JP2020104567A - Vehicular air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular air conditioner which surely cools equipment requiring cooling, and secures an amount of heat absorption required in a refrigerant circuit during heating operation.SOLUTION: An accumulator 26 includes a heat exchange part 26f for exchanging heat between a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit and a heating medium circulating in a heating medium circuit. Accordingly, a battery connected to the heating medium circuit is cooled, and an amount of heat absorption in the refrigerant circuit during heating operation can be increased, and thereby, the battery requiring cooling is surely cooled and an amount of heat absorption required in the refrigerant circuit during heating operation is secured.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner applicable to a vehicle including a device that requires temperature adjustment during use, such as a battery that supplies electric power to a traveling electric motor.

Conventionally, this type of vehicle air conditioner is provided with a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve, and supplies the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger into the vehicle interior. By doing so, cooling, heating, dehumidification and the like of the passenger compartment are performed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

A vehicle equipped with the vehicle air conditioner includes an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, a battery that supplies electric power to an electric motor as a drive source, and other devices that require temperature adjustment during use. There is something.

Therefore, in the vehicle, the components of the vehicle that require temperature adjustment are connected to the heat medium circuit, and the device that requires temperature adjustment is heated or cooled via the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit. There is something to do.

JP, 2018-63055, A

In the vehicle air conditioner, when the vehicle interior is heated in an environment where the temperature outside the vehicle interior is low, such as in winter, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient amount of heat absorption in the outdoor heat exchanger. There is a risk of lack of capacity.

In addition, in the vehicle, in an environment where the temperature outside the vehicle is high, such as in the summer, it is not possible to sufficiently cool the device that requires temperature adjustment, which may cause damage or failure of the device. is there.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioner capable of reliably cooling equipment that requires cooling and ensuring a required amount of heat absorption in a refrigerant circuit during heating operation.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle air conditioner of the present invention includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a refrigerant circuit having an expansion valve, and supplies it to the vehicle interior in the indoor heat exchanger. A vehicle air conditioner for exchanging heat between air and a refrigerant, wherein a constituent device of a vehicle is connected, and a heat medium circuit for adjusting the temperature of the constituent device by a circulating heat medium is provided, and a refrigerant of a compressor in the refrigerant circuit. An intake side is provided with an accumulator for inflowing a refrigerant to separate gas and liquid, and the accumulator has a heat exchange section for exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit. ..

Thereby, since the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit in the heat exchange section absorbs heat and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit radiates heat, the constituent devices connected to the heat medium circuit are cooled, and at the time of heating operation. It is possible to increase the amount of heat absorption in the refrigerant circuit.

According to the vehicle air conditioner of the present invention, it is possible to cool the constituent devices connected to the heat medium circuit and increase the amount of heat absorbed in the refrigerant circuit during the heating operation, so that cooling is required. It is possible to reliably cool the device and to secure a necessary amount of heat absorption in the refrigerant circuit during the heating operation.

It is a schematic structure figure of an air harmony device for vehicles showing one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of an accumulator. It is a schematic block diagram of the accumulator which shows another example.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle air conditioner 1 of the present invention is applied to a vehicle that can travel by the driving force of an electric motor, such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

The vehicle has a traveling electric motor and a traveling battery B as a component device for supplying electric power to the electric motor. The battery B emits heat when used. Further, the battery B is required to be used in a predetermined temperature zone in order to exhibit a predetermined performance. Therefore, the battery B may need to be cooled depending on the temperature of the outside air or the usage state. The battery B is desirably used in the range of 10°C to 30°C, for example.

As shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle air conditioner 1 absorbs heat released from an air conditioning unit 10 provided inside a vehicle compartment of a vehicle, a refrigerant circuit 20 provided inside and outside the vehicle compartment, and a battery B. And a heat medium circuit 30 for circulating the heat medium.

The air conditioning unit 10 has an air flow passage 11 for circulating the air supplied to the vehicle interior. At one end of the air flow passage 11, an outside air suction port 11a for letting air outside the vehicle compartment into the air flow passage 11, an inside air suction port 11b for letting air inside the vehicle cabin into the air flow passage 11, Is provided. Further, on the other end of the air flow passage 11, the air that has flowed through the air flow passage 11 is blown out toward the feet of the passenger (not shown), and the vent (not shown) that is blown toward the upper half of the passenger's upper body. An air outlet and a differential air outlet (not shown) that blows out toward a surface of the windshield of the vehicle on the inner side of the vehicle compartment are provided.

