JP2001304633A - Heat storage air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To utilize a cold heat or a hot heat highly efficiently. SOLUTION: A controller effects control that, when cooling or heating operation is carried out by using heat stored at a heat storage material as a heat source, switching of a circulation passage by a switching valve is not effected, until a temperature difference A2 between a temperature T2 of a heat transfer medium, etc., and temperature T3 in a car is decreased to a value lower than a flow passage switching decision value A2. This constitution efficiently stores a cold heat or hot heat and utilizes the heat, and prevents a user from feeling uncomfortable in a way that air before temperature is adjusted to a proper value is not supplied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat storage air conditioner suitable for being mounted on a vehicle such as a long-distance truck or the like, and in particular, stores cold or warm heat during running and uses this heat to stop the vehicle even during a stop. The present invention relates to a heat storage air conditioner capable of performing cooling or heating operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, air conditioners are provided as standard equipment in long-distance trucks and the like so as to be capable of cooling and heating, and vehicles having a nap room at the rear side of a driver's seat or the like are provided on the market. . In the following description, the room to be harmonized will be described as being inside a vehicle.

In such a case, cooling is performed by operating a refrigeration circuit provided with a compressor that rotates by receiving driving force from the engine, and heating is performed using waste heat of the engine.

[0004] However, when taking a nap in the nap room, the engine is generally stopped, and there is a problem that it is difficult to take a sufficient nap because the winter is cold and the summer is hot.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-192609 discloses a heat storage air conditioner provided with a heat storage material.

[0006] Cooling during running is performed by operating a refrigeration circuit, and heating is performed by using waste heat of the engine. Cooling and heating when the engine is stopped, such as during a nap, is performed by cooling or heating during running. The heat is stored by storing the heat as described below, and the heat is used as a heat source.

That is, the heat storage air conditioner is connected to a refrigeration circuit and includes a heat storage evaporator, and the cold heat storage evaporates a part of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration circuit by the cool storage evaporator. Thereby, the heat storage material closely arranged in the cool storage evaporator is cooled.

On the other hand, heat is stored by forming a flow path so that air in the machine circulates through a cool storage evaporator, and providing a heater in the flow path to reduce air heated by the heater during traveling. This is done by exchanging heat with the heat storage material.

The cooling or warming operation is performed by using the thus stored cold or warm heat as a heat source when the engine is stopped such as during a nap.

[0010]

However, the above configuration has a problem that cold or warm heat can be efficiently stored and this heat cannot be used efficiently.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat storage air conditioner that can efficiently store and use cold or warm heat.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a heat exchange section for exchanging heat between a heat transfer medium and air in a conditioned room, and a heat exchange section and piping. A heat storage unit that is connected in an annular shape and has a heat storage material that stores at least one of cold heat and hot heat, and is connected in parallel with the heat storage unit to the heat exchange unit, and is provided in thermal contact with the heat storage unit. A heat transfer unit that transfers heat between materials and stores heat, and is provided at a parallel connection point between the heat transfer unit and the heat storage unit, and when storing cold or warm heat in the heat storage unit,
The circulation path is switched so that the heat transfer medium circulates between the heat exchange section and the heat transfer section, and the heat transfer section causes the heat transfer medium and the heat storage section to perform heat exchange to store heat in the heat storage section, and When utilizing the cold or warm heat stored in the heat storage unit, the heat transfer medium switches the circulation path so as to circulate between the heat exchange unit and the heat storage unit, and is cooled or heated by the heat stored in the heat storage unit. A circulation path switching unit that allows the heat transfer medium to exchange heat with the air in the conditioned room in the heat exchange unit, and after the heat storage in the cold storage material is completed, the temperature of the heat transfer medium and the temperature of the conditioned room And a control unit for preventing the circulation path switching unit from switching the circulation path until the temperature difference becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control section prevents the circulation path switching section from switching the circulation path for a predetermined time after the completion of the heat storage, so that the temperature of the temperature of the heat transfer medium and the temperature of the conditioned chamber are maintained. The apparatus is characterized in that it is made to wait until the difference becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the heat exchange section exchanges heat between the heat transfer medium and the air in the conditioned chamber, and circulates the air in the conditioned chamber via the heat exchanger. The air conditioner has a blower, and the control unit reduces the air volume of the blower or stops the blow for a predetermined time immediately after the start of the cooling or heating operation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the temperature of the conditioned room reaches the set temperature, the control unit reduces the air flow of the blower or keeps the blower operated intermittently to maintain the temperature. And

