JP2013544700A - Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for electric or hybrid electric vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

  A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle includes a casing (110), a blower (120) disposed inside the casing (110), and an exterior of the casing (110). A battery ventilation duct (160) disposed. The casing (110) includes a first intake port (111) provided upstream of the blower (120) and a first exhaust port (112) provided downstream of the evaporator (130). The battery ventilation duct (160) is connected to the first exhaust port (112). The battery ventilation duct (160) includes a battery air inlet (161) communicating with the interior of the vehicle compartment (190), air supplied to the battery: (a) cooling air from the HVAC system to the first An option to supply through the exhaust port (112), (b) an option to supply air from the vehicle compartment (190) through the battery intake port (161), (c) an option to supply air (a) and ( b) an intake control valve that is controlled according to an option supplied based on the combination of b). The intake control valve includes a first flap (170, 270) that is movable between two farthest end positions. The first flaps (170, 270) close the first exhaust port (112) at a first farthest end position and close the battery intake port (161) at a second farthest end position. The structure of the HVAC system is optimized, reducing the system footprint and manufacturing costs.

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning) system for an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle, and more particularly to not only air-conditioning a vehicle interior but also controlling the temperature of a battery cell group. It relates to the HVAC system to be adjusted.

  From the viewpoint of environmental protection as well as oil dilution, research and development on electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles have been carried out, and technologies related to electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles have become sufficiently mature.

  In an electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle, a battery that supplies power to the engine includes a plurality of battery cells, particularly a plurality of NiMH (nickel metal hydride) battery cells or lithium ion battery cells. In order for a battery to operate properly, it usually requires a specific temperature range that the battery should be subjected to. However, the temperature of the battery usually exceeds the temperature range due to ambient temperature, heat generated from the vehicle engine and the battery itself, and the like. Therefore, it is necessary for the HVAC system to adjust the temperature of the battery, specifically to cool the battery cell group, and to prevent a decrease in efficiency due to overheating or an explosion of the battery cell group.

  US 2006/0073378 discloses an HVAC system for electric or hybrid electric vehicles. The HVAC system disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0073378 includes a passenger compartment air conditioner, in which a blower, an evaporator, and a radiator are arranged. The air conditioner is provided with an opening at the bottom, and the opening communicates with a duct leading to the battery, thereby utilizing at least a part of the low-temperature cooling air supplied from the passenger compartment air conditioner. Can be cooled. A first flap combined with a second flap is provided in the opening. The first flap opens and closes the opening that reaches the duct, and the second flap opens and closes the opening that supplies air to the radiator. Furthermore, the HVAC system can cool the battery using air outside the vehicle compartment. The duct is provided with an intake port for sucking air outside the passenger compartment, and a third flap is provided to open and close the intake port. The HVAC system according to US 2006/0073378 has a complex structure and the number of parts of the structure is very high.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0073378

  It is an object of the present invention to further reduce the space occupied by the system and the manufacturing cost by further optimizing the structure of the HVAC system of the electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system for an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle, and the HVAC system includes a casing and a blower disposed inside the casing. And a battery ventilation duct disposed outside the casing. The casing includes a first intake port provided upstream of the blower and a first exhaust port provided downstream of the blower, and the battery ventilation duct is connected to the first exhaust port. The battery air duct has a battery air inlet communicating with the interior of the passenger compartment, and air supplied to the battery:
(A) an option to supply cooling air from the HVAC system through the first exhaust;
(B) an option to supply air from the passenger compartment through the battery inlet;
And (c) an option for supplying air based on a combination of options (a) and (b), and a battery intake control valve that controls the air according to the option.

  In the HVAC system, the battery intake control valve includes a first flap, and the first flap controls the first exhaust port and the battery intake port simultaneously. The first flap is movable between two farthest end positions. Further, the first flap closes the first exhaust port at a first farthest end position and closes the battery intake port at a second farthest end position.

  The casing further includes a second exhaust port that supplies air to the vehicle compartment, and a closing valve that controls the second exhaust port.

