JP2019093940A - On-vehicle component cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle component cooling device capable of accommodating a cooling circuit of each component in a vehicle and effectively cooling each component.SOLUTION: A cooling circuit 20 cools at least electrically driven components 24 (a junction box 26, a PCU 28, a motor unit 30) by circulating a refrigerant. The cooling circuit 20 includes: a first circuit section 40 disposed between a floor plate 60 and a battery 22 to be adjacent to an upper surface of the battery 22; a second circuit section 42 disposed to be adjacent to the electrically driven components 24; and a third circuit section 44 disposed below the battery 22 to separate from the battery 22. The first circuit section 40 and the second circuit section 42 are interconnected directly, and the second circuit section 42 and the third circuit section 44 are interconnected directly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an on-vehicle component cooling device that cools an electrically driven component by absorbing heat of the electrically driven component provided in the electrically powered vehicle with a refrigerant.

  Electric vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are provided with components such as a battery, a drive motor, and a drive circuit. The battery generates heat as power is supplied, and components such as the drive motor and drive circuit generate heat as power is supplied. Because these parts need to be cooled, each part is provided with a cooling device.

  Patent Document 1 shows a cooling system of a fuel cell stack provided in a fuel cell vehicle. The cooling device is a cooling circuit including a pump, a flow passage, and a radiator, and a coolant is caused to flow through the flow passage in the vicinity of the fuel cell stack to cool the fuel cell stack. In addition, this cooling device performs floor heating by causing a refrigerant, which has absorbed heat from the fuel cell stack, to flow through a flow path provided below the floor.

JP, 2005-280639, A

  Since the space in the vehicle is limited, it may not be possible to secure an accommodation space for the cooling circuit for each part. In addition, even if the accommodation space can be secured, sufficient running air may not be supplied to the radiator in such a case, and in such a case, the parts can not be cooled effectively.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and provides an on-vehicle component cooling device capable of housing a cooling circuit of each component in a vehicle and effectively cooling each component. With the goal.

The present invention
A battery located below the floor of the cabin,
An electrically driven component electrically connected to the battery;
A cooling circuit that refluxes the refrigerant and cools at least the electric drive component;
A pump for sucking in and discharging the refrigerant;
An on-vehicle component cooling device comprising: a radiator that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the outside air;
The cooling circuit is
A first circuit portion disposed between the floor plate and the battery in proximity to the top surface of the battery;
A second circuit unit disposed in close proximity to the electrically driven component;
And a third circuit unit disposed below the battery and spaced apart from the battery.
The first circuit unit and the second circuit unit are directly connected, and the second circuit unit and the third circuit unit are directly connected.

  According to the above configuration, the battery is cooled by the first circuit unit by flowing the refrigerant in the order of the radiator, the first circuit unit, the second circuit unit, and the third circuit unit, and the electrically driven component is cooled by the second circuit unit. The refrigerant flowing through the third circuit portion can be cooled by the traveling wind below the vehicle. That is, since the third circuit unit has the function of a radiator, the cooling efficiency of the entire device is good, and the battery and the electrically driven parts can be suitably cooled. In addition, since the cooling circuit is shared by the battery and the electrically driven component, space saving can be realized. Also, the radiator can be made smaller.

In the present invention,
The pump is
It is possible to switch the flowing direction of the refrigerant by switching the direction of suction and discharge of the refrigerant,
When heating the vehicle compartment, the refrigerant is allowed to flow from the radiator to the third circuit unit, the second circuit unit, and the first circuit unit in this order:
When the heating of the vehicle compartment is not performed, the refrigerant may be allowed to flow from the radiator to the first circuit unit, the second circuit unit, and the third circuit unit in this order.

  According to the above configuration, when heating of the passenger compartment is required, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the electrically driven component in the second circuit portion and then flows through the first circuit portion to warm the floor plate. For this reason, floor heating can be performed. Further, when heating of the passenger compartment is unnecessary, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the battery in the first circuit portion and further absorbs heat from the electrically driven component in the second circuit portion. For this reason, suitable cooling of a battery and an electrically-driven part can be performed.

In the present invention,
The radiator is disposed at the front of the vehicle,
The battery may be disposed between the radiator and the electrically driven component.

  According to the above configuration, since the traveling air directly strikes the radiator, the refrigerant can be efficiently cooled. In addition, since the battery and the electric drive component can be disposed in a wide portion behind the front portion of the vehicle because the radiator is disposed in the front portion, the cooling circuit can be effectively disposed.

