JP2016039069A - Electric type heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To slow a temperature change at time of starting and stopping power supply to an electric type heater.SOLUTION: An electric type heater 20 used as a heat source of an air conditioner for heating includes: a PCT element 30 that generates heat with power supply; and an electrical insulation oil 35 for accumulating heat generated at the PCT element 30 and making electrode plates 32, 33 to be in an isolated state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric heater used in, for example, a vehicle air conditioner.

  Conventionally, for example, an electric heater having a PCT element may be used as a heating heat source of an air conditioner for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. As this type of electric heater, for example, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known, and is housed in a resin casing into which air-conditioning air is introduced to heat the air-conditioning air. ing.

  A PTC heater used as a heating heat source for an electric vehicle or the like is a so-called high voltage PTC heater, and a control method thereof includes a relay switching method and a PWM control method.

JP 2013-193513 A

  By the way, a high voltage PTC heater used for an air conditioner has a high maximum estimated temperature of about 200 ° C. regardless of the control method, and there is a concern that the heat resistance temperature of the casing may be exceeded depending on conditions. Must be spaced apart. However, in such a case, since the outer dimension of the casing is limited due to the layout with various parts and the like arranged around the air conditioner, it is impossible to sufficiently secure the size of the heater.

  In addition, the relay switching method may be preferable to the PWM control method, but in the case of the relay switching method of the high voltage PTC heater, there is a concern about the durability of the operation of the relay contact. There is also a request.

  Further, since the specific heat of the PTC heater itself is small, when the power supply is stopped in the relay switching method, the conventional PTC heater is cooled by the air-conditioning air, and the temperature immediately drops. In other words, the temperature change of the PTC heater due to the opening and closing of the relay is large and the change speed is fast, so the temperature of the air blown into the room also changes accordingly, resulting in a sense of incongruity.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is to moderate the temperature change at the start and stop of power supply of the electric heater to suppress thermal damage to the casing. In the case of the relay switching method, the number of operations can be reduced, and the change in the temperature of the air blown into the room is caused to occur slowly so as not to give a sense of incongruity.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, heat can be stored in an electric heater.

The first invention is
In an electric heater used as a heat source for heating an air conditioner,
A heating element that generates heat by supplying power;
And a heat storage section for storing heat generated in the heating element.

  According to this configuration, the heat generated by supplying electric power to the heating element is stored in the heat storage unit, so that the maximum surface temperature near the casing of the electric heater is lowered. Therefore, when the electric heater is housed in, for example, a resin casing, the electric heater can be housed in contact with the inner surface of the casing as compared with the conventional electric heater.

  After the supply of power is stopped, the heat of the heat storage unit is dissipated and the air-conditioning air is heated, so that the temperature of the blown-out air becomes gradual and the time until the supply of power is restarted becomes longer. In addition, the time from the start of power supply until the electric heater reaches the target temperature becomes longer as the heat storage unit stores heat. That is, in the relay switching method, the number of relay operations is reduced.

  Furthermore, since the temperature change after the power supply is stopped becomes gentle, the change in the temperature of the air blown into the room also becomes gentle.

According to a second invention, in the first invention,
A plurality of the heating elements are provided so as to be arranged in a predetermined direction intersecting with the passage direction of the external air,
A spacer member is provided between the heating elements arranged in a predetermined direction.

  According to this configuration, when a spacer member that does not generate heat is provided between the heating elements arranged in a predetermined direction to reduce the number of heating elements used, the heat storage unit stores the heat of the heating elements so that the maximum temperature near the heating elements is reached. Is suppressed. And the heat of a thermal storage part is transmitted to the spacer member vicinity, and the temperature of the spacer member vicinity rises. Therefore, the difference between the temperature in the vicinity of the heating element and the temperature in the vicinity of the spacer member becomes small, and the temperature of the air blown into the room becomes uniform.

According to a third invention, in the first or second invention,
An electrode part connected to or in contact with the heating element to supply power to the heating element;
A housing member for housing the heating element and the electrode portion;
The heat storage section is made of an electrical insulating oil filled in the housing member.

  According to this configuration, the heating element and the electrode part are accommodated in the accommodating member in a state where they are electrically insulated by the electrical insulating oil. Then, after the heat of the heating element is stored in the electrical insulating oil, it is radiated to the outside through the housing member and used for heating the air-conditioning air.

