig. 4 (b). When the battery temperature is within the management temperature range, if the current outside air temperature and battery temperature are lower than the lower limit of the switching region, the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is set in the control map at the time of heating operation shown in fig. 4 (a), and the heat storage utilization mode (cooling quantity) is set in the control map at the time of cooling operation shown in fig. 4 (b).

In the control map at the time of heating operation shown in fig. 4 (a), the battery temperature gradually increases due to the stored heat when the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is set, and gradually decreases due to the use of the stored heat when the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) is set. In the control map in cooling shown in fig. 4b, when the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) is set, the battery temperature gradually decreases due to the stored heat amount, and when the heat storage use mode (cooling capacity) is set, the battery temperature gradually increases due to the use of the stored heat amount. Therefore, in the case where the battery temperature is within the management temperature range, by setting any one of the heat storage mode and the heat storage utilization mode and maintaining or appropriately switching the control mode thereof, the battery temperature will enter the mode switching region and be adjusted to the target temperature.

Here, the "basic control" and the "predictive control" of the switching control will be described with the threshold value at which the switching from the heat storage mode to the heat storage use mode is performed being the first switching threshold value, and the threshold value at which the switching from the heat storage use mode to the heat storage mode is performed being the second switching threshold value.

(Basic control)

In the basic control, the upper limit and the lower limit of the switching region set as default values in the control map are set as the first switching threshold or the second switching threshold. That is, in the control map at the time of heating operation shown in fig. 4 (a), the first switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage mode (heat quantity) to the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) is the upper limit of the switching region, and the second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) to the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is the lower limit of the switching region. In the control map in the cooling operation shown in fig. 4 (b), the first switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) to the heat storage use mode (cooling capacity) is the lower limit of the switching region, and the second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage use mode (cooling capacity) to the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) is the upper limit of the switching region. At this time, the first switching threshold value and the second switching threshold value are changed according to the change in the outside air temperature based on the control map.

In such basic control, although switching control is possible according to the outside air temperature, control corresponding to various conditions accompanying EV running cannot be performed, and thus control for optimizing heat storage and heat storage may not be achieved. That is, since the amount of heat generated in the heat generating portion 2 (for example, the amount of heat discharged from the motor and the PCU) and the amount of heat absorbed in the heat pump type refrigerant circuit of the heat utilizing portion 4 vary according to the operation condition of the EV, the degree of variation in the battery temperature associated with the heat storage and the heat storage utilization depends on the operation condition of the EV, and in some cases, the switching control cannot be performed at the most appropriate timing in the basic control.

More specifically, when the switching control during the heating operation is taken as an example, the decrease in the battery temperature in the heat storage use mode becomes slow when the heat absorption amount of the heat pump type refrigerant circuit is small, and therefore the switching period between the heat storage use operation of the refrigerant circuit and the external air heat absorption operation becomes long, and when the heat storage is not fully utilized, the destination is reached, and there is a possibility that the heat storage of the battery remains. When the heat absorption amount of the refrigerant circuit is large, the decrease in the battery temperature in the heat storage utilization mode becomes rapid, and therefore, the switching cycle between the heat storage utilization operation of the refrigerant circuit and the external air heat absorption operation becomes short, and the switching loss of the heat medium circuit 10 and the valve life of the flow path switching valves V1 and V2 may be adversely affected. The same applies to the case where the amount of heat generation of the heat generation unit 2 varies according to the operation state of the EV.

In addition, in the basic control, since the switching timing of the switching control corresponding to the operation condition of the EV is not considered, not only is the switching to the heat storage use mode sometimes not performed when necessary, but also sufficient heat is not stored in the heat storage unit 3 even when the switching to the heat storage use mode is desired. For example, since the performance coefficient (COP: coefficient of Performance: coefficient of performance) of the external air heat absorption operation of the refrigerant circuit decreases during EV low-speed running, it is preferable to operate in the heat storage utilization mode, and since the aerodynamic force increases when the grille is closed during EV high-speed running, it is preferable to operate in the heat storage utilization mode in this case, but under basic control, it is impossible to automatically switch to the heat storage utilization mode adapted to the low-speed/high-speed running, and there is a case where insufficient heat storage occurs even if switching to the heat storage utilization mode is attempted.

