GB2573151A

GB2573151A - Railway vehicle and method of controlling the same

Info

Publication number: GB2573151A
Application number: GB1806860.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Taguchi Tomoaki; Akimaru Daisuke; Hayashi Tomoo; Yamamoto Takahisa; Mochizuki Kento; Takagi Takeo
Original assignee: Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd; Hitachi Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Rail Ltd; Hitachi Ltd
Priority date: 2018-04-26
Filing date: 2018-04-26
Publication date: 2019-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-26
Also published as: GB201806860D0; JP2019189211A; GB2573151B; JP6728434B2; EP3560789B1; EP3560789A1

Abstract

A railway vehicle 300 air conditioning and heat generating system and method comprising an air conditioner 100 that generates conditioned air to be supplied to a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle 300; and a propulsion device 110 provided adjacent the air conditioner; wherein the air conditioner 100 and propulsion device 110 are positioned under a floor in the longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle 300. The air conditioner 100 changes a flow direction of outdoor air suctioned from any of a width direction, an upper side, and a lower side of the railway vehicle and ejects the outdoor air in the longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle and cools the propulsion device 110. The method comprises the steps of determining whether the propulsion device is in operation and operating the outdoor blower of the air conditioner when it is determined that the propulsion unit is in operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention: RAILWAY VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

Technical Field [0001]

The present invention relates to a railway vehicle and a method of controlling the same.

Background Art [0002]

In general, a railroad vehicle such as a suburban train, which is mounted with a power collector on a roof, relatively has a margin in a vehicle gauge on the roof, and thus an air-conditioner for adjusting a temperature and humidity environment in the vehicle is mounted on the roof. The air-conditioner conditions temperature and humidity of a mixture obtained by mixing air collected from the inside of the vehicle and outdoor air introduced from the outside of the vehicle, and prepares conditioned air, and then supplies the conditioned air to each part of a passenger compartment through a duct laid on a ceiling of the train in a longitudinal direction.

[0003] A main converter (a propulsion device) for arbitrarily controlling a voltage and a frequency of power to be supplied to a main motor provided on a truck is provided under a floor of the railroad vehicle. The propulsion device includes a controller or the like with heat generation, and thus a cooling system for forcibly cooling the controller is installed in the propulsion device.

Citation List

Patent Literature [0004] PTL 1: JP-A-08-253139

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem [0005]

Since the railroad vehicle generally has a long product life cycle, it is desired to cut down a life cycle cost (LCC) thereof. The LCC mainly includes a manufacturing cost for manufacturing the railroad vehicle, an operating cost related to an electrical charge and maintenance required for an operation, a maintenance cost necessary for inspecting or maintaining various devices, and a disposal cost necessary for putting the vehicle out of service. Since a ratio of the operating cost to the LCC is significantly large, efforts are made to reduce the operating cost to cut down the LCC by a reduction in power consumption through development of high-efficiency electrical equipment and a reduction in weight of a vehicle body, electrical equipment, and the like. [0006]

In the case of railroad vehicles that run on a route on which there are many tunnels or the like or a route with a small construction gauge such as a subway having a small tunnel cross-sectional area, a vehicle gauge is also reduced according to the construction gauge, and thus it is sometimes impossible to mount the air-conditioner on a roof of the railroad vehicle. In such railroad vehicles, the air-conditioner is often mounted under a floor of the railroad vehicle instead of on the roof. [0007]

However, since a propulsion device for supplying power to a main motor provided in a truck, an auxiliary power unit for supplying power to a broadcasting facility, lights, etc., an air compressor, and a brake resistor are already provided under the floor of the railroad vehicle, the air-conditioner is forced to be mounted in a limited space under the floor of the railroad vehicle.

[0008]

There is also a request to promote a reduction in weight of all carriages of the railroad vehicle by promoting a reduction in size and weight of each device mounted under the floor, so that the operating cost (LCC) is reduced. However, it is difficult to promote a further reduction in size and weight, for instance, because a cooling system for cooling internal devices emitting heat is installed in the propulsion device mounted under the floor.

[0009]

An object of the present invention is to provide a railway vehicle capable of reducing a life cycle cost even when it is difficult to secure a mounting space of an underfloor device due to a small vehicle gauge, and a method of controlling the same .

Solution to Problem [0010]

To solve the above problems, a railway vehicle representative of the present invention includes: an air-conditioner configured to generate conditioned air to be supplied to a passenger compartment of the railway vehicle; and a heat generating device installed adjacent to the air-conditioner and including a heat generating section, the air-conditioner and the heat generating device being provided under a floor in a longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle, wherein the air-conditioner changes a flow direction of outdoor air suctioned from any of a width direction, an upper side, and a lower side of the railway vehicle to eject the outdoor air in the longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle, and cools the heat generating device.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0011]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a railway vehicle capable of reducing a life cycle cost even when it is difficult to secure a mounting space of an underfloor device due to a small vehicle gauge, and a method of controlling the same.

