JP3231922B2 - Vehicle heating system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating device for a vehicle which can exhibit a high heating capacity even at an early stage of engine start.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in vehicles such as automobiles,
Heating of the passenger compartment is performed using the heat of the cooling water that cools the engine. However, in such a vehicle heating device, the cooling water is not sufficiently warmed immediately after the engine is started. However, there is a problem that heating cannot be performed. It takes about 5 to 6 minutes for the cooling water to warm up to a temperature sufficient for heating, so in winter, etc., the occupants must keep cold in the cabin for 5 to 6 minutes after starting the engine. Must be patient.

In recent years, in order to solve such problems,
A heating method has been developed in which a heat storage material is arranged in a cooling water circulation pipe and the cooling water is supplementarily heated by the heat storage material until the engine is warmed, thereby quickly warming the vehicle interior.

[0004] As a heating device provided with such a heat storage material, a heating device as disclosed in JP-A-2-41921 is known. In this conventional technique, a cooling water is circulated between a heat storage material and a heater core for warming air blown into a vehicle interior, and a first mode in which hot water heated by the heat storage material is not supplied to an engine; A second mode is provided in which water is circulated between the heat storage material, the heater core, and the engine, and the engine also supplies hot water heated by the heat storage material. In the first mode, the heat of the heat storage material is supplied only to the heater core, so that the heating capacity of the vehicle interior is high and the vehicle interior is quickly warmed. In the second mode, the heat of the heat storage material is supplied to both the engine and the heater core. As a result, the warming operation of the engine can be terminated at an early stage, although the heating capacity of the vehicle interior is reduced. The first mode and the second mode can be switched by the occupant.

[0005]

However, in the above conventional example, in the first mode, the vehicle interior is immediately heated, but the cooling water in the engine is heated only by the heat generated by the engine itself. However, there is a problem that the warm-up operation time becomes long. In the second mode, since the volume of the cooling water in the engine is large and the heat capacity is large accordingly, much of the heat stored in the heat storage material is used to warm the cooling water in the engine. However, there is a problem that the heating capacity of the vehicle interior is extremely reduced. Therefore, even if the occupant can switch between the first mode and the second mode, both of the modes can be selected to achieve both early warm-up of the engine and early heating of the passenger compartment. There was a problem that it was difficult to make it work.

Of course, if the heat storage material has a heat capacity that can sufficiently warm both the cooling water in the engine and the cooling water flowing through the heater core, the above problem can be solved. In the limited space
It is difficult to arrange such a large-capacity heat storage material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to reduce the amount of heat used for warming up an engine and a vehicle interior without arranging a large-capacity heat storage material. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle heating device capable of balancing an amount of heat used for heating of a vehicle at an appropriate level and achieving both early warming of an engine and early heating of a vehicle interior at a high level.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a vehicle heating apparatus according to the present invention stores heat of cooling water when the temperature of the cooling water of an engine is high. A heat accumulator, a heater core for applying heat of cooling water to air blown into the vehicle compartment to warm the air, a first circulation path for circulating cooling water between the heat accumulator and the heater core, and a cooling water. A second circulation path that circulates the heat storage device, the heater core, and the engine, a state in which cooling water is circulating in the first circulation path, and a state in which the cooling water is circulated in the second circulation path. Switching means for switching between a circulating state and a state in which the cooling water temperature is low immediately after the start of the engine, wherein the cooling water is circulated in the second circulation path, and when the cooling water temperature becomes a predetermined value or more. Circulating the cooling water in the first circulation Is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling said switching means so as to circulate in the road.

Further, in the vehicle heating apparatus according to the present invention, the predetermined value is set based on an outside air temperature.

[0010] Further, in the vehicle heating apparatus according to the present invention, the predetermined value is set based on a temperature inside the vehicle compartment and a temperature outside the vehicle compartment.

[0011]