  When the air temperature in the passenger compartment is 15 ° C. or lower, the closing valve is in the open position, and the first flap is in the first farthest end position. When the air temperature in the passenger compartment is above 15 ° C. and below 20 ° C., the closing valve is in the closed position, and the first flap is in the second farthest end position. Finally, when the air temperature in the passenger compartment exceeds 20 ° C., the opening / closing flap is in the open position, and the first flap is in the second farthest end position.

  An auxiliary blower is further disposed inside the battery ventilation duct.

  The first flap includes a closing portion and a rotating portion. The closing portion has a plate shape, and the first flap includes the rotating portion on the casing or the battery ventilation duct. It is attached so that rotation is possible.

  As another configuration, the first flap includes a closed portion, a rotating portion, and a support portion, and the closed portion is formed with a cylindrical surface, and the first flap is connected to the battery ventilation duct. The support part is pivotably attached via the pivot part, and the support part connects the pivot part and the closing part.

  The casing is further provided with a second intake port between the first intake port and the blower, the first intake port is connected to the outside of the vehicle compartment, and the second intake port is Connected to the interior of the passenger compartment.

  A filter is further disposed between the first air inlet and the blower.

  The first intake port and the second intake port are controlled by a second flap that is movable between two farthest end positions, and the second flap moves the first intake port to the first farthest position. The second intake port is closed at the end position and the second intake port is closed at the second farthest end position.

  The second flap includes a closing portion and a rotating portion. The closing portion has a plate shape, and the second flap is rotatable on the casing via the rotating portion. It is attached.

  The second flap includes a closed portion, a rotating portion, and a support portion, and the closed portion is formed with a cylindrical surface, and the second flap is disposed on the casing via the rotating portion. The support portion is pivotally attached, and the support portion connects the rotation portion and the closing portion.

  According to the present invention, the structure of the HVAC system can be greatly simplified, thereby saving the occupied space and reducing the number of parts, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

1 is a schematic diagram of an HVAC system for an electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The structure schematic diagram of the 1st flap by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram of the HVAC system of the electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The structure schematic diagram of the 1st flap by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram of the HVAC system of the electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  In the following, detailed descriptions of different embodiments of the present invention will be made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an HVAC system for an electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the HVAC system includes a casing 110, a blower 120 disposed in the casing 110, an evaporator 130, and a radiator 140 disposed downstream of the blower 120.

  The HVAC system is further arranged outside the casing 110, and a vehicle compartment air-conditioning duct 150 that supplies conditioned air to a vehicle compartment (not shown) and a battery ventilation duct 160 that supplies conditioned air to a battery (not shown). And comprising.

  The casing 110 has a first exhaust port 112 and a second exhaust port 113 installed downstream of the evaporator 130 as well as the first intake port 111 installed upstream of the blower 120. The first exhaust port 112 is completely different from the second exhaust port 113 in both position and function. In other words, the first exhaust port 112 is connected to the battery ventilation duct 160 and exclusively supplies conditioned air to the battery cell group via the battery ventilation duct 160. The second exhaust port 113 is connected to the passenger compartment air conditioning duct 150 and functions as a normal opening in the HVAC system, thereby supplying conditioned air to the passenger compartment.

  The blower 120 generates an air flow in the casing 110 between the first intake port 111 and the first exhaust port 112 and / or the second exhaust port 113. Therefore, the terms “downstream” and “upstream” in this specification are based on the air flow direction inside the casing 110 between the first air inlet 111 and the first air outlet 112 and / or the second air outlet 113. It is defined as

  The first exhaust port 112 is disposed downstream of the blower 120 and the evaporator 130 in the casing 110. Preferably, the exhaust port 112 is disposed in the casing 110 upstream of the radiator 140.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration in which the first exhaust port 112 and the second exhaust port 113 are arranged on different sides of the casing. However, this configuration should not be taken in a limited manner. The relative position between the port 112 and the second exhaust port 113 is freely optimized so as to vary depending on not only the position of the battery in the electric vehicle or the hybrid electric vehicle but also the position of the passenger compartment air conditioning duct 150. be able to.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery ventilation duct 160 further includes a battery intake port 161 reaching the outside of the casing. Preferably, the battery intake port 161 is arranged in the vicinity of the first exhaust port 112 or close to the first exhaust port 112, thereby simplifying the design of the battery intake control valve. The intake control valve is used to open and close the battery intake port 161 and is disposed in the vicinity of the first exhaust port 112 or in proximity to the first exhaust port 112.