Problems, configurations, and effects other than the foregoing are clarified through the description of the following embodiment.

Brief Description of Drawings [0012] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a side view of a railroad vehicle provided with an air-conditioner and a propulsion device under a floor.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a device mounting surface of the railroad vehicle provided with the air-conditioner and the propulsion device under the floor (a sectional view taken along line D-D of Fig. 1).

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an exterior of the air-conditioner.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a layout of devices provided inside the air-conditioner.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a structure of a floor board of the air-conditioner.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating a layout of devices provided inside the propulsion device (a sectional view taken along line D-D of Fig. 1).

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a side view illustrating the layout of the devices provided inside the propulsion device.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a view illustrating an electric circuit constituting the devices provided inside the propulsion device .

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of an air-conditioning control unit for controlling the air-conditioner .

[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a control management table of the air-conditioning control unit.

Description of Embodiments [0013]

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described according to the drawings. First, upon description of the embodiment, directions will be defined. A rail (longitudinal) direction of a railway vehicle or a railroad vehicle is an X-direction, a sleeper (width) direction thereof is a Y-direction, and a height direction is a Z-direction. These directions are simply referred to as an X-direction, a Y-direction, and a Z-direction.

[0014] A "railway vehicle" is a vehicle that runs along a laid track, and includes a railroad vehicle, a monorail vehicle, a streetcar, a new transportation vehicle, and the like. As a representative of the railway vehicle, the railroad vehicle will be adopted, and the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0015]

Fig. 1 is a side view of a railroad vehicle equipped with an air-conditioner and a propulsion device under a floor. This railroad vehicle 300 runs on a route that has a relatively small construction gauge and includes, for instance, a tunnel with a small cross section, and thus a vehicle gauge thereof is also small accordingly. For this reason, the railroad vehicle 300 includes : a propulsion device 110 that supplies power to a main motor installed on a truck; an air-conditioner 100 that adjusts temperature and humidity in a passenger compartment; an auxiliary power unit (not shown) that supplies power to a brake control device (not shown), an air compressor (not shown) for generating high-pressure air, a storage battery system for supplying power at the time of starting of the railroad vehicle 300 and in case of emergency, a lighting system, a broadcasting facility, and the like; etc. under the floor.

[0016]

To be more specific, the railroad vehicle 300 includes the air-conditioner 100 and the propulsion device 110 adjacent to the air-conditioner 100 under the floor thereof in the X-direction. However, the propulsion device 110 is a representative of a heat generating device with a heat generating section, and the heat generating device is not limited to the propulsion device.

[0017]

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a device mounting surface of the railroad vehicle having the air-conditioner and the propulsion device under the floor (a sectional view taken along line D-D of Fig. 1) . Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an exterior of the air-conditioner, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a layout of devices installed in the air-conditioner .

[0018]

As illustrated in the figures, the railroad vehicle 300 includes the air-conditioner 100 and the propulsion device 110 under the floor thereof in the X-direction. Referring to Fig. 8 to be described below, the propulsion device 110 is a device that controls driving of the main motor 145 installed on the truck, and includes a controller (not shown) for controlling the propulsion device 110, a brake resistor 120, a filter reactor 130, and an inverter circuit 140 in a case thereof. [0019]

In Fig. 2, the air-conditioner 100 includes an outdoor blower chamber A, an outdoor unit chamber B, and an indoor unit chamber C that are partitioned in the X-direction. The outdoor blower chamber A is disposed close to the propulsion device 110 at an end of the air-conditioner 100 in the X-direction, and the outdoor unit chamber B is provided to abut on the outdoor blower chamber A. The air-conditioner 100 includes compressors 8, accumulators 9, and outdoor heat exchangers 4 in the outdoor unit chamber B, and includes an indoor heat exchanger 5, an expansion valve (not shown), indoor blowers 7, an electric heater 10, and drain pumps 12 in the indoor unit chamber C. The accumulators 9, the compressors 8, the outdoor heat exchangers 4, the expansion valve (not shown) , and indoor heat exchanger 5 are connected in turn, and simultaneously constitute a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant sealed therein circulates.

[0020]

The air-conditioner 100 can select a cooling operation that discharges heat in the vehicle to lower the temperature in the vehicle by operating the compressors 8, the indoor blowers 7, and the outdoor blowers 6, a heating operation that supplies air heated by operating the electric heater 10 (see Fig. 4) and the indoor blowers 7 into the vehicle to raise the temperature in the vehicle, and a ventilating operation that operates only the indoor blowers 7 to circulate and ventilate the air in the vehicle.

[0021]

The cooling operation, the heating operation, and the ventilating operation are controlled by an air-conditioning control unit 11 for controlling operation modes of the air-conditioner 100. The air-conditioning control unit 11 monitors an outdoor air temperature, an in-vehicle temperature, an operating situation of the propulsion device 110, a boarding rate, etc., and performs a control operation of the air-conditioner 100 based on a flow chart (see Fig. 9) that shows an operating method to be described below, and a control management table (see Fig. 10).

