JP6601567B2 - Equipment temperature controller - Google Patents

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

  This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-176787 filed on September 9, 2016, and the description is incorporated herein.

  The present disclosure relates to a device temperature control device capable of adjusting the temperature of at least one temperature control target device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device that adjusts the temperature of a device using a loop thermosyphon cooling device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, in order to suppress overcooling of a temperature control target due to an unintended temperature drop of the condenser, an open / close valve is provided in a liquid pipe between the evaporator and the condenser, and the air passing through the evaporator A technique for opening and closing an on-off valve according to temperature is disclosed.

JP 2012-9646 A

  As a result of detailed investigations by the present inventors, in the cooler described in Patent Document 1, even if the liquid pipe between the evaporator and the condenser is closed by an on-off valve, the temperature control target is excessively cooled. It was found that there was a case. That is, as in Patent Document 1, even if the liquid pipe between the evaporator and the condenser is closed by an on-off valve, if the evaporator is filled with a liquid refrigerant, the liquid refrigerant evaporates. The temperature control target is excessively cooled.

  An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device temperature control device capable of suppressing the temperature adjustment target device from being excessively cooled when temperature adjustment of the temperature adjustment target device is not necessary.

  The present disclosure is directed to a device temperature control device capable of adjusting the temperature of at least one temperature control target device.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the device temperature control apparatus includes:
A heat exchanger for equipment that absorbs heat from the temperature control target equipment and evaporates the liquid working fluid;
A condenser disposed above the equipment heat exchanger and condensing the gaseous working fluid evaporated in the equipment heat exchanger;
A gas passage for guiding the gaseous working fluid evaporated in the equipment heat exchanger to the condenser;
A liquid passage portion for guiding the liquid working fluid condensed in the condenser to the heat exchanger for equipment,
A storage for storing a liquid working fluid that is branched from an equipment fluid circuit including an equipment heat exchanger, a condenser, a gas passage section, and a liquid passage section, and that resides inside the equipment fluid circuit. A liquid part (30);
A liquid storage amount adjusting unit that increases or decreases the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit.

  The liquid storage amount adjustment unit is configured to increase the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit when a condition for keeping the temperature control target device is established.

  According to this, when the condition for keeping the temperature control target device warm is established, the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit provided by branching from the device fluid circuit increases. Along with this, the liquid working fluid existing in the fluid circuit for equipment is reduced, and the liquid level of the working fluid in the equipment heat exchanger is lowered, so that the liquid working fluid in the equipment heat exchanger is evaporated. The endothermic heat from the temperature control target device can be suppressed.

  Therefore, in the device temperature adjustment device of the present disclosure, it is possible to sufficiently suppress the temperature adjustment target device from being excessively cooled when the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjustment target device becomes unnecessary.

It is a typical whole block diagram of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the input-output characteristic of an assembled battery. It is a schematic diagram of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the inside of the apparatus heat exchanger of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the internal volume of the liquid storage part of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the internal volume of the liquid storage part of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the control processing which the control apparatus of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 1st Embodiment performs. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the action | operation at the time of the cooling mode of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the action | operation at the time of the overcooling prevention mode of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the inside of the apparatus heat exchanger at the time of a supercooling prevention mode. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the internal volume of the liquid storage part in the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the internal volume of the liquid storage part in the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the principal part of the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 4th modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the principal part of the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 5th modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a typical whole block diagram of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the maximum volume of the liquid storage part of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the maximum volume of the liquid storage part of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the control processing which the control apparatus of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment performs. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the action | operation at the time of the cooling mode of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the action | operation at the time of the overcooling prevention mode of the apparatus temperature control apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the inside of the apparatus heat exchanger at the time of a supercooling prevention mode. It is a schematic diagram of the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 1st modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the maximum volume of the liquid storage part in the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 2nd modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 3rd modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the maximum volume of the liquid storage part in the apparatus temperature control apparatus used as the 3rd modification of 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent parts as those described in the preceding embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof may be omitted. Further, in the embodiment, when only a part of the constituent elements are described, the constituent elements described in the preceding embodiment can be applied to the other parts of the constituent elements. The following embodiments can be partially combined with each other even if they are not particularly specified as long as they do not cause any trouble in the combination.

