JP4251150B2 - Air conditioner for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner, and more particularly, to a vehicle air conditioner provided with a pre-air conditioning function that air-conditions a passenger compartment in advance before a passenger gets on the vehicle.

  The vehicle air conditioner normally has an inside air circulation mode in which air in the passenger compartment is circulated and air-conditioned, and an outside air introduction mode in which air outside the passenger compartment is introduced to air-condition. Further, as a method for reducing the cooling heat load, there has been proposed control for selecting the inside air circulation mode when the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment is high.

  However, the air temperature in the passenger compartment during parking in the hot summer may exceed 60 ° C due to the effects of solar radiation, and may reach an air temperature much higher than the outside air temperature outside the passenger compartment. Under the condition higher than the above temperature, by selecting the inside air circulation mode, the cooling heat load increases as compared with the case where the outside air introduction mode is selected.

Therefore, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the difference between the temperature in the vehicle interior and the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle interior is detected, and the outside air introduction mode is selected when the vehicle interior temperature exceeds the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle interior. It has been proposed to perform control so that the inside air circulation mode is selected when the room temperature falls below the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment.
JP 60-61330 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when pre-air conditioning is performed in which the vehicle interior is pre-conditioned prior to vehicle travel when the vehicle is stopped, the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle interior is detected when detecting the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle interior. There is a problem that the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment cannot be accurately detected because an air pool around the sensor to be detected (for example, preheating of the engine, motor, etc.) is not taken into consideration.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to accurately detect the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment to enable optimum pre-air conditioning.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an air conditioner capable of previously air-conditioning the passenger compartment before boarding, a passenger compartment temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of outside air outside the passenger compartment, and the passenger compartment temperature. Stirring means for stirring the outside air detected by the detecting means, vehicle interior temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the passenger compartment, computing means for calculating a target outlet temperature of the outlet from which the conditioned air is blown, and the vehicle exterior temperature detection A first value indicating an absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting a calculation result of the calculation means from a detection result of the means, and an absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting the calculation result of the calculation means from the detection result of the vehicle interior temperature detection means. When the first value is larger than the second value, an inside air circulation mode for circulating the air in the passenger compartment that is the air conditioning mode of the air conditioner is selected based on the comparison result with the second value shown. , The second value is the first If the value is greater than, and selection means for selecting the external air introduction mode for introducing the vehicle exterior air which is the air-conditioning mode, when pre-air conditioning the passenger compartment prior to boarding a predetermined time stirring of the outside air by the agitation means After controlling the agitation means to perform the control, the air conditioner is controlled to air-condition the vehicle interior based on the selected air-conditioning mode, the vehicle exterior temperature detection means , and the detection result of the vehicle interior temperature detection means And a control means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the air conditioner can pre-air-condition the vehicle interior before boarding, that is, can be pre-air-conditioned. For example, pre-air conditioning is started before boarding by instruction means such as a remote controller.

  The vehicle interior temperature detection means detects the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle interior, and the vehicle interior temperature detection means detects the temperature inside the vehicle interior.

  Further, in the agitating means, the outside air detected by the vehicle compartment outside temperature detecting means is agitated. For example, as the stirring means, a fan provided near the heat exchanger can be applied as in the invention described in claim 5. At this time, as the heat exchanger, for example, a heat source such as a radiator can be used. Heat exchangers such as exchangers and condensers of air conditioners can be applied.

Further, the calculating means calculates a target outlet temperature of the outlet from which the conditioned air is blown, and the selecting means is a first value indicating an absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting the calculation result of the calculating means from the detection result of the outside temperature detecting means. When the first value is greater than the second value based on a comparison result between the value and the second value indicating the absolute value of the value obtained by subtracting the calculation result of the calculation means from the detection result of the vehicle interior temperature detection means When the inside air circulation mode for circulating the air in the passenger compartment that is the air conditioning mode of the air conditioner is selected and the second value is larger than the first value, the outside air introduction that introduces the air outside the passenger compartment that is in the air conditioning mode A mode is selected.
Then, the control means controls the stirring means so that the outside air is stirred by the stirring means for a predetermined time when the vehicle interior is pre-air-conditioned before boarding, and then the selected air conditioning mode, the vehicle exterior temperature detection means , and The air conditioner is controlled to air-condition the vehicle interior based on the detection result of the vehicle interior temperature detection means.