[0022]

The outdoor blower chamber A is a section in which the outdoor blowers 6 (for example, centrifugal fans having a shaft in the X-direction) for inducing air from the outdoor unit chamber B and then discharging the air toward the propulsion device 110 adjacent thereto in the X-direction is installed. [0023]

The outdoor blowers 6 is fixed to either a partition wall 14 with which the outdoor blower chamber A and the outdoor unit chamber B are partitioned or a bottom plate of the outdoor blower chamber A. An opening (not shown) through which the air guided from the outdoor unit chamber B to the outdoor blower chamber A passes is provided in the partition wall 14.

[0024]

The propulsion device 110 is provided downstream in an airflow direction of the outdoor blowers 6 . As described above, the propulsion device 110 includes the brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, the inverter circuit 140, etc. therein. The brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, the inverter circuit 140 are parts that take on heat (emits heat) depending on an operation of the railroad vehicle 300 such as acceleration, stop, or the like of the railroad vehicle.

[0025]

An opening 16 for discharging discharged air of the outdoor blowers 6 to the outside of the air-conditioner 100 is provided in an outer wall 15 with which the outdoor blower chamber A is partitioned (see Fig. 4). The air-conditioner 100 and the propulsion device 110 communicate with each other via a duct 105, and the discharged air of the outdoor blowers 6 is provided for cooling of the brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, the inverter circuit 140, etc. of the propulsion device 110. Alternatively, in place of the duct 105, the outer wall 15 of the air-conditioner 100 and a device outer wall of the propulsion device 110 on a side facing the air-conditioner 100 may be connected by a connecting wall 20 to define a chamber (a channel), and the discharged air of the outdoor blowers 6 may be guided to the brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, and the inverter circuit 140 of the propulsion device 110, and may cool them.

[0026]

The outdoor unit chamber B includes the compressors 8, the accumulators 9, the outdoor heat exchangers 4, and outdoor air inlets 3 (see Fig. 3), all of which constitute the refrigeration cycle. Outdoor air introduced into the outdoor unit chamber B from the outdoor air inlets 3 (see Fig. 3) provided in both lateral surfaces of the railroad vehicle receives heat from the refrigerant, which absorbs the heat inside the railroad vehicle 300 at the indoor heat exchanger 5 and becomes a high temperature, in a process of passing through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 (cools the refrigerant), and is discharged to the outside of the air-conditioner 100 (to the propulsion device 110) . Filters 18 are provided upstream from airflows of the outdoor heat exchangers 4 in order to prevent contamination. The filters 18 are not shown in Fig. 2 .

[0027]

The indoor unit chamber C includes the indoor heat exchanger 5, the electric heater 10, the indoor blowers 7, the air-conditioning control unit 11, the drain pumps 12, a contactor box 13, and so on. The contactor box 13 stores contactors that turn on/off the compressors 8, the outdoor blowers 6, the electric heater 10, and so on. To perform maintenance and inspection on the contactors without removing the air-conditioner 100 from the railroad vehicle 300, the contactor box 13 may be disposed outside the indoor unit chamber C. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the contactors that turn on/off high-voltage devices such as the compressors 8, the outdoor blowers 6, the electric heater 10, etc. may be stored in a contactor box 13a provided at one end of the indoor unit chamber C in the Y-direction, and contactors that turn on/off high-voltage devices such as a damper (not shown) installed on the channel provided on the vehicle body, the indoor blowers 7, etc. may be stored in a contactor box 13b provided at the other end of the indoor unit chamber C in the Y-direction.

[0028]

In the indoor unit chamber C, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, return air refluxed from the passenger compartment of the railroad vehicle 300 to the indoor unit chamber C (the air-conditioner 100) and fresh outdoor air from the outside of the vehicle are taken from return air inlets 2 of an indoor unit chamber top cover Cl as indicated by arrows 210. The air taken into the indoor unit chamber C becomes conditioned air in which temperature and humidity are condition in a process of flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 5 (in the case of the cooling operation) or the electric heater 10 (in the case of the heating operation) . The generated conditioned air is supplied from conditioned air outlets 1 of the indoor unit chamber top cover Cl to the inside of the railroad vehicle 300 by the indoor blowers 7 provided in the indoor unit chamber C, as indicated by arrows 220.

[0029]

The drain pumps 12 (see Fig. 2) that discharge a condensate into which moisture in the air is condensed in a process in which the return air and the fresh outdoor air from the outside of the vehicle flow through the indoor heat exchanger 5 provided in the indoor unit chamber is provided in the indoor unit chamber C.

[0030]

The outdoor unit chamber B is arranged in parallel to the outdoor blower chamber A arranged at an end of the air-conditioner 100 in the X-direction. Thereby, as indicated by arrows 200 of Fig. 3, a flow direction of outdoor air, which is introduced from the outdoor air inlets 3 into the outdoor unit chamber B and flows in the Y-direction, is changed into the X-direction, so that cooling air can be supplied to the brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, and the inverter circuit 140 that are mounted in the propulsion device 110 disposed adjacent to the air-conditioner 100.