(First embodiment)
This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, an example in which the device temperature control device 1 of the present disclosure is applied to a device that adjusts the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP mounted on a vehicle will be described. As a vehicle on which the apparatus temperature control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and the like that can be driven by a traveling electric motor (not shown) that uses the assembled battery BP as a power source are assumed.

  The assembled battery BP is formed of a stacked body in which a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped battery cells BC are stacked. The plurality of battery cells BC constituting the assembled battery BP are electrically connected in series. Each battery cell BC constituting the assembled battery BP is configured by a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery (for example, a lithium ion battery or a lead storage battery). The battery cell BC is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and may have another shape such as a cylindrical shape. The assembled battery BP may include a battery cell BC electrically connected in parallel.

  The assembled battery BP is connected to a power converter and a motor generator (not shown). The power conversion device is, for example, a device that converts a direct current supplied from the assembled battery BP into an alternating current, and supplies (that is, discharges) the converted alternating current to various electric loads such as a traveling electric motor. . The motor generator is a device that reversely converts the traveling energy of the vehicle into electric energy during regeneration of the vehicle, and supplies the reversely converted electric energy as regenerative power to the assembled battery BP via a power conversion device or the like. .

  The assembled battery BP may become excessively hot due to self-heating when power is supplied while the vehicle is running. When the assembled battery BP becomes excessively high in temperature, as shown in FIG. 2, the deterioration of the battery cell BC is promoted. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the output and input so as to reduce self-heating. For this reason, in order to ensure the output and input of the battery cell BC, a cooling means for maintaining the temperature below a predetermined temperature is required.

  In addition, the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP may become excessively high even during parking in the summer. That is, the power storage device including the assembled battery BP is often disposed under the floor of the vehicle or under the trunk room, and the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP gradually increases not only during traveling of the vehicle but also during parking in summer. The battery pack BP may become excessively hot. When the assembled battery BP is left in a high temperature environment, the battery life is greatly reduced due to the progress of deterioration. Therefore, the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is maintained below a predetermined temperature even during parking of the vehicle. It is hoped that.

  Furthermore, the assembled battery BP is composed of a plurality of battery cells BC. However, if the temperature of each battery cell BC varies, the degree of deterioration of each battery cell BC is biased, and the entire assembled battery BP The input / output characteristics of this will deteriorate. This is because the assembled battery BP includes a series connection body of the battery cells BC, and among the battery cells BC, the input / output characteristics of the entire assembled battery BP according to the battery characteristics of the battery cell BC that is most deteriorated. Because it is decided. For this reason, in order to make the assembled battery BP exhibit desired performance for a long period of time, it is important to equalize the temperature of the battery cells BC to reduce temperature variation.

  Here, as a cooling means for cooling the assembled battery BP, an air-cooling cooling means using a blower and a cooling means using the cold heat of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle are generally used.

  However, since the air-cooled cooling means using the blower only blows air or the like in the passenger compartment to the assembled battery, a cooling capacity sufficient to sufficiently cool the assembled battery BP may not be obtained.

  Moreover, although the cooling means using the cold heat of the refrigeration cycle has a high cooling capacity of the assembled battery BP, it is necessary to drive a compressor or the like that consumes a large amount of power while the vehicle is parked. This is undesirable because it leads to an increase in power consumption and an increase in noise.

  Therefore, the apparatus temperature control device 1 of the present embodiment employs a thermosiphon system in which the battery temperature of the assembled battery BP is adjusted not by forced circulation of the refrigerant by the compressor but by natural circulation of the working fluid.

  The device temperature adjustment device 1 is a device that adjusts the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP using the assembled battery BP mounted on the vehicle as a temperature adjustment target device. As shown in FIG. 1, the device temperature control device 1 includes a device fluid circuit 10 through which a working fluid circulates and a control device 100. As the working fluid that circulates in the fluid circuit for equipment 10, refrigerants (for example, R134a, R1234yf) used in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle can be employed.

  The device fluid circuit 10 is a heat pipe that performs heat transfer by evaporation and condensation of a working fluid, and is a loop-type thermometer in which a flow path through which a gaseous working fluid flows and a flow path through which a liquid working fluid flows are separated. It is configured to be a siphon.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the device fluid circuit 10 includes a device heat exchanger 12, a condenser 14, a gas passage portion 16, and a liquid passage portion 18. Note that the arrow DRg shown in FIG. 3 indicates the direction in which the vertical line extends, that is, the vertical direction.

