JP5252744B2 - Heating unit for vehicle heating system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a heating unit of a vehicle heating device, more specifically, a microwave absorption heating element that generates heat by absorbing microwaves in a vehicle air conditioning unit or a vehicle air duct, and heats the air blown with low power consumption. It relates to a heating unit.

In recent years, various types of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles have been developed and proposed in order to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 gas emissions. Since these vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, travel by driving an electric motor with electric power of a battery (battery) mounted, there is a problem that power consumption is large and a cruising distance is shortened. For this reason, the cruising distance can be lengthened by increasing the battery capacity to be mounted, but with this, the vehicle weight increases and the power consumption efficiency becomes shorter as the travelable distance (cruising distance) becomes shorter. Has the problem of increasing frequency.

In addition, such hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are equipped with a vehicle air conditioner for ensuring comfort in addition to electrical equipment for ensuring safety during traveling and traveling. In order to secure the possible distance, it is necessary to minimize the power consumed by the vehicle air conditioner. As a technique for reducing power consumption of a vehicle air conditioner, for example, a vehicle air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed.

The vehicle air conditioner shown in Patent Document 1 uses a PTC heater (Positive Temperature Coefficient) in which a large number of PTC thermistors are arranged as a heating member provided in the vehicle air conditioning unit, and can supply surplus power of the vehicle that can be supplied to the PTC heater. The surplus power acquisition means for obtaining the power consumption and the power consumption acquisition means for obtaining the power consumption of the PTC heater that changes according to the temperature of the PTC thermistor are provided. The surplus power obtained by the surplus power acquisition means and the power consumption obtained by the power consumption acquisition means The power consumption during heating is reduced by controlling the PTC thermistor based on the above.

The PTC heater has a characteristic that the power consumption decreases as the temperature rises. However, the power consumption still remains under conditions where the temperature in the vehicle does not rise, such as when the vehicle is cold or at the start of traveling. Have many problems. In particular, in an electric vehicle, since all of the driving energy of the vehicle depends on the battery, when the power consumption of the vehicle air conditioner increases, there is a problem that the driving distance and the charging cycle of the vehicle are shortened. Yes.

Further, since the PTC heater itself does not have a heat storage function, when the vehicle power switch is turned off, the temperature drops in a short time. Therefore, when the vehicle power switch is turned on again, the indoor temperature is desired. It takes a long time to heat up to the temperature and requires a lot of power consumption.

Furthermore, especially in a hybrid vehicle, the engine coolant is circulated through the heater core for heating. However, under conditions where the coolant temperature at the start of operation is lowered, the coolant temperature rises. In order to promote this, the damper reaching the heater core is closed and the cooling water is controlled to rise in a short time. Therefore, it takes time for the cooling water to rise to a predetermined temperature, which impairs driver comfort.

JP 2008-13115 A

  The problem to be solved is that a large amount of power is required for air conditioning of the vehicle, particularly heating, shortening the travelable distance of the vehicle and shortening the charging cycle.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle heating apparatus that is provided in the air flow path of at least one of the inside air and the outside air blown into the vehicle and heats the air, the inside of the air flow path A housing made of a metal material that has a hollow portion through which blast air can be circulated, blast air can flow in and out through openings on the upper and lower sides of the blast direction, and electromagnetically shield microwaves; A carrier provided in the hollow part of the housing, and a plurality of hollow parts arranged at appropriate intervals with respect to the carrier, with both ends opened on the upper side and the lower side in the blowing direction of the carrier And a microwave output means for outputting a microwave toward each microwave absorption heating element, and the blown air passes through the hollow portion of the microwave absorption heating element. Flow from the upper side to the lower side When, the most important feature heating the blown air by heat generation due to absorption of the microwave by the microwave absorbing heat generating element.

  The present invention can reduce the power consumption of the vehicle heating device to increase the travelable distance of the vehicle and to increase the charging cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of an air conditioning unit of a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment. It is a section explanatory view of a heating unit. It is a partially broken explanatory view of a heater core. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a heating action according to Example 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view illustrating a partially broken heating unit according to a second embodiment. It is a partially broken explanatory view of a heater core. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a heating action according to Example 2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating a partially broken heating unit according to a third embodiment. It is a partially broken explanatory view of a heater core. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a heating action according to Example 3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view illustrating a partially broken heating unit according to a fourth embodiment. It is a partially broken explanatory view of a heater core. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a change of Example 3 and 4. FIG.

