JP2023170364A - complex device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a complex device which can contribute to size reduction of a vehicle air conditioner or the like, and can suppress occurrence of a malfunction at the activation of a refrigerant compression function resulting from liquefied refrigerant.SOLUTION: A complex device 1 having a refrigerant compression function and a heat medium heating function includes: a first housing 2A accommodating in series therein a compression mechanism 3 for compressing a refrigerant and an electric motor 4 for driving the compression mechanism 3; a second housing 2B accommodating therein an electric heater 5 for heating a heat medium; and a third housing 2C accommodating therein a motor drive circuit 20 and a heater control circuit 30. The first housing 2A, the second housing 2B and the third housing 2C are connected to one another in a fixed manner. The first housing 2A and the second housing 2B are arranged side by side so that the refrigerant in the first housing 2A which is compressed by the compression mechanism 3 can be heated by the electric heater 5 in the second housing 2B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a composite device having a refrigerant compression function and a heat medium heating function.

Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle air conditioner that can be applied to vehicles such as hybrid cars and electric cars. The vehicle air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 includes an electric compressor that compresses refrigerant, a radiator that radiates heat from the refrigerant discharged from the electric compressor to heat air supplied into the vehicle interior, and a heat radiator that heats the air supplied into the vehicle interior. The refrigerant circuit includes an expansion valve that expands the refrigerant under reduced pressure, and a heat exchanger that corresponds to an evaporator that exchanges heat between the refrigerant that has been expanded under reduced pressure and the outside air. In addition, the vehicle air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 includes a heat medium heating electric heater that heats a heat medium and a heated heat medium that is supplied into the vehicle interior in order to assist heating of the vehicle interior by a radiator. It has a heat medium-air heat exchanger that heats the air.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-213765

The vehicle air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 can compensate for the lack of heating capacity due to the radiator. However, in the vehicle air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, an electric compressor, a heat medium heating electric heater, and the like are individually provided. As a result, the overall size of the device has increased, and there is room for improvement in terms of installation space and other aspects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a composite device that contributes to downsizing of vehicle air conditioners and the like, and that can suppress the occurrence of problems caused by liquefied refrigerant when starting a refrigerant compression function.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a composite device having a refrigerant compression function and a heat medium heating function is provided. This composite device houses a compression mechanism that compresses a refrigerant, an electric motor that drives the compression mechanism, the compression mechanism and the electric motor in series, and stores the refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism inside the device. A compressor housing having a refrigerant inlet for allowing the refrigerant to flow into the compressor housing and a refrigerant outlet for allowing the refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism to flow out to the outside, an electric heater for heating the heat medium, and accommodating the electric heater therein; A heater housing having a heat medium inlet for allowing the heat medium heated by the electric heater to flow into the interior, and a heat medium outlet for causing the heat medium heated by the electric heater to flow out to the outside, and controlling the electric motor. It includes a motor drive circuit, a heater control circuit that controls the electric heater, and a circuit housing that houses the motor drive circuit and the heater control circuit therein. The compressor housing, the heater housing and the circuit housing are integrally coupled. The compressor housing and the heater housing are arranged side by side so that the refrigerant in the compressor housing compressed by the compression mechanism can be warmed by the electric heater in the heater housing.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a composite device that contributes to downsizing of vehicle air conditioners and the like, and that can suppress the occurrence of problems when starting the refrigerant compression function due to liquefied refrigerant.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a multifunction device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the multifunction device according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a top view of a multifunction device according to an embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main part configuration of a motor drive circuit of a multifunction device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main part configuration of a heater control circuit of a multifunction device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a composite device according to an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of a multifunction device according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an installed state of the multifunction device according to the embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 show a schematic configuration of a multifunction device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of the multifunction device 1 according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a right side view of the multifunction device 1 according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a top view of the multifunction device 1 according to the embodiment. be.

