DE102018211559A1 - Vehicle with an air conditioning device for heating or cooling an electrical energy store - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (10) with an air conditioning device (1), comprising an air conditioning unit (2) which is connected to a vehicle interior (11) via at least one interior air duct (12) for supplying a conditioned supply air flow (L2) an electrical heating element (2.1) arranged in the interior air duct (12), a cooling module (3) arranged in a cooling module air duct (13) for applying an ambient air flow (L4) to the vehicle (10), an exhaust air duct (14) which connects the interior air duct (12) downstream of the electrical heating element (2.1) to the cooling module air duct (13) upstream of the cooling module (3), a control device (4) for controlling one through the exhaust duct (14) into the cooling module air duct ( 13) flowing exhaust air flow (L3), and an electrical energy store (5), which is used for heating or cooling by means of a coolant circuit Islaufs (6) is thermally coupled to the cooling module (3).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle with an air conditioning device

For the indoor air conditioning of electric vehicles, they are equipped with electric refrigerant compressors or electric heat pump systems as well as electric heating elements (e.g. high-voltage PTCs or so-called high-voltage heaters). Depending on the outside temperature, the vehicle interior is supplied with cooling or heating power, the efficiency of the interior air conditioning directly influencing the vehicle's energy consumption and thus the range of electric vehicles.

Efficiency-optimized interior air conditioning for electric vehicles currently consists of heat pump systems combined with electrical heating elements.

When heating, the outside air is passed through a heating heat exchanger and heated. The heat in the heating circuit is provided electrically, i.e. by means of a high-voltage heater and / or by means of a heat pump function. Alternatively, there are also high-voltage heaters that are integrated directly in the air gap and heat the air directly.

Furthermore, in the case of pure electric vehicles, the electrical range is determined in particular in winter by the battery temperature of the traction battery. This can mean that particularly low temperatures, for example below 50 ° C, are no longer possible to start the vehicle. To rule out such an event, it is known to additionally provide an electric heating element (for example high-voltage PTCs or so-called high-voltage heaters) in a coolant circuit of the traction batteries, for example a water circuit, with which the traction battery can be heated. The disadvantage of such an use of an additional electrical heating element is the short service life over the life of the vehicle and therefore represents an inefficient use of materials.

From the DE 10 2011 008 551 A1 a device for ventilating an electrical energy storage device of a vehicle is known. This device comprises an air conditioning module, by means of which a passenger compartment can be air-conditioned, a cold air duct and a warm air duct for supplying an air scoop of the energy store with tempered air. A temperature-controlled air flow is fed to the energy store by means of an air mixing device which is connected to the cold air duct on the air inlet side and to the air scoop on the air outlet side.

Furthermore describes the DE 195 34 427 a device for air conditioning a battery of an electric vehicle, in which the battery consisting of individual modules is arranged in a housing system and the individual modules are acted upon by an air flow generated by a blower. Below a first temperature threshold, the air in the housing system is used to air-condition the battery, while above the temperature threshold, cooling air is supplied to the housing system from the outside.

In the case of an air conditioning unit for conditioning a supply air flow led into the passenger cell, according to the DE 10 2008 045 407 A1 an air duct is provided with which part of the supply air flow is supplied to a battery. Part of the supply air flow is thus used for heating or cooling the passenger compartment, while the remaining part of the supply air flow is applied to the battery.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle with an improved air conditioning device, with which not only an efficient air conditioning of the passenger compartment is achieved, but also the energy store can be heated efficiently, in particular at low ambient temperatures of the vehicle.

This object is achieved by a vehicle with an air conditioning device with the features of patent claim 1

• - ein Klimagerät, welches mit einem Fahrzeuginnenraum über wenigstens einen Innenraum-Luftführungskanal zum Zuführen eines konditionierten Zuluftstromes verbunden ist,
• - ein in dem Innenraum-Luftführungskanal angeordnetes elektrisches Heizelement,
• - ein in einem Kühlmodul-Luftführungskanal angeordnetes Kühlmodul zum Beaufschlagen mit einem Umgebungsluftstrom des Fahrzeugs,
• - einen Abluftführungskanal, welcher den Innenraum-Luftführungskanal stromabwärts des elektrischen Heizelementes mit dem Kühlmodul-Luftführungskanal stromaufwärts des Kühlmoduls verbindet,
• - eine Steuervorrichtung zum Steuern eines durch den Abluftführungskanal in den Kühlmodul-Luftführungskanal strömenden Abluftstroms, und
• - einen elektrischen Energiespeicher, welcher zum Erwärmen oder Kühlen mittels eines Kühlmittelkreislaufs mit dem Kühlmodul thermisch gekoppelt ist.