(Predictive control)

In contrast, the predictive control sets, as initial settings, the upper limit and the lower limit of the switching region set in the control map, predicts the heat storage state of the heat storage unit 3 based on the EV running state, and sets one or both of the first switching threshold value and the second switching threshold value based on the predicted heat storage state of the heat storage unit 3. By performing predictive control, optimization of switching control becomes possible.

More specifically, in the predictive control, a mode switching region (a switching region upper limit and a switching region lower limit) in the basic control is set as an initial setting (default), a battery temperature is predicted based on the operation condition of the EV, a first switching threshold or a second switching threshold is set for a change in the predicted battery temperature, a control mode is switched between the set first switching threshold and second switching threshold, and the battery temperature is adjusted therebetween.

In the predictive control, the following are examples of considerations to be given when optimizing the switching control between the heat storage mode and the heat storage use mode.

(1) The battery temperature is maintained within the management temperature range, and the set control mode can be maintained for a predetermined period of time.

(2) When the regenerative mode is set, the stored heat can effectively raise the battery temperature, and the stored heat can effectively lower the battery temperature.

(3) When the regenerative utilization mode is set, the utilization of the stored heat can achieve an effective decrease in battery temperature, and the utilization of the stored heat can achieve an effective increase in battery temperature.

(4) In the future, the demand for heat storage and utilization will be high.

In the predictive control, the mode switching region in the basic control is set as an initial setting in consideration of such a matter, and the mode switching region is set between the first switching threshold value and the second switching threshold value based on the predicted battery temperature. Then, by changing the first switching threshold value and the second switching threshold value according to the operation condition of the EV, the mode switching region is appropriately changed, and the battery temperature is controlled within the temperature range of the changed mode switching region.

In this case, as shown in fig. 5a and 5 b, the first switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage mode (heat and cold) to the heat storage use mode (heat and cold) may be set to exceed the upper limit of the switching region as a default value, for example, as shown in the drawings, and the second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage use mode (heat and cold) to the heat storage mode (heat and cold) may be set to be set before the battery temperature reaches the lower limit of the switching region as a default value, for example, as shown in the drawings.

As a control example in the case of changing the first switching threshold value from the default value, there are the following cases: in order to suppress an increase in the number of mode switching times in the basic control, the heat storage capacity of the heat storage unit 3 is increased by setting a first switching threshold value exceeding a default value; and a case where the heat generation amount of the heat generation unit 2 is small, and the heat cannot be stored to a default value in the basic control, a first switching threshold value not exceeding the default value is set, and the timing of switching to the heat storage use mode is advanced, so that unnecessary heat storage is suppressed, and the heat storage use is not performed.

In addition, as a control example in the case of changing the second switching threshold value from the default value, there are the following cases: setting a second switching threshold value not exceeding a default value, and switching to the heat storage mode immediately before the heat storage is exhausted in the heat storage utilization mode, so that a proper heat storage amount matching the heat storage utilization timing can be ensured; and setting a second switching threshold value exceeding a default value, delaying switching to the heat storage mode, and when there is no opportunity for heat storage utilization thereafter (for example, when the destination is reached in the vicinity of the destination), optimizing heat storage utilization by using up the heat storage, and the like.

The prediction of the battery temperature performed by the control device 100 may be performed using an existing prediction algorithm such as AI prediction based on various data (e.g., EV operation state data, ambient environment data, a target value of air conditioning control, etc.) input to the control device 100, or large data referenced by the control device 100 via a network.

(Control flow)

An example of a control flow when the control device 100 performs the predictive control will be described. In one control cycle of the main flow shown in fig. 6, appropriate initialization processing is performed after control is started (step S01), and then it is determined whether or not the input battery temperature is within the management temperature range (step S02). When the battery temperature is out of the management temperature range (step S02: NO), it is determined whether or not the upper limit of the management temperature (for example, 40 ℃ C.) is exceeded (step S03), and when the management temperature is exceeded (step S03: YES), a control mode for cooling the battery is executed (step S04). In addition, when the battery temperature is out of the management temperature range (step S02: NO) and the upper limit of the management temperature is not exceeded (step S03: NO), the control mode of heating the battery is executed because the battery temperature is lower than the lower limit of the management temperature (step S05).

When the battery temperature is within the management temperature range (yes in step S02), a control mode (whether a heat storage mode or a heat storage utilization mode is set) is set based on the input battery temperature, the outside air temperature, and the like (step S06). Then, the battery temperature is observed to change in the set control mode, and steps S02 and S06 are repeated until the battery temperature enters the initial setting of the mode switching region (step S07: no), and if the battery temperature enters the initial setting of the mode switching region, the above-described sub-flow of the predictive control (stored heat amount optimizing control) is entered (step S08).