As described above, since the vehicle heating system according to the present invention is constituted, immediately after the start of the engine, the cooling water warmed by the regenerator is also supplied to the engine to warm up the engine. After the cooling water temperature of the engine becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the cooling water heated by the regenerator is supplied only to the heater core to give priority to the heating, so that both the warm-up of the engine and the heating of the vehicle compartment are performed. Can be compatible at a high level.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a circuit for circulating cooling water of a vehicle heating system according to one embodiment. In FIG. 1, a cooling water passage 12 for recirculating cooling water of the engine EG is provided in a heater core H / C for warming air blown into the vehicle interior. The cooling water passage 12 includes an upstream passage 12a in which cooling water flowing out of the engine EG flows toward the heater core H / C, and a downstream passage 12b in which cooling water flowing out of the heater core H / C flows toward the engine EG. It is configured. An intermediate portion between the upstream passage 12a and the downstream passage 12b includes bypass passages 12c and 12c.
d is connected. A first valve 14 for opening and closing the upstream passage 12a is provided between the points A and B where the upstream passage 12a intersects the bypass passages 12c and 12d. The downstream passage 12b and the bypass passage 12
A second valve 16 for opening and closing the downstream passage 12b is provided between the points C and D where c and 12d intersect. Further, a third valve 18 composed of a check valve that allows cooling water to flow only in the direction of arrow F is provided at an intermediate portion of the bypass passage 12c, and the intermediate portion of the bypass passage 12d opens and closes the bypass passage 12d. A fourth valve 20 is provided. An electric first pump P1 for circulating cooling water is interposed between the point C on the downstream passage 12b and the heater core H / C.

On the other hand, a heat storage device 21 is arranged between the point A on the upstream passage 12a and the heater core H / C. The heat storage unit 21 includes a heat insulating container 22 and a heat storage material H / B disposed in the heat insulating container 22. Insulated container 2
Numeral 2 is for storing the cooling water warmed by the engine during the previous operation in a high temperature state, and has a predetermined volume for storing the cooling water. By flowing the high-temperature cooling water in the heat insulating container 22 to the heater core H / C immediately after the start of the engine, the vehicle interior can be heated immediately after the start of the engine. A fifth valve 24 and a sixth valve 26 are provided before and after the heat insulating container 22 to prevent the high-temperature cooling water in the heat insulating container 22 from mixing with the cooling water in the upstream passage 12a. Have been. After the engine is started, the fifth and sixth valves 24 and 26 are turned on when the auto switch 28 for performing the automatic air conditioning control is turned on, and the high-temperature cooling water in the heat insulating container 22 flows out toward the heater core H / C. Low-temperature cooling water from the upstream starts to flow into the heat insulating container 22.

The heat storage material H / B has a function of warming the low-temperature cooling water flowing into the heat insulating container 22 from the upstream side after the high-temperature cooling water in the heat insulating container 22 flows out toward the heater core H / C. I do. As the heat storage material H / B, for example, a substance exhibiting a supercooling phenomenon may be used, or a substance having a large specific heat may be used. Here, a material that exhibits a supercooling phenomenon is a material that absorbs heat and melts when the temperature exceeds the melting point, but once completely melted, maintains a molten state without crystallization even if the temperature falls below the melting point, Alternatively, it is a material that immediately releases the latent heat of fusion and crystallizes when an electrical stimulus or a seed crystal is applied. Therefore, the heat storage material H
When a material showing a supercooling phenomenon is used for / B, the heat storage material H / B absorbs the heat of the cooling water and melts when the cooling water is warmed by the engine to a steady temperature, Thereafter, the liquid state is maintained and latent heat is stored even when cooled. When a predetermined trigger is applied, the heat storage material H / B immediately starts to crystallize, and the heat stored up to that point is released. Therefore, if a trigger is applied to the heat storage material H / B after the engine is started, when the low-temperature cooling water starts flowing into the heat insulating container 22, the low-temperature cooling water can be immediately warmed. it can. When a substance having a large specific heat is simply used as the heat storage material H / B, a trigger or the like is not particularly required, and heat is transferred from the heat storage material H / B to the low-temperature cooling water flowing into the heat insulating container 22. The heat is dissipated and the cooling water is warmed.

A water temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the cooling water discharged from the heat accumulator 21 is provided near the outlet of the cooling water from the heat accumulator 21.

On the other hand, the upstream passage 12a and the downstream passage 12
At the end on the side opposite to the side where the heater core H / C is connected, in order to prevent the cooling water of the engine EG from becoming unnecessarily high in temperature, air having the cooling water taken in from outside the vehicle body is provided. A radiator 30 for cooling is connected. A second pump P2, which is another pump for circulating cooling water, is arranged in an intermediate portion of the upstream passage 12a connecting the radiator 30 and the engine EG. This second pump P2 is a pump directly driven by the rotational force of the engine. A temperature sensing valve T / S is provided between the radiator 30 and the second pump P2. The temperature sensing valve T / S has a bypass passage connecting the upstream passage 12a and the downstream passage 12b. 32 are connected. The temperature sensing valve T / S operates so that the cooling water passes through the radiator 30 when the temperature of the cooling water becomes excessively high, and that the cooling water passes through the bypass passage 32 when the temperature of the cooling water is not high. work.

A coolant temperature sensor 34 for detecting the temperature of the coolant discharged from the engine EG is provided near the outlet of the coolant from the engine EG.