The composite device 1 has a refrigerant compression function that compresses a refrigerant, and a heat medium heating function that heats a heat medium other than the refrigerant. That is, the composite device 1 has a configuration in which a refrigerant compressor and a heat medium heating device are integrated. The composite device 1 can be applied to, for example, a vehicle air conditioner as described above.

When the composite device 1 is applied to a vehicle air conditioner, the refrigerant compression function section of the composite device 1 is incorporated into the refrigerant circuit of the vehicle air conditioner, and includes an expansion valve and a heat exchanger corresponding to an evaporator. It may be configured to compress the refrigerant that has passed therethrough and to supply the compressed refrigerant to a radiator (refrigerant-air heat exchanger) that heats air supplied into the vehicle interior. Further, the heat medium heating function section of the composite device 1 is incorporated into a heat medium circuit in which a heat medium is circulated by a pump or the like, and not only heats the heat medium but also directs the heated heat medium to the air supplied into the vehicle interior. It may be configured to supply a heating medium to air heat exchanger. Note that the refrigerant and the heat medium may be selected arbitrarily, and for example, a gas refrigerant may be used as the refrigerant, and a liquid may be used as the heat medium. Furthermore, although not particularly limited, water (including water mixed with antifreeze or the like) is usually used as the heat medium. Therefore, the heat medium heating function can also be called a water heating function.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a composite device 1 has a housing 2. As shown in FIGS. The housing 2 of the composite device 1 includes a first housing 2A, a second housing 2B, a third housing 2C, a first cover 2D, a second cover 2E, and a third cover 2F, which are not shown. They are integrally connected (fastened) using fastening members such as bolts.

The first housing 2A is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. A compression mechanism 3 that compresses refrigerant and an electric motor 4 that drives the compression mechanism 3 are housed in the first housing 2A in series in the axial direction. Although not particularly limited, the compression mechanism 3 may be a scroll compression mechanism including a fixed scroll and a movable (orbiting) scroll. Further, the output shaft 4a of the electric motor 4 is connected to the compression mechanism 3 (for example, the movable (orbiting) scroll).

One (lower side in FIGS. 1 and 2) open end of the first housing 2A, that is, the open end of the first housing 2A on the compression mechanism 3 side is closed by the first cover 2D. Note that the first housing 2A that houses the compression mechanism 3 and the electric motor 4 that drives it can also be called a compressor housing.

The second housing 2B is arranged on the side of the first housing 2A, and is formed into a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape. An electric heater 5 that heats the heat medium is housed inside the second housing 2B. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the electric heater 5 includes a pair of heaters (heater 5A, heater 5B) arranged in parallel in the second housing 2B and electrically connected in parallel.

One (lower side in FIGS. 1 and 2) open end of the second housing 2B is closed by a second cover 2E. Note that the second housing 2B that houses the electric heater 5 can also be called a heater housing.

The third housing 2C is formed into a box shape with an open top surface. A motor drive circuit 20 that controls the electric motor 4 and a heater control circuit 30 that controls the electric heater 5 are housed in the third housing 2C. Specifically, a circuit board (also referred to as a control board) 6 on which the motor drive circuit 20 and the heater control circuit 30 are mounted is housed inside the third housing 2C.

In the composite device 1, the refrigerant compression function (refrigerant compressor) is mainly realized by the compression mechanism 3, the electric motor 4, and the motor drive circuit 20, and the heat medium (water ) Heating function (thermal medium (water) heating device) is realized.

The bottom wall 7 of the third housing 2C is connected to the other (upper side in FIGS. 1 and 2) open end of the first housing 2A, that is, the open end of the first housing 2A on the electric motor 4 side, and the open end of the second housing 2B. The other (upper side in FIGS. 1 and 2) open end is closed. Thereby, the inside of the first housing 2A and the inside of the third housing 2C are partitioned off, and the inside of the second housing 2B and the inside of the third housing 2C are partitioned off. That is, the bottom wall 7 of the third housing 2C constitutes an internal wall of the housing 2, and also includes a first partition portion 71 that partitions the inside of the first housing 2A and the inside of the third housing 2C, and the bottom wall 7 of the second housing 2B. It has a second partition part 72 that partitions the inside and the inside of the third housing 2C.

