JP6528534B2 - Air conditioning controller for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioning control device that controls the driving of an air conditioner installed in a vehicle equipped with an engine.

  In recent years, for the purpose of improving fuel consumption, vehicles equipped with an idling stop function for automatically stopping and restarting the engine when predetermined conditions are satisfied have become widespread. When the engine is automatically stopped, the water pump that operates using the power of the engine also stops and the circulation of the engine coolant also stops.

  As described above, in the air conditioning system that performs air conditioning by arranging the heater core in the middle of the engine cooling water route and exchanging heat, when the engine cooling water does not circulate, the temperature of the heater core decreases rapidly due to heat exchange. And the comfort of the vehicle interior deteriorates.

  In order to eliminate this disadvantage, when the temperature of the cooling water becomes low while the engine is shut down, a request is made to restart the engine. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes setting an engine restart condition based on a predicted value of transition of temperature of cooling water. Patent Document 2 proposes setting a threshold value of the temperature of cooling water for restarting the engine based on the target blowout temperature of the air conditioner. Patent Document 3 proposes setting the stop time of the engine based on the target blowout temperature of the air conditioner and the air volume of the blower fan.

JP, 2010-101250, A Patent No. 4321594 JP, 2012-219693, A

  However, in such an air conditioner, even if the temperature of the cooling water is restored to the temperature before the engine was stopped by restarting the engine, it takes more time for the occupant to feel that the air conditioning ability is restored. Hangs.

  For this reason, there has been a problem that, if the automatic stop of the engine is repeatedly performed immediately after the temperature of the engine coolant returns, the occupant feels that the comfort in the vehicle compartment is greatly impaired.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular air-conditioning control apparatus capable of driving an air-conditioning apparatus so as not to lose comfort even when automatic stop and restart of the engine are repeated.

One aspect of the invention of an air conditioning control device for a vehicle that solves the above-mentioned problems is to stop the engine when a preset automatic stop condition is met, and re-start the engine when a preset restart condition is met. An air conditioning control device mounted on a vehicle to be started and controlling the driving of an air conditioner that performs air conditioning by exchanging heat with the coolant of the engine, the automatic stop condition being satisfied and the engine stopping After the restart condition is satisfied and the engine is restarted, the prohibition request is set to prohibit the automatic stop of the engine even if the automatic stop condition is satisfied for a predetermined prohibition time. a control unit for outputting to the vehicle side, the prohibition request is cooling water of the engine is shall be output when the following temperature which is preset.

  As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle air-conditioning control device capable of driving the air-conditioning apparatus such that the comfort is not impaired even when the automatic stop and restart of the engine are repeated. be able to.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a vehicle air conditioning control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a conceptual side view showing a schematic overall configuration of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining the relationship between engine control and air conditioner control. FIG. 3 is a table used to adjust the idle stop prohibition time. FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining engine control in the idling stop function. FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the air conditioner control at the time of idling stop. FIG. 6 is a graph for explaining the relationship between the temperature of cooling water of the engine and the evaluation of the occupant's feeling at the automatic stop and restart of the engine. FIG. 7 is a graph for explaining the relationship between the temperature of the engine coolant and the evaluation of the occupants' sensation when the automatic stop and restart of the engine are repeated. FIG. 8 is a graph for explaining the relationship between the temperature of the engine coolant and the evaluation of the occupants' sensation when automatic stop and restart of the engine are repeated when the present embodiment is applied.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1-8 is a figure explaining the vehicle air-conditioning control apparatus based on one Embodiment of this invention.

  In FIG. 1, a vehicle 100 travels by mounting an internal combustion engine type engine 110 as a driving power source. This vehicle 100 utilizes the stored electric power in the battery 130 that is charged and discharged when the engine ECU 120 travels, etc., and uses the outside air temperature sensor (outside air temperature detection unit) 160, the engine speed detection unit 170, the engine water temperature sensor 180 The detection unit such as various sensors is made to function to collect various information.

  The engine 110 is generally controlled by the engine ECU 120 executing a control program. The engine ECU 120 executes various control processes according to the control program based on detection information received from the outside air temperature sensor 160, the engine speed detector 170, the engine water temperature sensor 180, and the like.

  By executing control processing based on various detection information in accordance with a control program stored in memory 121 in advance, engine ECU 120 pauses engine 110 when a predetermined condition is met, and also pauses when a predetermined condition is met. A so-called idling stop function is provided to restart the engine 110.