In the present invention,
The radiator, the battery, and the electrically driven component are disposed in order from the front portion to the rear portion of the vehicle;
The electrically driven component may be disposed rearward of the center of the vehicle in the vehicle length direction.

  According to the above configuration, since the length of the third circuit portion interposed between the second circuit portion disposed in the vicinity of the electrically driven component and the radiator disposed in the front portion becomes long, the refrigerant is placed under the vehicle It can be cooled effectively by the traveling wind.

  According to the present invention, the battery and the electrically driven component can be suitably cooled, and space saving can be realized.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle equipped with the on-vehicle component cooling device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing performed by the on-vehicle component cooling device according to the present embodiment.

  BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the on-vehicle component cooling device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[1. Constitution]
As shown in FIG. 1, the on-vehicle component cooling device 12 is provided in a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle having an electric motor for driving, for example, an electric car or a hybrid car. The in-vehicle component cooling device 12 includes a cooling unit 14 and a control unit 16. The cooling unit 14 includes a battery 22, an electric drive component 24, a cooling circuit 20, a pump 32, a radiator 36, and a heater core 34. The control unit 16 includes an operation switch 52, a sensor group 50, and a control device 54.

  Among these, the radiator 36, the battery 22, and the electric drive component 24 are disposed in order from the front portion toward the rear portion. The radiator 36 is disposed at the front portion of the vehicle 10. The battery 22 is disposed below the floor plate 60 of the passenger compartment and above the undercover 62 and the heat insulating material 64. The electric drive component 24 is disposed above the undercover 62 and the heat insulator 64, and is disposed rearward of the center C of the vehicle 10 in the vehicle length direction.

  The battery 22 is a several hundred volt high voltage battery. The electrically driven component 24 is one or more components electrically connected to the battery 22. The electric drive component 24 includes a junction box 26, a PCU (power control unit) 28, and a motor unit 30. The junction box 26 has various terminals for connecting, branching, and relaying a plurality of electric wires electrically connecting the battery 22 and the PCU 28. The PCU 28 converts or regulates the power of the battery 22 and supplies it to the motor unit 30, and also converts or regulates the regenerated power supplied from the motor unit 30 to charge the battery 22. The motor unit 30 generates a motive power as a driving source for traveling and supplies it to the driving wheel side, and also has an electric motor which also functions as a generator.

  The cooling circuit 20 has a flow path formed from the radiator 36 disposed in the front portion of the vehicle 10 to the electrically driven component 24 disposed behind the center C of the vehicle 10. The flow path is a closed path, and a refrigerant such as water refluxes inside. In the cooling circuit 20, in addition to the radiator 36, the pump 32, and the heater core 34, the first circuit unit 40, the second circuit unit 42, and the third circuit unit 44 are disposed. Taking the pump 32 as a starting point, the pump 32, the heater core 34, the first circuit portion 40, the second circuit portion 42, the third circuit portion 44, and the radiator 36 are disposed in order along the forward direction (arrow F) of the flow path. Be done. The first circuit unit 40 and the second circuit unit 42 are directly connected. The second circuit unit 42 and the third circuit unit 44 are directly connected.

  The pump 32 can switch between driving and stopping according to a command signal from the control device 54, and can switch the discharge direction of the refrigerant. That is, the refrigerant drawn from one of the two flow paths connected can be discharged to the other flow path, and the refrigerant drawn from the other flow path can be discharged to one flow path. The heater core 34 is a heat exchange device provided with a flow path through which the refrigerant flows, and performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air in the vehicle compartment. The radiator 36 is a heat exchange device provided with a flow path through which the refrigerant flows, and performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and the traveling air.

  The first circuit portion 40 is a flow path disposed between the floor plate 60 and the battery 22 and in proximity to the floor plate 60 and the upper surface of the battery 22. Since the first circuit portion 40 is close to the top surface of the battery 22, the refrigerant flowing therein can exchange heat with the battery 22. In addition, since the first circuit unit 40 is close to the floor plate 60, the refrigerant flowing inside can be heat-exchanged with the casing via the floor plate 60.

  The second circuit unit 42 is a flow passage disposed close to the motor drive component 24. The junction box 26, the PCU 28, and the motor unit 30 are arranged in order along the forward direction of the flow path. Since the second circuit portion 42 is in proximity to the electrically driven component 24, the refrigerant flowing therein can exchange heat with the electrically powered component 24.