The upper surface (open end) of the third housing 2C is closed by the third cover 2F. Note that the third housing 2C that houses the motor drive circuit 20 and the heater control circuit 30 can also be called a circuit housing.

A refrigerant inlet 8 for allowing refrigerant from outside to flow into the first housing 2A is formed in the first housing 2A. The external refrigerant is, for example, a refrigerant that has passed through an expansion valve and a heat exchanger corresponding to an evaporator in the refrigerant circuit of the vehicle air conditioner described above, that is, a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant. In this embodiment, the refrigerant inlet 8 is located in a portion of the first housing 2A on the third housing 2C side, that is, in the vicinity of the first partition portion 71 that partitions the inside of the first housing 2A and the inside of the third housing 2C. It is provided. Preferably, the refrigerant inlet 8 is configured to allow refrigerant from the outside to flow into the first housing 2A so that at least a portion of the refrigerant from the outside flows along the first partition portion 71.

The refrigerant that has entered the first housing 2A flows inside the first housing 2A, and is then sucked into the compression mechanism 3. The first partition part 71 can be cooled by the refrigerant flowing into the first housing 2A, and the electric motor 4 can be cooled by the refrigerant flowing inside the first housing 2A.

The refrigerant sucked into the compression mechanism 3 is compressed by the compression mechanism 3. Then, the refrigerant becomes a high temperature and high pressure refrigerant and is discharged from the compression mechanism 3. The discharged (high-temperature, high-pressure) refrigerant flows out from the refrigerant outlet 9 formed in the first housing 2A, and is used, for example, in the refrigerant circuit of the above-mentioned vehicle air conditioner, as air supplied into the vehicle interior. is supplied to a radiator (refrigerant-air heat exchanger) that heats the air. In this embodiment, the refrigerant outlet 9 is provided in a portion of the first housing 2A on the first cover 2D side.

A heat medium inlet 10 is formed in the second housing 2B to allow a heat medium from outside to flow into the second housing 2B. The heat medium from the outside is, for example, the heat medium that has passed through the heat medium-air heat exchanger for heating the air supplied into the vehicle interior in the heat medium circuit of the above-mentioned vehicle air conditioner. It is a heat transfer medium with a low temperature. In the present embodiment, the heat medium inlet 10 is located at a portion of the second housing 2B on the third housing 2C side, that is, near the second partition portion 72 that partitions the inside of the second housing 2B and the inside of the third housing 2C. It is set in. Preferably, the heat medium inlet 10 is configured to allow the heat medium from the outside to flow into the second housing 2B so that at least a portion of the heat medium from the outside flows along the second partition part 72. ing.

The heat medium that has flowed into the second housing 2B flows inside the second housing 2B, and is heated by the electric heater 5 (heater 5A, heater 5B) at that time. The second partition part 72 can be cooled by the heat medium flowing into the second housing 2B.

The heat medium heated by the electric heater 5 (heater 5A, heater 5B) flows out from the heat medium outlet 11 formed in the second housing 2B, and is supplied into the vehicle interior, for example, in the above-mentioned vehicle air conditioner. A heat medium-to-air heat exchanger is supplied to heat the air to be heated. In this embodiment, the heat medium outlet 11 is provided at a portion of the second housing 2B on the second cover 2E side.

Although not shown in the figure, the power supply line from the motor drive circuit 20 to the electric motor 4 and the power supply line from the heater control circuit 30 to the electric heater 5 are connected to the third housing 2C in an airtight and liquidtight state, respectively. It extends through the bottom wall 7 of the.