Next, a control device for controlling the operation of the first to sixth valves 14 to 26 and the first pump P1 provided in the circulation circuit of FIG. 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection state of the control device 40 and the above-mentioned temperature sensor, valve, pump and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, a battery 42 is connected to the control device 40, and power required for control is supplied from the battery 42. As a signal necessary for control to the control unit 40, ON · OFF signal of the auto switch 28, indoor temperature t _r from vehicle interior temperature sensor (not shown), the outside air temperature t _a from the outside air temperature sensor (not shown), a water temperature sensor The water temperature t _B from the water temperature sensor 27 and the water temperature t _E from the water temperature sensor 34 are input. In addition, the controller 40 sets the indoor temperature to what degree.
A target temperature setting device 44 for setting a target room temperature t _set that wants to be C is also connected, and a target room temperature t _set output from the target temperature setting device 44 is connected to the control device 40.
Is also entered.

Based on the above input signal, the control device 40 controls the first valve 14, the second valve 16, the fourth valve 2
0, the operation of the fifth valve 24, the sixth valve 26, and the operation of the first pump P1.

Next, the operation of the vehicle heating device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, a material exhibiting a supercooling phenomenon is used as the heat storage material H / B.

First, when the engine is started, the program starts.

When the program starts, first, a trigger signal is applied to the heat storage material H / B, and the heat storage material H / B starts radiating heat (step S2).

Next, the first valve 14, the second valve 16,
The fifth valve 24 and the sixth valve 26 are opened, and the fourth valve 20 is closed (Step S4). In this state, since the engine has been started and the pump P2 has already been operated, the cooling water flows through the cooling water passage 12 along a path shown by a chain line in FIG. Along with this, the hot water stored up to now flows out of the heat insulating container 22 into the cooling water passage 12a. In addition, since the heat storage material H / B has already started radiating heat, the cooling water newly flowing into the heat insulating container 22 is heated by the heat released from the heat storage material H / B.

Next, it is determined whether or not the auto switch 28 has been turned on (step S6). If the auto switch 28 is not turned on, the occupant determines that heating is not particularly required, and repeats step S4, so that the state in which the cooling water flows through the path shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1 is maintained. This state is the same as the state after the engine EG has warmed up to the steady state. In this state, the warm water flowing out of the heat insulating container 22 and the heat storage material H /
The warm water heated in B passes through the heater core H / C, flows into the downstream passage 12b, and further flows into the engine EG. Thereby, the warm water from the heat accumulator 21 flows into the engine EG, and the warm-up of the engine is promoted. In this state, since the volume of the cooling water existing in the engine up to now is large, the heat of the warm water stored in the heat insulating container 22 and the heat released from the heat storage material H / B are this large amount. Since the cooling water is used to warm the cooling water, the temperature rise of the entire cooling water flowing in the cooling water passage 12 is reduced as a result. Therefore, the heater core H / C
Since the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the air does not become too high, the heating capacity is in a low state. However, currently auto switch 2
Since 8 is not turned on, the heating capacity is not particularly required.

Next, at step S6, the auto switch 28 is turned on.
When There is turned ON, since the occupant is judged as requiring heating of the passenger compartment, the control unit 40, vehicle interior temperature t _r, the outside air temperature t _a, the water temperature t of the cooling water discharged from the heat insulating container 22 _B , the temperature t _{E of the} cooling water discharged from the engine EG,
The target room temperature t _set is taken in (step S8). Next, the target water temperature T of the cooling water is calculated (step S10). This target water temperature T is the temperature t of the cooling water that has passed through the engine EG.
Until _E reaches the target water temperature T, the target water temperature is such that the warm water in the heat accumulator 21 is caused to flow also to the engine EG side to promote warm-up of the engine. When the temperature of the cooling water that has passed through the engine EG exceeds the target water temperature T, the hot water in the regenerator 21 is supplied only to the heater core H / C, as described later, and priority is given to heating of the passenger compartment. Here, the target water temperature T is 30 °
C is set.

Next, it is determined whether or not the temperature t _{E of the} cooling water discharged from the engine EG has exceeded the target temperature T (step S12). If the water temperature t _E does not exceed the target water temperature T, steps S4 to S10 are repeated until the water temperature t _E exceeds the target water temperature T, and the state in which the cooling water flows along the path shown by the chain line in FIG. 1 is maintained. Is done.