In the sub-flow of the predictive control shown in fig. 7 and 8, after the start of the control, the operation state of the air conditioner is determined, and in the case of the heating operation (step S10: heating), the switching control between the heat storage mode (heat quantity) and the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) is performed, and in the case of the cooling operation (step S10: cooling), in the flow shown in fig. 8 (the flow of "step 1" or less), the switching control between the heat storage mode (cold quantity) and the heat storage use mode (cold quantity) is performed.

In the heating operation, it is determined whether or not the set control mode is a heat storage mode (heat quantity) (step S11), and in the case of the heat storage mode (heat quantity) (step S11: yes), conditions A, B1, B2 for performing predictive control are determined (steps S12, S13A, S B).

Here, the condition a is to determine whether or not the control mode after switching is maintained for a set time, for example, based on the predicted battery temperature. Specifically, as shown in fig. 9 (a), it is currently assumed that the control mode is switched to the heat storage use mode, and the future battery temperature is predicted, and when the battery temperature predicted value after a first set time (for example, about 10 minutes) does not exceed the set switching temperature (yes in step S12), the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is switched to the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) at that point, and the current battery temperature is set as the first switching threshold (heat quantity) (step S14). The set switching temperature here is a temperature that can be arbitrarily set according to the control purpose, and may be the second switching threshold (heat) described above, as an example.

In the condition a, when the battery temperature is switched to the heat storage use mode, it is determined whether or not the heat storage use can be continued for a predetermined time, and therefore, instead of the above determination, it is possible to determine whether or not the predicted time exceeds the first set time (for example, about 10 minutes) by predicting the time until the battery temperature reaches the set switching temperature by assuming that the control mode is currently switched to the heat storage use mode.

When the condition A is satisfied (step S12: YES), the current battery temperature is set as the first switching threshold, but since the timing of satisfying the condition A by predicting the battery temperature is different, the set first switching threshold is changed to a different value according to the future change of the battery temperature.

If the condition a is not satisfied (no in step S12), the routine may be shifted directly to step S15 to continue the current heat storage mode (heat quantity), but if the condition a is not satisfied, the routine may be shifted to step S14 (to switch to the heat storage use mode (heat quantity)) if both the condition B1 and the condition B2 are satisfied (yes in step S13A, yes in step S13B), and if either the condition B1 and the condition B2 are not satisfied (no in step S13A, or no in step S13B), the routine may be shifted to step S15 (to continue the heat storage mode (heat quantity)).

Here, for example, as shown in fig. 9 (B), the condition B1 is to determine whether or not the predicted value of the battery temperature exceeds the set switching temperature after a second set time (for example, about 5 minutes) shorter than the first set time (for example, about 10 minutes) has elapsed, assuming that the control mode is currently switched to the heat storage use mode, and the battery temperature in the future is predicted. If the predicted value of the battery temperature after the lapse of the second set time does not exceed the set switching temperature (step S13A: YES), the first set time cannot be continued after the switching of the control mode, but it can be determined that the second set time can be continued.

Then, as shown in fig. 9 (c), for example, the condition B2 is to estimate the future battery temperature while continuing the heat storage mode (heat quantity), and to determine whether or not the predicted value of the battery temperature after the third set time (for example, about 10 minutes longer than the second set time) exceeds the set non-switching temperature. Here, when the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is continued, it is determined whether or not a sufficient increase in the battery temperature (i.e., the heat storage quantity) is possible, and when a sufficient increase in the battery temperature (heat storage quantity) is not possible (the battery temperature predicted value after the third set time does not exceed the set non-switching temperature) (yes in step S13A), the routine proceeds to step S14 (the heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity)) and when a sufficient heat storage quantity (the battery temperature predicted value after the third set time exceeds the set non-switching temperature) is possible), the routine proceeds to step S15 (the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is continued). The set non-switching temperature here is a temperature that can be arbitrarily set to be less than the first switching threshold (heat amount) according to the control purpose. In addition, the condition B2 may be used as a setting condition of a first switching threshold value for switching solely from the heat storage mode (heat quantity) to the heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity).

Here, also in the case of switching to the heat storage use mode, since the condition B1 is similar to the condition a, it is determined whether or not the heat storage use can be continued for the predetermined time, it is possible to determine whether or not the predicted time exceeds the second set time by assuming that the control mode is currently switched to the heat storage use mode and predicting the time until the battery temperature exceeds the set switching temperature.