According to a fourth invention, in the third invention,
The housing member houses a plurality of the heating elements,
The electrical insulating oil is filled between the inner surface of the housing member, the heating element, and the electrode portion.

  According to this configuration, the plurality of heating elements and electrode portions are electrically insulated reliably. In addition, since the wide range of the outer surface of the heat generating element is covered with the electric insulating oil, the heat of the heat generating element is efficiently transferred to the electric insulating part through the wide range of the outer surface of the heat generating element and stored.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, since the heat storage section that stores the heat of the heating element is provided, the maximum surface temperature in the vicinity of the casing of the electric heater is lowered, and for example, the heat damage of the casing can be suppressed. Thereby, the air which leaks from between an electric heater and a casing can be decreased, and heating performance can fully be ensured. In addition, since the time from the start of power supply to the start of supply again and the time from the start of power supply to the time when the electric heater reaches the target temperature become longer, the number of relay operations in the relay switching method Can be reduced. Furthermore, since the temperature change after the power supply is stopped becomes gentle, the change in the temperature of the air blown into the room can be made gentle so that a sense of incongruity can be prevented.

  According to the second invention, when a spacer member that does not generate heat is provided between the heat generating elements arranged in a predetermined direction to reduce the number of heat generating elements used, the temperature of the air blown into the room can be made uniform, and a sense of incongruity can be obtained. You can avoid giving.

  According to the third invention, since the electrical insulating oil filled in the housing member that houses the heating element and the electrode portion is used as the heat storage portion, an insulating material for insulating the electrode portion and the like can be used as the heat storage portion. It is possible to simplify the configuration of the electric heater provided with the heat storage unit.

  According to the fourth invention, since the electric insulating oil is filled between the inner surface of the housing member and the heating element and the electrode part, the heat of the heating element is electrically insulated while reliably insulating the heating element and the electrode part. It can be efficiently transmitted to the heat storage.

It is sectional drawing of the vehicle air conditioner provided with the electric heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of an electric heater. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the control point of an electric heater. It is a graph which compares and shows a conventional example and this embodiment about each of blowing air temperature, the air temperature immediately after a heater passage, and a heater surface temperature. It is a graph which shows temperature distribution of the 1st exothermic unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of a vehicle air conditioner 1 including an electric heater 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle air conditioner 1 can be mounted on, for example, an automobile, and is housed inside an instrument panel (not shown) disposed at the front end of the room. Examples of the vehicle include an electric vehicle and a hybrid vehicle (including a plug-in hybrid).

  In addition to the electric heater 20 used as a heating heat source, the vehicle air conditioner 1 includes a casing 2 made of resin such as polypropylene, a blower fan 3, a heat exchanger 4 for cooling, and an air mix damper 5. A differential vent switching damper 6 and a heat damper 7 are provided. The casing 2 houses the electric heater 20, the blower fan 3, the cooling heat exchanger 4, the air mix damper 5, the differential vent switching damper 6, and the heat damper 7. In this embodiment, the case where the electric heater 20, the blower fan 3, and the heat exchanger 4 for cooling are a full center type unit disposed at a substantially central portion in the vehicle width direction will be described. However, the present invention is not a full center type unit. In addition, although not shown, the present invention can also be applied to a semi-center type unit in which the blower fan is disposed on one side in the vehicle width direction and the electric heater 20 and the cooling heat exchanger 4 are disposed at a substantially central portion in the vehicle width direction.

  In this embodiment, the front side of the vehicle is simply referred to as “front”, the rear side of the vehicle is simply referred to as “rear”, the left side of the vehicle is simply referred to as “left”, and the right side of the vehicle is simply referred to as “right”.

  A scroll casing 2 a is formed in the upper part on the front side of the casing 2. Inside the scroll casing 2a, a blower fan 3 made of a sirocco fan is accommodated with the rotating shaft directed in the left-right direction. The scroll casing 2a is adapted to suck in air in the vehicle compartment or air outside the vehicle compartment introduced from an inside / outside air switching box (not shown).