That is, when pre-air-conditioning is performed, the vehicle is stopped, so there is an air pool that receives heat released from the vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle, and the temperature of outside air outside the vehicle compartment is accurately detected by the vehicle compartment outside temperature detection means. However, since the air pool can be eliminated by stirring the outside air by the stirring means, the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment can be accurately detected. As a result, optimal pre-air conditioning can be performed.
Further, the selection means selects the inside air circulation mode when the first value is greater than the second value, and selects the outside air introduction mode when the second value is greater than the first value. Since the means controls to air-condition in the selected air-conditioning mode, pre-air-conditioning can be performed by selecting a mode with a low air-conditioning load in consideration of air-conditioning by using the target outlet temperature as a parameter in this way. Therefore, pre-air conditioning can be performed more efficiently.

In addition, when the surroundings of the outside air introduction path are heated by solar radiation, the actual air temperature introduced into the vehicle interior may differ from the detection result of the outside air temperature detecting means. And a solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting the solar radiation amount and a correcting means for correcting the detection result of the vehicle interior temperature detecting means, wherein the selecting means and the control means are correcting means instead of the detection result of the vehicle exterior detecting means. thereby enabling optimal pre-air conditioning by Ru with the correction result.

  Note that the calculation means can calculate the target blowing temperature based on, for example, the amount of solar radiation, the temperature inside the vehicle interior, the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle interior, and a preset temperature for air conditioning the vehicle interior.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment can be accurately detected and optimal pre-air conditioning can be performed.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted on a vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a blower unit (a unit including a blower fan, a blower motor, an air conditioning duct and the like described later) 12, for example, an instrument panel. A blower unit 12 is mounted on the passenger seat side. In addition, the vehicle air conditioner has an inside air circulation mode that circulates and air-conditions the air in the passenger compartment, and an outside air introduction mode that introduces air outside the passenger compartment and air-conditions, and in the inside air circulation mode or the outside air introduction mode Air conditioning.

  The vehicle air conditioner introduces outside air into the vehicle interior from the cowl top portion C below the front windshield glass in the outside air introduction mode, and air in the vehicle compartment from under the passenger seat in the inside air circulation mode. It sucks in and circulates.

  A condenser 16 that functions as a heat exchanger for a vehicle air conditioner is mounted between the front bumper and the radiator support at the front end of the vehicle. An electric fan 27 and an outside air temperature sensor that detects the temperature outside the vehicle compartment are located near the condenser 16. 32 is provided. The electric fan 27 may be used for heat dissipation of the radiator through which the cooling water circulates, may be dedicated for heat dissipation of the capacitor 16, or may radiate both the radiator and the capacitor 16.

  In addition, an interior air temperature sensor 30 that detects the temperature inside the vehicle interior is provided in the vehicle interior, and a solar radiation sensor 28 that detects the amount of solar radiation is provided. The solar radiation sensor 28 is provided, for example, in the upper part of the instrument panel located on the lower side of the vehicle interior of the front windshield glass G (for example, near the defroster outlet that blows air to the front windshield glass).

  Next, the configuration of the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the vehicle air conditioner 10, a refrigerant cycle including a compressor 14, a condenser 16, an expansion valve 18, and an evaporator 20 constitutes a refrigeration cycle.

  The evaporator 20 cools the air passing through the evaporator 20 (hereinafter referred to as air after the evaporator) by vaporizing the compressed and liquefied refrigerant. At this time, the evaporator 20 cools the passing air so as to condense moisture in the air, thereby dehumidifying the air after the evaporator 20.