Preferably, battery inlet 161 communicates with the interior of vehicle interior 190. Therefore, the battery can be cooled by sucking clean air and / or regenerative air in the vehicle interior into the battery ventilation duct 160 through the battery intake port 161. In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the intake control valve for the battery supplies air supplied to the battery:
(A) an option for supplying cooling air from the HVAC system via the first exhaust port 112;
(B) an option for supplying air from the passenger compartment via the battery inlet 161;
(C) Control with the option of supplying air based on the combination of options (a) and (b).

  Since the battery intake port 161 communicating with the interior of the vehicle interior is disposed in the battery ventilation duct 160, clean air and / or regenerated air at an appropriate temperature in the vehicle interior in addition to the conditioned air from the HVAC system. Can be used as another source of cooling air supplied to the battery cell group. Therefore, the reliability of the system for cooling the battery can be increased, and energy can be saved.

  As another configuration, the battery inlet 161 can be communicated with the outside of the passenger compartment. When the battery inlet 161 communicates with the outside of the passenger compartment, air outside the passenger compartment (i.e., the atmosphere and / or fresh air) will be used as another cooling air supply source. Must be disposed upstream of the battery inlet 161.

  On the other hand, when the intake port 161 communicates with the interior of the passenger compartment, an additional filter is not necessary, so that the structure of the HVAC system can be simplified, and the energy cost by adding the filter is reduced to zero. be able to.

  According to another configuration, the battery inlet 161 can be communicated with the outside of the vehicle compartment and the inside of the vehicle compartment 190. Preferably, a selection flap for switching modes can be provided to select air from outside the cabin and / or air from inside the cabin 190.

  However, by providing the additional filter at the battery inlet 161 of the battery ventilation duct 160, the cleanliness of the cooling air can be secured.

  In the first embodiment, the battery intake control valve of the HVAC system takes the form of a first flap 170. The first flap 170 is used to open and close the battery inlet 161 and the first exhaust 112. The first flap 170 can be disposed inside the casing 110 or the battery ventilation duct 160. Preferably, according to a particular alternative embodiment, the auxiliary blower 162 is further arranged inside the battery ventilation duct 160. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the auxiliary blower 162 can be located within the battery ventilation duct 160 and downstream of the battery inlet 161. Furthermore, another air supply device can be used without providing the auxiliary blower 162.

  The structure of the first flap 170 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the first flap 170 includes a closed portion 1701 and a rotating portion 1702. The closed portion 1701 has the shape of a plate member, and is attached to the inside of the casing 110 or the battery ventilation duct 160 via the rotating portion 1702 so as to be rotatable. FIG. 2 schematically shows the closed portion 1701 having a rectangular shape. A person skilled in the art will recognize that the shape of the closed portion 1701 is not limited to a rectangle, and any shape that can close the first exhaust port 112 and / or the battery intake port 161 so as to seal it. It will be appreciated that the shape may be any shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first flap 170 is movable between two farthest end positions. A solid line inside the circular broken line indicates a situation where the first flap 170 is at the first farthest end position. When the first flap 170 is at the first farthest end position, the first exhaust port 112 is closed, and only the air from the battery intake port 161 (preferably clean air or regeneration air at an appropriate temperature in the passenger compartment). Is sucked into the battery ventilation duct 160. A dotted line inside the circular broken line indicates a situation where the first flap 170 is at the second farthest end position. When the first flap 170 is at the second farthest end position, the battery inlet 161 is closed, and only the air from the casing 110 cooled by the evaporator (that is, cooling air or conditioned air) is supplied to the battery ventilation duct 160. Sucked into. In a state where the first flap 170 is between a first farthest end position and a second farthest end position (not shown) or in an intermediate position, both the first exhaust port 112 and the battery intake port 161 are both Is partially open, both the air from the battery inlet 161 and the cooling air from the casing 110 are sucked into the battery ventilation duct 160 to cool the battery by forming an air-fuel mixture. The ratio of the air from the battery inlet 161 and / or the air from the casing 110 in the air-fuel mixture can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the first flap 170.