  The present invention heats the blown air that is circulated by the microwave-absorbing heating element that generates heat as the microwave is absorbed when at least one of the inside air and the outside air circulates in the hollow portion of the microwave-absorbing heating element. This is the best embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment in which the vehicle heating device according to the present invention is arranged in an air conditioning unit.

  1 to 3 show an example of a vehicle air conditioner for a hybrid vehicle. An air conditioner unit 1 constituting the vehicle air conditioner is disposed below an instrument panel in the vehicle and rotates a blower fan (not shown). Thus, at least one of the inside air and outside air sucked in via the inside / outside air switching door (including mixed air of inside air and outside air) is blown into the air conditioning unit 1 through the air intake 3. After the air blown to the air conditioning unit 1 passes through the evaporator 5 and is cooled, the air passes through or bypasses the heating unit 7 of the vehicle heating device at a rate corresponding to the opening degree of the air mix door. Generated in the wind. The conditioned air flows out of the air conditioning unit 1 through an outlet door that opens and closes according to the blowing mode, and is blown into the vehicle through the duct.

In addition, the code | symbol 9 in a figure is the vent port for ventilating from a vent blower outlet toward a passenger | crew at the time of vent mode, 11 is a differential port for ventilating toward the inside of a window from a differential blower outlet at the time of a defrost mode, Reference numeral 13 denotes a foot port for sending air from the foot outlet toward the feet of the occupant in the foot mode. Moreover, although the door which opens and closes ventilation is each provided in the air-conditioning unit 1 which reaches each said opening 9,11,13, illustration is abbreviate | omitted.

The casing 15 of the heating unit 7 of the vehicle heating device has a cylindrical or rectangular tube shape that is open at both ends in the air blowing direction, and is formed of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum that reflects microwaves to be described later. And the heater core 17 is arrange | positioned in the ventilation direction intermediate part in this housing | casing 15 so as to be orthogonal to a ventilation direction. The heater core 17 is adjacent to each other by a carrier 21 in which a cooling water channel 19 is formed in a folded shape so that the cooling water can flow, and an inner wall of the carrier 21 and a partition wall 19 a of the cooling water channel 19. As described above, a pipe-shaped microwave-absorbing heating element having a hollow portion 23a having an axial line in the blowing direction and having both ends in the axial direction opened on the upper and lower surfaces of the carrier 21 in the blowing direction. 23.

In the heater core 17, engine cooling water circulates through the cooling water passage 19, and is heated by a heating action of a microwave absorption heating element 23 (to be described later) and is cooled when the engine is cold or started. When the temperature of the water rises, the blown air that circulates by heating the microwave absorption heating element 23 is heated. Moreover, the code | symbol 17a in a figure is an inlet for cooling water, and 17b is an outlet.

The carrier 21 is made of, for example, a magnetically permeable ceramic that transmits microwaves in a microwave band (2 to 10 GHz), a heat-resistant synthetic resin, or the like. The microwave absorption heating element 23 is formed of an electromagnetic wave absorbing material having a microwave absorption characteristic, such as ferrite, permalloy, and oxidized slag. Since the microwave absorption heating element 23 is a sintered material similar to the carrier 21, it can be manufactured by forming and firing these in an integrated state.

In the case where the electromagnetic wave absorbing material of the microwave absorption heating element 23 is oxidized slag, it can be obtained by mixing oxidized slag powder with ceramics and firing.

A microwave oscillation device 25 that constitutes a part of the microwave output means is attached to the outside of the casing 15. In addition, an antenna member 27 constituting a part of the microwave output means connected to the microwave oscillator 25 is attached inside the housing 15 corresponding to the upper side of the heater core 17 in the blowing direction. The microwaves oscillated from are output to the respective microwave absorption heating elements 23.

The microwave oscillating device 25 is configured by a semiconductor microwave oscillator including a laser diode and a multistage amplifier that outputs a microwave in a microwave band (2 to 10 GHz) at, for example, 50 to 100 W. As the microwave, for example, the 2.45 GHz band assigned to industrial, scientific, medical, and other uses according to the Radio Law is suitable, but is not limited to the above frequency and output. As a microwave oscillation member, a magnetron is generally known. However, in a case where it is mounted on a vehicle as in the present embodiment, there is a high possibility that the vacuum tube is damaged due to vibration or heat. A wave oscillator is suitable.