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pump for circulating the heat transfer medium, and when the temperature of the conditioned room reaches the set temperature, the control unit controls the pump to maintain the state. It is characterized in that the circulation amount of the medium is adjusted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to suppress the temperature of the conditioned room from reaching a predetermined temperature or higher, when the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature, the control unit increases the blowing amount of the blower. Features.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the heat transfer section stores cold heat in the heat storage section, the heat transfer section absorbs the heat of the heat storage section,
When the heat is discharged to the outside of the machine via the heat transfer medium and heat is stored in the heat storage section, the electronic temperature which absorbs the heat outside the apparatus via the heat transfer medium and radiates the heat to the heat storage section. The control unit detects the state of the power supply connected to the electronic heating / cooling element, and suppresses the power supply to the electronic heating / cooling element when the capacity of the power supply decreases or is likely to decrease. Or, it is characterized in that it is cut off.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the heat storage air conditioner is mounted on a vehicle and is set to store cold or warm heat when the vehicle is running, and the battery charge of the vehicle is reduced. The present invention is characterized in that current supply to the electronic heating / cooling element is suppressed or cut off.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the heat storage air conditioner is mounted on a vehicle, and is set so as to store cold or warm heat when the vehicle is running. It is characterized in that current supply to the heating / cooling element is suppressed or cut off.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a heat storage air conditioner 2 according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the schematic configuration of FIG.

The heat-storage air conditioner 2 has a heat-insulating case 10 in which a heat-insulating material 11 is provided, a heat-storing portion 20 having a heat-storing material 21 housed in the heat-insulating case 10, and is in thermal contact with the heat-storing portion 20. A heat transfer unit 30 provided with an electronic heating / cooling element 31 such as a Peltier element for transferring heat to the heat storage material 21 for storing heat, extracting heat stored in the heat storage unit 20, or storing heat in the heat storage unit 20 Exchange unit 4 provided with a heat exchanger 41 for exchanging heat between a vehicle interior air or the like and a heat transfer medium to perform heat exchange
0, a switching valve 51 for switching a circulation path through which the heat transfer medium circulates
Circuit switching unit 50, heat transfer unit 30 and heat exchange unit 4 provided with
0 and a control section 60 for controlling the circulation path switching section 50 and the like.

The heat storage unit 20 is connected to the heat exchange unit 40.
And the heat transfer unit 30 are connected by the pipe 3 so as to be in parallel.

The heat-insulating case 10 is provided with a heat-insulating lid 12, and a packing 13 is provided around the heat-insulating lid 12. This prevents the heat storage material 21 from spilling when the heat insulating lid 12 is closed.

The heat storage section 20 includes a heat storage material 21 having a plurality of fins 23 standing on a substrate 22 so as to efficiently store heat in the heat storage material 21 for storing cold or hot heat. The heat storage material 21 is constituted by a heat sink 24 and the like, and is stored between the fins 23.

The heat storage material 21 is preferably water or glycerin hydrate when storing cold heat, and is preferably paraffin squalane hydrate or sodium acetate hydrate when storing heat. Here, the hydrate refers to a substance containing water.

At the root of the fin 23, a flow path 4 forming a circulation path of the heat transfer medium is formed.