When the currently set control mode is the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) (step S11: NO), the second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) to the heat storage mode (heat quantity) may be set by, for example, determining whether or not there is a need for heat storage use in future predictions (step S16).

In this case, the demand for heat storage utilization can be determined by, for example, comprehensive judgment of the following items.

(1) In the future, the air conditioning load increases.

(2) In the future, the waste heat of the heat generating portion 2 is reduced.

(3) In the future, the efficiency of the refrigerant circuit 40 is reduced.

(4) Now, the waste heat of the heat generating portion 2 is increasing.

(5) Now, the air conditioning load is increasing.

(6) The efficiency of the refrigerant circuit 40 is now decreasing.

When there is a demand for heat storage use (yes in step S16), the timing of switching to the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is delayed by making a change to raise the second switching threshold (heat quantity) (step S17A), the timing of switching to the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is advanced, the amount of heat storage for responding to the demand for heat storage use is ensured, and when there is no demand for heat storage use (no in step S16), the timing of switching to the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is delayed by making a change to lower the second switching threshold (heat quantity) (step S17B), whereby power consumption and the like can be reduced by heat storage use.

Then, the changed second switching threshold value is compared with the current battery temperature (step S18), and when the current battery temperature is lower than the second switching threshold value (step S18: yes), the switching to the heat storage mode (heat quantity) is performed (step S15), and when the current battery temperature is not lower than the second switching threshold value (step S18: no), the heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity) is continued.

The control flow for performing the switching control of the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) and the heat storage utilization mode (cooling capacity) shown in fig. 8 is basically the same as the control flow for performing the switching control of the heat storage mode (heat quantity) and the heat storage utilization mode (cooling capacity) shown in fig. 7. In the switching control during the cooling operation, the battery temperature is lowered by the heat storage mode (cooling capacity), and the battery temperature is raised by the heat storage utilization mode (cooling capacity).

In the case of the cooling operation, it is determined whether or not the set control mode is the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) (step S20), and in the case of the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) (step S20: yes), it is determined that conditions C, D1, D2 for predictive control are performed (steps S21, S22A, S B).

Like the condition a, the condition C determines whether or not the control mode after switching is maintained for a set time based on the predicted battery temperature. Specifically, as shown in fig. 10 a, at present, it is assumed that the control mode is switched to the heat storage use mode and the future battery temperature is predicted, and when the battery temperature predicted value after a first set time (for example, about 10 minutes) does not exceed the set switching temperature (yes in step S21), the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) is switched to the heat storage use mode (cooling capacity) at that point, and the current battery temperature is set as the first switching threshold (cooling capacity) (step S23).

In the condition C, since it is determined whether or not the heat storage utilization can be continued for the predetermined time when the control mode is switched to the heat storage utilization mode, it is possible to determine whether or not the predicted time exceeds the first set time (for example, about 10 minutes) by predicting the time until the battery temperature exceeds the set switching temperature, assuming that the control mode is currently switched to the heat storage utilization mode.

If the condition C is not satisfied (no in step S12), the routine may be shifted directly to step S24 to continue the current heat storage mode (cooling capacity), but if the condition C is not satisfied, the routine may be shifted to step S23 (to switch to the heat storage use mode (cooling capacity)) if both the condition D1 and the condition D2 are satisfied (yes in step S22A, yes in step S22B), and if either the condition C1 or the condition C2 is not satisfied (no in step S22A, or no in step S22B), the routine may be shifted to step S24 (to continue the heat storage mode (cooling capacity)).

As shown in fig. 10b, the condition D1 is to determine whether or not the predicted value of the battery temperature exceeds the set switching temperature after a second set time (for example, about 5 minutes) shorter than the first set time (for example, about 10 minutes) has elapsed, assuming that the control mode is currently switched to the heat storage use mode, and the battery temperature in the future is predicted. If the predicted value of the battery temperature after the lapse of the second set time does not exceed the set switching temperature (yes in step S22A), it is determined that the first set time cannot be continued after the switching of the control mode, but the second set time can be continued.