  The device fluid circuit 10 of the present embodiment is configured as a closed annular fluid circuit by connecting the device heat exchanger 12, the condenser 14, the gas passage portion 16, and the liquid passage portion 18 to each other. ing. The device fluid circuit 10 is filled with a predetermined amount of working fluid in a state where the inside thereof is evacuated.

  The equipment heat exchanger 12 is a heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator that absorbs heat from the assembled battery BP and evaporates the liquid working fluid when the assembled battery BP that is a temperature adjustment target apparatus is cooled. The equipment heat exchanger 12 is disposed at a position facing the bottom surface side of the assembled battery BP. The equipment heat exchanger 12 has a thin, rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  In the equipment heat exchanger 12, the equipment proximity section 121 that is close to the bottom surface of the assembled battery BP constitutes a heat transfer section that transfers heat between the assembled battery BP and the equipment heat exchanger 12. In the present embodiment, the device proximity portion 121 constitutes a portion that exchanges heat with the assembled battery BP in the device heat exchanger 12. The device proximity portion 121 has a size that covers the entire area of the bottom surface portion of the assembled battery BP so that temperature distribution does not occur in each battery cell BC constituting the assembled battery BP.

  In the device heat exchanger 12, the device proximity portion 121 is in contact with the bottom surface portion of the assembled battery BP so that heat can be transferred to and from the assembled battery BP. Note that the device heat exchanger 12 may have an arrangement configuration in which the device proximity portion 121 is separated from the bottom surface portion of the assembled battery BP as long as heat transfer between the device heat exchanger 12 and the assembled battery BP is possible.

  Here, when the liquid level of the working fluid in the equipment heat exchanger 12 is away from the equipment proximity part 121 of the equipment heat exchanger 12, the heat of the assembled battery BP is liquid in the equipment heat exchanger 12. It becomes difficult to be transmitted to the working fluid. That is, when the liquid level of the working fluid in the equipment heat exchanger 12 is separated from the equipment proximity portion 121 of the equipment heat exchanger 12, evaporation of the liquid working fluid existing in the equipment heat exchanger 12 is suppressed. Will be.

  For this reason, in the fluid circuit for equipment 10 of the present embodiment, the liquid level of the working fluid is such that the heat of the assembled battery BP is transmitted to the liquid working fluid existing in the equipment heat exchanger 12. It is configured to contact the device proximity portion 121 of the exchanger 12. That is, the fluid circuit for equipment 10 of the present embodiment is configured such that the internal space of the equipment heat exchanger 12 is filled with a liquid working fluid containing bubbles when the assembled battery BP is cooled.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the equipment heat exchanger 12 is configured by a hollow container, the liquid level LS of the working fluid existing inside the equipment heat exchanger 12 during battery cooling is It is the structure which contacts the apparatus proximity | contact part 121 close to the assembled battery BP. In addition, the apparatus heat exchanger 12 is not limited to a hollow container, and may have a configuration in which a plurality of flow paths are formed by a heat exchange tube or the like.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the equipment heat exchanger 12 includes a gas outlet portion 122 to which the lower end portion of the gas passage portion 16 is connected, and a liquid inlet portion to which the lower end portion of the liquid passage portion 18 is connected. 123. In the equipment heat exchanger 12 of the present embodiment, the gas outlet part 122 and the liquid inlet part 123 are provided on the side parts facing each other. Further, in the equipment heat exchanger 12 of the present embodiment, the gas outlet portion 122 and the liquid inlet portion 123 are provided at the same height in the vertical direction DRg.

  The equipment heat exchanger 12 is made of a metal or alloy having excellent thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper. In addition, although the apparatus heat exchanger 12 can also be comprised with materials other than a metal, it is desirable to comprise at least the apparatus proximity part 121 which comprises a heat-transfer part with the material excellent in heat conductivity.

  The condenser 14 is a heat exchanger that condenses the gaseous working fluid evaporated in the equipment heat exchanger 12. The condenser 14 is an air-cooled heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the blown air blown from the blower fan BF and the gaseous working fluid to condense the gaseous working fluid.

  The condenser 14 is disposed above the equipment heat exchanger 12 in the vertical direction DRg so that the liquid working fluid condensed therein moves to the equipment heat exchanger 12 by its own weight.