At one end of the air flow passage 11, an intake switching damper 13 is provided which can open one of the outside air intake 11a and the inside air intake 11b and close the other. The intake port switching damper 13 includes an outside air supply mode that closes the inside air intake port 11b and opens the outside air intake port 11a, an inside air circulation mode that closes the outside air intake port 11a and opens the inside air intake port 11b, and an outside air intake port. It is possible to switch between the inside air/outside air intake mode in which the outside air intake port 11a and the inside air intake port 11b are opened by locating between the inside air intake port 11a and the inside air intake port 11b.

An indoor blower 12 such as a sirocco fan for circulating air from one end side to the other end side of the air flow passage 11 is provided on one end side of the air flow passage 11.

A heat absorber 14 as an indoor heat exchanger for cooling and dehumidifying the air flowing through the air flow passage 11 is provided downstream of the indoor blower 12 in the air flow passage 11 in the air flow direction. Further, a radiator 15 as an indoor heat exchanger for heating the air flowing through the air flow passage 11 is provided on the downstream side of the heat absorber 14 in the air flow passage 11 in the air flow direction.

The radiator 15 is arranged on one side of the air flow passage 11 in the orthogonal direction, and on the other side of the air flow passage 11 in the orthogonal direction, a radiator bypass flow passage 11c that bypasses the radiator 15 is formed.

Between the heat absorber 14 and the radiator 15 in the air flow passage 11, an air mix damper 16 for adjusting the ratio of the air heated by the radiator 15 to the air passing through the heat absorber 14 is provided. ing. The air mix damper 16 closes one of the radiator bypass flow passage 11c and the radiator 15 in the air flow direction and opens the other on the upstream side in the air flow direction of the radiator 15 and the radiator bypass flow passage 11c. Alternatively, both the radiator bypass passage 11c and the radiator 15 are opened to adjust the opening degree of the radiator 15 on the upstream side in the air flow direction. The air mix damper 16 has an opening of 0% in a state where the upstream side of the radiator 15 in the air flow direction in the air flow passage 11 is closed and the radiator bypass flow passage 11c is opened, and the radiator 15 in the air flow passage 11 is opened. The opening degree becomes 100% in a state where the upstream side of the air circulation direction is opened and the radiator bypass passage 11c is closed.

The refrigerant circuit 20 includes the heat absorber 14, the radiator 15, a compressor 21 for compressing the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 22 for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the air outside the vehicle compartment, and a fully closed and fully open state. First and second expansion valves 23a and 23b whose valve opening can be adjusted between them, first and second electromagnetic valves 24a and 24b for opening and closing the refrigerant passage, and a refrigerant flowing direction in the refrigerant passage And first and second check valves 25a and 25b for regulating the refrigerant, and an accumulator 26 for separating the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant to prevent the liquid refrigerant from being sucked into the compressor 21. , These are connected by, for example, an aluminum tube or a copper tube. As the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20, for example, R-134a or the like is used.

More specifically, the refrigerant flow passage 20a is formed on the refrigerant discharge side of the compressor 21 by connecting the refrigerant inflow side of the radiator 15. A refrigerant flow passage 20b is formed by connecting the refrigerant outflow side of the radiator 15 to the refrigerant inflow side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22. A first expansion valve 23a is provided in the refrigerant flow passage 20b. By connecting the refrigerant inflow side of the heat absorber 14 to the refrigerant outflow side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22, a refrigerant flow passage 20c is formed. The refrigerant flow passage 20c is provided with a first check valve 25a and a second expansion valve 23b in order from the outdoor heat exchanger 22 side. A refrigerant flow passage 20d is formed by connecting the refrigerant suction side of the compressor 21 to the refrigerant outflow side of the heat absorber 14. The refrigerant flow passage 20d is provided with a second check valve 25b and an accumulator 26 in order from the heat absorber 14 side. In addition, the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is bypassed between the radiator 15 and the first expansion valve 23a in the refrigerant flow passage 20b, and the first check valve 25a and the second expansion valve 23b in the refrigerant flow passage 20c are separated from each other. A refrigerant flow passage 20e is formed by connecting the two. A first electromagnetic valve 24a is provided in the refrigerant flow passage 20e. By connecting the heat absorber 14 and the second check valve 25b in the refrigerant flow passage 20d between the outdoor heat exchanger 22 and the first check valve 25a in the refrigerant flow passage 20c, the refrigerant flow passage 20f is formed. A second electromagnetic valve 24b is provided in the refrigerant flow passage 20f.