As shown in fig. 10 (c), the condition D2 is to estimate the future battery temperature while continuing the heat storage mode (cooling capacity), and to determine whether or not the predicted value of the battery temperature after the third set time (for example, about 10 minutes longer than the second set time) exceeds the set non-switching temperature. Here, it is determined whether or not a sufficient battery temperature drop (i.e., a cold storage amount) is possible in the continuous heat storage mode (cold storage amount), and if a sufficient battery temperature drop (cold storage amount) is not possible (the battery temperature predicted value after the third set time does not exceed the set non-switching temperature) (yes in step S22A), the routine proceeds to step S23 (switch to the heat storage utilization mode (cold amount)), and if a sufficient cold storage amount is possible (the battery temperature predicted value after the third set time exceeds the set non-switching temperature)), the routine proceeds to step S23 (continuous heat storage mode (cold amount)). The set non-switching temperature here is a temperature that can be arbitrarily set to be less than the first switching threshold (cooling capacity) according to the control purpose.

Here, also in the case of switching to the heat storage use mode, since the condition D1 is similar to the condition C, it is determined whether or not the heat storage use can be continued for the predetermined time, it is possible to determine whether or not the predicted time exceeds the second set time by assuming that the control mode is currently switched to the heat storage use mode and predicting the time until the battery temperature reaches the set non-switching temperature.

When the currently set control mode is the heat storage use mode (cooling capacity) (no in step S20), the second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage use mode (cooling capacity) to the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) may be set by determining whether or not there is a need for heat storage use in future predictions (step S25) in the same manner as in the control during heating operation.

When there is a demand for heat storage use (yes in step S25), the timing of switching to the heat storage mode (cold energy) is advanced by changing the second switching threshold value (cold energy) (step S26A), and when there is no demand for heat storage use (no in step S25), the timing of switching to the heat storage mode (cold energy) is delayed by changing the second switching threshold value (cold energy) (step S25B), whereby power consumption is reduced by heat storage use.

Then, the changed second switching threshold value is compared with the current battery temperature (step S27), when the current battery temperature exceeds the second switching threshold value (step S27: yes), the switching to the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) is performed (step S24), and when the current battery temperature does not exceed the second switching threshold value (step S24: no), the heat storage utilization mode (cooling capacity) is continued.

(System configuration example)

Fig. 11 to 14 show structural examples of the thermal storage management system 1 (1A to 1D). In each figure, a broken line indicates a flow path in a non-use state, a solid line with an arrow indicates a flow path in a use state in which a medium flows in an arrow direction, a gray-filled valve indicates a closed state, and a gray-filled pump indicates a stopped state.

Each of the structural examples shown in fig. 11 to 14 includes a heat pump type refrigerant circuit 40 as the heat utilization portion 4 and an in-vehicle air conditioner 50 for in-vehicle air conditioning. The refrigerant circuit 40 includes a compressor 41, a condenser (heat radiation side heat exchanger) 42, an expansion valve 43, and an evaporator (heat absorption side heat exchanger) 44. In the drawing, a thick solid line with an arrow in the refrigerant circuit 40 indicates a high-pressure side refrigerant flow path through which the refrigerant flows in the arrow direction, and a thick double-dashed line with an arrow indicates a low-pressure side refrigerant flow path through which the refrigerant flows in the arrow direction. The in-vehicle air conditioning device 50 includes a heater core (an internal air heat radiation heat exchanger) 51 and a cooler core (an internal air heat absorption heat exchanger) 52 for heat exchange with air in the vehicle cabin.

The heat storage management system 1 (1A) shown in fig. 11 performs switching control between a heat storage mode (heat quantity) and a heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity) during a heating operation, uses heat storage for heat absorption in the refrigerant circuit 40, and switches the flow paths of the heat storage mode (heat quantity) and the heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity) by the heat medium circuit 10 through the flow path switching valves V01 and V02 constituting a part of the control unit 5.

In the heat storage mode (heat quantity) of the heat storage management system 1 (1A), the heat medium circuit 10 forms a single circuit for circulating the heat medium that exchanges heat between the heat generating portion 2 and the heat storage portion 3, thereby accumulating the waste heat of the heat generating portion 2 in the heat storage portion 3. Further, the heat medium circuit 10 in the heat storage mode (heat) forms another independent circuit for circulating the heat medium between the exterior heat exchanger 11 and the evaporator 44 of the refrigerant circuit 40, thereby causing the refrigerant circuit 40 to perform an external air heat absorbing operation, and heat radiation from the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 is supplied to the heater core 51 as a heat source at the time of the heating operation.