  The condenser 14 has a gas inlet portion 141 to which an upper end portion of the gas passage portion 16 is connected, and a liquid outlet portion 142 to which an upper end portion of the liquid passage portion 18 is connected. In the condenser 14 of the present embodiment, the gas inlet portion 141 and the liquid outlet portion 142 are provided at portions facing each other in the vertical direction DRg.

  Further, the condenser 14 of the present embodiment is provided such that the gas inlet portion 141 is located above the liquid outlet portion 142 in the vertical direction DRg. Specifically, in the condenser 14 of the present embodiment, the gas inlet portion 141 is provided at the upper end portion of the condenser 14, and the liquid outlet portion 142 is provided at the lower end portion of the condenser 14.

  The condenser 14 is made of a metal or alloy having excellent thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper. The condenser 14 may be configured to include a material other than metal. However, at least a portion that exchanges heat with air is preferably configured with a material having excellent thermal conductivity.

  The blower fan BF is a device that blows out air in the passenger compartment or air outside the passenger compartment toward the equipment heat exchanger 12. The blower fan BF functions as a heat dissipation amount adjusting unit that adjusts the heat dissipation amount of the working fluid existing in the condenser 14. The blower fan BF is configured by an electric fan that operates when energized. The blower fan BF is connected to the control device 100, and the blower capacity is controlled based on a control signal from the control device 100.

  The gas passage 16 guides the gaseous working fluid evaporated in the equipment heat exchanger 12 to the condenser 14. The gas passage portion 16 has a lower end connected to the gas outlet 122 of the equipment heat exchanger 12 and an upper end connected to the gas inlet 141 of the condenser 14. The gas passage part 16 of this embodiment is comprised by piping in which the flow path through which a working fluid distribute | circulates was formed. In addition, the gas passage part 16 shown in drawing is an example to the last. The gas passage portion 16 can be appropriately changed in consideration of the mounting property on the vehicle.

  The liquid passage portion 18 guides the liquid working fluid condensed in the condenser 14 to the equipment heat exchanger 12. The liquid passage portion 18 has a lower end connected to the liquid inlet 123 of the equipment heat exchanger 12 and an upper end connected to the liquid outlet 142 of the condenser 14. The liquid passage portion 18 of the present embodiment is configured by a pipe in which a flow path through which a working fluid flows is formed.

  In the liquid passage portion 18 of the present embodiment, the part on the condenser 14 side is positioned above the part on the equipment heat exchanger 12 side. In addition, the liquid passage portion 18 of the present embodiment is configured such that the part on the equipment heat exchanger 12 side is located at the same level or the upper side of the lowermost part of the equipment heat exchanger 12. The liquid passage portion 18 shown in the drawing is merely an example. The liquid passage portion 18 can be appropriately changed in consideration of the mounting property on the vehicle.

  By the way, in the thermosiphon type apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, when the temperature of the working fluid existing on the condenser 14 side is higher than the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP, the working fluid is condensed in the condenser 14 and heat exchange for the equipment is performed. There is almost no evaporation of the working fluid in the vessel 12. That is, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, when the temperature of the working fluid on the condenser 14 side in the apparatus fluid circuit 10 is higher than the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP, the cooling of the assembled battery BP is substantially stopped.

  On the other hand, in the thermosiphon device temperature control device 1, when the temperature of the working fluid existing on the condenser 14 side becomes lower than the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP, the working fluid evaporates in the device heat exchanger 12. The working fluid is condensed in the condenser 14. That is, in the device temperature control apparatus 1, when the temperature of the working fluid on the condenser 14 side in the device fluid circuit 10 is lower than the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP, the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is within the optimum temperature range. Even so, the cooling of the assembled battery BP is continued.

  For this reason, in the thermosiphon device temperature control device 1, when the temperature of the working fluid in the condenser 14 is lower than the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP, the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP decreases to below the optimum temperature range. There are things to do.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is excessively lowered, the internal resistance of the assembled battery BP is increased, so that the input / output characteristics of the assembled battery BP are deteriorated. For this reason, it is necessary to take measures so that the assembled battery BP is not cooled excessively.

  The inventors of the present invention diligently studied the factors that cause the assembled battery BP to become too cold. As a result, when the battery pack BP is too cold, the liquid working fluid evaporates in the equipment proximity part 121 of the equipment heat exchanger 12 when the battery temperature Tb of the battery pack BP falls below the optimum temperature range. It turned out to be caused.