[0031]

In the present embodiment, the example in which the outdoor air inlets 3 are provided at both sides of the outdoor unit chamber B in the Y-direction is shown. However, the outdoor air inlets 3 are provided at an lower side (a rail side) or an upper side (a passenger compartment side) of the outdoor unit chamber B, so that the outdoor air can also be introduced from a gap between the lower side of the outdoor unit chamber B or the passenger compartment of the upper side thereof and the air-conditioner 100.

[0032]

As described above, since the discharged air of the air-conditioner 100 is used, it is unnecessary for the propulsion device 110 or the like to provide a cooling system (forced air cooling unit), a reduction in size and weight of the propulsion device 110 can be realized, and thus a reduction in weight of the railroad vehicle in which the propulsion device 110 is mounted can also be promoted. For this reason, even when it is difficult to secure a mounting space of an underfloor device having a small vehicle gauge, a railroad vehicle capable of reducing a life cycle cost can be provided.

[0033]

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the outdoor blower chamber A and the outdoor unit chamber B are covered with one common top cover AB1. The top cover AB1 has the outdoor air inlets 3, which introduces the outdoor air into the outdoor heat exchangers 4, at both ends thereof in the Y-direction. [0034]

The outdoor air introduced from the outdoor air inlets 3 flows through the filters 18 and the outdoor heat exchangers 4 along the arrows 200, is then discharged from openings 16 provided in the outer wall 15 to the outside of the air-conditioner 100 (to the vicinity of the propulsion device 110) by the outdoor blowers 6, and cools the brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, and the inverter circuit 140 that are mounted in the propulsion device 110 (see Figs. 2 and 4) . [0035]

The indoor unit chamber top cover Cl has the conditioned air outlets 1 and the return air inlets 2, both are adjacent to each other along the X-direction, at both ends thereof in the Y-direction. The return air (including the fresh outdoor air) introduced from the passenger compartment of the railroad vehicle 300 into the air-conditioner 100 is taken into the indoor unit chamber C along paths indicated by the arrows 210, and flows through the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the electric heater 10. The conditioned air whose temperature and humidity are conditioned is supplied to the railroad vehicle 300 by the indoor blowers 7 along the paths indicated by the arrows 220. [0036]

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a floor board of the air-conditioner 100. The outdoor unit chamber B includes opening/closing mechanisms 21 whose opening/closing is controlled by the air-conditioning control unit 11 at a middle side (a downstream side of the cooling air) in the Y-direction from the outdoor heat exchangers 4 of the floor board thereof. The opening/closing of the opening/closing mechanisms 21 is controlled such that the opening/closing mechanisms are closed during the cooling operation of the air-conditioner 100, and are opened during the heating operation or the ventilating operation of the air-conditioner 100.

[0037]

When the opening/closing mechanisms 21 are opened, outdoor air (air outside the vehicle) flowing from the opening/closing mechanisms 21 into the outdoor unit chamber B without flowing through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 (the filters 18) is suctioned to the outdoor blowers 6 (see Fig. 2), and can thereby cool the propulsion device 110.

[0038]

Since the opening/closing mechanisms 21 are closed during the cooling operation of the air-conditioner 100, the outdoor air flows through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 along the paths indicated by the arrows 200 (see Figs. 3 and 4) , and is then ejected toward the propulsion device 110 (the brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, the inverter circuit 140, etc.) via the outdoor blowers 6.

[0039]

Meanwhile, since the opening/closing mechanisms 21 are opened during the heating operation (or the ventilating operation) of the air-conditioner 100, air that bypasses the outdoor heat exchangers 4 and flows from the opening/closing mechanisms 21 into the indoor unit chamber C is suctioned to the outdoor blowers 6, and is ejected toward the propulsion device 110 (the brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, the inverter circuit 140, etc.).

[0040]

During the cooling operation, the outdoor blowers 6 should be operated to cause the outdoor air to flow through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 such that the outdoor air removes the in-vehicle heat absorbed by the refrigerant inside the refrigeration cycle. However, during the heating operation or the ventilating operation, there is no need to cause the air to flow through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 . When outdoor air including dust or the like passes through the outdoor heat exchangers 4, the outdoor heat exchangers 4 are contaminated by the dust, and thus periodical cleaning of the filters 18 and the outdoor heat exchangers 4 is thought to be desirable. [0041]

Thus, to reduce a frequency of cleaning of the outdoor heat exchangers 4 to reduce a maintenance cost (a part of LCC) , the air-conditioner 100 includes the opening/closing mechanisms 21, which can be opened/closed during the cooling operation or the heating operation and the ventilating operation of the air-conditioner 100, downstream from the outdoor heat exchangers of the outdoor unit chamber B (for example, as illustrated in Fig. 5, at a bottom plate thereof downstream from the outdoor heat exchangers 4).

