DE102021208691A1 - Motor vehicle comprising a heating device and an air conditioning unit and method for air conditioning a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to improve the efficiency of the heating of a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle and to increase the range of the motor vehicle, a motor vehicle (100), in particular a hybrid electric motor vehicle or battery electric vehicle (10), is proposed, comprising a heating device (15), an air conditioning unit (12), an air guiding device (17) forming at least one intake path (18, 18a, 18b) for an intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b) for the air conditioning unit (12), and a vehicle interior (11), wherein the air conditioning unit (12) is used at least for heating the vehicle interior (11), the heating device (15) being arranged at least partially in the at least one intake path (18, 18a, 18b) of the air ducting device (17), so that the heat (21) generated by the heating device (15) is transferred to a the at least one intake path (18, 18a, 18b) of the air guiding device (17) guided intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b) can be transmitted, wherein the heating device a is arranged outside of a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle, and/or wherein less than 50%, preferably less than 30%, more preferably less than 10%, of the heat (21) generated by the heating device (15) is transmitted to the through the at least one intake path ( 18, 18a, 18b) of the air guiding device (17) guided intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b).

Description

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid electric vehicle or battery electric vehicle, comprising a heating device, an air conditioner, an air duct device forming at least one intake path for an intake air flow for the air conditioner, and a vehicle interior, the air conditioner being designed at least for heating the vehicle interior.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for air conditioning a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid electric vehicle or battery electric vehicle.

In the prior art, heat pumps and air conditioners are used for heating or air conditioning the vehicle interior of a motor vehicle. When heating, heat pumps remove heat from the ambient air of the motor vehicle and transfer it to the air in the vehicle interior. Air conditioners heat the air when heating. This air comes either from the interior or from the environment. In a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, the energy required for this is provided by the internal combustion engine. In a battery electric vehicle, the energy required for heating the vehicle interior has to be taken from the battery, ie the energy store for the electric drive of the battery electric vehicle. This energy extraction limits the range of battery-electric vehicles, since the heater in battery-electric vehicles is the largest secondary consumer.

In the prior art, air-side heating devices, which are arranged in the air conditioning unit, are used to heat the vehicle interior. One of the disadvantages of these air-side heating devices is that it is not possible to couple the battery heater to the vehicle interior heater.

From the U.S. 9,821,626 B2 a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning device for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is known, which has a housing, a first air inlet and a second air inlet. The housing directs internal airflow from the first air inlet and/or the second air inlet and includes at least a first heat exchanger. The housing also includes an airflow duct that directs internal airflow within the housing, bypassing the heat exchanger.

From the CN 203 231 584 U a battery electric vehicle with a heat recovery heat pump system is known.

The CN 104 121 723 A discloses another automotive heat pump system.

The object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of the heating of a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle and to increase the range of the motor vehicle.

In order to achieve the object on which the invention is based, a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid electric vehicle or battery electric vehicle, is proposed, comprising a heating device, an air conditioning unit, an air duct device forming at least one intake path for an intake air flow for the air conditioning unit, and a vehicle interior, the air conditioning unit being used at least for heating the vehicle interior is formed, wherein the heating device is at least partially arranged in the at least one intake path of the air guiding device, so that heat generated by the heating device can be transferred to an intake air flow guided through the at least one intake path of the air guiding device, it also being provided that the heating device is outside of a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle is arranged, and/or that less than 50%, preferably less than 30%, more preferably less than 10%, of the heat generated by the heating device be transferred to the intake air flow guided through the at least one intake path of the air guiding device.

The motor vehicle is preferably a battery electric vehicle.

In addition to heating, the air conditioner can also be designed to cool and/or condition the vehicle interior.

According to the invention, a heating device is provided which is at least partially arranged in the at least one intake path of the air guiding device. Due to the arrangement of the heating device in the intake path, heat from the heating device can be transferred to the intake air flow, as a result of which the required heating output of the air conditioning unit is reduced and the efficiency of the heating of the vehicle interior is increased. The water-side components of the air conditioner are preferably located in the intake air flow together with the heating device.

It is further provided according to the invention that the heating device is arranged outside of a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle. The heating device is therefore not an air-side heating device known from the prior art, which is arranged in the air-conditioning device.