A micro having a large number of openings 29a and 31a each having a size smaller than ¼λ of the microwave transmitted from the microwave oscillation device 25 at the upper end and the lower opening in the blowing direction of the casing 15. Wave shield members 29 and 31 are attached so as to cover the entire opening. The microwave shield members 29 and 31 are made of, for example, a structure in which a large number of openings 29a and 31a are punched on a metal plate such as stainless steel or aluminum, or a conductive material obtained by coating a metal fiber or a synthetic resin thread with a conductive resin. Any of the above-described net structure knitted so as to have a large number of openings 29a, 31a, the conductive resin sheet (plate) formed so as to have the large number of openings 29a, 31a described above with a conductive resin, etc. may be used. .

The microwave oscillator 25 is ON / OFF controlled by the temperature of air detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) provided near each outlet or on the lower side in the blowing direction of the heating unit 7. Control is performed to deliver air at a preset temperature. The casing 15 and the microwave shield members 29 and 31 are electrically grounded.

Next, the heating effect | action of the ventilation air by the heating unit 7 of the vehicle heating device comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
When the starter is turned on and the engine is started when it is cold or when the engine starts, the blower fan is driven to rotate in the air conditioning unit 1 when the operation switch of the vehicle air conditioner is turned on. The blown air passes through the microwave absorption heating element 23 of the heater core 17 in the evaporator 5 and the heating unit 7 and blows air, and the microwave oscillation device 25 is turned on to turn each microwave absorption heating element from the antenna member 27. A microwave is output toward 23. Note that the temperature of the microwave absorption heating element 23 may be shortened by restricting the rotational drive of the blower fan until the microwave absorption heating element 23 is heated to a predetermined temperature.

At this time, the microwave absorption heating element 23 generates heat by converting the microwave transmitted through the carrier 21 or directly output microwave into thermal energy by its magnetic field loss and electric field loss, and generates heat inside the hollow portion 23a. The air blown through is heated. (See Figure 4)

Note that most of the microwave output from the antenna member 27 into the housing 15 is absorbed by the microwave absorption heating element 23 while being reflected inside the housing 15 and converted into thermal energy. A part of the wave is reflected so as to be directed toward the opening, but the microwave cannot pass through the openings 29a and 31a of the respective microwave shield members 29 and 31 provided in the openings. Leakage to is regulated. This prevents microwave interference with electronic equipment mounted on the vehicle. Moreover, the microwave absorption heat generating body 23 which heat | fever-generated not only heats ventilation air but heats the cooling water which distribute | circulates the cooling water flow path 19 with a part of thermal energy.

When the temperature of the cooling water rises to a temperature at which the blowing air can be heated, or when the blowing air heated by the heating unit 7 and blown into the vehicle compartment is heated to a preset temperature, the microwave The oscillation device 25 is turned off to stop heating the blown air by the heating unit 7. On the other hand, when the temperature of the blown air to be blown becomes equal to or lower than the set temperature, the microwave oscillating device 25 is turned on again to heat the blown air by the heating unit 7.

Table 1 shows the temperature rise of the microwave absorption heating element 23 caused by the microwave output from the microwave oscillator 25. In this example, the output of the microwave oscillation device is 100 W, and the wavelength of the microwave is 2.45 GHz.

  As described above, the blown air flowing through the hollow portion 23a of the microwave absorption heating element 23 was heated to 75 ° C. in about 1 minute by the microwave absorption heating element 23 that generates heat by the microwave.

  The present embodiment is necessary for heating because the blowing air can be heated to a desired temperature by using the microwave absorption heating element 23 that absorbs low-power microwaves and generates heat as means for heating the blowing air. Power consumption can be reduced.