[0042]

The opening/closing mechanisms 21 are provided, and thereby an amount of the outdoor air passing through filters 18 and the outdoor heat exchangers 4 can be reduced when the heating operation or the ventilating operation is selected, so that the contamination of the filters 18 and the outdoor heat exchangers 4 caused by the dust or the like included in the outdoor air can be prevented. Thereby, the air-conditioner 100 capable of prolonging cleaning cycles of the filters 18 and the outdoor heat exchangers 4 and reducing a maintenance cost (a part of LCC) can be provided.

[0043]

Although not described in detail, a unit for opening/closing the opening/closing mechanisms may be, for instance, an opening/closing device (a shutter) having an actuator operated by a pneumatic pressure or the like, or a lid that can be simply attached/detached by a bolt.

[0044]

Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating a layout of devices provided inside the propulsion device 110 (a sectional view taken along line D-D of Fig. 1), and Fig. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating a layout of devices provided inside the propulsion device. As is clarified from the plan view of Fig. 6, cooling air is fed to the propulsion device 110 via the duct 105 coupled with the air-conditioner 100 or the chamber constituted by the connecting wall 20 as indicated by arrows 200.

[0045]

The propulsion device 110 has the inverter circuit 140, the filter reactor 130, and the brake resistor 120 provided on a path of cooling air 200 from upstream in that order, and the cooling air 200 is exhausted from an exhaust port 150 provided in a floor board of a lower side of the propulsion device 110 to the outside of the case of the propulsion device 110 .

[0046]

As is clarified from the side view of Fig. 7, the cooling air 200 taken into the case of the propulsion device 110 passes between fins of an inverter cooling fin 141 provided above the inverter circuit 140 first, passes through a gap between an iron core and a coil of the filter reactor 130 made up of the iron core and the coil, passes between heat generating resistors constituting the brake resistor 120, and takes heat from each heat generating device. Then, the cooling air 200 is exhausted from the exhaust port 150 to the outside of the case of the propulsion device 110.

[0047]

Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a configuration on an electric circuit for the devices provided inside the propulsion device 110. The inverter circuit 140 is a device that converts direct current power obtained from a direct current outside the railroad vehicle 300 into alternating current power and drives the main motor 145.

[0048]

The filter reactor 130 is a device that is mainly made up of an iron core and a coil, is connected between the inverter circuit 140 and a direct current power supply 160, and removes noises included in power obtained from the direct current power supply 160. The brake resistor 120 is a device that is mainly made up of heat generating resistors, is connected to the inverter circuit 140 by a switch circuit 121 when the railroad vehicle puts a brake, and consumes direct current power, which the inverter circuit 140 outputs through regeneration, at the heat generating resistors.

[0049]

Fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the air-conditioning control unit 11 for controlling the air-conditioner. The air-conditioning control unit 11 receives information such as an operating situation of the propulsion device 110, an outdoor air temperature, an in-vehicle temperature, a boarding rate, and so on, and performs operation determination of the outdoor blowers 6, and selection of an operation mode for each of the cooling operation, the heating operation, and the ventilating operation based on these pieces of information.

[0050]

First, in step 500, energization from a third rail (or an overhead line) to the railroad vehicle 300 staying in a voltage unapplied state is started. In step 501, the air-conditioning control unit 11 determines whether or not the propulsion device 110 is operated. When the air-conditioning control unit 11 detects that "the propulsion device 110 is operated," the flow proceeds to step 502. When the air-conditioning control unit 11 detects that "the propulsion device 110 is not operated," the flow proceeds to step 503. [0051] <When the air-conditioning control unit 11 detects that the propulsion device 110 is in operation>

In step 502, the air-conditioning control unit 11 determines whether or not the cooling operation of the air-conditioner 100 is needed based on information such as an outdoor air temperature, an in-vehicle temperature, a boarding rate, and so on. When it is determined that the cooling operation is needed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 operates the outdoor blowers 6, the compressors 8, and the indoor blowers 7 to perform the cooling operation in step 504. [0052]

When the air-conditioner 100 is in cooling operation, the air-conditioning control unit 11 closes the opening/closing mechanisms 21 in step 505. For this reason, outdoor air induced by the outdoor blowers 6 discharges in-vehicle heat accumulated by a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle to the outside of the vehicle in a process of passing through the outdoor heat exchangers 4. Afterward, the flow transfers to step 518.

[0053]

Meanwhile, when it is determined in step 502 that the cooling operation of the air-conditioner 100 is not needed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 further determines whether or not the heating operation of the air-conditioner 100 is needed based on the information such as the outdoor air temperature, the in-vehicle temperature, the boarding rate, and so on in step 506. When it is determined that the heating operation is needed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 performs the heating operation using the outdoor blowers 6, the indoor blowers 7, and the electric heater 10 in step 507. [0054]

When the air-conditioner 100 is in heating operation, the air-conditioning control unit 11 opens the opening/closing mechanisms 21 in step 508. For this reason, a part of the outdoor air induced by the outdoor blowers 6 does not pass through the filters 18 and the outdoor heat exchangers 4, and outdoor air flowing from the opened opening/closing mechanisms 21 into the outdoor unit chamber B is offered for cooling of the propulsion device 110 via the outdoor blower chamber A. [0055]

Since an amount of the outdoor air passing through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 can be reduced by performing step 508, the air-conditioner 100 capable of preventing contamination of the outdoor heat exchangers 4 caused by dust and contaminants included in the outdoor air and reducing a maintenance cost (a part of LLC) can be provided. Afterward, the flow transfers to step 518.