  The expansion valve 18 provided on the upstream side of the evaporator 20 supplies the liquefied refrigerant in a mist form to the evaporator by abruptly reducing the pressure, whereby the refrigerant in the evaporator 20 is supplied. Vaporization efficiency is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the compressor 14 of the vehicle air conditioner 10 is configured to apply an electric compressor so that the refrigerant can be circulated even when the vehicle power (for example, an engine or a motor) is not operated. Yes. When the vehicle power is operating, the compressor 14 may be driven by the vehicle power. Moreover, when using the motive power of a vehicle, you may make it apply not a motorized compressor but a mechanical compressor.

  The evaporator 20 of the vehicle air conditioner 10 is provided inside the air conditioning duct 38. The air conditioning duct 38 is open at both ends, and air intake ports 40 and 42 are formed at one opening end. Further, a plurality of air outlets 44 (44A, 44B, and 44C are shown as an example in the present embodiment) that are opened toward the vehicle interior are formed at the other opening end.

  The air inlet 42 communicates with the outside of the vehicle and can introduce outside air into the air conditioning duct 38. Further, the air intake port 40 communicates with the vehicle interior, and air (inside air) in the vehicle interior can be introduced into the air conditioning duct 38. Examples of the air outlet 44 include a defroster outlet that blows air toward the windshield glass, a side and center register outlet, and a foot outlet.

  A blower fan 46 is provided in the air conditioning duct 38 between the evaporator 20 and the air intake ports 40 and 42. A mode switching damper 48 is provided in the vicinity of the air intake ports 40 and 42. The mode switching damper 48 opens and closes the air intake ports 40 and 42 by the operation of an actuator such as the mode switching damper motor 24.

  The blower fan 46 is rotated by driving the blower motor 22, sucked into the air conditioning duct 38 from the air intake port 40 to the air intake port 42, and further sends this air toward the evaporator 20. At this time, outside air or inside air is introduced into the air conditioning duct 38 in accordance with the open / close state of the air intake ports 40 and 42 by the mode switching damper 48. That is, the mode switching damper 48 switches between the inside air circulation mode and the outside air introduction mode.

  An air mix damper 50 and a heater core 52 are provided downstream of the evaporator 20. The air mix damper 50 is rotated by driving the air mix damper motor 36 to adjust the amount of air after the evaporator 20 that passes through the heater core 52 and the amount that bypasses the heater core 52. The heater core 52 heats the air guided by the air mix damper 50.

  The air after the evaporator 20 is guided to the heater core 52 according to the opening degree of the air mix damper 50 and heated, and further mixed with the air not heated by the heater core 52 and then sent to the air outlet 44. Is done. In the vehicle air conditioner 10, the air mix damper 50 is controlled to adjust the amount of air heated by the heater core 52, thereby adjusting the temperature of the air blown out from the air blowing port 44 toward the vehicle interior.

  In the vicinity of the air outlet 44, an outlet switching damper 54 is provided. In the vehicle air conditioner 10, the air outlets 44 </ b> A, 44 </ b> B, and 44 </ b> C are opened and closed by the outlet switching damper 54, so that the temperature-adjusted air can be blown from a desired position into the vehicle interior. The operation of the outlet switching damper 54 may be performed by driving the outlet switching damper motor 34 in accordance with the operation mode in which the vehicle air conditioner 10 is set. The air blowing port 44 may be opened and closed.

  The vehicle air conditioner 10 includes an air conditioner ECU 11 for performing various controls of the vehicle air conditioner 10. The air conditioner ECU 11 includes a blower motor 22, a mode switching damper motor 24, an air mix damper motor 36, an outlet switching damper motor 34, a compressor 14, an electric fan motor 26, an outside air temperature sensor 32, and an inside air temperature sensor 30. And the solar radiation sensor 28 are connected, and an operation unit 15 for setting the temperature of the air conditioner 10 for the vehicle, selection of the outlet, etc. is connected, and an outside air temperature sensor 32, an inside air temperature sensor 30, and The detection value of the solar radiation sensor 28 is input to the air conditioner ECU 11, and various controls according to the setting of the operation unit 15 and the like are performed based on the detection value of each sensor.