5 and 6 show an example of a vehicle air conditioner suitable for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle equipped with an air-cooled engine, and the other configuration is only in that the heater core 53 of the heating unit 51 is configured as follows. Since is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The heater core 53 is disposed on the housing 15 of the heating unit 51 so as to be orthogonal to the air blowing direction in the air blowing direction intermediate portion. The support body 55 of the heater core 53 is made of a magnetically permeable ceramic, a heat-resistant synthetic resin material, or the like, and has a plate shape that can close the space of the housing 15. The carrier 55 is provided with a number of microwave absorption heating elements 57 each having an axis in the blowing direction and having a hollow portion 57a in the center at predetermined intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions. The microwave absorbing heating element 57 is an electromagnetic wave absorbing member such as ferrite or permalloy, and is formed in a pipe shape.

In addition, although the microwave absorption heat generating body 57 to show in figure was set as the structure where the axial direction end corresponded to the ventilation direction upper surface and lower surface of the support body 55, each end part of an axial direction is each each of support body 55 It is good also as a structure which protrudes from a surface.

Next, the air heating action by the heating unit 53 of the vehicle heating apparatus configured as described above will be described.
When the engine is started by turning on the starter during cold weather or when starting the engine, the blower fan is driven to rotate in the air conditioning unit 50 when the operation switch of the vehicle air conditioner is turned on. The blown air is blown so as to pass through the microwave absorption heating element 57 of the heater core 53 in the evaporator 5 and the heating unit 51, and the microwave oscillation device 25 is turned on to operate each micro wave from the antenna member 27. A microwave is output toward the wave absorption heating element 57.

At this time, the microwave absorption heating element 57 generates heat by absorbing the output microwave by converting the heat energy by the magnetic field loss and the electric field loss, and heats the blown air flowing through the hollow portion 57a. (See Figure 7)

When the blown air heated by the heating unit 51 and blown into the vehicle interior is heated to a preset temperature, the microwave oscillation device 25 is controlled to be OFF based on a signal from the temperature sensor. While the heating of the blown air by the heating unit 51 is stopped, on the contrary, when the temperature of the blown air to be blown becomes equal to or lower than the set temperature, the microwave oscillation device 25 is turned on again and blown by the heating unit 51. Allow the air to warm.

In the description of the first and second embodiments, the heating unit is accommodated in the air conditioning unit. However, the mounting position of the heating unit in the present invention is not limited to this, and blown air is blown into the vehicle. The structure provided in a part of ventilation duct to perform may be sufficient.

In the above description, the carrier bodies 21 and 55 have been described as magnetically permeable ceramic materials or heat-resistant synthetic resin materials. However, the carrier body of the present invention may be a stainless steel material, an aluminum material, or a plate-like metal material. Good. When the carrier is made of a metal plate, the carrier is provided with a mounting hole into which each microwave absorption heating element is inserted, and the end of each microwave absorption heating element is fixed. Most of it protrudes toward the microwave output means.

Thereby, the microwave absorption heating element absorbs the microwave output directly and the microwave reflected by the housing or the carrier, generates heat, and heats the blown air flowing through the hollow portion.

In addition, when attaching the microwave absorption heating element to the metal carrier so that each end protrudes toward the upper side and the lower side in the blowing direction, that is, to the attachment hole of the carrier, It is good also as a structure attached so that the axial direction intermediate part of an absorption heat generating body may be inserted and each edge part may protrude to the upper side and lower side of a ventilation direction. In this case, microwave output means are provided on both the upper and lower sides of the carrying body in the blowing direction, and microwaves are absorbed by the microwave-absorbing heating elements protruding to the respective sides to circulate in the hollow part. What is necessary is just to heat the air to blow.

Although the heating unit described above has been described mainly as being used in a heating device for hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, even in vehicles equipped with other engines, the heater core blows with engine coolant as a heat source. The heating unit according to the present invention is arranged on the upper side or the lower side in the direction, and can also be used as an auxiliary heating unit that heats the blown air until the cooling water temperature rises.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the heating unit 81 of the vehicle heating device is mounted in the air conditioning unit 1 that constitutes the vehicle air conditioning device in the same manner as in the first embodiment. It is formed in a cylindrical or rectangular tube shape having both ends opened in the direction, and is made of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum that reflects microwaves to be described later.

A heater core 85 is disposed in the middle of the blowing direction in the housing 83 so as to be orthogonal to the blowing direction. The heater core 85 has a structure in which engine cooling water circulates in a core case 87 having a large opening on the upper side and lower side in the air blowing direction, and a metal thin tube 89 is provided in a folded shape on a heat radiating plate 89a on the outer periphery. In the figure, reference numeral 91 is a supply port for introducing engine cooling water into the metal thin tube 89, and 93 is a discharge port for discharging engine cooling water flowing through the metal thin tube 89. is there. The heater core 85 may have a conventionally known structure.