[0056]

Meanwhile, when it is determined in step 506 that the heating operation of the air-conditioner 100 is not needed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 further operates the outdoor blowers 6 and the indoor blowers 7 to perform the ventilating operation on the air-conditioner 100 in step 509. In this way, when the ventilating operation is performed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 opens the opening/closing mechanisms 21 in step 510.

[0057]

For this reason, a part of the outdoor air induced by the outdoor blowers 6 does not pass through the filters 18 and the outdoor heat exchangers 4, and outdoor air flowing from the opened opening/closing mechanisms 21 into the outdoor unit chamber B is offered for cooling of the propulsion device 110 via the outdoor blower chamber A.

[0058]

Since an amount of the outdoor air passing through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 can be reduced by performing step 510, contamination of the outdoor heat exchangers 4 (the filters 18) caused by dust and contaminants included in the outdoor air can be prevented, and a maintenance cost (a part of LLC) can be reduced. Afterward, the flow transfers to step 518 .

[0059] <When the air-conditioning control unit 11 detects that the propulsion device 110 is not in operation>

In step 503, the air-conditioning control unit 11 determines whether or not the cooling operation of the air-conditioner 100 is needed based on information such as an outdoor air temperature, an in-vehicle temperature, and a boarding rate. When it is determined that the cooling operation of the air-conditioner 100 is needed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 further operates the outdoor blowers 6, the compressors 8, and the indoor blowers 7 to perform the cooling operation in step 511.

[0060]

When the air-conditioner 100 is in cooling operation, the air-conditioning control unit 11 closes the opening/closing mechanisms 21 in step 512. For this reason, outdoor air induced by the outdoor blowers 6 discharges in-vehicle heat accumulated by a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle to the outside of the vehicle in a process of passing through the outdoor heat exchangers 4. Afterward, the flow transfers to step 518.

[0061]

Meanwhile, in step 503, when it is determined that the cooling operation of the air-conditioner 100 is not needed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 further determines whether or not the heating operation of the air-conditioner 100 is needed based on the information such as the outdoor air temperature, the in-vehicle temperature, and the boarding rate in step 513.

[0062]

When it is determined that the heating operation is needed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 operates the indoor blowers 7 and the electric heater 10 to perform the heating operation in step 514.

[0063]

When the air-conditioner 100 is in heating operation, the air-conditioning control unit 11 opens the opening/closing mechanisms 21 in step 515. For this reason, a part of the outdoor air induced by the outdoor blowers 6 does not pass through the filters 18 and the outdoor heat exchangers 4, and outdoor air flowing from the opened opening/closing mechanisms 21 into the outdoor unit chamber B is offered for cooling of the propulsion device 110 via the outdoor blower chamber A. [0064]

Since an amount of the outdoor air passing through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 can be reduced by performing step 515, the air-conditioner 100 capable of preventing contamination of the outdoor heat exchangers 4 caused by dust and contaminants included in the outdoor air and reducing a maintenance cost (a part of LLC) can be provided. Afterward, the flow transfers to step 518.

[0065]

Meanwhile, when it is determined that the heating operation of the air-conditioner 100 is not needed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 operates the indoor blowers 7 to perform the ventilating operation on the air-conditioner 100 in step 516. In this way, when the ventilating operation is performed, the air-conditioning control unit 11 opens the opening/closing mechanisms 21 in step 517.

[0066]

[0067]

Since an amount of the outdoor air passing through the outdoor heat exchangers 4 can be reduced by performing step 517, contamination of the outdoor heat exchangers 4 (the filters 18) caused by dust and contaminants included in the outdoor air can be prevented, and a maintenance cost can be reduced. Afterward, the flow transfers to step 518.

[0068]

Further, in step 518, the air-conditioning control unit 11 determines whether or not operation continuation of the air-conditioner is needed based on an instruction or the like from a cab. When it is determined in step 518 that the operation continuation of the air-conditioner 100 is not needed, the operation of the air-conditioner is terminated, and the control of the air-conditioner based on the flow chart is terminated. Meanwhile, when it is determined in step 518 that the operation continuation of the air-conditioner 100 is needed, the flow returns to step 501, and the same processes are performed. [0069]

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a control management table of the devices of the air-conditioning control unit 100 which are switched by the air-conditioning control unit 11. The controls of the devices performed in steps 504, 505, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 514, 515, 516 and 517 are switched depending on an operated state of the propulsion device and a state of being the operation mode of the air-conditioner according to the control management table illustrated in Fig. 10.