The outdoor heat exchanger 22 is a heat exchanger including fins and tubes, and is arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, which is the air circulation direction outside the vehicle compartment such as the engine room. An outdoor blower 22a is provided near the outdoor heat exchanger 22 for circulating the air outside the vehicle in the front-rear direction when the vehicle is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 2, the accumulator 26 includes a hollow pressure vessel 26a, a refrigerant inflow tube 26b for letting a refrigerant flow into the pressure vessel 26a, and a refrigerant outflow tube 26c for letting out a refrigerant from the pressure vessel 26a. A partition plate 26d provided between the end of the refrigerant inflow pipe 26b and the end of the refrigerant outflow pipe 26c in the pressure container 26a, a drying material 26e for adsorbing water in the pressure container 26a, and a pressure container And a heat exchange section 26f for exchanging heat between the refrigerant inside 26a and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30. The refrigerant inflow pipe 26b linearly extends downward from the upper portion of the pressure vessel 26a, and the end opening faces downward. The refrigerant outflow pipe 26c extends downward from the upper portion of the pressure vessel 26a, bends and extends upward on the lower side of the pressure vessel 26a, and the end opening faces upward. A suction hole 26c1 for allowing the refrigerating machine oil accumulated in the pressure vessel 26a to flow into the refrigerant outflow pipe 26c is formed in the bent portion located on the lower side of the refrigerant outflow pipe 26c. The refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant inflow pipe 26b into the pressure vessel 26a contacts the partition plate 26d and then flows downward along the inner wall, and the gaseous refrigerant flows through the refrigerant outflow pipe 26c and flows out of the pressure vessel 26a. .. The heat exchange section 26f is a heat medium flow path formed along the outer peripheral surface of the pressure vessel 26a, and connects the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit 20 and the heat medium flowing in the heat medium circuit 30 via the pressure vessel 26a. Heat exchange.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heat medium circuit 30 includes an accumulator 26, a heat medium pump 31 for pumping the heat medium, a heat medium radiator 32 for radiating heat from the heat medium to the air outside the passenger compartment, and a first heat medium radiator 32. It has the first and second heat medium three-way valves 33a and 33b, and a battery B for running the vehicle, which are connected by, for example, an aluminum pipe or a copper pipe. As the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30, for example, an antifreezing liquid such as ethylene glycol is used.

More specifically, the heat medium flow passage 30a is formed on the heat medium discharge side of the heat medium pump 31 by connecting the heat medium inlet of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a. The heat medium flow passage 30b is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow side of the heat medium radiator 32 to one of the two heat medium outlets of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a. A heat medium flow passage 30c is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow side of the battery B to the heat medium outflow side of the heat medium radiator 32. A heat medium flow passage 30d is formed on the heat medium outflow side of the battery B by connecting the heat medium inflow port of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b. The heat medium flow passage 30e is formed by connecting the heat medium inflow side of the heat exchange portion 26f of the accumulator 26 to one of the two heat medium outlets of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b. A heat medium flow passage 30f is formed by connecting the heat medium suction side of the heat medium pump 31 to the heat medium outlet side of the heat exchange section 26f of the accumulator 26. A heat medium flow passage 30g is formed by connecting the heat medium flow passage 30c to the other heat medium flow outlet of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a. A heat medium flow passage 30h is formed by connecting the heat medium flow passage 30f to the other heat medium flow outlet of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b. The first heat medium three-way valve 33a switches the connection destination of the heat medium flow passage 30a to the heat medium flow passage 30b side or the heat medium flow passage 30g side. The second heat medium three-way valve 33b switches the connection destination of the heat medium flow passage 30d to the heat medium flow passage 30e side or the heat medium flow passage 30h side.

In the vehicle air conditioner 1 configured as described above, the temperature and humidity of the air in the vehicle compartment are adjusted using the air conditioning unit 10 and the refrigerant circuit 20.