At the left and right end portions and the center portion of the core case 87 shown in the figure, for example, a microwave absorption heating element 95 having excellent microwave absorption efficiency in the microwave band (2 to 10 GHz) is a metal thin tube at a corresponding position in the core case 87. It attaches so that it may contact directly with respect to the surface of 89 and the heat sink 89a. The microwave absorption heating element 95 is formed of an electromagnetic wave absorbing material having a microwave absorption characteristic, such as ferrite, permalloy, and oxidized slag. When the electromagnetic wave absorbing material of the microwave absorption heating element 95 is oxidized slag, it can be obtained by mixing fine powder of oxidized slag with ceramics and firing.

In order to increase the heat transfer efficiency by ensuring the contact of the microwave absorption heating element 95 with the metal thin tube 89 and the heat radiating plate 89a, there is a method in which a heat transfer material 96 such as a heat transfer cement is interposed between the two. Is suitable. The heat transfer material 96 is an adhesive (cement) mainly composed of inorganic materials such as fine powder carbon particles, fine powder ceramic particles, and sodium silicate, and has high thermal conductivity and can be used up to a high temperature. . Further, a metal fiber non-woven fabric is used as a heat transfer material, and a metal fiber non-woven fabric is interposed between the metal thin tube 89 and the heat radiating plate 89a and the microwave absorption heating element 95, and the heat from the microwave absorption heating element 95 is transferred to the metal thin tube 89. In addition, it may be possible to conduct efficiently to the heat sink 89a.

A microwave oscillation device 97 constituting a part of the microwave output means is attached to the outside of the housing 83. An antenna member 99 constituting a part of the microwave output means connected to the microwave oscillating device 97 is attached in the housing 83 corresponding to the upper side and the lower side of the heater core 85 in the blowing direction. The microwave oscillated from the device 97 is output into the housing 83 to enable microwave absorption by the microwave absorption heating element 95.

As the microwave oscillator 97, a semiconductor microwave oscillator composed of a laser diode and a multistage amplifier that outputs microwaves in a microwave band (2 to 10 GHz) at, for example, 50 to 100 W is suitable. As the microwave, for example, the 2.45 GHz band assigned to industrial, scientific, medical, and other uses according to the Radio Law is suitable, but is not limited to the above frequency and output. As a microwave oscillation member, a magnetron is generally known. However, in a case where the magnetron is used in a vehicle such as the present embodiment, there is a high possibility that the magnetron is damaged by vibration or heat. A wave oscillator is suitable.

The opening 83 on the upper side and the lower side in the blowing direction of the housing 83 has a large number of openings 101a and 103a having a size smaller than a quarter wavelength of the microwave oscillated from the microwave oscillator 97. The microwave shield members 101 and 103 are attached so as to cover the entire opening. The microwave shield members 101 and 103 are made of, for example, a structure in which a large number of openings 101a and 103a are punched on a metal plate such as stainless steel or aluminum, or a conductive material obtained by coating a metal fiber or a synthetic resin yarn with a conductive resin. Any of the mesh structure knitted so as to have a large number of openings 101a and 103a, or a conductive resin sheet (plate) formed so as to have the large numbers of openings 101a and 103a with a conductive resin may be used. .

The microwave oscillator 97 is ON-OFF controlled by the temperature of air detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) provided near each outlet or on the lower side of the heating unit 81 in the air blowing direction. Control is performed so that the air to be delivered reaches a preset desired temperature. The casing 83 and the microwave shield members 101 and 103 are electrically grounded.

Next, the heating effect | action of the ventilation air by the heating unit 81 of the vehicle heating device comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
When the engine is started by turning on the starter during cold weather or at the start of engine startup, air is blown by a blower fan (not shown) that is rotationally driven when the operation switch of the vehicle air conditioner is turned on. Air is allowed to pass through the heater core 85 of the heating unit 81 in the air conditioning unit 1, and the microwave oscillated by the microwave oscillation device 97 that is turned on is output from the antenna member 99 into the housing 83.