Next, the motor drive circuit 20 that drives the electric motor 4 and the heater control circuit 30 that controls the electric heater 5 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the main part configuration of the motor drive circuit 20. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the motor drive circuit 20 is configured to convert a DC voltage from an external power source into a three-phase AC voltage and supply it to the electric motor 4. The motor drive circuit 20 includes a capacitor 21, a first power module 22, and a first driver circuit 23.

The capacitor 21 is connected between the power line of the external power source and the ground line, and smoothes the DC voltage from the external power source.

The first power module 22 includes six power switching elements (hereinafter referred to as "first power switching elements") Q1 to Q6 that control energization to the electric motor 4, and six diodes D1 to D6. Although not particularly limited, the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 may be IGBTs (insulated gate bipolar transistors). The first power module 22 converts the DC voltage from the external power supply, which has been smoothed by the capacitor 21, into a three-phase AC voltage by controlling the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 (PMW control). Supplied to motor 4.

Specifically, the first power module 22 has a U-phase arm, a V-phase arm, and a W-phase arm that are provided in parallel with each other between a power line of an external power source and a ground line.

Two first power switching elements Q1 and Q2 are connected in series to the U-phase arm, and diodes D1 and D2 are connected in antiparallel to each of the first power switching elements Q1 and Q2, respectively.

Two first power switching elements Q3 and Q4 are connected in series to the V-phase arm, and diodes D3 and D4 are connected in antiparallel to each of the first power switching elements Q3 and Q4, respectively.

Two first power switching elements Q5 and Q6 are connected in series to the W-phase arm, and diodes D5 and D6 are connected in antiparallel to each of the first power switching elements Q5 and Q6, respectively.

Further, the intermediate points of the U, V, and W phase arms are connected to the other ends of the U, V, and W phase coils of the electric motor 4 which are star-connected at one end of each. That is, the midpoint between the first power switching elements Q1 and Q2 of the U-phase arm is connected to the U-phase coil, the midpoint between the first power switching elements Q3 and Q4 of the V-phase arm is connected to the V-phase coil, and A midpoint between the first power switching elements Q5 and Q6 of the W-phase arm is connected to the W-phase coil.

Therefore, the ratio of the ON period of the first power switching element on the power line side of each phase arm to the ON period of the first power switching element on the ground line side is controlled (PWM controlled), so that the first power The module 22 can convert the DC voltage from the external power supply, smoothed by the capacitor 21 , into a three-phase AC voltage and supply it to the electric motor 4 , thereby controlling the electric motor 4 and, therefore, the compression mechanism 3 . Can be driven.

The first driver circuit 23 turns ON/OFF the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 based on a control signal (PWM signal) from the control unit 15 of the multifunction device 1, which will be described later.

That is, in this embodiment, the operations of the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6, and furthermore, the operations of the electric motor 4 and the compression mechanism 3 are controlled by the control unit 15.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of main parts of the heater control circuit 30. In this embodiment, the heater control circuit 30 is configured to apply the voltage of a high voltage power supply to the electric heaters 5 (heater 5A, heater 5B). The heater control circuit 30 includes a second power module 31 and a second driver circuit 32.

The second power module 31 includes two power switching elements (hereinafter referred to as "second power switching elements) Q7 and Q8 that control energization to the electric heater 5. Although not particularly limited, the second power switching element Q7, Q8 may be an IGBT like the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 of the motor drive circuit 20. In this embodiment, one of the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 is the second power switching element Q7. is provided on the output side (voltage side) of the high voltage power supply rather than the electric heater 5, and the other second power switching element Q8 is provided on the ground side of the high voltage power supply rather than the electric heater 5.

The second power module 31 turns on/off the electricity to the electric heater 5 by controlling the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 (PMW control), thereby controlling the temperature of the electric heater 5, and further, The temperature of the heat medium heated by the electric heater 5 can be controlled.

The second driver circuit 32 turns on/off the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 based on a control signal (PWM signal) from the control unit 15 of the multifunction device 1, which will be described later.