In step S12, if the water temperature t _E exceeds the target water temperature T, it is considered that the engine EG has warmed up to some extent, and the amount of heat stored in the regenerator 21 is then reduced to the vehicle interior. The process proceeds to step S14 to use the heater preferentially for heating. In step S14, the first valve 14 and the second valve 16 which have been opened are closed, the fourth valve 20 is opened, and at the same time, the operation of the first pump P1 is started. Thereby, the cooling water in the cooling water passage 12
It flows along the path indicated by arrows G and H in FIG.

When the cooling water flows along the paths indicated by arrows G and H, the amount of heat remaining in the regenerator 21 out of the amount of heat stored in the regenerator 21 becomes the heater core H
/ C only, and the vehicle interior is rapidly heated. On the other hand, the cooling water flowing in the engine EG repeatedly passes through the engine EG, and is heated by the heat generated by the engine EG itself. However, at this time, the temperature of the cooling water already flowing through the engine EG is t _E
Therefore, even if the cooling water in the engine EG is heated only by the engine EG, the temperature of the cooling water further increases relatively early. Meanwhile, the amount of heat accumulated in the heat accumulator 21, since it is supplied to the passenger compartment from the heater core H / C, gradually decreased, the water temperature t _B of the coolant discharged from the heater core H / C progressively decreases Go. Therefore, if the cooling water is left while maintaining the state of flowing through the paths indicated by arrows G and H, the water temperature on the heater core H / C side decreases, and the heating of the passenger compartment becomes insufficient. come.

Therefore, in step S16, the engine E
Cooling water temperature t discharged from G_E And discharged from regenerator 21
Cooling water temperature t_B Are compared. And the water temperature t_E But water
Warm t _B If the cooling water exceeds
Engine EG side
In order to introduce the warm cooling water into the heater core H / C,
Proceed to step S18. In step S18, the first valve 1
4 and the second valve 16 are opened again, and the fourth valve 20 is opened again.
close. Then, the first pump P1 is also stopped. This
The cooling water flows again along the path shown by the dashed line in FIG.
It becomes like. That is, heating at the beginning of the engine EG
Steady state where heating is performed by cooling water of engine EG from the state
The state shifts to the heating state, and the operation of the present embodiment ends.
You.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the initial stage of the start of the engine EG, the heat from the regenerator 21 is supplied to both the engine EG and the heater core H / C to promote the warm-up of the engine EG. When the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the engine EG rises to some extent, the heat of the regenerator 21 is supplied only to the heater core H / C to promote heating, so that the regenerator 21 is not enlarged. Thus, it is possible to achieve both early warm-up of the engine EG and early heating of the vehicle interior.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation in the above operation.
Cooling water temperature t discharged from the gin EG _E And the cooling water flows
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship with a path switching.

In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the outside air temperature t _a ,
The vertical axis indicates the cooling water temperature (hereinafter referred to as engine water temperature) t _E discharged from the engine EG. The curve in the figure shows the relationship between the outside air temperature t _a and the engine water temperature t _E before the start of the engine EG. Usually, the engine water temperature t _E before the engine start is equal to the outside air temperature t _E as shown in the figure. It is considered the same as _a. The curve shows the value of the target water temperature T. Here, as described above, the target water temperature T is set to a constant value of 30 ° C. regardless of the outside air temperature. Further, curves, engine coolant temperature t _E when the cooling water temperature t _B discharged from the engine coolant temperature t _E and the heat accumulator 21 is equal
Is shown. The curve changes with the design of the engine, the cooling water passage, the heat storage unit 21 and the like, and is not uniquely determined. Therefore, the curve is indicated by a two-dot chain line as a virtual line. Also, the curve shown by the broken line is a line where the outside air temperature is 25 ° C. From this curve, if the outside air temperature is lower than this, it is considered that heating is necessary, so the auto switch is turned on. If the outside air temperature is higher than this, it is considered that heating is not necessary.
Line F

Here, for convenience of explanation, in FIG. 1, the state in which the cooling water flows through the path indicated by the dashed line is called "warm-up operation", and the state in which the cooling water flows through the paths indicated by arrows G and H. Is referred to as “heating operation”.

First, referring to FIG.
There are to ON, when the engine water temperature t _E is in the area indicated by A, is still an engine coolant temperature t _E because state does not reach the target temperature T, as described in step S4~ step S12 in the flow chart of FIG. 3 As described above, “warm-up operation” is selected, and the warm water of the heat accumulator 21 is caused to flow also to the engine EG.

The engine water temperature t_E Is indicated by B
The engine water temperature t _E But the target water temperature T
Exceeded and still the regenerator water temperature t_B Does not exceed
Since it is in the state, steps S14 to S14 in the flowchart of FIG.
As described in step S16, "heating operation" is selected,
The hot water of the heat accumulator 21 is supplied only to the heater core H / C.