  The present inventors consider that the excessive cooling of the assembled battery BP can be suppressed by suppressing the evaporation of the liquid working fluid in the device proximity part 121 of the device heat exchanger 12, and the operation of the device heat exchanger 12 is A configuration has been devised in which the fluid can be adjusted to a liquid amount that suppresses overcooling of the battery pack BP.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the device temperature control device 1 of the present embodiment includes a liquid storage unit 30, a cooling device 40 in order to adjust the amount of working fluid inside the device heat exchanger 12. A branch passage opening / closing valve 50 is provided.

  The liquid storage unit 30 stores the liquid working fluid existing in the fluid circuit for equipment 10. The liquid storage unit 30 is provided to be branched from the device fluid circuit 10. The liquid storage part 30 of the present embodiment is connected to the device fluid circuit 10 via a branch connection part 31 provided in the gas passage part 16.

  The branch connection part 31 is configured by a three-way joint provided in the device fluid circuit 10. The branch connection part 31 of this embodiment is provided in the site | part located upwards rather than the site | part Hu located in the uppermost side of the vertical direction DRg of the apparatus heat exchanger 12 among the fluid circuits 10 for apparatuses. .

  The liquid storage part 30 of the present embodiment includes a tank part 32 that stores a liquid working fluid, and a branch passage part 33 that connects the tank part 32 and the device fluid circuit 10. The tank part 32 is configured by a fixed capacity type container having a constant internal volume. The tank portion 32 has a branch passage portion 33 connected to the upper surface portion thereof. One end side of the branch passage portion 33 is connected to the upper surface portion of the tank portion 32, and the other end side is connected to the branch connection portion 31.

  The cooling device 40 is a device that cools the liquid storage unit 30 and condenses the gaseous working fluid existing in the liquid storage unit 30. The cooling device 40 is provided adjacent to the lower surface portion of the tank portion 32.

  The cooling device 40 of the present embodiment is composed of a Peltier element that generates cold heat when energized. The operation of the cooling device 40 is controlled by the control device 100 described later. The cooling device 40 is not limited to a Peltier element, and may be constituted by, for example, a heat exchanger through which a low-temperature refrigerant in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle flows.

  Here, the gaseous working fluid existing in the device fluid circuit 10 condenses at a low temperature in the device fluid circuit 10. For this reason, when the liquid storage unit 30 is cooled by the cooling device 40, the gaseous working fluid existing in the device fluid circuit 10 is condensed and stored in the liquid storage unit 30. That is, when the liquid storage unit 30 is cooled by the cooling device 40, the amount of the working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 increases.

  On the other hand, when the cooling of the liquid storage unit 30 by the cooling device 40 is stopped, the liquid working fluid stored in the liquid storage unit 30 is vaporized as the temperature rises, so that the working fluid is stored in the liquid storage unit 30. The liquid volume decreases.

  As described above, in the device temperature control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the amount of the working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 increases or decreases depending on whether or not the liquid storage unit 30 is cooled by the cooling device 40. In the device temperature control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the cooling device 40 functions as a liquid storage amount adjustment unit that increases or decreases the liquid storage amount of the working fluid stored in the liquid storage unit 30.

  In the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, the amount of the working fluid existing inside the apparatus heat exchanger 12 decreases as the liquid working fluid stored in the liquid storage unit 30 increases. In the cooling device 40 of the present embodiment, the liquid level of the working fluid inside the device heat exchanger 12 is positioned below the device proximity portion 121 when the condition that the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is unnecessary is established. Thus, the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 is increased. That is, the cooling device 40 interposes the gaseous working fluid below the part of the device heat exchanger 12 where heat is exchanged with the assembled battery BP when the condition for keeping the assembled battery BP is satisfied. The liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 is increased so that the liquid level is formed in the state. The condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm is also a condition that is satisfied when the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is not necessary.

  The liquid storage unit 30 of the present embodiment is configured such that the branch passage portion 33 is connected to the upper surface portion of the tank portion 32, and the liquid working fluid is not only in the tank portion 32 but also inside the branch passage portion 33. Can be stored. For this reason, in this embodiment, the sum total of the internal volume of the tank part 32 and the internal volume of the branch passage part 33 is used as the internal volume of the liquid storage part 30.