The heat transfer section 30 includes an electronic heating / cooling element 31 provided with a heat storage side heat sink 24 in thermal contact with one surface to transfer heat in a predetermined direction, A heat source side heat sink 32 and the like provided in contact with each other to enable efficient heat exchange with the heat storage material 21 via the electronic heating / cooling element 31 are provided.
2 also has a flow path 4 for the heat transfer medium.

The electronic heating / cooling element 31 is sandwiched between the heat storage side heat sink 24 and the heat source side heat sink 32 while maintaining thermal contact. The position of the heat absorbing surface and the heat radiating surface depends on the direction of the current flowing through the electronic heating / cooling element 31. And the direction of the heat flow changes. The heat flow refers to the flow of heat when heat is conducted from the heat absorbing surface to the heat radiating surface.

For example, in FIG. 1, the surface in contact with the heat storage side heat sink 24 is designated as surface A, and the surface in contact with the heat source side heat sink 32 is designated as surface B. Is the heat dissipation surface.

Accordingly, in this case, the heat of the heat storage material 21 is absorbed from the surface A and released from the surface B to the heat transfer medium via the heat source side heat sink 32, and the heat storage material 21 loses heat and is cooled. That is, cold heat is stored in the heat storage material 21.

On the other hand, when the direction of the current is reversed, the heat of the heat transfer medium is absorbed through the heat source side heat sink 32 through the surface B and is radiated from the surface A to the heat storage material 21 through the heat storage side heat sink 24. Thus, the heat storage material 21 is heated. That is, warm heat is stored in the heat storage material 21.

The heat exchange section 40 has a heat exchanger 41 for exchanging heat between the heat transfer medium and the air inside the vehicle, a blower 42 for blowing air inside the vehicle to the heat exchanger 41, and the like.

The circulation path switching section 50 circulates the heat transfer medium between the heat storage section 20 and the heat exchange section 40, or
Switching valve 5 for switching between circulation and heat exchange section 40
1. It has a pump 52 for circulating the heat transfer medium.

Although FIG. 2 shows the case where two switching valves 51 are provided, it goes without saying that the circulation path of the heat transfer medium can be switched even with one switching valve.

The solid arrow in FIG.
1 shows the flow of the heat transfer medium when storing cold or warm heat, and the dotted arrows show the flow of the heat transfer medium when taking out the cold or warm heat stored in the heat storage material 21.

The control unit 60 is provided on the heat storage side heat sink 24 and detects the temperature of the heat storage side heat sink 24. The control unit 60 is provided on the heat source side heat sink 32. , A temperature detector 65 for detecting the temperature of the inside of the vehicle, an outside air temperature detector 64, a temperature detector 65 for detecting the temperature of the heat transfer medium, and signals from the temperature detectors 62 to 65. And the switching valve 5 based on the
It has a controller 61 for controlling 1 and the like.

Next, the heat storage air conditioner 2 having such a configuration will be described.
Will be described together with the operation method. It should be noted that there is no difference as to whether the heat to be stored is cold or warm as a basic operation. Therefore, in the following description, the control in the standby state until cold is stored and cooling is started will be described as an example in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, T1 to T4 indicate the detected temperatures of the heat storage side temperature detector 62, the heat source side temperature detector 63, the outside air temperature detector 64, and the heat carrier medium temperature detector 65, respectively. A1 to A4 indicate set values, and their detailed meanings will be described later. A1 is a heat storage completion determination value, A2 is a flow path switching determination value, A3 is a heat source use determination value,
A4 is referred to as an air conditioning start determination value.

First, the heat storage air conditioner 2 is installed on a long-distance truck or the like. Thermal storage air conditioner 2 according to the present invention
Can be operated simply by supplying power to the electronic heating / cooling element 31, the blower 42, and the like, so that there is no need to connect to an existing air conditioner. Therefore, there is an advantage that the user can easily install the apparatus by himself.