That is, in this embodiment, the operation of the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 and, by extension, the operation of the electric heater 5 are controlled by the control unit 15.

Here, the arrangement structure of the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 of the motor drive circuit 20 and the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 of the heater control circuit 30 in the multifunction device 1 according to the embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 6. do. FIG. 6 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the composite device 1 (corresponding to the AA cross-sectional view in FIG. 3).

As described above, the motor drive circuit 20 and the heater control circuit 30 are mounted on the circuit board 6 and housed inside the third housing 2C. As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit board 6 can be attached to, for example, a plurality of board attachment parts 12 provided inside the third housing 2C. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of board mounting parts 12 is formed in a boss shape that protrudes from the bottom wall 7 of the third housing 2C (in the direction away from the first housing 2A and the second housing 2B), and A circuit board 6 is attached to the upper surface of the attachment part 12 with screws 13.

In this embodiment, the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 of the motor drive circuit 20 and the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 of the heater control circuit 30 are connected to the surface of the circuit board 6 on the bottom wall 7 side of the third housing 2C. It is mounted at a portion facing the first partition portion 71 that partitions the inside of the first housing 2A and the inside of the third housing 2C. Furthermore, the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 and the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 can be brought into thermal contact with the first partition part 71 by adjusting the length of each lead appropriately, for example. It is located in Note that "coming into thermal contact with the first partition part 71" means being in a state where heat exchange is possible with the first partition part 71, and directly contacting the first partition part 71; This includes being close to the first partition 71 and indirectly contacting the first partition 71 via a heat exchange member having high thermal conductivity.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the multifunction device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the control unit 15 of the composite device 1 receives an operation request (activation (including request and stop request), operation request for the heat medium heating function (including start request and stop request), etc.

The control unit 15 also includes a first temperature detection section 51 that detects the temperature of the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6, a second temperature detection section 52 that detects the temperature of the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8, and an outside temperature The detection results of various detection units such as the third temperature detection unit 53 that detects the temperature are also input.

The control unit 15 outputs a control signal (PWM signal) to the first driver circuit 23 in accordance with an operation request for the refrigerant compression function from the higher-level control device and/or the detection results of the various detection units to generate the first power. The switching elements Q1 to Q6 are turned on and off, thereby controlling the operation of the electric motor 4 (and compression mechanism 3), that is, the operation of the refrigerant compression function. Further, the control unit 15 outputs a control signal (PWM signal) to the second driver circuit 32 in accordance with an operation request for the heat medium heating function from the higher-level control device and/or the detection results of the various detection units. The second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 are turned on and off, thereby controlling the operation of the electric heater 5, that is, the operation of the heat medium heating function.

By the way, in the composite device 1, similarly to the refrigerant compressor, when the refrigerant compression function is stopped at low temperatures, for example, the refrigerant in the first housing 2A liquefies, and the liquefied refrigerant accumulates in the first housing 2A. Sometimes. When the liquefied refrigerant accumulates in the first housing 2A, the driving load on the compression mechanism 3 and/or the electric motor 4 increases, and the refrigerant compression function may not start, or the refrigerant compression function may be overloaded by a protection circuit (not shown). There is a risk that it may stop. In order to prevent such problems, for example, when starting the refrigerant compression function at low temperatures, the electric motor 4 is rotated at low speed to gradually discharge the liquefied refrigerant from the first housing 2A, and then the refrigerant is One possibility is to activate a compression function. However, with this method, it takes time to start up the refrigerant compression function, and it is inevitable that a relatively large mechanical load will be applied to the compression mechanism 3.

Therefore, in the composite device 1 according to the embodiment, in order to effectively suppress the occurrence of problems caused by liquefied refrigerant when starting the refrigerant compression function, a configuration as described below is adopted. There is.