  An air passage R is formed inside the casing 2, and the air passage R is formed so as to extend rearward and upward in order after extending downward from the scroll casing 2a. The air passage R includes a cold air passage R1, a hot air passage R2, an air mix passage R3, a differential vent passage R4, and a heat passage R5. A cooling heat exchanger 4 is disposed in the cold air passage R1, and substantially the entire amount of air-conditioning air flowing through the cold air passage R1 passes through the cooling heat exchanger 4 and is cooled. . The cooling heat exchanger 4 can be composed of, for example, a refrigerant evaporator.

  The downstream of the cool air passage R1 is branched into two vertically. The lower side downstream of the cool air passage R1 is connected to the upstream side of the hot air passage R2, and the upper side downstream of the cool air passage R1 is connected to the air mix space R3. An electric heater 20 is disposed in the hot air passage R <b> 2, and substantially the entire amount of air-conditioning air flowing through the hot air passage R <b> 2 passes through the electric heater 20 and is heated. The air passage surface of the electric heater 20 extends in the vertical direction. The downstream side of the warm air passage R2 is connected to the air mix space R3.

  The air mix space R3 is a space for mixing the cool air flowing from the cool air passage R1 and the warm air flowing from the hot air passage R2 to generate conditioned air at a desired temperature. The air mix damper 5 opens and closes an upper side downstream of the cold air passage R1 and an upstream side of the hot air passage R2. When the upper side downstream of the cool air passage R1 is fully opened by the air mix damper 5, the upstream of the hot air passage R2 is fully closed and the cool air flows into the air mix space R3, while the air mix damper 5 cools the cold air passage. When the upper downstream side of R1 is fully closed, the upstream of the hot air passage R2 is fully opened, and the hot air flows into the air mix space R3. The opening degree upstream of the cold air passage R1 and upstream of the hot air passage R2 can be arbitrarily changed by the air mix damper 5. As a result, the amount of cool air and the amount of warm air flowing into the air mix space R3 are changed, and conditioned air having a desired temperature is obtained.

  The differential vent path R4 and the heat path R5 are connected to the air mix space R3. A defroster outlet 2b and a vent outlet 2c are provided on the downstream side of the differential vent passage R4. The differential vent damper 6 is for opening and closing the defroster outlet 2b and the vent outlet 2c. A heat outlet 2d is provided on the downstream side of the heat passage R5. The heat damper 7 is for opening and closing the heat passage R5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electric heater 20 includes first to sixth heating units Y <b> 1 to Y <b> 6, a plurality of fins 21, an end plate 22, and side support members 23 and 23. The first to sixth heat generating units Y1 to Y6 have a shape that is long in the left-right direction, and are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The first heat generating unit Y1 is located at the top, and the second to sixth heat generating units Y2 to Y6 are arranged in order from the top to the bottom. The fins 21 are corrugated fins made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and are disposed between the first to sixth heat generating units Y1 to Y6. The end plates 22 are respectively disposed on the upper and lower portions of the electric heater 20 and extend in the left-right direction. The first to sixth heating units Y1 to Y6, the fins 21 and the end plate 22 are integrated by, for example, brazing.

  The side support members 23 and 23 are disposed on the left side and the right side of the electric heater 20, respectively, and are integrated with the ends of the first to sixth heat generating units Y1 to Y6. The side support members 23 and 23 are supported on the inner surface of the casing 2.

  Since the first to sixth heating units Y1 to Y6 are the same, the structure of the first heating unit Y1 will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 3, the first heat generating unit Y1 includes a plurality of PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) elements 30 as heat generating elements that generate heat when power is supplied, a spacer member 31 (see FIGS. 2 and 6), A positive electrode plate (electrode part) 32, a negative electrode plate (electrode part) 33, a tubular member (housing member) 34, and an electrical insulating oil 35 are provided.

  The PTC element 30 is of a conventionally known high voltage type and is formed into a substantially rectangular plate shape. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in the first heat generating unit Y1, a plurality of PTC elements 30 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the predetermined direction (in this embodiment, the left-right direction) that intersects the direction of passage of external air. It is provided as follows. The spacer member 31 is made of a material that does not generate heat, is formed in substantially the same shape as the PTC element 30, and is disposed between the PTC elements 30 and 30 arranged in the left-right direction. By using the spacer member 31, the number of PTC elements 30 used can be reduced. The spacer member 31 can be omitted. In this case, the PTC elements 30 may be arranged adjacent to each other.