At this time, the microwave absorption heating element 95 fixed to a part of the heater core 85 generates heat by the microwave absorption action for converting the output microwave into thermal energy by the magnetic field loss and the electric field loss, and the metal thin tube. The engine cooling water flowing through the metal thin tube 89 is heated by heating the 89 and the heat radiating plate 89a. (See Figure 10)

Note that most of the microwave output from the antenna member 99 into the housing 83 is absorbed by the microwave absorption heating element 95 while being reflected inside the housing 83 and converted into thermal energy. Although it is output to the opening side or reflected, the microwaves directed toward the opening side cannot pass through the openings 101a and 103a of the microwave shield members 101 and 103 provided in the openings, and the casing Since it is reflected so that it may go into 83, the leakage to the exterior of the housing 83 is controlled. This prevents microwave interference with electronic equipment mounted on the vehicle.

As a result, the engine coolant flowing through the metal thin tube 89 is heated, and the blown air passing between the metal thin tube 89 and the heat radiating plate 85a is heated by the heat energy radiated from the metal thin tube 89 and the heat radiating plate 85a.

When the blown air is heated to a predetermined temperature set in advance, the microwave oscillating device 97 is turned off to interrupt the heating of the engine coolant by the microwave absorption heating element 95. On the other hand, when the temperature of the blown air to be blown becomes equal to or lower than the set temperature, the microwave oscillation device 97 is turned ON again to heat the engine cooling water by the microwave absorption heating element 95. Raise the temperature of the blown air.

Table 2 shows the temperature rise of the blown air by the microwave absorption heating element 95 due to the microwave output from the microwave oscillator 97. In this example, the output of the microwave oscillator is 100 W, the wavelength of the microwave is 2.45 GHz, the measurement point of the air temperature is 100 mm from the heater core surface, the air flow rate is 2.7 square meters / second, the heat medium is water + ethylene Glycol.

  In this embodiment, a microwave absorption heating element 95 is attached to a conventionally known heater core 85, and the microwave is output to the microwave absorption heating element 95 so that the engine cooling water circulating in the metal thin tube 89 can be supplied in a short time. Heating can raise the temperature of the blown air. In addition, it is possible to raise the temperature of the blown air in a short time with less power consumption than that of a conventional PTC heater, and to ensure driver comfort.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the heating unit 111 of the vehicle heating device is mounted in the air conditioning unit 1 constituting the vehicle air conditioning device in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and is provided in the housing 113 of the heating unit 111. The heater core 115 has a structure in which a thin metal tube 119 is attached in an endless manner to a heat radiating plate 119a disposed in a core case 117 having a large opening on the upper side and lower side in the blowing direction. The metal thin tube 119 is filled with a heat medium having a high heat capacity such as an antifreeze liquid or non-combustible oil. The heat medium enclosed in the metal thin tube 119 may be circulated in the tube by natural convection, but a circulation pump as a circulation member is connected to the return pipe 121 connected between the inlet and the outlet of the metal thin tube 119. A configuration in which the heat medium is forcibly circulated in the metal thin tube 119 is suitable. Reference numeral 124 denotes a heat medium injection port for injecting a heat medium into the heater core 115.

At the left and right end portions and the center portion of the core case 117 shown in the figure, for example, a microwave absorption heating element 125 excellent in electromagnetic wave absorption efficiency in a microwave band (2 to 10 GHz) is provided in a metal thin tube 119 corresponding to the core case 117. And it attaches so that it may contact directly with respect to the heat sink 119a. The microwave absorption heating element 125 is formed of an electromagnetic wave absorbing material having a microwave absorption characteristic, such as ferrite, permalloy, and oxidized slag. In the case where the electromagnetic wave absorbing material of the microwave absorption heating element 125 is made of oxidized slag, it is obtained by mixing fine powder of oxidized slag with ceramics and firing.

In order to increase the heat transfer efficiency by ensuring the contact of the microwave absorption heating element 125 with the metal thin tube 119 and the heat radiating plate 119a, a method in which a heat transfer material 127 such as a heat transfer cement is interposed between the two is suitable. ing. The heat transfer material 127 is an adhesive (cement) mainly composed of an inorganic material such as fine powder carbon particles, fine powder ceramic particles, and sodium silicate, and has high thermal conductivity and can be used up to a high temperature. .