Such a vehicle with an air conditioning device comprises:

• an air conditioner which is connected to a vehicle interior via at least one interior air duct for supplying a conditioned supply air flow,
• an electric heating element arranged in the interior air duct,
• a cooling module arranged in a cooling module air duct for applying an ambient air flow to the vehicle,
• an exhaust air duct which connects the interior air duct downstream of the electrical heating element with the cooling module air duct upstream of the cooling module,
• a control device for controlling an exhaust air flow flowing through the exhaust air duct into the cooling module air duct, and
• - an electrical energy store which is thermally coupled to the cooling module for heating or cooling by means of a coolant circuit.

In this air conditioning device, downstream of an electrical heating element installed on the air side of the air conditioning unit, which is standard in electric vehicles for heating the vehicle interior, an exhaust air duct is branched off as an “air side connection” from the air conditioning unit to an inflow region of a cooling module arranged in a cooling module air duct. The temperature at the cooling module can thus be adjusted by means of the control device by mixing the ambient air flow led into the cooling module air duct with the air heated by means of the electrical heating element and via the exhaust air duct. Since the cooling module is thermally coupled to a coolant circuit of the electrical energy store, that is to say the traction battery of the vehicle, the heat from the air heated by the electrical heating element can be released to the liquid-cooled electrical energy store, for example by means of a heat pump function. The use of a coolant circuit is the most efficient method for conditioning the electrical energy store, in particular compared to cooling or heating by means of an air stream.

The most important advantage is therefore that a component already present in electric vehicles, namely the electric heating element used as an electrical auxiliary heater, is used not only to heat the vehicle interior but also to heat the electrical energy store as required, especially before starting the vehicle. This leads to a significant cost and efficiency advantage, since no additional heating element is required for the coolant circuit of the electrical energy store.

The exhaust air duct creates a direct air connection between the air conditioner and the cooling module. At the same time, the cooling module can be flexibly accommodated in fully electrified vehicles, for example advantageously in the front end, so that only a small distance has to be bridged for this air-carrying connection. In addition to the air-leading connection to the cooling module, only the control device, designed, for example, as a controllable flap, is required.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that the cooling module air duct has an air inlet opening for the entry of the ambient air flow and an air outlet opening for the exit of the ambient air flow and the exhaust air flow.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cooling module has an air-coolant heat exchanger, which is thermally coupled to the coolant circuit of the electrical energy store. This leads to a structurally simple construction of the cooling module together with the coolant circuit of the electrical energy store.

It is particularly advantageous if, according to a further development, the cooling module has an air-conditioning heat exchanger for performing a cooling operation or for performing a heating operation by means of a heat pump function using the ambient air flow and / or the exhaust air flow as a heat source. This means that the conditioning of the electrical energy store can be implemented even more efficiently than using only an air cooling heat exchanger. The coolant circuit preferably has a chiller, which is thermally coupled to the air-conditioning heat exchanger for carrying out a heating operation for heating the electrical energy store.

In a last advantageous development of the invention, the ambient air flow entering the cooling module air duct is controllable by means of a control device. In this way, the degree of mixing of the heated air flow from the air conditioning unit to the cooling module can be adjusted with the ambient air flow.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Fahrzeugs mit einer Klimatisierungsvorrichtung,
• 2 ein schematisches Teilschaltbild einer Ausführungsform der Klimatisierungsvorrichtung des Fahrzeugs nach 1, und
• 3 ein schematisches Teilschaltbild einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Klimatisierungsvorrichtung des Fahrzeugs nach 1.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. Show:

• 1 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with an air conditioning device,
• 2 is a schematic partial circuit diagram of an embodiment of the air conditioning device of the vehicle 1 , and
• 3 is a schematic partial circuit diagram of a further embodiment of the air conditioning device of the vehicle 1 ,

The 1 shows as a vehicle 10 a pure electric vehicle with one in the area of its front end 10.1 in a cooling module air duct 13 arranged cooling module 3 an air conditioning device 1 , A detail of the air conditioning device 1 with a refrigerant circuit 1.1 and a coolant circuit 6 for an electrical energy storage 5 , which is used as a traction battery for an electric drive of the electric vehicle, show the 2 and 3 , The electrical energy storage 5 is for Temperature conditioning via thermal coupling 5.1 with the cooling module 3 coupled.