(1) In the composite device 1, the first housing 2A and the second housing 2B are arranged so that the refrigerant in the first housing 2A compressed by the compression mechanism 3 can be warmed by the electric heater 5 in the second housing 2B. , are arranged side by side (see Figure 1). That is, in the composite device 1, the electric heater 5 is provided so as to be able to warm the refrigerant in the first housing 2A that is compressed by the compression mechanism 3. This is to enable the refrigerant liquefied in the first housing 2A to be heated and vaporized directly or indirectly through the heat medium by the operation (heat generation) of the electric heater 5.

In other words, in the composite device 1, the first housing 2A and the second housing 2B are arranged such that at least a portion of the outer surface of the first housing 2A and at least a portion of the outer surface of the second housing 2B are in thermal contact with each other. It is located in More specifically, the first housing 2A and the second housing 2B are located closer to the refrigerant inlet 8 than the part of the outer surface of the first housing 2A that corresponds to the compression mechanism accommodating part in which the compression mechanism 3 is accommodated. (hereinafter referred to as the “first portion”) and a portion (hereinafter referred to as the “second portion”) of the outer surface of the second housing 2B that corresponds to the electric heater accommodating portion in which the electric heater 5 is housed. are placed in contact with each other. Here, "X and Y are in thermal contact" means that X and Y are in a state where they can exchange heat, and that X and Y are in direct contact, and X and Y are in close proximity. It also includes indirect contact between X and Y via a heat exchange member with high thermal conductivity.

(2) Although the composite device 1 can be installed in a vehicle or the like in any direction, in this embodiment, the composite device 1 is installed in a vehicle or the like in the orientation shown in FIG. That is, the composite device 1 is installed such that the second housing 2B is located below the first housing 2A. This is achieved by allowing the liquefied refrigerant inside the first housing 2A to accumulate on the second housing 2B side within the first housing 2A, so that the liquefied refrigerant can be effectively vaporized by the operation (heat generation) of the electric heater 5. This is to ensure that the

(3) The composite device 1 is configured to activate the heat medium heating function prior to activation of the refrigerant compression function when the refrigerant compression function is activated when the outside air temperature is lower than or equal to the threshold temperature. In other words, when starting the refrigerant compression function when the outside air temperature is lower than the threshold temperature, the multifunction device 1 operates the electric heater 5 before operating the electric motor 4, and then starts the electric heater 5 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. It is configured to operate the motor 4. This is due to the process of vaporizing the liquefied refrigerant when there is a possibility that the liquefied refrigerant has accumulated inside the first housing 2A. This is to more reliably prevent this.

Specifically, in the multifunction device 1, when a request to start the refrigerant compression function is input when the temperature detected by the third temperature detection section 53 is equal to or lower than the threshold temperature, the control unit 15 issues a request to start the heat medium heating function. Regardless of whether or not the electric heater 5 is operated, the electric heater 5 is operated before the electric motor 4 is operated, and the electric motor 4 is operated after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Although not particularly limited, the control unit 15 may be configured to output a control signal with a duty ratio of 100% or close to 100% to the second driver circuit 32 to operate the electric heater 5 before operating the electric motor 4. .

Preferably, when a request to start the refrigerant compression function is input when the temperature detected by the third temperature detection section 53 is below a threshold temperature, the control unit 15 determines whether the heat medium heating function (electric heater 5) is operating. It is configured to determine whether or not. When the heat medium heating function (electric heater 5) is operating, the control unit 15 immediately operates the electric motor 4, and when the heat medium heating function (electric heater 5) is not operating, the control unit 15 first operates the electric motor 4. It is configured to operate the heater 5 and then operate the electric motor 4 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

Note that the predetermined time may be set to a time determined in advance through experiments or the like as a time during which the liquefied refrigerant in the first housing 2A can be vaporized by the operation (heat generation) of the electric heater 5. Furthermore, if a request to start the heating medium heating function is not input, the control unit 15 stops the heating medium heating function (electric heater 5) after the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