Further, when the engine water temperature t _E has risen to the region indicated by C, the engine water temperature t _E has exceeded the regenerator water temperature t _B, and thus will be described with reference to steps S16 to S18 in the flowchart of FIG. As you did,
Returning to "warm-up operation", the normal steady-state heating operation is performed.

On the other hand, when the outside air temperature exceeds 25 ° C., it is usually considered that the auto switch 28 is turned off. In this case, the steps S4 to S6 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 have been described. The "warm-up operation" is performed.

In the above description, the target water temperature T is set to 30
° has been described as a C constant, but the target water temperature T as a function of outside air temperature t _a, it is also possible to set as the T = f (t _a).

At this time, the relationship between the engine water temperature t _E and the flow path of the cooling water shown in FIG. 4 is as shown in FIG. That is, if the outside air temperature t _a is high, the engine water temperature t _E is considered to be high. Therefore, if the target water temperature T is kept constant at 30 ° C., the heat from the regenerator 21
The engine water temperature t _E reaches the target water temperature T by flowing a little toward G, and most of the heat of the regenerator 21 flows to the heater core H / C. On the other hand, when the outside air temperature t _a is high, it is considered that heat is also small which is required in the vehicle compartment of the heating, heat more heat regenerator 21 is useless to flow to the heater core H / C is Will occur. In order to solve this drawback, the outside air temperature t
_{If a} is high, the function f is set so that the target water temperature T also becomes high, and the heat accumulator 21 is used for warming up the engine EG and heating the passenger compartment.
Heat is distributed in an appropriate amount.

As another example, the target water temperature T is
Air temperature t_a And room temperature t_r And target room temperature t _set T = g (t_a , T_r , T_set ) Can also be set.

In this case, the curve can be moved up and down as shown by arrow I in FIG. Specifically, for example, if too much time to drive the vehicle at a time like is operated again in less may have room temperature t _r is held somewhat warm state. In such a case, the heat generated by the regenerator 21 is displaced upward by the curve of the engine EG rather than the heating of the room.
That is, more is allocated to the warm-up.

As described above, in this embodiment,
In the early stage of engine startup, heat from the regenerator is supplied to both the engine and the heater core to promote warm-up of the engine, and when the temperature of the cooling water flowing in the engine rises to some extent, the heat of the regenerator is reduced. Since the heater is supplied only to the heater core to promote heating, it is possible to achieve both early warm-up of the engine and early heating of the vehicle compartment without increasing the size of the heat accumulator.

The present invention can be applied to a modification or a modification of the above embodiment without departing from the gist thereof.

[0047]

As described above, according to the vehicle heating system of the present invention, immediately after the start of the engine, the cooling water warmed by the regenerator is also supplied to the engine to promote the warm-up of the engine. After the cooling water temperature of the engine becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the cooling water heated by the regenerator is supplied only to the heater core to give priority to heating,
The engine warm-up and the cabin heating can both be achieved at a high level.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a circulation circuit of cooling water of a vehicle heating device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection state of a control device and a temperature sensor, a valve, a pump, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the vehicle heating device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the temperature of cooling water discharged from an engine and switching of a path through which cooling water flows.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between the temperature of cooling water discharged from an engine and switching of a path through which cooling water flows.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 cooling water passage 14 first valve 16 second valve 18 third valve 20 fourth valve 21 regenerator 22 heat insulating container 24 fifth valve 26 sixth valve 27, 34 water temperature sensor 28 auto switch 30 radiator 32 bypass passage 40 control device 42 Battery 44 Target temperature setting device

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takayuki Kuwahara 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture Inside Mazda Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-120120 (JP, A) JP-A-2-41918 ( JP, A) JP-A-61-257314 (JP, A) JP-A-58-41605 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60H 1/08 611

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A regenerator for storing heat of cooling water when the temperature of cooling water of an engine is high, a heater core for giving heat of the cooling water to air blown into a vehicle compartment to warm the air, and cooling water. A first circulation path for circulating the cooling water between the regenerator and the heater core; a second circulation path for circulating the cooling water between the regenerator, the heater core and the engine; Circulating in the first circulation path;
Switching means for switching between a state of circulating in the second circulation path and a state in which the cooling water temperature is low immediately after the start of the engine; and circulating the cooling water in the second circulation path. And a control means for controlling the switching means so that the cooling water is circulated in the first circulation path when the pressure is equal to or more than a predetermined value. 2. The vehicular heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is set based on a temperature outside the vehicle compartment. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is determined based on the temperature inside the vehicle compartment and the temperature outside
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature is set based on the temperature.
A heating device for a vehicle according to claim 1.