The air conditioning device 1 includes a known in the art and in the vehicle 10 arranged air conditioner 2 for conditioning one of the air conditioner 2 supplied airflow L1 , This airflow L1 consists of either a fresh air duct 15 supplied fresh air flow L0 , one via an air duct 16 supplied circulating air flow L20 from the vehicle interior 11 or from a mixture of fresh and recirculated air.

This air conditioner 2 includes an evaporator 2.2 for cooling and dehumidifying the supplied air flow L1 and an electric heating element designed as a high-voltage heater 2.1 for direct heating of the supply air flow L1 , which is a conditioned airflow L6 the air conditioner 2 into an indoor air duct 12 leaves.

This indoor air duct 12 ends starting from the air conditioner 2 in the vehicle interior 11 , Furthermore branches downstream of the electrical heating element 2.1 an exhaust air duct 14 from which in a cooling module 3 having cooling module air duct 13 which ends in the front end 10.1 of the vehicle 10 in the area of its underbody 10.2 is arranged.

By means of a in the area of the branch to the exhaust air duct 14 arranged control device 4 that as a pivoting flap 4.1 the air conditioner 2 leaving conditioned airflow L6 in the supply air flow L2 for the vehicle interior 11 and into an exhaust air stream L3 for the cooling module air duct 13 to be shared. In an end position I the flap 4.1 becomes the interior air duct 12 completely closed, causing the conditioned airflow L6 as exhaust air flow L3 completely into the exhaust air duct 14 is directed. In an end position II the flap 4.1 becomes the exhaust air duct 14 completely closed, causing the conditioned airflow L6 as supply air flow L2 completely in the vehicle interior 11 flows. With a corresponding intermediate position of the flap 4.1 can do any split of the conditioned airflow L6 in the supply air flow L2 and the exhaust air flow L3 can be set. To control the control device 4 to adjust the swiveling flap 4.1 becomes, for example, the climate control device of the air conditioning device 1 used.

The cooling module 3 comprises an air-coolant heat exchanger designed as a low-temperature cooler 3.1 , a climate heat exchanger 3.2 and a radiator fan 3.3 , with which the cooling module air duct 13 supplied air is sucked in.

The exhaust air duct 14 ends upstream in front of the cooling module 3 in the cooling module air duct 13 so that the cooling module 3 not just an ambient air flow L4 but also the exhaust air flow L3 from the air conditioner 2 or the interior air duct 12 is fed. The ambient air flow L4 is about one in the underbody 10.2 of the vehicle 10 arranged air inlet opening 13.1 the cooling module air duct 13 supplied, the air inlet by means of a control device designed, for example, as a blind 13.3 is controllable.

The cooling module 3 supplied air flow, which is made up of different proportions from the exhaust air flow L3 and the ambient air flow L4 (including the exhaust air duct 14 or the cooling air inlet by means of the control device 4 or 13.3 can be closed completely) is called the outlet air flow L5 over one in the underbody 10.2 arranged cooling air outlet 13.2 of the cooling module air duct 13 released to the vehicle environment.

The air conditioning heat exchanger 3.2 of the cooling module 3 is in a refrigerant cycle 1.1 (see. 2 and 3 ) of the air conditioning device 1 arranged, which also with the evaporator 2.2 of the air conditioner 2 is fluid-connected. This air conditioning heat exchanger 3.2 is either a capacitor for AC operation of the air conditioning device 1 both for cooling and dehumidifying the air flow L1 as well as for cooling the electrical energy store 5 or as a heat pump evaporator for heating operation of the air conditioning device 1 both for heating the air flow L1 as well as for heating the electrical energy storage 5 operated.

Absence of heat sources for the heating operation of the air conditioning device carried out by means of the heat pump function 1 this will be in the interior air duct 12 arranged electric heating element 2.1 used to the vehicle interior 11 by means of the heated supply air flow L2 to heat and indirectly via the heated exhaust air flow L3 also the electrical energy storage 5 to warm up. This will depend on the position of the flap 4.1 as a heat source from the conditioned air flow L6 branched exhaust air flow L3 , which depends on the position of the control device 13.3 an ambient air flow L4 is admixed, either for one by means of the air conditioning heat exchanger 3.2 heat pump function to be performed or for direct heating of the coolant circuit 6 of the electrical energy storage 5 by means of the air heat exchanger 3.1 used.

The use of the heat pump function for the temperature conditioning of the electrical energy storage 5 is based on 2 explained. The temperature conditioning of the electrical energy storage 5 can also be done directly using the air-coolant heat exchanger 3.1 be carried out as shown by 3 is described.