For example, in the cooling operation in which the temperature inside the vehicle interior is decreased, in the air conditioning unit 10, the indoor blower 12 is driven and the opening degree of the air mix damper 16 is set to 0%. Further, in the refrigerant circuit 20, the compressor 21 is driven with the first expansion valve 23a fully opened, the second expansion valve 23b a predetermined valve opening, the first electromagnetic valve 24a closed, and the second electromagnetic valve 24b closed. Let

As a result, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 flows to the compressor 21 in the order of the radiator 15, the outdoor heat exchanger 22, and the heat absorber 14, as shown by the solid arrow in the refrigerant circuit 20 of FIG. Inhaled.

The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 does not radiate heat in the radiator 15 because the opening of the air mix damper 16 is 0%, but radiates heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 22 and absorbs heat in the heat absorber 14.

The air flowing through the air flow passage 11 is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant that absorbs heat in the heat absorber 14, and is blown into the vehicle interior.

Further, for example, in the dehumidifying and cooling operation for reducing the temperature and humidity in the vehicle interior, the opening degree of the air mix damper 16 of the air conditioning unit 10 is set to be larger than 0% in the refrigerant passage of the refrigerant circuit 20 during the cooling operation. Set to each.

As a result, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 radiates heat in the radiator 15 and the outdoor heat exchanger 22 and absorbs heat in the heat absorber 14.

The air flowing through the air flow passage 11 is dehumidified and cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant that absorbs heat in the heat absorber 14, and is heated to the target blowout temperature in the radiator 15 and blown into the vehicle interior.

Further, for example, in the dehumidifying and heating operation that lowers the humidity and raises the temperature in the passenger compartment, the first expansion valve 23a has a predetermined valve opening degree smaller than full opening in the refrigerant passage of the refrigerant circuit 20 during the cooling operation. And Further, the opening degree of the air mix damper 16 of the air conditioning unit 10 is set to be larger than 0%.

As a result, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 radiates heat in the radiator 15 and absorbs heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 22 and the heat absorber 14.

The air flowing through the air flow passage 11 of the air conditioning unit 10 is dehumidified and cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant that absorbs heat in the heat absorber 14, and is heated to the target blowing temperature in the radiator 15 and blown into the vehicle interior. It

Further, for example, in the heating operation that raises the temperature inside the vehicle compartment, the air blower 12 is driven in the air conditioning unit 10, and the air mix damper 16 is set to an opening larger than 0%. Further, in the refrigerant circuit 20, with the first expansion valve 23a having a predetermined valve opening smaller than fully open, the second expansion valve 23b fully closed, the first solenoid valve 24a closed, and the second solenoid valve 24b opened. , Drive the compressor 21.

As a result, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 flows through the radiator 15 and the outdoor heat exchanger 22 in this order and is drawn into the compressor 21, as indicated by the dashed arrow in the refrigerant circuit 20 of FIG.

The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 radiates heat in the radiator 15 and absorbs heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 22.

The air flowing through the air flow passage 11 of the air conditioning unit 10 is heated by exchanging heat with the refrigerant radiating in the radiator 15 without exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the heat absorber 14, and is blown into the vehicle interior.

Further, when the vehicle is traveling, the battery B may need to be cooled because heat is released from the battery B. Further, in the vehicle air conditioner 1, when the outside air is at a low temperature during the heating operation, the heat absorption amount from the outdoor heat exchanger 22 may be insufficient and the heating capacity may be insufficient. Therefore, in the vehicle air conditioner 1, the heat released from the battery B is absorbed in the refrigerant circuit 20 while the temperature and humidity inside the vehicle compartment are adjusted using the air conditioning unit 10 and the refrigerant circuit 20. Exhaust heat absorption operation is performed.

In the exhaust heat absorption operation, in the heat medium circuit 30, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a is communicated with the heat medium flow passage 30g side, and the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b is connected to the heat medium flow passage 30e side. And the heat medium pump 31 is driven.

The heat medium discharged from the heat medium pump 31 circulates in the order of the battery B and the heat exchange section 26f of the accumulator 26 as shown by the solid arrow in the heat medium circuit 30 of FIG. It The heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 is heated by the heat released from the battery B, and is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchange section 26f of the accumulator 26.

The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 absorbs heat by exchanging heat with the heat medium in the heat exchange section 26f of the accumulator 26.

The battery B is cooled by the heat medium that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant via the accumulator 26.