[0070]

The matters stated in steps 505, 508, 510, 512, 515 and 517 are applied to the case in which the device capable of opening/closing the opening/closing mechanisms 21 made up of an actuator operated, for instance, with pressure air is provided.

[0071]

However, the opening/closing mechanisms 21 may be made up of mechanical fastening units (bolts or the like) and a lid. In such a case, following a calendar, or the like, the cooling operation, the heating operation, and the ventilating operation are predetermined for each period, and a worker preferably mounts the lid just before a cooling operation season and closes the opening/closing mechanisms 21 throughout the season, whereas a worker preferably demounts the lid just before a heating operation and a ventilating operation season and opens the opening/closing mechanisms 21 throughout the season. In this case, steps 505, 508, 510, 512, 515 and 517 can be omitted.

[0072]

According to the present embodiment, the air-conditioning control unit 11 performs the steps (S504, S507, S509 and S511) of operating the outdoor blowers 6 depending on the operated state of the propulsion device 110 and the state of being the operation mode (the cooling operation, the heating operation, or the ventilating operation) of the air-conditioner 100. Thereby, even when the air-conditioner 100 performs the heating operation and the ventilating operation that are the operation modes other than the cooling operation, the propulsion device 110 that is in an operated state can be cooled. Further, even when the operation of the outdoor blowers 6 is not needed to cool the propulsion device 110 without operating the propulsion device 110, the outdoor blowers 6 can be operated to discharge the in-vehicle heat when the cooling operation is performed.

[0073]

Further, the air-conditioning control unit 11 performs the steps (S504, S507, S509 and S511) of operating the outdoor blowers 6 depending on the operated state of the propulsion device 110 and the state of being the operation mode (the cooling operation, the heating operation, or the ventilating operation) of the air-conditioner 100. Thereby, when the propulsion device 110 is not in operation and the air-conditioner 100 does not perform the cooling operation, the operation of the outdoor blowers 6 can be stopped. For this reason, the outdoor blowers 6 are prevented from being operated more than needs and reduce a power consumption, noises associated with the operation of the outdoor blowers 6 are reduced, and a maintenance period thereof is prolonged, so that a life cycle cost can be reduced.

[0074]

Since the propulsion device 110 can be cooled as needed using the outdoor blowers 6 provided on the air-conditioner 100 due to the aforementioned control flow (see Fig. 9) , there is no need to install a cooling unit on the propulsion device 110 itself, or a small cooling unit may be installed. Thereby, it is possible to cope with the railroad vehicle in which it is difficult to secure a mounting space of an underfloor device having a small vehicle gauge, and to further reduce the life cycle cost.

[0075]

Temperature sensors for acquiring temperatures of the devices (the brake resistor 120, the filter reactor 130, the inverter circuit 140, etc. ) in the case of the propulsion device 110 are provided on the propulsion device 110, and the propulsion device 110 provides a function of notifying information on the temperatures to the air-conditioning control unit 11. Thereby, it is possible to add functions to be described below.

[0076]

That is, in the steps (S504, S507, S509 and S511) of Fig. 9, the number of blowers to be operated can be determined from the plurality of outdoor blowers 6 based on the temperature information of the devices in the case of the propulsion device 110. For example, when the air-conditioner includes two outdoor blowers 6, the two outdoor blowers 6 are operated when the temperature is higher than a threshold, and one of the two outdoor blowers 6 is operated when the temperature is equal to or lower than the threshold.

[0077]

As another example, in the steps (S504, S507, S509 and S511), blast volumes (rotational frequencies of fans) of the outdoor blowers 6 can be selected based on the temperature information of the devices in the case of the propulsion device 110 when the outdoor blowers are operated. For example, the fans of the outdoor blowers 6 are operated at a high rotational frequency when the temperature is higher than a threshold, and the fans of the outdoor blowers 6 are operated at a low rotational frequency when the temperature is equal to or lower than the threshold.

[0078]

When the aforementioned functions are added, cooling performance caused by the outdoor blowers 6 can be more minutely adjusted depending on the temperature of the propulsion device . Thus, the power consumption caused by the outdoor blowers 6 can be reduced, and the noises associated with the operation of the outdoor blowers 6 can be reduced.

[0079]

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment, and includes various modifications. For example, the aforementioned embodiment is described in detail in order to describe the present invention clearly, and is not necessarily limited to one having all the described configurations. Some configurations in a certain embodiment can be replaced by configurations of another embodiment, or configurations of another embodiment can also be added to configurations of a certain embodiment. With respect to a part of the configuration in each embodiment, additions, eliminations, substitutions of another configuration are also possible .