  The positive electrode plate 32 is made of a conductive plate material and is disposed so as to be in contact with the electrode (upper surface in FIG. 3) of the PTC element 30. The positive electrode plate 32 extends long in the direction in which the PTC elements 30 are arranged, and is electrically connected to the electrodes of all the PTC elements 30 of the first heat generating unit Y1.

  The negative electrode plate 33 is also made of a conductive plate material and extends long in the direction in which the PTC elements 30 are arranged. The negative electrode plate 33 is disposed so as to be in contact with the other electrode side (the lower surface in FIG. 3) of the PTC element 30, and is electrically connected to the other electrodes of all the PTC elements 30 of the first heat generating unit Y1. ing.

  The PTC element 30 and the spacer member 31 and the positive electrode plate 32 are fixed, and the PTC element 30 and the spacer member 31 and the negative electrode plate 33 are also fixed. Therefore, the PTC element 30, the spacer member 31, the positive electrode plate 32, and the negative electrode plate 33 are integrated into a heat generating module M.

  The cylindrical member 34 is formed by molding a highly conductive material such as an aluminum alloy, for example. The tubular member 34 extends from the left side support member 23 to the right side support member 32, and has a longitudinal cross section that is substantially rectangular in the direction in which external air passes. The fins 21 are in contact with the upper surface and the lower surface of the tubular member 34 so that the heat of the tubular member 34 is efficiently transmitted to the fins 21.

  Inside the cylindrical member 34, a heat generating module M including the PTC element 30, the spacer member 31, the positive electrode plate 32 and the negative electrode plate 33 is accommodated. The heating module M is positioned by being supported by the end portions of the cylindrical member 34 in a state where the end portions in the longitudinal direction of the positive electrode plate 32 and the negative electrode plate 33 are electrically insulated.

  A gap is formed between the upper surface of the heat generating module M (upper surface of the positive electrode plate 32) and the inner surface of the cylindrical member 34, and the lower surface of the heat generating module M (lower surface of the negative electrode plate 33); A gap is also formed between the inner surface of the cylindrical member 34. Further, a gap is also formed between both side surfaces of the heat generating module M in the width direction (external air passage direction) and the inner surface of the cylindrical member 34. The tubular member 34 is filled with an electrical insulating oil 35 and the gap is filled with the electrical insulating oil 35. That is, the electrical insulating oil 35 is filled between the inner surface of the cylindrical member 34 and the PTC element 30, the positive electrode plate 32, and the negative electrode plate 33. The side electrode plate 32 and the negative electrode side electrode plate 33 are electrically insulated from the cylindrical member 34.

  The electrical insulating oil 35 is a heat storage unit that stores heat generated in the PTC element 30. As the electrical insulating oil 35, a conventionally known one can be used, but a larger specific heat is preferable. If the filling amount of the electrical insulating oil 35 is too large, the temperature change becomes too gradual, which is not preferable. However, the amount can be arbitrarily set in accordance with the amount of heat generated by the PTC element 30 in a range that does not give the passenger a sense of incongruity.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the electric power of the vehicle-mounted battery B is supplied to the first to sixth heating units Y1 to Y6 via the first to third relays C1 to C3. The first to third relays C1 to C3 are controlled by an air conditioning control device (not shown).

  Among the first to sixth heat generating units Y1 to Y6, the first and second heat generating units Y1 and Y2 are electrically connected to the output terminal of the first relay C1 in a state where the positive electrode plates 32 are connected to each other. The positive electrode plates 32 of the third and fourth heat generating units Y3 and Y4 are connected to the output terminal of the second relay C2. Further, the positive and negative electrode plates 32 of the fifth and sixth heat generating units Y5 and Y6 are connected to the output terminal of the third relay C3. All the negative electrode plates 33 of the first to sixth heating units Y1 to Y6 are connected to the negative terminal of the in-vehicle battery B.