The 2 shows part of the air conditioning device 1 with a highly abstracted refrigerant circuit 1.1 which with the air conditioning heat exchanger 3.2 of the cooling module 3 , a refrigerant compressor 1.2 , an expansion device designed as an expansion valve 1.3 and a chiller 7 is constructed. The chiller 7 thermally couples the refrigerant circuit 1.1 with the coolant circuit 6 , which in turn with the electrical energy storage 5 is thermally coupled. Water is used as a coolant, for example.

In heat pump operation for heating the energy storage 5 becomes one from the exhaust air flow L3 and the ambient air flow L4 mixed air flow to the cooling module 3 and thus the air conditioning heat exchanger 3.2 supplied, which works as a heat pump evaporator. For this purpose, this flows through the refrigerant compressor 1.2 compressed refrigerant on the refrigerant side through the chiller 7 , which means that via the air conditioning heat exchanger 3.2 absorbed heat on the coolant of the coolant circuit 6 emitted, causing the electrical energy storage 5 is heated. The compressed refrigerant is then removed using the expansion device 1.3 in the air conditioning heat exchanger 3.2 relaxes, whereby the air flow supplied to the cooling module is cooled as a heat source and the refrigerant is evaporated. The evaporated refrigerant is then returned to the refrigerant compressor 1.2 fed.

At very low outside temperatures of the vehicle 10 , for example. is lower than 10 ° Celsius, when the electric vehicle is cold started due to the use of the electrical energy store 5 as a traction battery, the same may be impaired, namely that a reduction in the service life and / or the performance may occur.

• - Zunächst wird die Lufteintrittsöffnung 13.1 des Kühlmodul-Luftführungskanals 13 mittels der Steuervorrichtung 13.3 gegenüber der Fahrzeugumgebung verschlossen.
• - Anschließend wird die verschwenkbare Klappe 4.1 in die Endposition I verschwenkt, wodurch der konditionierte Luftstrom L6 vollständig in den Abluftführungskanal 14 strömen kann.
• - Nun erfolgt eine Aktivierung des Kühlerlüfters 3.3.
• - Des Weiteren wird das elektrische Heizelement 2.1 aktiviert, wodurch der Luftstrom L1 erwärmt und dadurch der erwärmte Abluftstrom L3 vollständig in den Kühlmodul-Luftführungskanal 13 strömt.
• - Weiterhin erfolgt durch die Beaufschlagung des Klima-Wärmeübertragers 3.2 mit dem erwärmten Abluftstrom L3 entweder eine Wärmeübertragung mittels der oben beschriebenen Wärmepumpenfunktion über den Chiller 7 in den Kühlmittelkreislauf 6 des elektrischen Energiespeichers 5 oder, falls keine Wärmepumpenfunktion zur Verfügung steht, oder eine direkte Übertragung der Wärme aus dem Abluftstrom L3 über den Luft-Kühlmittelwärmetauscher 3.1 auf den Batteriekreis, also auf den Kühlmittelkreislauf 6.
• - Schließlich wird der elektrische Energiespeicher aufgeheizt.

Therefore, the electrical energy storage device is preheated 5 before starting the vehicle 10 carried out with the following process steps:

• - First, the air inlet opening 13.1 of the cooling module air duct 13 by means of the control device 13.3 closed to the vehicle surroundings.
• - Then the hinged flap 4.1 to the end position I pivoted, causing the conditioned air flow L6 completely into the exhaust air duct 14 can flow.
• - The radiator fan is now activated 3.3 ,
• - Furthermore, the electric heating element 2.1 activated, causing the airflow L1 warmed and thereby the heated exhaust air flow L3 completely into the cooling module air duct 13 flows.
• - Furthermore, by acting on the air conditioning heat exchanger 3.2 with the heated exhaust air flow L3 either heat transfer via the heat pump function described above via the chiller 7 into the coolant circuit 6 of the electrical energy storage 5 or, if no heat pump function is available, or a direct transfer of heat from the exhaust air flow L3 via the air-coolant heat exchanger 3.1 on the battery circuit, i.e. on the coolant circuit 6 ,
• - Finally, the electrical energy storage is heated.

Also the 3 accordingly shows from 2 only part of the air conditioning device 1 with a highly abstracted refrigerant circuit 1.1 in which the climate heat exchanger 3.2 of the cooling module 3 is arranged. The electrical energy store designed as a traction battery 5 is via the coolant circuit 6 with the air-coolant heat exchanger 3.1 thermally coupled. Water is used as a coolant, for example. The heat from the exhaust air flow L3 is directly by means of the air-coolant heat exchanger 3.1 on the coolant of the coolant circuit 6 transmitted, causing the electrical energy storage 5 is heated.