Furthermore, it is alternatively or additionally provided that less than 50%, preferably less than 30%, more preferably less than 10%, of the heat generated by the heating device is transferred to the intake air flow guided through the at least one intake path of the air guiding device. In other words, most of the heat generated by the heating device, at least 50% of the heat, is not transferred to the intake air flow guided through the at least one intake path of the air ducting device, so that the heating device is not primarily used to heat the vehicle interior the heat transferred through the at least one intake path of the air guiding device is rather the waste heat generated by the heating device, which would otherwise escape unused into the vehicle environment.

Provision is particularly preferably made for the heating device to be a high-voltage heating device and/or for the heating device to be designed for warming and/or heating a battery of the motor vehicle.

It is particularly advantageous if the heating device is designed to heat and/or heat a battery of the motor vehicle, particularly if the motor vehicle is a battery-electric vehicle and if the battery is the energy store for the electric drive motors of the battery-electric vehicle.

The battery of a battery electric vehicle must be cooled or heated for optimal performance and range of the battery electric vehicle, depending on the operating status and environmental conditions. Because the heating device is designed to heat the battery, the efficiency of the entire system can be increased. On the one hand, the battery can be warmed up or heated by means of the heating device in order to keep it within an optimal temperature window. At the same time, heat generated by the heating device and/or the battery, in particular the waste heat, can be transferred to the intake air flow in the at least one intake path of the air ducting device and thus fed to the vehicle interior via the air conditioning unit.

With a further advantage, it can be provided that the air guiding device has a first intake path and a second intake path, with the heating device being arranged in the second intake path.

Provision is also preferably made for the second intake path to run parallel to the first intake path.

In other words, the air guiding device forms two intake paths, namely a first intake path and a second intake path. The arrangement of the heating device in the second intake path means that the entire intake air flow is not routed via the heating device, so that the amount of heat transferred from the heating device to the intake air flow can be limited. This is advantageous in particular when the vehicle interior is being cooled, when it is desired for the intake air flow to have the lowest possible temperature. The heating device is therefore preferably not located in the area of the main air mass flow, but rather in a parallel intake path through which preferably only a small portion of the air mass flow of the intake air is conducted.

With a further advantage, it can be provided that the air guiding device has a merging section, the first intake path and the second intake path being merged in the direction of flow of the intake air stream upstream of the air conditioning unit in the merging section.

In other words, a first intake air flow, in particular a main air mass flow, flows through the first intake path and a second intake air flow, preferably an air secondary mass flow, flows through the second intake path and absorbs heat from the heating device at least partially arranged in the second intake path. The intake airflow in the first intake path is merged with the heated intake airflow in the second intake path in the merging portion and is supplied to the air conditioner as a common intake airflow.

With a further advantage, it can be provided that a shut-off device is arranged in the merging section, it being preferably provided that the shut-off device comprises a flap, and more preferably an actuator.

The actuator can be a passive element, such as a thermostat, or an active element, such as an electric motor.

The actuator is designed in particular to open or close the shut-off device, in particular the flap.

In particular, the first intake path and the second intake path can be fluidically separated by means of the shut-off device, further in particular by means of the flap, so that no intake air can be supplied to the air conditioning unit from the second intake path. This is particularly advantageous when there is a cooling case for the vehicle interior, for example in summer. By closing the shut-off device, in particular the flap, by means of the actuator, it can be prevented that heat transferred from the heating device to the intake air flow in the second intake path is supplied to the air conditioning unit. Effective cooling of the vehicle interior can thus take place.

It can preferably be provided that the shut-off device is closed when a temperature, in particular an outside temperature, exceeds a predetermined limit value.

The predetermined limit value can be, for example, at least 10°C, preferably at least 12°C, more preferably at least 15°C, particularly preferably at least 20°C.

With an even further advantage, provision can be made for further components, in particular hoses, pumps or switching valves, to be arranged in the at least one intake path.

Waste heat from the other components can thus also be transferred to the intake air flow guided through the at least one intake path of the air guiding device. The components are preferably components of the heating device or components assigned to the heating device.

This means that heat can also be transferred from the hoses, pumps or switching valves to the intake air flow, which further increases the efficiency of the air conditioning unit.

A further solution to the problem on which the invention is based is the provision of a method for air-conditioning a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle as described above, in particular a hybrid electric vehicle or battery-electric vehicle, with an intake air flow being fed to the air-conditioning unit through the at least one intake path formed by the air-guiding device, it also being provided that in a case of heating for the vehicle interior, heat is transferred from the heater to the intake air flow.

All of the features, functions and configurations explained in connection with the motor vehicle described above can also be transferred in a corresponding manner to the method according to the invention.