  The air conditioning control device controls the heating capacity of the electric heater 20 by the relay switching method based on the set temperature, the outside air temperature, and the like by the occupant. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the second relay C2 is closed and the first and third relays C1 and C3 are opened, the minimum heating that supplies power only to the third and fourth heating units Y3 and Y4 It becomes a state. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the first and third relays C1 and C3 are closed and the second relay C2 is opened, the first and second heat generating units Y1 and Y2 and the fifth and sixth heat generating units Y5. , The intermediate heating state in which power is supplied only to Y6. As shown in FIG. 4C, when the first to third relays C1 to C3 are closed, a maximum heating state in which electric power is supplied to the first to sixth heating units Y1 to Y6 is established. In addition, when heating is unnecessary, the 1st-3rd relays C1-C3 are opened.

  For example, in a state where the first to third relays C1 to C3 are open, the first to sixth heat generating units Y1 to Y6 are not generating heat, and immediately after passing through the surface temperature of the electric heater 20 and the electric heater 20. Is substantially the same as the temperature of the air flowing through the cold air passage R1. From this state, for example, when the state shown in FIG. 4B is obtained, electric power is supplied to the first and second heat generating units Y1, Y2 and the fifth and sixth heat generating units Y5, Y6, and these heat generating units Y1, Y2, Y5 are supplied. , Y6 PTC element 30 generates heat.

  The heat generated in the PTC element 30 is transmitted to the electric insulating oil 35 filled in the cylindrical member 34, and the electric insulating oil 35 stores heat. Thereafter, the heat of the electrical insulating oil 35 is transmitted to the cylindrical member 34 and also to the fins 21 to heat the external air. As the electrical insulating oil 35 stores heat, the surface temperature of the electric heater 20 according to this embodiment increases more slowly than the conventional electric heater having no heat storage section. Specifically, it is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time from when the first relay C1 is switched from open to closed, and the vertical axis represents the temperature. In FIG. 5, the surface temperature of the conventional electric heater is indicated by the thickest solid line, and the surface temperature of the electric heater 20 of the present embodiment is indicated by the thickest broken line. When the first relay C1 is switched to the closed state, the conventional electric heater does not have a heat storage part, so the maximum temperature is reached early, whereas the electric heater 20 of the present embodiment stores heat in the electrical insulating oil 35, As the surface temperature rises slowly, the maximum temperature decreases as indicated by D.

  Even if the distance between the electric heater 20 and the inner surface of the casing 2 is short or the electric heater 20 and the casing 2 are in contact with each other, the surface temperature of the electric heater 20 near the casing 2 is lowered. It becomes difficult to cause heat damage to the casing 2. Therefore, the heating capacity can be increased by increasing the air passage area of the electric heater 20 without increasing the casing 2. Further, the electric heater 20 according to the present embodiment can be accommodated in a state of being close to the inner surface of the casing 2 as compared with the conventional electric heater. Thereby, since the clearance gap between the electric heater 20 and the casing 2 becomes small, the air quantity which flows without passing through the electric heater 20 can be reduced. Therefore, sufficient heating performance is ensured.

  When the first relay C1 is switched to open, the heat generation of the PTC element 30 is stopped, but the heat stored in the electrical insulating oil 35 is released, so the drop in the surface temperature of the electrical heater 20 is the conventional electrical heater. Compared to

  Further, in FIG. 5, the air temperature immediately after passing through the conventional electric heater is indicated by a solid line, and the air temperature immediately after passing through the electric heater 20 of the present embodiment is indicated by a broken line having an intermediate thickness. ing. Similarly to the surface temperature, the temperature rise and fall are moderate.

  Next, the case where the intermediate heating state shown in FIG. 4B is shifted to the maximum heating state shown in FIG. 4C will be described. In FIG. 5, the air temperature after the conventional air mix (blow air temperature) is shown by the thinnest solid line, and the blown air temperature of the present embodiment is shown by the thinnest broken line.

  When shifting from the intermediate heating state to the maximum heating state, power is supplied to the third and fourth heat generating units Y3 and Y4. In the present embodiment, as described above, these heat generating units Y3 and Y4 are supplied. Therefore, the temperature of the blown air does not increase suddenly but gradually increases. Further, when the fluctuation range E1 of the blown air temperature when the conventional electric heater is used and the fluctuation range E2 of the blown air temperature when the electric heater 20 of the present embodiment is used, E2 is narrower. Therefore, it is difficult to give the passenger a sense of incongruity. The same applies when switching from the minimum heating state shown in FIG. 4 (a) to the intermediate heating state shown in FIG. 4 (b).