Further, when the exhaust heat absorption operation is performed at the same time as the cooling operation in the state where the outside air is at a high temperature, the heat released from the battery B is absorbed by the refrigerant circuit 20, so that the cooling capacity may be insufficient. For this reason, in the vehicle air conditioner 1, the exhaust heat absorption operation is stopped, and the outside air discharge operation for discharging the heat released from the battery B to the outside air is performed.

In the outside air discharging operation, in the heat medium circuit 30, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve 33a is communicated with the heat medium flow passage 30b side, and the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve 33b is moved to the heat medium flow passage 30h side. The communication is established and the heat medium pump 31 is driven.

The heat medium discharged from the heat medium pump 31 flows through the heat medium radiator 32 and the battery B in this order and is sucked into the heat medium pump 31, as indicated by the dashed arrow in the heat medium circuit 30 of FIG. 1. The heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 is heated by the heat released from the battery B, and is cooled by exchanging heat with the outside air in the heat medium radiator 32.

Thus, according to the vehicle air conditioner of the present embodiment, the accumulator 26 has the heat exchange section 26f that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 20 and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30. ing.

This makes it possible to cool the battery B connected to the heat medium circuit 30 and increase the amount of heat absorbed in the refrigerant circuit 20 during the heating operation, so that the battery B that needs to be cooled can be reliably cooled. In addition, it is possible to secure the required amount of heat absorption in the refrigerant circuit 20 during the heating operation.

Further, the heat exchange section 26f has a heat medium flow path formed along the outer peripheral portion of the accumulator 26.

Accordingly, by forming the heat medium flow path outside the existing accumulator, it is possible to form the accumulator 26 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the heat medium, so that it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

Further, the heat medium circuit 30 is provided with a heat medium radiator 32 for exchanging heat between the heat medium and the air outside the vehicle compartment.

As a result, when the cooling load is large during the cooling operation, it is possible to stop the absorption of the heat released from the battery B in the refrigerant circuit 20 and release the heat to the air outside the vehicle compartment. It is possible to improve efficiency.

In the above-described embodiment, the battery B is shown as a component device of the vehicle that requires temperature adjustment, but the present invention is not limited to this. The components of the vehicle that require temperature adjustment may be, for example, a power supply device such as a converter, electronic components, an electric motor, or the like.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the one in which the antifreeze liquid is used as the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit 30 is shown, but the heat medium is not limited to this. If heat can be exchanged with the refrigerant in the accumulator 26 and at the same time with heat in the heat medium radiator 32, a fluid such as water or oil can be used as the heat medium.

Further, in the above embodiment, the heat medium circuit 30 dedicated to cooling the battery B is shown, but the heat medium circuit 30 is not limited to this. The heat medium circuit 30 may be connected to a heat medium heating heater including an electric heater for heating the heat medium to heat components such as the battery B.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the heat exchange portion 26f has the heat medium flow passage formed along the outer peripheral portion of the accumulator 26, but the heat exchange portion 26f is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchange section 26g may have a heat medium flow passage formed inside the pressure vessel 26a. In this case, it is possible to directly exchange heat between the refrigerant and the heat medium in the pressure vessel 26a, so that it is possible to improve the heat exchange efficiency between the refrigerant and the heat medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Air conditioner for vehicles, 14... Heat absorber, 15... Radiator, 20... Refrigerant circuit, 21... Compressor, 22... Outdoor heat exchanger, 23a... 1st expansion valve, 23b... 2nd expansion valve, 26 ... accumulator, 26f, 26g... heat exchange part, 30... heat medium circuit, 32... heat medium radiator, B... battery.

Claims (4)

A vehicle air conditioner comprising a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger and a refrigerant circuit having an expansion valve, wherein the indoor heat exchanger exchanges heat between air and a refrigerant supplied to the vehicle interior,
A constituent device of the vehicle is connected, and a heat medium circuit for adjusting the temperature of the constituent device by a circulating heat medium is provided.
On the refrigerant intake side of the compressor in the refrigerant circuit, an accumulator for inflowing a refrigerant to separate gas and liquid is provided,
The accumulator is a vehicle air conditioner having a heat exchange section that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange section has a heat medium passage formed along an outer peripheral portion of the accumulator. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange section has a heat medium flow path formed inside the accumulator. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the heat medium circuit is provided with a heat medium radiator for exchanging heat between the heat medium and the air outside the vehicle compartment.

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