In addition, a metal fiber nonwoven fabric is used as the heat transfer material 127, and the metal fiber nonwoven fabric is interposed between the metal thin tubes 119 and the heat radiating plate 119a and the microwave absorption heating element 125, and the heat from the microwave absorption heating element 125 is converted into metal. You may enable it to conduct efficiently to the thin tube 119 and the heat sink 119a. In addition, about the same member as Example 3, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

Next, the heating effect | action of the ventilation air by the heating unit 111 of the vehicle heating device comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
When the operation switch of the vehicle air conditioner is turned on, blown air is passed through the heater core 115 of the heating unit 111 in the air conditioning unit 1 by a blower fan (not shown) that is driven to rotate. At this time, the microwave oscillated by the microwave oscillation device 97 that is turned on is output from the antenna member 99 into the housing 113.
If the temperature of the blown air is low, the microwave oscillation drive by the microwave oscillator 97 is continued, while the blower fan drive is interrupted until the blown air rises to the required temperature. You may promote a temperature rise.

At this time, the microwave absorption heating element 125 fixed to a part of the heater core 115 generates heat by the microwave absorption action that converts the output microwave into thermal energy by the magnetic field loss and the electric field loss, and the metal thin tube 119 and the heat radiating plate 119a are heated, and the heat medium filled in the metal thin tube 119 is heated. (The operation of the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the operation of the fourth embodiment, so see FIG. 12)

Note that most of the microwave output from the antenna member 99 into the housing 113 is absorbed by the microwave absorption heating element 125 while being reflected inside the housing 113 and converted into thermal energy. Although it is output to the opening side or reflected, the microwaves directed toward the opening side cannot pass through the openings 101a and 103a of the microwave shield members 101 and 103 provided in the openings, and the casing Since it reflects so that it may go into 113, it leaks out of the housing 113 outside. This prevents microwave interference with electronic equipment mounted on the vehicle.

As a result, the heat medium that naturally convects or forcibly convections inside the metal thin tube 119 is heated, and the blown air passing between the metal thin tube 119 and the heat radiating plate 119a is heated by the heat energy radiated from the metal thin tube 119 and the heat radiating plate 119a. Let it heat.

When the blown air is heated to a predetermined temperature set in advance, the microwave oscillating device 97 is turned off to interrupt the heating of the heat medium by the microwave absorption heating element 125. On the other hand, when the temperature of the blown air to be blown becomes equal to or lower than the above set temperature, the microwave oscillation device 97 is turned on again to heat the heat medium by the microwave absorption heating element 125 and blow the air. Raise the temperature of the air.

Table 3 shows the temperature rise of the blown air by the microwave absorption heating element 125 due to the microwave output from the microwave oscillator 97. In this example, the output of the microwave oscillator is 100 W, the wavelength of the microwave is 2.45 GHz, the measurement point of the air temperature is 100 mm from the heater core surface, the air flow rate is 2.7 square meters / second, and the heat medium is ethylene glycol. To do.

  In this embodiment, a microwave absorption heating element 125 is attached to a conventionally known heater core 115, and the microwave absorption heating element 125 outputs and absorbs microwaves, thereby heating the metal thin tube 119 and enclosing the heat. The air can be heated by heating the medium. Moreover, in order to heat the heat medium enclosed in the metal thin tube 119, even when the microwave output is interrupted, the temperature reduction rate of the metal thin tube 119 can be reduced to increase the heating efficiency of the blown air. it can. Furthermore, it is possible to raise the temperature of the blown air in a short time with less power consumption than that of a conventional PTC heater, and to ensure driver comfort.

  In the microwave absorption heating elements 95 and 125 in Examples 3 and 4 described above, FIG. 13 (FIG. 13 shows the heater core according to Example 3 as an example, but even in the heater core of Example 4, As shown in FIG. 4), a space portion 141 is formed in a part, and a closing plate 143 such as a ceramic plate or a glass plate that transmits microwaves is attached to the opening portions on the front and back surfaces of the space portion 141. Are filled with a heat medium 145 such as water or incombustible oil that can be heated by microwaves.