Reference Signs List [0080] A: outdoor blower chamber B: outdoor unit chamber AB1: top cover C: indoor unit chamber Cl: indoor unit chamber top cover 1: conditioned air outlet 2: return air inlet 3: outdoor air inlet 4: outdoor heat exchanger 5: indoor heat exchanger 6: outdoor blower 7: indoor blower 8: compressor 9: accumulator 10: electric heater 11: air-conditioning control unit 12: drain pump 13, 13a, 13b: contactor box 14: partition wall 15: outer wall 16: opening 18: filter 20: connecting wall 21: opening/closing mechanism 100: air-conditioner 105: duct 110: propulsion device 120: brake resistor 121: switch circuit 130: filter reactor 140: inverter circuit 141: inverter cooling fin 145: main motor 150: exhaust port 160: direct current power supply 200 : arrow indicating flow of air passing through outdoor heat exchanger 210: arrow indicating flow of return air including fresh outdoor air 220: arrow indicating flow of conditioned air 300: railroad vehicle

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1] A railway vehicle comprising: an air-conditioner configured to generate conditioned air to be supplied to a passenger compartment of the railway vehicle; and a heat generating device provided adjacent to the air-conditioner and including a heat generating section, the air-conditioner and the heat generating device being provided under a floor in a longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle, wherein the air-conditioner changes a flow direction of outdoor air suctioned from any of a width direction, an upper side, and a lower side of the railway vehicle to eject the outdoor air in the longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle, and cools the heat generating device. [Claim 2] The railway vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the air-conditioner includes, in the longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle, an outdoor blower chamber in which an outdoor blower for ventilating an outdoor heat exchanger is installed and which is provided at a position adjacent to the heat generating device, and an outdoor unit chamber that abuts on the outdoor blower chamber and includes the outdoor heat exchanger, and in a process of guiding a flow direction of outdoor air, which is suctioned to the outdoor unit chamber and flows in the width direction or a vertical direction of the railway vehicle, to the outdoor blower chamber, the flow direction is changed into a direction along the longitudinal direction of the railway vehicle. [Claim 3] The railway vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: a channel constituted by a connecting wall that connects an outer wall, which forms the outdoor blower chamber and is provided in the width direction of the railway vehicle, and a device outer wall of the heat generating device on a side facing the air-conditioner. [Claim 4] The railway vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the outdoor blower chamber includes an opening/closing mechanism in which opening/closing is controlled depending on an operation mode of the air-conditioner. [Claim 5] The railway vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heat generating device is a propulsion device that includes an inverter circuit for supplying driving power to a motor which drives the railway vehicle. [Claim 6] The railway vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the propulsion device further includes a brake resistor and a filter reactor that are electrically connected to the inverter circuit, and the inverter circuit, the filter reactor, and the brake resistor are arranged on a channel of outdoor air supplied from the air-conditioner to be cooled by the outdoor air. [Claim 7] The railway vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the propulsion device is provided with an exhaust port at a lower side of the propulsion device, the exhaust port discharging outdoor air supplied from the air-conditioner to the outside of a case of the propulsion device and is provided. [Claim 8] The railway vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the air-conditioner includes an air-conditioning control unit that selects an operation mode of the air-conditioner from a plurality of operation modes including a cooling operation, a heating operation, and a ventilating operation, and an outdoor blower that ventilates the outdoor heat exchanger, and the air-conditioning control unit controls the outdoor blower depending on an operated state of the heat generating device and the operation mode of the air-conditioner. [Claim 9] The railway vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the air-conditioning control unit operates the outdoor blower when the heat generating device is in an operated state or when the air-conditioner performs the cooling operation, and stops the outdoor blower when the heat generating device is not operated and when the air-conditioner performs the heating operation or the ventilating operation. [Claim 10] The railway vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the air-conditioner includes an opening/closing mechanism that is provided on an outer wall of the air-conditioner and is capable of performing an opening/closing operation, and the air-conditioning control unit closes the opening/closing mechanism when the air-conditioner performs the cooling operation, and opens the opening/closing mechanism when the air-conditioner performs the heating operation or the ventilating operation. [Claim 11] The railway vehicle according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the air-conditioner includes a plurality of the outdoor blowers; and the air-conditioning control unit stops a part of the outdoor blowers when the heat generating device is in an operated state and when temperature of the heat generating device is lower than a predetermined value. [Claim 12] The railway vehicle according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the air-conditioning control unit operates the outdoor blower with a blast volume of a first blast volume when the heat generating device is in an operated state and when temperature of the heat generating device is higher than a predetermined value; and the air-conditioning control unit operates the outdoor blower with the blast volume of a second blast volume smaller than the first blast volume when the heat generating device is in an operated state and when temperature of the heat generating device is lower than a predetermined value. [Claim 13] A method of controlling the railway vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising: a first step of determining whether or not the heat generating device is in operation; and a second step of operating the outdoor blower of the air-conditioner when it is determined in the first step that the heat generating device is in operation. [Claim 14] The method of controlling the railway vehicle according to claim 13, further comprising: a third step of determining an operation mode of the air-conditioner after the second step; and a fourth step of opening the opening/closing mechanism when it is determined in the third step that the operation mode is a cooling operation.