  Specifically, the air conditioner ECU 11 has a pre-air conditioning function for pre-air conditioning before boarding, and uses power of a battery mounted on the vehicle or power for running the vehicle such as an engine and a motor during pre-air conditioning. It is possible to start and drive the compressor 14 and various motors. When pre-air conditioning is performed, switching control between the inside air circulation mode and the outside air introduction mode is performed based on the detection result of each sensor.

  Further, when the area around the cowl top, which is the outside air introduction path, is heated by solar radiation, the actual air temperature introduced into the passenger compartment differs from the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor 32. A correction map for correcting 32 detection results is stored. As the correction map, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a map that corrects the temperature affected by solar radiation to increase as the amount of solar radiation increases is stored, and the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor 32 depends on the solar radiation amount. The outside temperature is corrected by adding the influence temperature.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 10 configured as described above according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of processing performed by the air conditioner ECU 11 when pre-air conditioning is instructed in the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Note that the pre-air-conditioning instruction is given by, for example, a remote controller carried by the passenger.

  That is, when pre-air conditioning is instructed by a remote controller or the like, in step 100, the electric fan 27 is driven, the process proceeds to step 102, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 100 and the driving of the electric fan 27 is continued. When the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 104. That is, when the pre-air conditioning is instructed, first, the electric fan 27 is driven for a predetermined time. By detecting the temperature while the fan is driven, an air pool around the outside air temperature sensor 32 arranged in the vicinity of the electric fan 27 is eliminated, and the temperature detection by the outside air temperature sensor 32 can be accurately performed.

  In step 104, the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle compartment and the temperature inside the vehicle compartment detected by the inside air temperature sensor 30 and the outside air temperature sensor 32 are acquired from each sensor by the air conditioner ECU 11. The vehicle interior temperature detected by the internal air temperature sensor 30 may be detected and acquired before or while the electric fan 27 is driven.

Next, at step 106, the detection value of the outside air temperature sensor 32 is corrected. That is, the amount of solar radiation is acquired from the solar radiation sensor 28, and the detection value detected by the outside air temperature sensor 32 is corrected based on the correction map stored in the air conditioner ECU 11. For example, in the present embodiment, seeking influence temperature from the correction map (temperature increase due to solar radiation), the correction of the exterior of the outside air temperature by adding the test detection value of the outside air temperature obtained from the outside air temperature sensor 32 I do.

  In step 108, the vehicle interior temperature is compared with the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle interior. In the comparison, when only cooling is considered, the detected value of the inside air temperature sensor 30 is simply compared with the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment corrected in step 106. When air conditioning is considered, the absolute value obtained by subtracting the target blowing temperature TAO, which is the control variable of the vehicle air conditioner 10, from the detected value of the inside air temperature sensor 30, and the outside air outside the passenger compartment corrected in step 106 are calculated. The absolute value obtained by subtracting the target blowing temperature TAO from the temperature is compared. Here, when the target blowing temperature TAO is used as a parameter, the target blowing temperature TAO is used as a parameter, so that a mode with a low air-conditioning load can be accurately selected in subsequent processing, and the vehicle can be more efficiently used. The room can be air-conditioned. The target blowing temperature TAO is generally expressed by the following equation from the set temperature TSET, the vehicle interior temperature TR, the outside air temperature TAM outside the vehicle interior, and the solar radiation amount TS.

TAO = k1, TSET-k2, TR-k3, TAM-k4, TS + C
(Where k1, k2, k3, k4, and C are preset constants)
Subsequently, in step 110, it is determined whether or not the comparison result is higher in the passenger compartment temperature (absolute value obtained by subtracting the target outlet temperature TAO from the detected value of the internal air temperature sensor 30). The process proceeds to step 112. If the result is negative, the process proceeds to step 114.

  In step 112, the mode switching damper motor 24 is driven so as to be in the outside air introduction mode, the outside air introduction mode is selected, and the routine proceeds to step 116.

  On the other hand, in step 114, the mode switching damper motor 24 is driven so as to enter the inside air circulation mode, the inside air circulation mode is selected, and the routine proceeds to step 116.