  The heat medium 145 filled in the space is heated by the heat conducted by the microwave absorption heating elements 95 and 125 heated by the output microwave absorption action and the microwave absorption. When the microwave oscillation is stopped, the temperature decrease degree of the microwave absorption heating element 95/125 is lowered by the amount of heat accumulated in the heat medium 145, and when the microwave is output, the microwave absorption heating element 95/125 is output. Can be raised to a required temperature in a short time, and the blown air can be efficiently heated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioning unit 3 Air intake 5 Evaporator 7 Heating unit 9 Vent port 11 Differential port 13 Foot port 15 Housing 17 Heater core 17a Intake port 17b Outlet port 19 Cooling water flow path 19a Partition wall 21 Carrier 23 Microwave absorption heating element 23a Hollow part 25 Microwave Oscillator 27 Part of Microwave Output Unit 27 Antenna Member 29/31 Microwave Shield Member 29a / 31a Part of Microwave Output Unit Opening 51 Heating Unit 53 Heater Core 55 Carrier 57 Microwave Absorption heat generating element 57a Hollow part 81 Heating unit 83 Housing 85 Heater core 87 Core case 89 Metal thin tube 89a Heat sink 91 Supply port 93 Discharge port 95 Microwave absorption heating element 96 Heat transfer material 97 Part of microwave output means Constructing microwave oscillator 99 Microwave output Antenna members 101 and 103 constituting a part of the force means Opening 111 Heating unit 113 Housing 115 Heater core 117 Core case 119 Metal thin tube 119a Heat sink 121 Return pipe 123 Circulation pump 124 as a circulation member Heat Medium inlet 125 Microwave absorption heating element 127 Heat transfer material 14 Space 143 Closure plate 145 Heat medium

Claims (13)

In a vehicle heating apparatus that is provided in a blowing passage of at least one of the inside air and the outside air that is blown into the vehicle and that heats the blowing air,
A metal material that is provided in the air flow path and has a hollow portion through which air can flow, allows air to flow in and out through openings on the upper side and lower side in the air blowing direction, and electromagnetically shields microwaves A housing consisting of
A carrier provided in the hollow portion of the housing;
A microwave-absorbing heating element having a hollow portion that is arranged in a large number at appropriate intervals with respect to the carrier, and that has both ends opened on the upper side and the lower side in the blowing direction of the carrier,
Microwave output means provided in the housing and outputting a microwave toward each microwave absorption heating element;
A heating unit that heats the blown air by heat generated by absorption of the microwave by the microwave absorbing heating element when the blowing air circulates in the hollow portion of the microwave absorbing heating element from the upper side to the lower side in the blowing direction. The heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is provided in the air conditioning unit of the vehicle air conditioner. The heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is provided in a part of a blower duct through which blown air is circulated. 2. The heating unit of a vehicle heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is made of a magnetically permeable ceramic material that transmits microwaves, and the microwave absorbing heating element is made of at least one of a ferrite material, permalloy, and oxidized slag. 2. The heating unit for a vehicle heating device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is made of a heat-resistant synthetic resin material, and the microwave absorption heating element is at least one of a ferrite material, permalloy, and oxidized slag. 2. The heating unit of a vehicle heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is made of a metal material that has an opening that reflects microwaves and coincides with a hollow portion of the microwave absorption heating element. 7. The heating unit of a vehicle heating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the microwave absorption heating element is attached to the metal carrier so as to protrude toward the side where the microwave output means is provided. The heating device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the microwave heating element has a tube shape having an axis in a direction coinciding with the blowing direction, and each end in the axial direction protrudes from the upper side surface and the lower side surface of the carrier in the blowing direction. The heating unit of the device. 2. The heating unit for a vehicle heating device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is provided with a cooling water flow path through which the cooling water flows in a folded shape so that the cooling water can be heated together with the blown air flowing through the hollow portion. 2. The microwave shield member according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings for electromagnetically shielding microwaves are provided at openings on the upper side and lower side in the blowing direction of the housing, respectively. A heating unit for a vehicle heating device. 11. The heating unit of a vehicle heating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the microwave shield member has a large number of openings having an inner diameter of 1/4 wavelength or less of the microwave. 2. The heating unit of a vehicle heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the microwave absorption heating element is provided with a heat medium reservoir . 13. The heat medium reservoir portion according to claim 12, comprising a gap portion formed in a part of the microwave absorption heating element, a closing plate that closes the gap portion and transmits microwaves, and contains the heat medium in the gap portion. Heating unit of a filled vehicle heating device.

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