  Here, engine ECU 120 stops without receiving an idle stop prohibition request, for example, after vehicle 100 travels for a predetermined time (the depression of the brake pedal is maintained), and the coolant temperature of engine 110 is higher than a predetermined temperature. The engine 110 is stopped in a state where it can be easily restarted if the idling stop execution condition is satisfied, such as when the SOC (remaining charge amount) in the battery 130 is equal to or more than a predetermined value. Further, when the engine ECU 120 receives an engine restart condition such as a restart request due to, for example, stepping on the brake pedal, stepping on the accelerator pedal, lowering of the SOC in the battery 130, etc. , The engine 110 is to be restarted.

  In addition, the vehicle 100 is mounted with an air conditioner 10 that performs air conditioning such as heating in the passenger compartment 101. The air conditioner 10 is constructed as an HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) system that performs heating, blowing, and air conditioning.

  The air conditioner ECU 20 is generally controlled by the air conditioner ECU 20 executing a control program. The air conditioner ECU 20 is configured to execute various control processes according to a control program based on detection information received from the outside air temperature sensor 160, the engine water temperature sensor 180, and the like.

  In the air conditioner 10, the blower fan 11 forcibly draws in the outside air and blows the air into the compartment 101 to improve the comfort by heating and the like. In the air conditioner 10, the cooling water of the engine 110 is circulated in the middle of the flow path of the conditioned air that the blower fan 11 draws outside air into and blows it out into the casing 101, and the heater core 12 that creates warm air, and evaporation of refrigerant By installing the evaporator 13 which performs the cooling by the above and exchanging heat with the air-conditioned air, cooling and heating, dehumidification and the like in the passenger compartment 101 are performed.

  The air conditioner ECU 20 controls the drive of the blower fan 11 and the evaporator 13 by executing control processing based on various detection information in accordance with a control program stored in advance in the memory 21 to control the air conditioning, dehumidification, etc. in the passenger compartment 101. It is designed to improve comfort by performing air conditioning.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner ECU 20 receives various detection information from the outside air temperature sensor 160, the engine water temperature sensor 180, etc., and exchanges various information with the engine ECU 120 as well. The air conditioner ECU 20 executes control processing based on various detection information from the outside air temperature sensor 160, the engine water temperature sensor 180, and the like. For example, the air conditioner ECU 20 sends an engine restart request signal and an idling stop prohibition request signal to the engine ECU 120 when the cooling water of the engine 110 is lower than a preset water temperature which is insufficient for heating the interior of the vehicle compartment 101. It is supposed to send (output). Thus, the engine 110 can be operated so that the temperature of the cooling water of the engine 110 is equal to or higher than the temperature sufficient to heat the passenger compartment 101.

  Furthermore, when the air conditioner ECU 20 receives an engine restart signal from the engine ECU 120 after the idling stop execution signal, the air conditioner ECU 20 receives the engine restart signal, and then the time corresponding to the prohibited time table stored in the memory 21 in advance Otherwise, a request signal for prohibiting the execution of idling stop of the engine 110 is sent to the engine ECU 120. That is, the air conditioner ECU 20 also functions as a control unit.

  As the prohibition time table in the memory 21, for example, prohibition times S1 to S5 corresponding to the outside air temperatures T1 to T5 are preset in the memory 21, as shown in FIG. In this prohibition time table, a longer prohibition time S is set as the outside air temperature T becomes lower, and outside air temperatures T1 to T5 (T1 <T2 <T3 <T4 <T5) are prohibited times S1 to S5 (S1> S2> S3). Each corresponds to> S4> S5).

  The air conditioner ECU 20 adjusts (calculates) the calculation processing to be complemented based on the prohibition time table in the memory 21 as the prohibition time S corresponding to the outside air temperature T (detection information) detected by the outside air temperature sensor 160. A request signal for prohibiting the execution of idling stop during the calculated prohibited time is sent to the engine ECU 120. In addition, what is necessary is just to determine the prohibition time S1-S5 according to external temperature T1-T5 beforehand by experiment etc., and just to set it in the memory 21, etc., for example. In addition to using the prohibition time table in the memory 21 as a map, a map may be prepared which determines the prohibition time S in accordance with various parameters.

  At this time, as a request signal for prohibiting the execution of the idling stop of the engine 110, for example, the air-conditioner ECU 20 attaches the calculated prohibition time S and sends it to the engine ECU 120. Alternatively, when the idling stop execution condition includes that the set time has elapsed from the restart of engine 110 to the execution of idling stop again, air conditioner ECU 20 is a signal for resetting the set time until the prohibition time passes. May be sent repeatedly. Thereby, the practicability of idling stop prohibition is secured.

  Specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the engine ECU 120 executes control processing for performing idling stop.

  First, after the ignition is turned on (engine 110 is started), the engine ECU 120 acquires detection information of the outside air temperature sensor 160 as various information of the vehicle 100 used for an idling stop execution condition or an engine restart condition (step S11). ) And whether or not the idling stop execution condition is satisfied (step S12).

  In step S12, when the engine ECU 120 confirms that the idling stop execution condition is not satisfied, the process returns to step S11 to repeat the same process after ending this control process.

  In step S12, when engine ECU 120 confirms that the idling stop execution condition is satisfied, the engine ECU 120 automatically shuts off the fuel injection to engine 110 or the like to automatically stop in a restartable state (step S13).

  Next, after automatically stopping the engine 110 in step S13, the engine ECU 120 repeatedly checks whether the restart condition of the engine 110 is satisfied (step S14), and indicates that the restart condition is satisfied. When confirmed, the engine 110 is restarted by, for example, restarting fuel injection (step S15).

  At this time, while the control processing of idling stop by the engine ECU 120 is being performed, the air conditioner ECU 20 executes control processing of idling stop prohibition in parallel as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5.

  First, after the ignition is turned on, the air conditioner ECU 20 acquires detection information of the engine water temperature sensor 180 (step S21), and thereafter confirms whether an idling stop execution signal has been received from the engine ECU 120 (step S22) If no signal is received and it is confirmed that the engine 110 is not automatically stopped, the process proceeds to step S27 to execute control processing during startup of the engine 110.

  In step S22, when the air conditioner ECU 20 receives an idling stop execution signal and confirms that the engine 110 is automatically stopped, the detection information of the outside air temperature sensor 160 is acquired (step S23), and the outside air is detected. The inhibition time S according to the outside air temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 160 is calculated (adjusted) based on the inhibition time table in the memory 21, and rewritten and set as the inhibition time S in the memory 21 (step S24). Here, in the memory 21, an elapsed time required from the restart of the engine 110 to the execution of the idling stop may be set as the prohibition time S before the rewriting.

  Next, the air conditioner ECU 20 checks whether the temperature of the coolant for the engine 110, which is the detection information of the engine coolant temperature sensor 180, is less than the set temperature at which the engine 110 needs to be restarted (step S25).

  In step S25, when the air conditioner ECU 20 confirms that the cooling water temperature is not less than the set temperature required to restart the engine 110, the process returns to step S22 and repeats the same processing.

  In step S25, when the air conditioner ECU 20 confirms that the cooling water temperature is less than the set temperature required to restart the engine 110, the air conditioner ECU 20 sends an engine restart request signal to the engine ECU 120 to restart the engine 110. As a result, the temperature of the cooling water is raised to a temperature sufficient to heat the passenger compartment 101 (step S26).

  By the way, in the air conditioner 10, even if the idling stop is executed during heating in the passenger compartment 101 and the engine 110 is automatically stopped, the operation of the blower fan 11 is maintained and the heat exchange with the heater core 12 is continued. . From this, as shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG. 6, the water temperature (temperature of the heater core 12) of the cooling water of the engine 110 whose circulation is stopped is after the start of idling stop (shown as IS in the drawing) Gradually lower to equilibrium. After this, the water temperature of the cooling water rises as the idling stop is completed and the engine 110 is restarted, and the temperature of the heater core 12 is also restored to a sufficiently heatable temperature.

  With regard to the comfort felt by the occupant of the vehicle 100 as the temperature of the heater core 12 decreases due to the execution of the idling stop (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the bodily sensation evaluation), as shown by the broken line in the graph of FIG. Fall with the automatic stop (temperature decrease of the heater core 12) and rise with the restart of the engine 110 (the temperature increase of the heater core 12).

  At this time, the evaluation of the sensation of the occupant of the vehicle 100 depends on the temperature in the compartment 101 and the temperature of the conditioned air blown into the compartment 101, so that even if the temperature of the heater core 12 rises, it is immediately restored Instead, it returns later than the heating capacity of the heater core 12.