The reverse is true with the air conditioning device 1 according to 2 or 3 also cooling of the electrical energy store 5 feasible.

With a refrigerant circuit 1.1 according to 2 the air conditioning heat exchanger works 3.2 as a capacitor with which the electrical energy storage 5 generated heat via the chiller 7 on the refrigerant circuit 1.1 and finally the ambient air flow L4 is transmitted, the Exhaust duct 14 by means of the in the end position II pivoted flap 4.1 is closed.

With a refrigerant circuit 1.1 according to 3 is that of the electrical energy storage 5 generated heat directly via the coolant of the coolant circuit 6 and the air-coolant heat exchanger 3.1 on the ambient air flow L4 transmitted, the exhaust air duct also in this case 14 by means of the in the end position II pivoted flap 4.1 according to the end position II is closed.

The components of the refrigerant circuit required for AC operation, reheat operation or heating operation 1.1 and the components required for setting these different operating modes are shown in the 2 and 3 not shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Air conditioning device of the vehicle 10

1.1

Refrigerant circulation

1.2

Refrigerant circuit refrigerant compressor 1.1

1.3

Expansion device of the refrigerant circuit 1.1

2

Air conditioner of the air conditioning device 1

2.1

electric heating element of the air conditioner 2

2.2

Evaporator of the air conditioner 2

3

Cooling module of the air conditioning device 1

3.1

Air-coolant heat exchanger of the cooling module 3

3.2

Air conditioning heat exchanger of the cooling module 3

3.3

radiator fan

4

control device

4.1

swiveling flap

5

energy storage

5.1

thermal coupling

6

Coolant circuit of the energy store 5

7

Chiller

10

vehicle

10.1

Front of the vehicle 10

10.2

Underbody of the vehicle 10

11

Vehicle interior of the vehicle 10

12

Indoor air duct

13

Cooling module air duct

13.1

Air inlet opening

13.2

Air outlet opening

13.3

control device

14

Exhaust duct

15

Fresh air duct

16

return air duct

I

End position of the flap 4.1

II

End position of the flap 4.2

L0

Fresh air flow

L1

airflow

L2

supply air flow

L20

circulating air flow

L3

exhaust air flow

L4

Ambient air flow

L5

Leaving airstream

L6

conditioned airflow

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102011008551 A1 [0005]
• DE 19534427 [0006]
• DE 102008045407 A1 [0007]

Claims (6)

Vehicle (10) with an air conditioning device (1), comprising - an air conditioner (2) which is connected to a vehicle interior (11) via at least one interior air duct (12) for supplying a conditioned supply air flow (L2), - an electric heating element (2.1) arranged in the interior air duct (12), a cooling module (3) arranged in a cooling module air duct (13) for supplying an ambient air flow (L4) of the vehicle (10), - an exhaust air duct (14) which connects the interior air duct (12) downstream of the electrical heating element (2.1) with the cooling module air duct (13) upstream of the cooling module (3), - A control device (4) for controlling an exhaust air flow (L3) flowing through the exhaust air duct (14) into the cooling module air duct (13), and - An electrical energy store (5) which is thermally coupled to the cooling module (3) for heating or cooling by means of a coolant circuit (6). Vehicle (10) after Claim 1 , in which the cooling module air duct (13) has an air inlet opening (13.1) for the entry of the ambient air flow (L4) and an air outlet opening (13.2) for the outlet of the ambient air flow (L4) and the exhaust air flow (L3). Vehicle (10) after Claim 1 or 2 The cooling module (3) has an air / coolant heat exchanger (3.1) which is thermally coupled to the coolant circuit (6) of the electrical energy store (5). Vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cooling module (3) an air-conditioning heat exchanger (3.2) for performing a cooling operation or for performing a heating operation by means of the ambient air flow (L4) and / or the exhaust air flow (L3) as a heat source using the heat pump function. Vehicle (10) after Claim 4 , in which the coolant circuit (6) has a chiller (7) which is thermally coupled to the air-conditioning heat exchanger (3.2) for carrying out a heating operation for heating the electrical energy store (5). Vehicle (10) according to one of the Claims 2 to 5 , in which the ambient air flow (L4) entering the cooling module air duct (13) can be controlled by means of a control device (13.3).

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