  The casing 110 further includes a second exhaust port 113 that supplies air to the passenger compartment, and a closing valve 180 that controls the second exhaust port.

  Preferably, according to a particular configuration, when the passenger compartment air temperature is 15 ° C. or lower, the closing valve 180 is in the open position and the first flap 170 is in the first farthest end position, Is supplied to the battery cell group through the battery inlet 161. When the passenger compartment air temperature is above 15 ° C. and below 20 ° C., the closing valve 180 is in the closed position and the first flap 170 is in the second farthest end position, and the cooling air from the HVAC system Only the battery cell group is supplied. When the air temperature in the passenger compartment exceeds 20 ° C., the opening / closing flap 180 is in the open position, and the first flap 170 is in the second farthest end position, and only the cooling air from the HVAC system is in the battery cell group. Supplied. Meanwhile, the cooling air from the HVAC system is further supplied to the passenger compartment to adjust the passenger compartment air temperature.

  By providing the battery inlet 161, another cooling air supply source can be added in addition to the cooling air from the HVAC system to cool the battery cell group, thus increasing the reliability of the system for cooling the battery. Can improve and increase energy efficiency. Specifically, when the battery intake port 161 communicating with the interior of the passenger compartment is provided, it is not necessary to provide an additional filter, so that the structure of the HVAC system can be simplified, resulting from the addition of the filter. Energy costs can be reduced to zero.

  In the first embodiment, the HVAC system is configured by adjusting the positions of the second exhaust port 113 and the battery intake port 161 and opening and closing the second exhaust port 113 and the battery intake port 161 by providing only one flap. The structure can be greatly simplified, the occupied space can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an HVAC system for an electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle. The structure of the HVAC system according to the second embodiment is the same as the structure of the HVAC system according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, similar groups of components are illustrated with similar reference numbers. The only difference is in the structure of the first flap.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the structure of the first flap 270 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the first flap 270 includes a closed portion 2701, a rotating portion 2702, and a support portion 2703. The closed portion 2701 is formed with a cylindrical surface. The first flap 270 is rotatably attached to the casing 110 or the battery ventilation duct 160 via a rotating portion 2702. Support portion 2703 connects rotating portion 2702 and closing portion 2701. Support portion 2703 is preferably rod-shaped, but can be any other shape. By integrally forming the closing portion 2701, the rotating portion 2702, and the supporting portion 2703, the three portions can thereafter rotate around the rotating shaft of the rotating portion 2702.

  Similar to the first flap 170 according to the first embodiment, but the first flap 270 according to the second embodiment is also movable between two farthest end positions, as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the solid line inside the circular broken line indicates the situation where the first flap 270 is at the first farthest end position, while the dotted line indicates that the first flap 270 is at the second farthest end position. Shows the situation when. The first flap 270 opens and closes the first exhaust port 112 and the battery intake port 161 by moving between the two farthest end positions, but details are not described herein again.

  In this embodiment, the HVAC is adjusted by adjusting the positions of the first exhaust port 112 and the battery intake port 161, and providing only one flap 270 to open and close both the first exhaust port 112 and the battery intake port 161. The system structure can be greatly simplified, the occupied space can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an HVAC system for an electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle. The similarity between the HVAC system according to the third embodiment and the HVAC system according to the second embodiment will not be described again here. Accordingly, similar groups of components are illustrated with similar reference numbers. The differences between these HVAC systems are explained as follows.

  According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the casing 110 further includes a second air inlet 312 disposed between the first air inlet 111 and the blower 120. When the first intake port 111 communicates with the outside of the passenger compartment, the second intake port 312 communicates with the interior of the passenger compartment 190.

  Further, in order to purify the air sucked from the first air inlet 111 and / or the second air inlet 312, the air filter 380 is disposed downstream of the first air inlet 111 and the second air inlet 312 and upstream of the blower 120. May be provided.

  In the above design, since the second air inlet 312 is provided so as to communicate with the interior of the passenger compartment 190, the air sucked into the casing 110 from the outside of the passenger compartment and the air from the interior of the passenger compartment. Can be adjusted as necessary, so that the air can be kept fresh and energy can be saved. At the same time, since the battery inlet 161 is provided so as to communicate with the outside of the passenger compartment 190, it is not necessary to provide a separate filter, and therefore the structure can be simplified.