  In addition, when the maximum heating state shown in FIG. 4C is shifted to the intermediate heating state shown in FIG. 4B, the power supply to the third and fourth heat generating units Y3 and Y4 is stopped. However, since the temperature drop of these heat generating units Y3 and Y4 is gentle as described above, the temperature of the blown air does not drop rapidly but gradually decreases. Therefore, it is difficult to give the passenger a sense of incongruity.

  In addition, since the heat of the electrical insulating oil 35 is radiated and the air-conditioning air is heated after the supply of power is stopped, the heating capability can be obtained even if the time until the supply of power is started again is long. Further, the time from the start of power supply until the electric heater 20 reaches the target temperature becomes longer as the electrical insulating oil 35 stores heat. Thereby, the frequency | count of operation | movement of the 1st-3rd relay C1-C3 reduces.

  Furthermore, since the electrical insulating oil 35 is filled around the PTC element 30, it becomes difficult for the heat of the PTC element 30 to be directly transmitted to the surface of the cylindrical member 34, and the electrical insulating oil 35 serves as a temperature transmission buffer. The maximum temperature in the vicinity of the PTC element 30 is suppressed by acting. Then, the heat of the electrical insulating oil 35 is transmitted to the vicinity of the spacer member 31 and the temperature in the vicinity of the spacer member 31 rises. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the difference between the surface temperature of the part where the PTC element 30 exists in the cylindrical member 34 and the surface temperature of the part where the spacer member 31 exists becomes small. As a result, the temperature distribution in the left-right direction of the electric heater 20 does not differ greatly, and the temperature of the blown air can be made uniform in the left-right direction.

  As described above, according to the electric heater 20 according to this embodiment, the heat of the PTC element 30 is stored in the electric insulating oil 35, so that the maximum surface temperature in the vicinity of the casing 2 of the electric heater 20 is increased. The heat damage of the casing 2 can be suppressed. Thereby, the clearance gap between the electric heater 20 and the casing 2 can be made small, and heating performance can fully be ensured. In addition, the time from when the supply of power is stopped to when the supply is started again and the time from when the supply of power is started until the electric heater 20 reaches the target temperature are increased. The number of operations can be reduced. Furthermore, since the temperature change after the power supply is stopped becomes gentle, the change in the temperature of the air blown into the room can be made gentle so that a sense of incongruity can be prevented.

  Further, the number of PC elements 30 used can be reduced by providing spacer members 31 that do not generate heat between the PTC elements 30 arranged in the left-right direction. In this case, the temperature of the air blown into the room by the heat storage action of the electrical insulating oil 35 can be made uniform, and a sense of incongruity can be prevented.

  Moreover, since the electrical insulating oil 35 filled in the cylindrical member 34 that accommodates the PTC element 30 and the electrode plates 32 and 33 is used as the heat storage section, the configuration of the electric heater 20 can be simplified.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although the electrical insulating oil 35 is used as the heat storage part, it is not restricted to this, Various heat storage materials can be used as a heat storage part.

  The present invention can be applied not only to a vehicle air conditioner but also to a stationary air conditioner for home use, for example.

  The above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the electric heater according to the present invention can be used as, for example, a heating heat source of a vehicle air conditioner.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle air conditioner 20 Electric heater 30 PTC element (heating element)
31 Spacer member 32 Positive electrode plate (electrode part)
33 Negative electrode plate (electrode part)
34 Cylindrical member (housing member)
35 Electric insulating oil (heat storage part)

Claims (4)

In an electric heater used as a heat source for heating an air conditioner,
A heating element that generates heat by supplying power;
An electric heater, comprising: a heat storage unit for storing heat generated in the heating element. The electric heater according to claim 1,
A plurality of the heating elements are provided so as to be arranged in a predetermined direction intersecting with the passage direction of the external air,
An electric heater, wherein a spacer member is provided between the heating elements arranged in a predetermined direction. The electric heater according to claim 1 or 2,
An electrode part connected to or in contact with the heating element to supply power to the heating element;
A housing member for housing the heating element and the electrode portion;
The electric storage unit is constituted by an electric insulating oil filled in the housing member. The electric heater according to claim 3,
The housing member houses a plurality of the heating elements,
The electric heater, wherein the electrical insulating oil is filled between an inner surface of the housing member and the heating element and the electrode portion.

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