  In step 116, a pre-air conditioning start process is performed and a series of processes is terminated. That is, when dehumidification is instructed by the operation unit 15 (when the air conditioner switch is on), the compressor 14 is driven and the air mix damper 50 is driven so that the temperature preset in the operation unit 15 is reached. When the blower motor 22 is driven, air conditioning of the vehicle interior is started, and when dehumidification is not instructed, the air mix damper 50 is driven to reach a temperature preset in the operation unit 15 and the blower motor 22 is driven. The air conditioning in the passenger compartment is started by driving.

  As described above, the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. After the air pool is removed, the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle compartment is measured by the outside air temperature sensor 32 and the pre-air conditioning is started. Therefore, the outside air temperature outside the vehicle compartment can be accurately measured by the outside air temperature sensor 32. it can. And since the inside air circulation mode and the outside air circulation mode are switched using the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment that has been accurately measured, optimal pre-air conditioning can be implemented.

  Further, since the detection value of the outside air temperature sensor 32 is corrected, the air conditioning of the vehicle interior can be performed in consideration of the air temperature actually introduced into the vehicle interior, and the air conditioning of the vehicle interior can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, in said embodiment, it can apply to various vehicles, such as an engine vehicle, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, as a vehicle.

  Further, in the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the temperature of the outside air outside the vehicle compartment is measured by the outside air temperature sensor 32 during the driving (second half) of the electric fan 27. However, the present invention is not limited to this. After removing the air pool by driving the electric fan 27, the outside air temperature sensor 32 may measure the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment. Immediately after the driving is finished, the temperature of the outside air outside the passenger compartment by the outside air temperature sensor 32 may be measured.

It is a figure which shows an example mounted in the vehicle of the vehicle air conditioner concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the vehicle air conditioner concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows an example of the correction map for correcting the detected value detected by the outside air temperature sensor. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of processing performed by an air conditioner ECU when pre-air conditioning is instructed in the vehicle air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the timing which drives the electric fan at the time of performing pre air conditioning.

Explanation of symbols

10 Vehicle Air Conditioner 11 Air Conditioner ECU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Blower unit 14 Compressor 15 Operation part 16 Capacitor 18 Expansion valve 20 Evaporator 22 Blower motor 24 Mode change damper motor 26 Electric fan motor 27 Electric fan 28 Solar radiation sensor 30 Inside temperature sensor 32 Outside temperature sensor 36 Air mix damper motor 38 Air conditioning Duct 40, 42 Air intake 48 Mode switching damper 50 Air mix damper 52 Heater core

Claims (3)

An air conditioner that can pre-condition the passenger compartment before boarding,
Vehicle exterior temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of outside air outside the vehicle compartment;
Agitation means for agitating outside air detected by the vehicle compartment outside temperature detection means;
Vehicle interior temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the vehicle interior;
Calculation means for calculating a target outlet temperature of the outlet that blows out the conditioned air;
The first value indicating the absolute value of the value obtained by subtracting the calculation result of the calculation means from the detection result of the vehicle interior temperature detection means and the calculation result of the calculation means are subtracted from the detection result of the vehicle interior temperature detection means. Based on the comparison result with the second value indicating the absolute value of the value, when the first value is larger than the second value, the inside air that circulates the air in the passenger compartment that is the air conditioning mode of the air conditioner A selecting means for selecting a circulation mode and selecting an outside air introduction mode for introducing air outside the vehicle compartment, which is the air conditioning mode, when the second value is larger than the first value;
When the vehicle interior is air-conditioned in advance before boarding, after the agitation means is controlled so that the outside air is agitated for a predetermined time, the selected air conditioning mode, the outside temperature detection means , and the vehicle Control means for controlling the air conditioner so as to air-condition the vehicle interior based on the detection result of the indoor temperature detection means;
A vehicle air conditioner comprising A solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting a solar radiation amount; and a correcting means for correcting a detection result of the vehicle exterior detection means based on a detection result of the solar radiation amount detecting means, wherein the selection means and the control means are The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the correction result of the correction unit is used instead of the detection result of the vehicle exterior detection unit . The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stirring means is a fan provided in the vicinity of a heat exchanger .

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