In contrast, in the heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity) of the heat storage management system 1 (1A), the heat medium circuit 10 forms a flow path that bypasses the heat generating portion 2 and the exterior heat exchanger 11, and forms a single independent circuit that absorbs heat stored in the heat storage portion 3 through the evaporator 44 of the refrigerant circuit 40, thereby causing the refrigerant circuit 40 to perform the heat storage utilization operation, and heat radiation from the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 is supplied to the heater core 51 as a heat source at the time of the heating operation. Fig. 11 is a Mo Ruier line diagram showing a comparison between the case where the refrigerant circuit 40 performs the external air heat absorption operation in the heat storage mode (heat quantity) and the case where the heat storage operation is performed in the heat storage use mode (heat quantity). As is clear from the comparison of the morel diagram, the heat storage operation of the refrigerant circuit 40 promotes a low-pressure rise in the heat pump cycle, and reduces power consumption.

The heat storage management system 1 (1B) shown in fig. 12 performs switching control between a heat storage mode (heat quantity) and a heat storage use mode (heat quantity) during a heating operation, uses heat storage as a heat source for direct heating, and switches a flow path between the heat storage mode (heat quantity) and the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) by the heat medium circuit 10 through flow path switching valves V11 and V12 constituting a part of the control unit 5.

In the heat storage mode (heat quantity) of the heat storage management system 1 (1B), the heat medium circuit 10 forms a single circuit for circulating the heat medium that exchanges heat between the heat generating portion 2 and the heat storage portion 3, thereby accumulating the waste heat of the heat generating portion 2 in the heat storage portion 3. Further, the heat medium circuit 10 in the heat storage mode (heat) forms another independent circuit that circulates between the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 and the heater core 51, thereby providing heat radiation from the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 for the outside air heat absorbing operation to the heater core 51 as a heat source at the time of the heating operation.

In contrast, in the heat storage utilization mode (heat) of the heat storage management system 1 (1B), the heat medium circuit 10 forms a flow path bypassing the heat generating portion 2, and forms a separate circuit for passing the heat stored in the heat storage portion 3 through the condenser 42 of the stopped refrigerant circuit 40 and supplying the heat to the heater core 51. At this time, the refrigerant circuit 40 stops the compressor 41. According to this example, in the heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity), the heating operation is performed by using the heat stored in the heat storage unit 3 in a state where the refrigerant circuit 40 is stopped, so that the power consumption of the electric power portion required for the operation of the refrigerant circuit 40 can be reduced.

The heat storage management system 1 (1C) shown in fig. 13 performs switching control between a heat storage mode (cooling capacity) and a heat storage use mode (cooling capacity) during cooling operation, and the heat medium circuit 10 performs switching between a heat storage mode (cooling capacity) and a heat storage use mode (cooling capacity) by means of flow path switching valves V21 and V22 that constitute a part of the control unit 5.

In the heat storage mode (cooling capacity) of the heat storage management system 1 (1C), the heat medium circuit 10 stores cooling capacity in the heat storage portion 3 by connecting a flow path for performing heat exchange with the heat storage portion 3 in series to a flow path for supplying cooling capacity generated by heat absorption of the evaporator 44 of the refrigerant circuit 40 to the cooler core 52. At this time, the heat source of the cooling capacity stored in the heat storage unit 3 is the remaining cooling capacity remaining after the air is cooled by the cooler core 52 during the cooling operation and the set temperature is cooled. The heat medium circuit 10 is a separate circuit that circulates between the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 and the exterior heat exchanger 11, and the refrigerant circuit 40 performs an external air heat radiation operation.

In contrast, in the heat storage utilization mode (cooling capacity) of the heat storage management system 1 (1C), the heat medium circuit 10 forms one independent circuit for connecting a flow path for heat exchange with the heat storage portion 3 in series to a flow path between the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 and the exterior heat exchanger 11, and forms another independent circuit for circulating between the evaporator 44 and the cooler core 52 of the refrigerant circuit 40. According to this example, in the heat storage utilization mode (cooling capacity), the heat storage unit 3 that stores cooling capacity is provided in addition to the heat radiation of the outside air of the exterior heat exchanger 11 as the heat radiation target of the refrigerant circuit 40 that performs the cooling operation, and therefore, as shown by comparison with the morel diagram, the high-voltage drop of the heat pump cycle can be promoted, and the power consumption can be reduced.