  The third circuit portion 44 is a flow path disposed below the battery 22 and spaced apart from the lower surface of the battery 22 and disposed above the under cover 62. A heat insulating material 64 is interposed between the third circuit portion 44 and the battery 22. Since the heat insulating material 64 is provided, the refrigerant flowing inside the third circuit unit 44 does not exchange heat with the battery 22. In addition, the third circuit portion 44 is in proximity to the undercover 62, and the refrigerant flowing therein can exchange heat with the outside of the vehicle through the undercover 62.

  The sensor group 50 includes various temperature sensors. Here, a radiator temperature sensor 50a for detecting the temperature T1 of the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator 36 (hereinafter referred to as the refrigerant temperature T1 of the radiator 36), and the temperature T2 of the cooling oil supplied to the motor of the motor unit 30 (hereinafter referred to as The motor oil temperature sensor 50b detects the motor oil temperature T2, and the outside air temperature sensor 50c detects the temperature T3 of the outside air (hereinafter referred to as the outside air temperature T3). The radiator temperature sensor 50 a is provided in each of two flow paths connected to the radiator 36. Each temperature sensor outputs a detection signal to the controller 54.

  The operation switch 52 is a human-machine interface provided in the vehicle compartment. When the occupant operates the operation switch 52, the operation switch 52 outputs a heating operation signal and a heating stop signal to the control device 54.

  The control device 54 is configured by an ECU, and includes an arithmetic device such as a processor and a storage device such as a ROM or a RAM. The control device 54 realizes various functions by executing a program stored in the storage device by the arithmetic device. The control device 54 controls the operation of the pump 32 in accordance with the heating operation signal, the heating stop signal, or the detection signal output from each temperature sensor output from the operation switch 52. The storage device of the control device 54 stores various programs and various threshold values. Here, the first refrigerant temperature threshold T1th1, the second refrigerant temperature threshold T1th2 (<T1th1), the oil temperature threshold T2th, and the air temperature threshold T3th are stored.

[2. Operation]
The operation of the in-vehicle component cooling device 12 will be described with reference to FIG. A series of processes described below are repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals while the vehicle 10 is powered on. The on-vehicle component cooling device 12 according to the present embodiment operates the pump 32 at a predetermined timing when the vehicle 10 is powered on or after the power is switched, and causes the refrigerant to flow in the forward direction (arrow F) of the cooling circuit 20. It is like that.

  In step S1, the control device 54 determines whether there is a request for floor heating. When the occupant of the vehicle 10 operates the operation switch 52, the operation switch 52 outputs a heating operation signal or a heating stop signal to the control device 54. When the heating operation signal is input, the control device 54 determines that there is a heating request until the heating stop signal is input. If there is a heating request (step S1: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, when there is no heating request (step S1: NO), the process proceeds to step S2.

  After shifting from step S1 to step S2, the control device 54 compares the refrigerant temperature T1 detected by the radiator temperature sensor 50a located downstream of the radiator 36 with the first refrigerant temperature threshold T1th1. If T1> T1th1 (step S2: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, when T1 ≦ T1th1 (step S2: NO), the process proceeds to step S3.

  When the process proceeds from step S2 to step S3, the controller 54 compares the refrigerant temperature T1 detected by the radiator temperature sensor 50a located downstream of the radiator 36 with the second refrigerant temperature threshold T1th2 and also detects the motor oil temperature sensor. The motor oil temperature T2 detected at 50b is compared with the oil temperature threshold T2th. If T1> T1th2 and T2> T2th (step S3: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if T1 ≦ T1th2 or T2 ≦ T2th (step S3: NO), the process proceeds to step S4.

  When the process proceeds from step S3 to step S4, the control device 54 compares the outside air temperature T3 detected by the outside air temperature sensor 50c with the air temperature threshold T3th. If T3 <T3th (step S4: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if T3 ≧ T3th (step S4: NO), the process proceeds to step S5.

  When the process proceeds from step S4 to step S5, the control device 54 outputs a command signal instructing the pump 32 to flow the refrigerant in the forward direction. The pump 32 causes the refrigerant to flow in the forward direction (arrow F) by discharging the refrigerant sucked from the radiator 36 side to the heater core 34 side.