When the installation of the heat storage air conditioner 2 is completed, the heat storage material 21 is stored in the heat storage air conditioner 2. As the heat storage material 21, various materials can be considered as described above.

The heat storage material 21 is stored by opening the heat insulating lid 12 and pouring it between the fins 23, or by inserting the cold storage material 21 in a container. The heat-insulating lid 12 is provided with a packing 13 so that the heat storage material 21 stored during traveling does not fall.

Then, the operation of the heat storage air conditioner 2 is started (step S1). When cold heat is stored in the heat storage material 21, the electronic heating / cooling element 31 absorbs the heat of the heat storage material 21 via the heat storage side heat sink 24 and radiates the heat to the heat transfer medium via the heat source side heat sink 32. The current as shown.

Thus, the heat of the heat storage material 21 is radiated to the heat transfer medium, and the temperature of the heat transfer medium increases. Since this heat transfer medium circulates through the heat exchanger 41, the heat exchanger 41 exchanges heat with the air inside the vehicle.

At this time, since the inside of the vehicle is cooled by the existing air conditioner and the temperature is low, the heat transfer medium can efficiently exchange heat (dissipate heat), and the heat of the heat storage material 21 can be efficiently removed. It is possible to take away. That is, cold energy can be efficiently stored.

In particular, since glycerin hydrate solidifies at 5 to 10 ° C., it can be coagulated with high efficiency.

Whether or not the heat storage material 21 has sufficiently stored cold heat is determined by whether or not the temperature T1 from the heat storage side temperature detector 62 has become lower than the heat storage completion determination value A1 in step S2.

As the heat storage completion judgment value A1, since glycerin hydrate solidifies at 5 ° C., this value can be set.

When sufficient cold heat is stored in the heat storage material 21,
Since no additional heat storage action is required, the electronic heating / cooling element 3
The energization to 1 is stopped.

As described above, the heat storage material 21 is a heat insulating case 1
However, since it is difficult to completely insulate physically, the stored heat is gradually lost. In such a case, it is preferable to reduce the current supplied to the electronic heating / cooling element 31 or to perform intermittent power supply so as to maintain the heat storage completion state.

When the number of revolutions of the engine is reduced in an idling state or the like, it is possible to reduce the amount of electricity to the electronic heating / cooling element 31 or the applied voltage to reduce the engine load. Similarly, even when the charge amount of the battery is low, it is preferable that the battery is sufficiently charged by reducing the amount of current supplied to the electronic heating / cooling element 31 or reducing the applied voltage. .

The process proceeds to step S4 for standby for cooling operation using the cold energy thus stored.

In step S4, is the temperature difference between the in-vehicle temperature T3 detected by the outside air temperature detector 64 and the temperature T2 of the heat source side heat sink 32 detected by the heat source side temperature detector 63 larger than the flow path switching judgment value A2? Determine whether or not.

When cold heat is stored, heat is radiated from the electronic heating / cooling element 31 to the heat transfer medium via the heat source side heat sink 32, and the heat transfer medium circulates through the heat exchanger 41 connected by the pipe 3. Therefore, these temperatures are substantially equal to the temperature T2 of the heat source side heat sink 32 and are higher than at least the vehicle interior temperature T3.

Therefore, when a cooling operation described later is performed in such a state, the cold energy stored for cooling them to the temperature inside the vehicle is used, so that the efficiency of using the cold heat is reduced and the warm air is generated. It is blown and gives discomfort.

Therefore, the temperature T of the heat source side heat sink 32 is
2, that is, the temperature of the heat exchanger 41, the pipe 3, etc.
Do not switch the flow path until.

Then, the switching valve 51 is operated so that the heat transfer medium circulating between the heat exchanger 41 and the heat source side heat sink 32 in step S5 is circulated between the heat exchanger 41 and the heat storage side heat sink 24. Switch. That is, the heat transfer medium is circulated from the solid arrow to the dotted arrow shown in FIG.