Provision can advantageously be made for the heating device not to be operated when the vehicle interior is being cooled.

If the heating device is not operated, no heat is correspondingly transferred to the intake air flow. This increases the efficiency of the air conditioning unit when cooling the vehicle interior.

With a further advantage, it can be provided that the shut-off device is closed when the vehicle interior is being cooled.

Closing the shut-off device fluidly separates the second intake path from the first intake path. In particular, when the heater is disposed in the second intake path, by closing the shut-off device, heat can be prevented from being transferred from the heater to the intake air flow and supplied to the air conditioner.

• 1 ein aus dem Stand der Technik bekanntes Kraftfahrzeug mit einem Klimagerät,
• 2 ein Kraftfahrzeug mit einem Klimagerät im Einklang mit der Erfindung,
• 3 eine Variante eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem Klimagerät im Einklang mit der Erfindung, und
• 4 eine weitere Variante eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem Klimagerät im Einklang mit der Erfindung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

• 1 a motor vehicle known from the prior art with an air conditioner,
• 2 a motor vehicle with an air conditioner in accordance with the invention,
• 3 a variant of a motor vehicle with an air conditioner in accordance with the invention, and
• 4 another variant of a motor vehicle with an air conditioner in accordance with the invention.

1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 200 known from the prior art with a vehicle interior 210, an air conditioning unit 211 and an engine compartment 212. Motor vehicle 200 is designed as a battery-electric vehicle 213. A heating device 214 is provided in the engine compartment 212 and is in the form of a high-voltage heating device 215 . The heating device 214 is arranged in a thermally operative connection with a battery 216 of the motor vehicle 200 and is provided for heating the battery 216 . The active thermal connection can take place via direct thermal contact or via hose lines for conducting a heated fluid. Also provided in the engine compartment 212 is an air guiding device 217 which forms an intake path 218 for an intake air flow 219 , 219 a for the air conditioning unit 211 . The intake air flow 219, 219a is fed to the air conditioning unit 211 and by means of the air conditioning unit 211 heat 220 is transferred from the intake air flow 219, 219a to the vehicle interior.

2 Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 100 in accordance with the invention.

Motor vehicle 100 is designed as a battery-electric vehicle 10 and includes a vehicle interior 11, an air conditioning unit 12 and an engine compartment 13. In a vehicle floor or, alternatively as shown, in engine compartment 13, there is a battery 14 as an energy store for the electric drive of the battery-electric vehicle 10. Furthermore, a heating device 15 is provided in the engine compartment 13, which is designed as a high-voltage heating device 16. The heating device 15 is arranged in a thermally operative connection with the battery 14 of the battery-electric vehicle 10 and is provided for heating the battery 14 . The active thermal connection can take place via direct thermal contact or via hose lines for conducting a heated fluid. Also arranged in the engine compartment 13 is an air guiding device 17 which forms an intake path 18 for an intake air flow 19 for the air conditioning unit 12 . The heating device 15 is arranged at least partially in the intake path 18 of the air guiding device 17 . An intake air flow 19 entering an inlet opening 20 of the air guiding device 17 from the outside environment is guided past the heating device 15 . Heat generated by the heater 15 is thus partially transferred to the intake air flow 19 . The slightly heated intake air flow 19a is then fed to the air conditioning unit 12, which transfers the heat 21 present in the intake air flow 19a to the vehicle interior 11.

3 shows a variant of the motor vehicle 100 after 1 . Identical or corresponding components are marked with the same reference numbers. In the motor vehicle 100 after 3 the air guiding device 17 forms a first intake path 18a and a second intake path 18b for an intake air flow 19, 19b. The second suction path 18b is arranged parallel to the first suction path 18a. The first intake path 18a and the second intake path 18b are brought together fluidically in a merging section 22 of the air guiding device 17 . The air from the outside environment flows through a first inlet opening 20 of the air guiding device 17 into the first intake path 18a. Another intake air flow 19b enters the second intake path 18b through a second inlet opening 23 and is guided past the heater 15, whereby the intake air flow 19b is slightly heated. In the merging section 22, the two intake paths 18a, 18b and the intake air flows 19, 19b guided therein are brought together so that overall slightly heated air 19a is supplied to the air conditioning unit 12, which transfers the heat 21 of the intake air flow 19a to the vehicle interior 11.