  The refrigerant flows in the flow path of the cooling circuit 20 in the direction indicated by the solid line. The refrigerant discharged from the pump 32 exchanges heat with the air in the vehicle compartment by the heater core 34 and then flows into the first circuit portion 40. The refrigerant absorbs the heat of the battery 22 in the first circuit unit 40 and flows into the second circuit unit 42. The refrigerant absorbs heat in the order of the junction box 26, the PCU 28, and the motor unit 30 in the second circuit unit 42 and flows into the third circuit unit 44. The calorific value of each component is the highest in the motor unit 30, and decreases in the order of the PCU 28, the junction box 26, and the battery 22. Therefore, by flowing the refrigerant in the order of the battery 22, the junction box 26, the PCU 28, and the motor unit 30 as in the present embodiment, each component can be effectively cooled.

  The refrigerant dissipates heat to the lower side of the vehicle 10 through the undercover 62 in the third circuit portion 44 and then flows into the radiator 36. Since the third circuit portion 44 is separated from the battery 22 via the heat insulating material 64, heat exchange is not performed between the refrigerant flowing through the third circuit portion 44 and the battery 22. The refrigerant dissipates heat to the outside of the vehicle 10 in the radiator 36. Thus, the refrigerant is cooled by the third circuit unit 44 and the radiator 36.

  When the process proceeds from step S1 to step S6, the control device 54 outputs a command signal instructing the pump 32 to flow the refrigerant in the reverse direction. The pump 32 flows the refrigerant in the reverse direction (arrow R) by discharging the refrigerant sucked from the heater core 34 side to the radiator 36 side.

  The refrigerant flows in the flow path of the cooling circuit 20 in the direction indicated by the broken line. The refrigerant discharged from the pump 32 dissipates heat to the outside of the vehicle 10 in the radiator 36 and the third circuit portion 44 and flows into the second circuit portion 42. The refrigerant absorbs heat in the order of the motor unit 30, the PCU 28, and the junction box 26 in the second circuit unit 42 and flows into the first circuit unit 40. Although the cooling effect of the junction box 26 and the PCU 28 is reduced compared to the case where the refrigerant flows in the forward direction, a certain degree of cooling effect can be expected. The refrigerant dissipates heat into the vehicle compartment through the floor plate 60 in the first circuit portion 40 and then flows into the heater core 34. As described above, when the refrigerant flows in the reverse direction, floor heating can be performed using the waste heat of the electrically driven component 24.

[3. Modified example]
In the embodiment described above, the heat insulating material 64 is disposed between the battery 22 and the third circuit unit 44 so that heat exchange is not performed between the refrigerant flowing through the third circuit unit 44 and the battery 22. ing. However, the third circuit unit 44 and the battery 22 may simply be separated without the heat insulator 64 interposed. However, in this case, it is necessary to make the distance between the third circuit unit 44 and the battery 22 sufficiently larger than the distance between the first circuit unit 40 and the battery 22.

  In the embodiment described above, the radiator 36, the battery 22, and the electric drive component 24 are disposed in order from the front portion to the rear portion of the vehicle 10. However, such a configuration may not be necessary. However, when the refrigerant flows in the forward direction, the refrigerant flows in the order of the first circuit unit 40, the second circuit unit 42, the third circuit unit 44, and the radiator 36, and when the refrigerant flows in the reverse direction, the refrigerant is the radiator 36 The third circuit unit 44, the second circuit unit 42, and the first circuit unit 40 need to flow in this order.

  Although the electrically driven component 24 is disposed rearward of the center C of the vehicle 10 in the embodiment described above, the electrically powered component 24 may be disposed forward of the center C of the vehicle 10. In this case, in order to effectively cool the refrigerant in the third circuit unit 44, it is preferable to extend the third circuit unit 44 to the rear of the vehicle 10.

[4. Summary of embodiment]
The on-vehicle component cooling device 12 according to the present embodiment includes at least the battery 22 disposed below the floor plate 60 of the vehicle compartment, the electrically driven component 24 electrically connected to the battery 22, and at least electrically driven by returning the refrigerant. The cooling circuit 20 cools the components 24, the pump 32 sucks in and discharges the refrigerant, and the radiator 36 exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the outside air. The cooling circuit 20 includes a first circuit portion 40 disposed between the floor plate 60 and the battery 22 in the vicinity of the top surface of the battery 22 and a second circuit portion 42 disposed in the vicinity of the motor drive component 24; And a third circuit portion 44 disposed below the battery 22 so as to be separated from the battery 22. The first circuit unit 40 and the second circuit unit 42 are directly connected, and the second circuit unit 42 and the third circuit unit 44 are directly connected.