As a result, the heat transfer medium is cooled by the heat storage material 21 via the heat storage side heat sink 24 and its temperature is lowered, and the cooling standby is completed. That is, no matter when cooling is started, cool air is generated and the inside of the vehicle is cooled.

At the start of cooling, the amount of air blown is reduced and the amount of air blown is increased over time, or the air is not blown for a certain period of time, so that discomfort due to the blowing of fresh warm air is avoided. Can be prevented.

When the temperature inside the vehicle reaches the set temperature,
The number of rotations of the blower 42 is reduced to reduce the amount of blown air, or the number of rotations of the pump 52 is reduced to reduce the amount of circulation of the heat transfer medium so that the temperature inside the vehicle is maintained at the set value.

When the temperature inside the vehicle is maintained at a substantially set value, it is possible to control the air flow to increase or decrease the air flow to increase the comfort.

The cooling standby is performed in this manner, but the amount of heat stored is limited, so that the standby state cannot be continued without limitation.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the cooling standby can be continued. Whether or not the cooling standby is possible is determined by determining whether or not the temperature T1 of the heat storage material 21 is higher than a predetermined cooling source use determination value A3, and at the same time, the temperature T4 of the heat transfer medium and the temperature T1 of the heat storage material 21. It is determined whether or not the temperature difference T4−T1 is lower than the air-conditioning start determination value A4, and if both of these conditions are satisfied, it is determined that the heat of the heat storage material 21 has decreased. Therefore, the cooling standby is stopped and the process proceeds to step S7.

In principle, the heat storage material 21 can be used until it becomes equal to the temperature inside the vehicle. However, practically, when the temperature becomes close to room temperature, the function as a cooling heat source cannot be expected, and the cooling ends immediately when the actual cooling starts.

The heat storage material 21 has a cooling heat source use judgment value A3.
However, the temperature T4 of the heat transfer medium and the temperature T1 of the heat storage material 21 do not match.

Therefore, the temperature T4 of the heat transfer medium and the heat storage material 2
It is determined whether or not the difference from the temperature T1 is smaller than the air conditioning start determination value A4.

In this way, when it is determined that the heat storage amount of the heat storage material 21 has decreased, the flow path of the heat transfer medium is switched in step S7, and the flow proceeds to step S2 in order to start energizing the electronic heating / cooling element 31 and store heat. Return.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When performing standby for cooling or heating operation using the heat stored in the cold storage material as a heat source, the circulation path by the circulation path switching unit until the temperature difference between the temperature of the heat transfer medium and the temperature of the conditioned room becomes smaller than a predetermined value. Is controlled so as not to perform switching, so that cold or warm heat can be used efficiently.

Further, the control section prevents the circulation path switching section from switching the circulation path for a predetermined time after the completion of the heat storage, so that the temperature difference between the temperature of the heat transfer medium and the temperature of the conditioned chamber becomes a predetermined value. Since it is made to wait until it becomes smaller, cold or warm heat can be used efficiently.

Further, the control unit reduces the air volume of the blower for a predetermined time immediately after the start of the cooling or heating operation or stops the air blow, so that the air before reaching the appropriate temperature is not blown, so that the user is not blown. Eliminates discomfort.

Further, when the temperature of the conditioned room reaches the set temperature, the control section reduces the air flow of the blower or operates the blower intermittently in order to maintain the state. Will be available.