  From this, when the idling stop is repeatedly executed and the automatic stop and restart of the engine 110 are repeated, the temperature of the coolant of the engine 110 (the temperature of the heater core 12) becomes as shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG. The heating performance rises and returns, but as shown by the broken line in the graph of FIG. 7, the occupant of the vehicle 100 senses if the engine 110 is automatically stopped before the evaluation of the sensation of the occupant of the vehicle 100 returns. Discomfort may increase and the evaluation of physical sensation may deteriorate.

  Therefore, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, after confirming that the engine 110 is in operation at step S22, the air conditioner ECU 20 of the present embodiment restarts the engine 110 by a restart request at step S26. After that, the provided counter timer function is reset, and the elapsed time after the engine 110 is operated and heating of the cooling water is restarted is counted (step S27).

  After this, the air-conditioner ECU 20 checks whether or not the counted time since starting the engine 110 in the stopped state has exceeded the prohibition time S set in the memory 21 in step S24 (step S28).

  In step S28, when it is confirmed that the clocked time from the start of engine 110 has passed setting prohibition time S in step S28, automatic stop of engine 110 is permitted without sending an idling stop prohibition signal to engine ECU 120. After the state is maintained (step S29), the control process is ended, and the process returns to step S21 to repeat the same process.

  Further, in step S28, when the air conditioner ECU 20 does not confirm that the counted time from the start of the engine 110 has exceeded the setting prohibition time S, the idling stop prohibition signal is sent to the engine ECU 120 to automatically stop the engine 110. (Step S30), the process returns to step S28, and the same process is repeated.

  Therefore, as shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG. 8, the air conditioner 10 automatically stops the engine 110 and lowers the temperature of the heater core 12. The execution of idling stop is prohibited until the elapse of. From this, as shown by the broken line in the graph of FIG. 8, idling stop is not executed until the evaluation of the sensation of the occupant of the vehicle 100 is restored, and discomfort may be accumulated to deteriorate the evaluation of the sensation. It can be avoided.

  As described above, in the air-conditioner ECU 20 of the present embodiment, after the idling stop is completed and the engine 110 is restarted, the prohibition time S is adjusted longer as the outside air temperature T is lower using the prohibition time table in the memory 21. The automatic stop of the engine 110 is prohibited until it passes.

  For this reason, even when automatic stop and restart of the engine 110 are repeated, it is possible to reliably restore the sensation evaluation of the occupant of the vehicle 100, and to operate the air conditioner 10 without losing the comfort.

  In addition, because the prohibition time table in the memory 21 sets optimum values for the prohibition times S1 to S5 according to the outside air temperatures T1 to T5 by experiment etc., evaluation of the occupants' feeling for air conditioning is performed while preventing unnecessary deterioration of fuel consumption. It can prevent that it falls.

  As another aspect of the present embodiment, the prohibition time S in the present embodiment is not only the outside air temperature T, but also any one or more of the target blowout temperature used by the air conditioner 10, the air conditioning set temperature by the occupant, and the blower fan air volume. It may be set in consideration of Also, the prohibited time table to be used may be switched according to the internal air circulation mode or the external air introduction mode of air conditioning, and furthermore, the fuel consumption priority mode may be prepared and the prohibited time S may be set shorter. .

  While embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Air-conditioner 11 Blower fan 12 Heater core 13 Evaporator 20 Air-conditioner ECU (control part, air-conditioning control apparatus)
21 Memory 100 Vehicle 101 Cabin 110 Engine 120 Engine ECU
121 Memory 130 Battery 160 Outside temperature sensor (outside temperature detector)
170 Engine speed detector 180 engine water temperature sensor

Claims (4)

The engine is stopped when a preset automatic stop condition is satisfied, and is mounted on a vehicle that restarts the engine when a preset restart condition is satisfied, and the heat is exchanged with the coolant of the engine. Air conditioning control device for controlling the driving of an air conditioner for air conditioning the vehicle interior,
After the automatic stop condition is satisfied and the engine is stopped, the automatic stop condition is satisfied for a predetermined prohibition time after the restart condition is satisfied and the engine is restarted. a control unit for outputting a prohibition request to prohibit the automatically stopping the engine on the vehicle side, the prohibition request is cooling water of the engine is Ru is output if: the water temperature that is set in advance, the air conditioning for vehicles Control device. The control unit includes an outside air temperature detection unit that detects an outside air temperature,
The air conditioning control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the length of the prohibition time is adjusted in accordance with the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection unit.   The air conditioning control apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the longer the outside air temperature is, the longer the prohibited time is. The vehicle air-conditioning control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a fuel consumption priority mode, wherein the prohibition time is set short when the fuel consumption priority mode is output.

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