  Further, the first intake port 111 and the second intake port 312 can be opened and closed by one second flap 390. The structure of the second flap 390 can be the structure of the first flap 170 according to the first embodiment, or can be the structure of the first flap 270 according to the second embodiment. Of the air sucked into the casing 110, the ratio of the air from the outside of the passenger compartment to the air from the inside of the passenger compartment 190 can be adjusted by any of these structures. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the second flap 390 is plate-shaped. Indeed, the second flap 390 can be structured as shown in FIG. 4 or any other shape that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

  The above embodiments are only used for explaining the technical design of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. Although described in detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate various modifications or replacements to the technical design of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. I will.

Claims (13)

A heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle,
A casing (110);
A blower (120) disposed within the casing (110);
A battery ventilation duct (160) disposed outside the casing (110),
The casing (110) is
A first air inlet (111) provided upstream of the blower (120);
A first exhaust port (112) provided downstream of the blower (120),
The battery ventilation duct (160) is connected to the first exhaust port (112),
The battery ventilation duct (160)
A battery air inlet (161) communicating with the interior of the passenger compartment (190);
An intake control valve for the battery,
The battery intake control valve supplies air supplied to the battery:
(A) an option to supply cooling air from the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system through the first exhaust (112);
(B) an option for supplying air from the passenger compartment (190) through the battery inlet (161); and (c) an option for supplying air based on a combination of options (a) and (b); Controlled by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. The battery intake control valve includes a first flap (170; 270),
The first flap (170; 270) controls the first exhaust port (112) and the battery intake port (161) simultaneously, and is movable between two farthest end positions;
The first flap is
Closing the first exhaust port (112) at a first farthest end position;
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the battery inlet (161) is closed at a second farthest end position. The casing (110) further includes:
A second exhaust port (113) for supplying air to the vehicle compartment;
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a closing valve (180) for controlling the second exhaust port (113). When the air temperature in the passenger compartment is 15 ° C. or lower, the closing valve (180) is in the open position, and the first flap (170; 270) is in the first farthest end position,
When the air temperature in the passenger compartment is above 15 ° C. and below 20 ° C., the closing valve (180) is in the closed position, and the first flap (170; 270) is at the second farthest end. In position
4. The closure flap (180) is in the open position and the first flap (170; 270) is in the second farthest end position when the passenger compartment air temperature exceeds 20 ° C. 5. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.   The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an auxiliary blower (162) is arranged inside the battery ventilation duct (160). The first flap (170) includes a closing portion (1701) and a rotating portion (1702),
The closed portion (1701) has a plate shape,
The heating according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first flap is rotatably attached to the casing (110) or the battery ventilation duct (160) via the rotating portion (1702). , Ventilation, and air conditioning systems. The first flap (270)
A closed portion (2701);
A rotating part (2702);
A support portion (2703),
The closed portion (2701) is formed with a cylindrical surface,
The first flap is rotatably attached to the casing (110) or the battery ventilation duct (160) via the rotating portion,
6. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the support portion (2703) connects the rotating portion (2702) and the closed portion (2701).   The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the filter (380) is disposed between the first air inlet (111) and the blower (120). The casing (110) is further provided with a second air inlet (312) between the first air inlet (111) and the blower (120),
The first intake port (111) is connected to the outside of the passenger compartment,
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second air inlet is connected to the interior of the passenger compartment (190). The first air inlet (111) and the second air inlet (312) are controlled by a second flap (390) that is movable between two farthest end positions,
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein the second flap closes the first air inlet at a first farthest end position and closes the second air inlet at a second farthest end position. The second flap (390) is
A closed part,
A rotating part,
The closed portion has a plate shape;
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein the second flap is rotatably attached to the casing via the rotating portion. The second flap (390) is
A closed part,
A rotating part;
A support portion, and
The closed portion is formed with a cylindrical surface,
The second flap is pivotally attached to the casing via the pivot portion,
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein the support portion connects the rotating portion and the closed portion.   The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein an additional filter is provided at the battery inlet (161) of the battery ventilation duct (160).

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