When the temperature of the room to be conditioned reaches the set temperature, the control unit controls the pump to adjust the circulation amount of the heat transfer medium so as to maintain this state. Heat will be available.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a heat storage air conditioner applied to a description of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 heat storage air conditioner 20 heat storage unit 21 heat storage material 24 heat storage side heat sink 30 heat transfer unit 31 electronic heating / cooling element 32 heat source side heat sink 40 heat exchange unit 41 heat exchanger 42 blower 50 circulation path switching unit 51 switching valve 60 control unit 61 Controller 62 Heat storage side temperature detector 63 Heat source side temperature detector 64 Outside air temperature detector 65 Heat transfer medium temperature detector

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Kubota 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 3L054 BG10 BH07 3L060 AA03 CC01 CC02 EE01

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A heat exchange section for exchanging heat between a heat transfer medium and air in a conditioned chamber, and a heat storage material connected in a ring shape by the heat exchange section and a pipe and storing at least one of cold heat and hot heat. A heat storage unit provided, a heat transfer unit connected to the heat exchange unit in parallel with the heat storage unit, provided in thermal contact with the heat storage unit, and transferring heat between the heat storage material and storing heat. The heat transfer unit is provided at a parallel connection point between the heat transfer unit and the heat storage unit, and when the heat storage unit stores cold or warm heat, the heat transfer medium is provided by the heat exchange unit and the heat transfer unit. The circulation path is switched so as to circulate, and the heat transfer unit causes the heat transfer medium and the heat storage unit to exchange heat to store heat in the heat storage unit, and also stores the cold or warm heat stored in the heat storage unit. When using, the heat transfer medium is the heat exchange unit and the heat storage unit Circuit switching so that the heat transfer medium cooled or heated by the heat stored in the heat storage unit can exchange heat with the air in the conditioned room in the heat exchange unit. After the heat storage in the cold storage material is completed, until the temperature difference between the temperature of the heat transfer medium and the temperature of the conditioned room becomes smaller than a predetermined value, switching of the circulation path by the circulation path switching unit. A heat storage air conditioner comprising: a control unit configured to prevent the air conditioner from performing the operation. 2. The control unit, wherein the circulation path switching unit does not switch the circulation path for a predetermined time after the completion of the heat storage,
The heat storage air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage air conditioner is configured to wait until a temperature difference between the temperature of the heat transfer medium and the temperature of the conditioned room becomes smaller than a predetermined value. 3. The heat exchange section includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the heat transfer medium and air in the conditioned room, and a blower for circulating the air in the conditioned room via the heat exchanger. The heat storage air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit reduces the air volume of the blower or stops the blower for a predetermined time immediately after the start of the cooling or heating operation. 4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature of the room to be conditioned reaches a set temperature, the air flow of the blower is reduced or the blower is operated intermittently so as to maintain the state. The heat storage air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A pump for circulating the heat transfer medium is provided, and when the temperature of the room to be conditioned reaches a set temperature, the control unit controls the pump to maintain the state, thereby controlling the heat transfer medium. The heat storage air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a circulation amount is adjusted. 6. The control unit increases the amount of air blown by the blower when the temperature of the conditioned room reaches the predetermined temperature so as to prevent the temperature of the conditioned room from becoming higher than a predetermined temperature. The heat storage air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. When the heat transfer section stores cold heat in the heat storage section, the heat transfer section absorbs the heat of the heat storage section and discharges the heat to the outside via the heat transfer medium. When the heat is stored in the heat storage medium, an electronic heating / cooling element that absorbs heat outside the machine via the heat transfer medium and radiates the heat to the heat storage unit is provided, and the control unit controls the electronic heating / cooling element. A state of a power supply connected to the element is detected, and when the capacity of the power supply decreases or is likely to decrease, the power supply to the electronic heating / cooling element is suppressed or cut off. Item 7. The heat storage air conditioner according to any one of Items 1 to 6. 8. The electronic thermo-cooling device, wherein the heat storage air conditioner is mounted on a vehicle and is set to store cold or warm heat when the vehicle is running, and when the battery charge of the vehicle decreases. The heat storage air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the power supply to the heat storage air conditioner is suppressed or cut off. 9. The heat storage air conditioner is mounted on a vehicle, and is set so as to store cold or warm heat when the vehicle runs, and to the electronic heating / cooling element when the vehicle enters an idling state. The heat storage air conditioner according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the power supply of the heat storage air conditioner is suppressed or cut off.