4 shows a still further embodiment of the motor vehicle 100 according to the 2 and 3 . Opposite of 2 a shut-off device 24 in the form of a flap 25 is arranged in the merging section 22, in which the first suction path 18a and the second suction path 18b are merged. The shut-off device 24 also includes an actuator 26 with which the flap 25 can be opened and closed. In the illustrated open case, there is a fluidic connection between the first intake path 18a and the second intake path 18b, so that the intake air flow 19b heated by the heating device 15 can be combined past the flap 25 with the intake air flow 19 in the first intake path 18a. The air that is slightly warmed up as a result is then supplied to the air conditioning unit 12 , which transfers the heat 21 from the intake air flow 19a into the vehicle interior 11 . When the vehicle interior 11 is being cooled, the flap 25 can be closed by means of the actuator 26 . The air in the second intake path 18b can therefore not be mixed with the intake air flow 19 in the first intake path 18a via the merging section 22 . In the case of cooling, an unheated intake air flow 19, 19a thus flows to the air-conditioning device 12 exclusively through the first intake path 18a.

Reference List

100

motor vehicle

10

battery electric vehicle

11

vehicle interior

12

air conditioner

13

engine compartment

14

battery

15

heating device

16

high-voltage heater

17

air duct device

18

intake path

18a

First suction path

18b

Second suction path

19

intake airflow

19a

intake airflow

19b

intake airflow

20

First inlet port

21

warmth

22

merge section

23

Second intake port

24

shut-off device

25

flap

26

actuator

200

motor vehicle

210

vehicle interior

211

air conditioner

212

engine compartment

213

battery electric vehicle

214

heating device

215

high-voltage heater

216

battery

217

air duct device

218

intake path

219

intake airflow

219a

intake airflow

220

warmth

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely 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

• US 9821626 B2 [0005]
• CN 203231584 U [0006]
• CN 104121723A [0007]

Claims (10)

Motor vehicle (100), in particular hybrid electric motor vehicle or battery electric vehicle (10), comprising a heating device (15), an air conditioning unit (12), at least one intake path (18, 18a, 18b) for an intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b) for the Air ducting device (17) forming an air conditioning unit (12), and a vehicle interior (11), the air conditioning unit (12) being designed at least for heating the vehicle interior (11), the heating device (15) being located at least partially in the at least one intake path (18, 18a , 18b) of the air guiding device (17) so that heat (21) generated by the heating device (15) is applied to an intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b ) can be transferred, characterized in that the heating device is arranged outside of a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle, and/or that less than 50%, preferably less than 30%, more preferably t less than 10% of the heat (21) generated by the heating device (15) is transferred to the intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b) guided through the at least one intake path (18, 18a, 18b) of the air guiding device (17). Motor vehicle (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the heating device (15) is a high-voltage heating device (16) and/or that the heating device (15) is designed for heating and/or heating a battery (14) of the motor vehicle. motor vehicle (100) claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the air guiding device (17) has a first intake path (18a) and a second intake path (18b), the heating device (15) being arranged in the second intake path (18b), the second intake path (18b) preferably being parallel to the first suction path (18a). Motor vehicle (100) according to claim 3 , characterized in that the air guiding device (17) has a merging section (22), the first intake path (18a) and the second intake path (18b) in the direction of flow of the intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b) in front of the air conditioning unit (12) in the Merging section (22) are merged. Motor vehicle (100) according to claim 4 , characterized in that in the merging section (22) a shut-off device (24) is arranged. Motor vehicle (100) according to claim 5 , characterized in that the shut-off device (24) comprises a flap (25) and preferably an actuator (26), the actuator (26) preferably being a passive element, in particular a thermostat, or an active element, in particular an electric motor, is. Motor vehicle (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that further components, in particular hoses, pumps or switching valves, are arranged in the at least one intake path (18, 18a, 18b). Method for air conditioning a vehicle interior (11) of a motor vehicle (100), in particular a hybrid electric vehicle or battery electric vehicle (10), according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b) through the at least one of the air ducting device (17) formed intake path (18, 18a, 18b) is supplied to the air conditioning unit (12), characterized in that when the vehicle interior (11) is heated, heat (21) is transferred from the heating device (15) to the intake air flow (19, 19a, 19b) is transferred. procedure after claim 8 , characterized in that in a case of cooling for the vehicle interior (11), the heating device (15) is not operated. procedure after claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the motor vehicle (100) according to one of Claims 5 until 7 is formed, and that in a case of cooling for the vehicle interior (11), the shut-off device (24) is closed.

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