According to the multifunction device 1 according to the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

The composite device 1 includes a first housing (compressor housing) 2A that houses in series a compression mechanism 3 that compresses a refrigerant and an electric motor 4 that drives the compression mechanism 3, and an electric heater 5 that heats a heat medium. A second housing (heater housing) 2B that accommodates therein, and a third housing (circuit housing) 2C that accommodates therein a motor drive circuit 20 that controls the electric motor 4 and a heater control circuit 30 that controls the electric heater 5. include. The first housing 2A has a refrigerant inlet 8 that allows the refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism 3 to flow into the inside, and a refrigerant outlet 9 that allows the refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism 3 to flow out to the outside. has a heat medium inlet 10 through which the heat medium heated by the electric heater 5 flows into the inside, and a heat medium outlet 11 through which the heat medium heated by the electric heater 5 flows out to the outside. The first housing 2A, the second housing 2B, and the third housing 2C are integrally connected.

Such a composite device 1 functions as an electric compressor that compresses a refrigerant and a heat medium heating device that heats a heat medium, and can heat the heat medium while compressing the refrigerant. Therefore, the composite device 1 can be applied to a vehicle air conditioner as described above. By applying the composite device 1 to a vehicle air conditioner, it is possible to downsize the vehicle air conditioner compared to a conventional configuration that separately includes an electric compressor and a heat medium heating device. It is.

In addition, in the composite device 1, the first housing 2A and the second housing 2B are arranged so that the refrigerant in the first housing 2A compressed by the compression mechanism 3 can be warmed by the electric heater 5 in the second housing 2B. are placed side by side. More specifically, the first housing 2A and the second housing 2B are arranged so that at least a portion of their outer surfaces are in thermal contact with each other. The portion and the second portion of the outer surface of the second housing 2B are arranged so as to be in thermal contact with each other.

Therefore, even if liquefied refrigerant accumulates inside the first housing 2A, by operating the electric heater 5 (generating heat), it is possible to warm and vaporize the liquefied refrigerant inside the first housing 2A. It is. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems caused by liquefied refrigerant when starting the refrigerant compression function (such as an overload stop when starting the refrigerant compression function), and to reduce the mechanical load on the compression mechanism 3. . Furthermore, since the liquefied refrigerant can be heated and vaporized in a relatively short time, the delay in starting the refrigerant compression function can be reduced.

Further, the composite device 1 is installed such that the second housing 2B is located below the first housing 2A. Therefore, the refrigerant liquefied within the first housing 2A accumulates on the second housing 2B side within the first housing 2A, and the liquefied refrigerant is effectively and efficiently vaporized by the operation (heat generation) of the electric heater 5. can be done.

Further, the composite device 1 is configured to activate the heat medium heating function prior to activation of the refrigerant compression function when the refrigerant compression function is activated when the outside air temperature is lower than or equal to the threshold temperature. In other words, when starting the refrigerant compression function when the outside air temperature is lower than the threshold temperature, the multifunction device 1 operates the electric heater 5 before operating the electric motor 4, and then starts the electric heater 5 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. It is configured to operate the motor 4.

Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent problems caused by liquefied refrigerant when starting the refrigerant compression function.

Furthermore, the composite device 1 has a first partition part 71 that partitions the inside of the first housing 2A and the inside of the third housing 2C, and the first power switching element of the motor drive circuit 20 is connected to the first power switching element of the motor drive circuit 20 in the third housing 2C. Q1 to Q6 and the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 of the heater control circuit 30 are arranged to be in thermal contact with the first partition part 71, and the refrigerant inlet 8 of the first housing 2A is connected to the first It is provided near the partition part 71.

When used, the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 and the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 generate heat. The first partition portion 71 can be cooled by the refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant inlet 8 . Therefore, according to the above configuration, heat exchange between the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 and the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 and the first partition part 71 causes the first power switching elements Q1 to Q6 to And the second power switching elements Q7 and Q8 can be effectively cooled, and the cooling (heat dissipation) performance of the power switching elements is improved.