The heat storage management system 1 (1D) shown in fig. 14 performs switching control between a heat storage mode (heat quantity) and a heat storage utilization mode (heat quantity) during a heating operation, and the heat generating unit 2 includes two heat generating units 2 (2-1, 2-2) having different heat generation temperature zones, and the heat medium circuit 10 includes two heat medium circuits 10 (10-1, 10-2) having a high temperature side and a low temperature side. Then, the high-temperature side heat medium circuit 10 (10-1) performs flow switching between the heat storage mode (heat quantity) and the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) by the flow switching valves V31 and V32 which are part of the control unit 5, and the low-temperature side heat medium circuit 10 (10-2) performs flow switching between the heat storage mode (heat quantity) and the heat storage use mode (heat quantity) by the flow switching valves V33 and V34 which are part of the control unit 5.

In the heat storage mode (heat) of the heat medium circuit 10 (10-1) on the high temperature side, as shown in the figure, a single circuit in which the heat medium exchanges heat between the condenser 42 and the heater core 51 of the refrigerant circuit 40 is formed; and another independent circuit in which the heat medium exchanges heat between the heat generating portion 2 (2-1) and the heat accumulating portion 3 (3-1). In addition, in the heat storage mode (heat), the low-temperature side heat medium circuit 10 (10-2) forms a separate circuit in which the heat medium exchanges heat between the evaporator 44 of the refrigerant circuit 40 and the exterior heat exchanger 11, as shown in the drawing; and another independent circuit in which the heat medium exchanges heat between the heat generating portion 2 (2-2) and the heat accumulating portion 3 (3-2).

Thus, in the heat storage mode (heat quantity) of the heat storage management system 1 (1D), the heat medium circuit 10 (10-1) on the high temperature side stores the waste heat of the heat generating portion 2 (2-1) in the heat storage portion 3 (3-1), and simultaneously, heat radiation is provided from the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 to the heater core 51, and the heat medium circuit 10 (10-2) on the low temperature side stores the waste heat of the heat generating portion 2 (2-2) in the heat storage portion 3 (3-3) while the refrigerant circuit 40 is operated to absorb heat from the outside air.

The heat storage utilization mode of the heat storage management system 1 (1D) has three control modes depending on how the heat storage sections 3 (3-1, 3-2) of the two systems are used. One of the control modes is to put the high-temperature side heating medium circuit 10 (10-1) into a heat storage mode, and to switch the low-temperature side heating medium circuit 10 (10-2) to the heat storage utilization mode shown in fig. 11 as well, so that heat radiation from the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 performing the heat storage utilization operation is supplied to the heater core 51.

As another control mode, the refrigerant circuit 40 is stopped, and the high-temperature side heat medium circuit 10 (10-1) is similarly switched to the heat storage utilization mode of fig. 12, so that the heating operation is performed using only the heat stored in the heat storage portion 3 (3-1). As still another control mode, the high-temperature side heat medium circuit 10 (10-1) is similarly switched to the heat storage utilization mode of fig. 12, and the low-temperature side heat medium circuit 10 (10-2) is similarly switched to the heat storage utilization mode of fig. 11, so that the heat stored in the heat storage portion 3 (3-1) is added to the heat radiation of the condenser 42 of the refrigerant circuit 40 and supplied to the heater core 51 while the refrigerant circuit 40 is subjected to the heat storage utilization operation. In the heat storage utilization mode of the heat management system 1 (1D), an appropriate control mode is selected according to the target temperature at the time of heating operation and the heat storage state of the heat storage unit 3 (3-1, 3-2).

In the above description of the circuits of the thermal management system 1 (1A, 1B, 1D), the case where the heat medium circuit 10 is a flow path bypassing the heat generating portion 2 in the heat storage use mode has been described, but a flow path state may be adopted in which the flow path does not bypass. In this case, heat generated by the heat generating portion 2 and heat stored by the heat storing portion 3 are absorbed by the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 40.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention is also included in the present invention even if there are design changes and the like within the scope of the gist of the present invention. In addition, the above embodiments can be combined by changing the techniques of each other as long as the purpose, structure, and the like thereof do not particularly contradict or cause problems.