  According to the above configuration, the battery 22 is cooled by the first circuit unit 40 by flowing the refrigerant in the order of the radiator 36, the first circuit unit 40, the second circuit unit 42, and the third circuit unit 44, and the second circuit unit The motor-driven component 24 is cooled by 42, and the refrigerant flowing through the third circuit portion 44 can be cooled by the traveling wind under the vehicle 10. That is, since the third circuit portion 44 has the function of the radiator 36, the cooling efficiency of the entire device is good, and the battery 22 and the electric drive component 24 can be suitably cooled. Further, since the cooling circuit 20 is shared by the battery 22 and the electric drive component 24, space saving can be realized. Also, the radiator 36 can be miniaturized.

  The pump 32 can switch the flow direction of the refrigerant by switching between the suction direction and the discharge direction of the refrigerant. The pump 32 flows the refrigerant from the radiator 36 to the third circuit portion 44, the second circuit portion 42, and the first circuit portion 40 in this order when heating the passenger compartment, and does not heat the passenger compartment. The refrigerant flows from the radiator 36 in the order of the first circuit unit 40, the second circuit unit 42, and the third circuit unit 44.

  According to the above configuration, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the electrically driven component 24 in the second circuit portion 42 and then flows through the first circuit portion 40 to warm the floor plate 60 when heating of the passenger compartment is required. For this reason, floor heating can be performed. Further, when heating of the passenger compartment is unnecessary, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the battery 22 in the first circuit unit 40 and further absorbs heat from the electrically driven component 24 in the second circuit unit 42. For this reason, suitable cooling of the battery 22 and the electric drive component 24 can be performed.

  The radiator 36 is disposed at the front portion of the vehicle 10, and the battery 22 is disposed between the radiator 36 and the electric drive component 24.

  According to the above configuration, since the traveling wind directly strikes the radiator 36, the refrigerant can be efficiently cooled. In addition, since the battery 22 and the electric drive component 24 can be disposed in a wider area behind the front portion of the vehicle 10 because the radiator 36 is disposed in the front portion, the cooling circuit 20 can be effectively disposed. .

  The radiator 36, the battery 22 and the electric drive component 24 are disposed in order from the front portion to the rear portion of the vehicle 10. The electrically driven component 24 is disposed behind the center C of the vehicle 10 in the vehicle length direction.

  According to the above configuration, the length of the third circuit portion 44 interposed between the second circuit portion 42 disposed in the vicinity of the motor drive component 24 and the radiator 36 disposed in the front portion becomes longer. The refrigerant can be effectively cooled by the traveling wind under the vehicle 10.

  The on-vehicle component cooling device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle 12 ... Vehicle-mounted component cooling device 20 ... Cooling circuit 22 ... Battery 24 ... Electric drive component 32 ... Pump 36 ... Radiator 40 ... 1st circuit part 42 ... 2nd circuit part 44 ... 3rd circuit part 60 ... Floor board

Claims (4)

A battery located below the floor of the cabin,
An electrically driven component electrically connected to the battery;
A cooling circuit that refluxes the refrigerant and cools at least the electric drive component;
A pump for sucking in and discharging the refrigerant;
An on-vehicle component cooling device comprising: a radiator that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the outside air;
The cooling circuit is
A first circuit portion disposed between the floor plate and the battery in proximity to the top surface of the battery;
A second circuit unit disposed in close proximity to the electrically driven component;
And a third circuit unit disposed below the battery and spaced apart from the battery.
An in-vehicle component cooling device, wherein the first circuit unit and the second circuit unit are directly connected, and the second circuit unit and the third circuit unit are directly connected. In the in-vehicle component cooling device according to claim 1,
The pump is
It is possible to switch the flowing direction of the refrigerant by switching the direction of suction and discharge of the refrigerant,
When heating the vehicle compartment, the refrigerant is allowed to flow from the radiator to the third circuit unit, the second circuit unit, and the first circuit unit in this order:
The vehicle component cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant is allowed to flow from the radiator, in the order of the first circuit unit, the second circuit unit, and the third circuit unit, in the case where heating of the vehicle compartment is not performed. In the in-vehicle component cooling device according to claim 2,
The radiator is disposed at the front of the vehicle,
The said battery is arrange | positioned between the said radiator and the said electrically-driven components. The vehicle-mounted components cooling device characterized by the above-mentioned. In the in-vehicle component cooling device according to claim 3,
The radiator, the battery, and the electrically driven component are disposed in order from the front portion to the rear portion of the vehicle;
The motor-driven parts cooling device is characterized in that the motor-driven parts are disposed rearward of the center of the vehicle in the vehicle length direction.

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