Note that in the embodiment described above, the motor drive circuit 20 and the heater control circuit 30 are mounted on one circuit board 6. However, it is not limited to this. The motor drive circuit 20 and the heater control circuit 30 may be mounted on separate circuit boards, or the motor drive circuit 20 and/or the heater control circuit 30 may be divided and mounted on a plurality of circuit boards.

Further, in the above description, the case where the composite device 1 is mainly applied to a vehicle air conditioner is described. However, it is not limited to this. The composite device 1 can be applied to various devices and systems that utilize an electric compressor that compresses a refrigerant and a heat medium heating device that heats a heat medium.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that modifications and changes can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Composite device, 2...Housing, 2A...1st housing (compressor housing), 2B...2nd housing (heater housing), 2C...3rd housing (circuit housing), 2D...1st cover, 2E...2nd Cover, 2F...Third cover, 3...Compression mechanism, 4...Electric motor, 5...Electric heater, 6...Circuit board, 8...Refrigerant inlet, 9...Refrigerant outlet, 10...Heat medium inlet, 11...Heat Medium outlet, 15... Control unit, 20... Motor drive circuit, 30... Heater control circuit, 51... First temperature detection section, 52... Second temperature detection section, 53... Third temperature detection section, 71... First partition part, 72... second partition part, Q1 to Q6... first power switching element, Q7, Q8... second power switching element

Claims (7)

A composite device having a refrigerant compression function and a heat medium heating function,
a compression mechanism that compresses refrigerant;
an electric motor that drives the compression mechanism;
A refrigerant inlet that houses the compression mechanism and the electric motor in series therein, and that allows the refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism to flow into the inside, and a refrigerant outlet that allows the refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism to flow out to the outside. a compressor housing having a
an electric heater that heats a heat medium;
The electric heater is accommodated therein, and the heating medium has a heat medium inlet that allows the heat medium heated by the electric heater to flow into the inside, and a heat medium outlet that allows the heat medium heated by the electric heater to flow out to the outside. heater housing;
a motor drive circuit that controls the electric motor;
a heater control circuit that controls the electric heater;
a circuit housing that houses the motor drive circuit and the heater control circuit therein;
including;
the compressor housing, the heater housing and the circuit housing are integrally coupled;
The compressor housing and the heater housing are arranged side by side so that the refrigerant in the compressor housing compressed by the compression mechanism can be warmed by the electric heater in the heater housing.
Composite device. The composite device according to claim 1, wherein the compressor housing and the heater housing are arranged such that at least a portion of their outer surfaces are in thermal contact with each other. The compressor housing and the heater housing include a portion of the outer surface of the compressor housing that is closer to the refrigerant inlet than a portion corresponding to the compression mechanism accommodating portion, and a portion of the outer surface of the heater housing that is closer to the electric heater accommodating portion. 3. The composite device according to claim 2, wherein the corresponding parts are arranged in thermal contact. The composite device according to claim 1, wherein the composite device is installed such that the heater housing is located below the compressor housing. It has a temperature detection part that detects the outside temperature,
When activating the refrigerant compression function when the outside air temperature is at a low temperature below the threshold temperature, the heating medium heating function is configured to be activated prior to activation of the refrigerant compression function;
The composite device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. When the refrigerant compression function is activated when the outside air temperature is lower than a threshold temperature, the electric heater is activated before the electric motor is activated, and the electric motor is activated after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. 6. The composite device according to claim 5. having a partition part that partitions the inside of the compressor housing and the inside of the circuit housing,
In the circuit housing, a power switching element of the motor drive circuit and a power switching element of the heater control circuit are arranged so as to be in thermal contact with the partition,
The refrigerant inlet of the compressor housing is provided near the partition,
The composite device according to claim 1.