Description of the reference numerals

1 (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D): a heat storage management system, wherein,

2 (2-1,2-2): A heating part, a heating part and a heating part,

3 (3-1,3-2): A heat storage part, a heat storage part and a heat storage part,

4: A heat utilization part, which is used for heat utilization,

5: The control part is used for controlling the control part to control the control part,

10 (10-1, 10-2): The heat medium loop is provided with a heat medium,

10A,10b,10c: a heat exchange portion (heat exchanger),

40: A refrigerant circuit, wherein the refrigerant circuit is connected with the air conditioner,

41: The air flow of the compressor is controlled by the air flow,

42: The condenser is provided with a plurality of air inlets,

43: An expansion valve is provided with a valve body,

44: The evaporator is provided with a plurality of air inlets,

50: An air conditioning device in a carriage,

51: The core of the heater is provided with a plurality of air channels,

52: The core of the cooler is provided with a cooling device,

100: The control device is used for controlling the control device,

101：CPU，

102：ROM，

103：RAM，

104: The input/output I/F is provided,

105: An external I/F (interface),

P: the pump is used for controlling the flow of air,

V1, V2, V01, V02, V11, V12, V21, V22, V31, V32, V33, V34: a flow path switching valve,

L: and an on-board network.

Claims (12)

1. A thermal storage management system, comprising:

a heat storage unit that stores heat or cold generated by the heat source;

a heat medium circuit in which the heat medium circulated in the heat medium circuit exchanges heat with the heat storage unit; and

A control unit that performs switching control between a heat storage mode in which heat is stored in the heat storage unit and a heat storage utilization mode in which heat stored in the heat storage unit is utilized in the heat medium circuit, the heat storage management system being characterized in that,

The control unit changes one or both of a first switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage mode to the heat storage use mode and a second switching threshold value for switching from the heat storage use mode to the heat storage mode, based on the temperature of the heat storage unit.

2. The thermal storage management system as defined in claim 1, wherein,

The control unit sets a control mode to the heat storage mode or the heat storage utilization mode based on an outside air temperature and a temperature of the heat storage unit when the temperature of the heat storage unit is within a management temperature range,

A mode switching region for performing the switching control is set between the first switching threshold and the second switching threshold.

3. The thermal storage management system as defined in claim 2, wherein,

The control portion predicts a temperature of the heat storage portion in the heat storage mode or the heat storage utilization mode,

And changing the first switching threshold value or the second switching threshold value based on the predicted temperature of the heat storage portion.

4. The thermal storage management system as defined in claim 3, wherein,

The control unit changes the first switching threshold or the second switching threshold based on the predicted temperature of the heat storage unit so that the control mode after switching can be maintained for a set time.

5. The thermal storage management system as defined in claim 4, wherein,

The control unit predicts the temperature of the heat storage unit after a set time by switching to the heat storage use mode, and sets the current temperature of the heat storage unit to the first switching threshold value when the predicted temperature of the heat storage unit does not exceed a set switching temperature.

6. The thermal storage management system as defined in claim 3, wherein,

The control unit predicts the temperature of the heat storage unit after a set time while continuing the heat storage mode, and sets the current temperature of the heat storage unit to the first switching threshold value when the predicted temperature of the heat storage unit does not exceed a set non-switching temperature.

7. The thermal storage management system as defined in claim 2, wherein,

The control unit predicts a time until the set switching temperature is reached in the control mode after switching based on the current temperature of the heat storage unit, and sets the current temperature of the heat storage unit as the first switching threshold when the predicted time exceeds the set time.

8. The thermal storage management system as defined in claim 4, wherein,

The control unit switches to the heat storage use mode and predicts the temperature of the heat storage unit after a first set time, and when the predicted temperature of the heat storage unit exceeds a set switching temperature,

When the heat storage mode is switched to the heat storage utilization mode and the predicted temperature of the heat storage portion after a second set time shorter than the first set time does not exceed the set switching temperature, and when the heat storage mode is continued and the predicted temperature of the heat storage portion after a third set time does not exceed a set non-switching temperature,

And setting the current temperature of the heat storage part as the first switching threshold value.

9. The thermal storage management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein,

The control unit predicts a heat storage utilization demand, and changes the first switching threshold or the second switching threshold based on the prediction result.

10. The thermal storage management system as defined in claim 9, wherein,

And changing the second switching threshold value to accelerate the transition from the heat storage utilization mode to the heat storage mode when the heat storage utilization demand is predicted.

11. The thermal storage management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein,

The heat source includes an electric motor for driving an electric vehicle,

The heat storage portion includes a battery that supplies power to the motor.

12. The thermal storage management system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein,

The heat source comprises a heat pump type refrigerant loop,

The heat medium loop comprises a heat exchanger, and the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant loop and the heat medium circulating in the heat medium loop exchange heat in the heat exchanger.