  The liquid storage unit 30 satisfies a condition that does not require temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP (that is, a condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm), and the liquid level of the working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger 12 is close to the equipment. The volume is such that the liquid working fluid does not overflow when lowered to the lower side of the portion 121.

  The liquid storage unit 30 of the present embodiment has a volume that does not overflow the liquid working fluid even if the liquid level of the working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger 12 falls to a position close to the lower wall surface. ing. Specifically, the liquid storage unit 30 has a volume capable of storing a liquid working fluid existing inside the equipment heat exchanger 12. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the liquid storage unit 30 of the present embodiment has an internal volume Vc1 of the equipment heat exchanger so that the liquid working fluid existing in the equipment heat exchanger 12 can be stored. 12 is larger than the internal volume Ve1.

  Here, the total amount of the liquid working fluid existing in the device fluid circuit 10 is stored in the liquid storage unit 30, whereby the cooling of the assembled battery BP in the device heat exchanger 12 can be reliably stopped. For this reason, the liquid storage unit 30 has an internal volume Vc1 as shown in FIG. 6, which is a liquid amount when all the working fluid sealed in the device fluid circuit 10 is liquefied (that is, a total liquid amount All). It is desirable that the volume be sufficient to store liquid.

  The branch passage opening / closing valve 50 is a fluid blocking unit that blocks the movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage unit 30 and the device fluid circuit 10. The branch passage opening / closing valve 50 of this embodiment is provided in the branch passage portion 33. The branch passage opening / closing valve 50 of the present embodiment is configured by an electric valve mechanism controlled by the control device 100. Specifically, the branch passage opening / closing valve 50 of the present embodiment is a normally open electromagnetic valve that closes when energized and opens when de-energized.

  Next, the control device 100 that constitutes the electronic control unit of the device temperature control device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A control device 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a microcomputer including a processor, a storage unit (for example, ROM, RAM), and peripheral circuits. The storage unit of the control device 100 is configured with a non-transitional tangible storage medium.

  The control device 100 performs various calculations and processes based on the control program stored in the storage unit. The control device 100 controls the operation of various devices such as the blower fan BF, the cooling device 40, and the branch passage opening / closing valve 50 connected to the output side.

  The control device 100 has various sensor groups including a battery temperature detection unit 101 and a condenser temperature detection unit 102 connected to its input side.

  The battery temperature detection unit 101 includes a temperature sensor that detects the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP. Note that the battery temperature detection unit 101 may include a plurality of temperature sensors. In this case, the battery temperature detection unit 101 may be configured to output an average value of detection values of a plurality of temperature sensors to the control device 100, for example.

  The condenser temperature detection unit 102 includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the working fluid existing in the condenser 14. The condenser temperature detection unit 102 is not limited to the configuration that directly detects the temperature of the working fluid existing in the condenser 14, and for example, the temperature of the working fluid existing in the condenser 14 is the surface temperature of the condenser 14. It may be configured to detect as

  Here, the control device 100 according to the present embodiment is a device in which a plurality of control units configured by hardware and software for controlling various control devices connected to the output side are integrated.

  The control device 100 includes a fan control unit 100a that controls the rotation speed of the blower fan BF, a valve control unit 100b that controls the branch passage opening / closing valve 50, a cooling control unit 100c that controls the operation of the cooling device 40, and the like. Yes. In the present embodiment, the valve control unit 100b and the cooling control unit 100c in the control device 100 constitute a control unit that controls the liquid storage amount adjusting unit and the fluid blocking unit.

  Next, operation | movement of the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control process shown in FIG. 7 is executed at a predetermined cycle by the control device 100 while the vehicle is traveling. Of course, the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 may be configured such that the control process shown in FIG. 7 is executed by the control apparatus 100 during parking. Each control step shown in FIG. 7 constitutes a function realization unit that realizes various functions executed by the control device 100.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 100 first reads various sensor signals in step S110. Specifically, in the process of step S110, the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP detected by the battery temperature detection unit 101, and the temperature of the working fluid existing in the condenser 14 detected by the condenser temperature detection unit 102 Is read.

  Subsequently, the control device 100 determines whether or not a condition that does not require temperature adjustment (specifically, cooling) of the assembled battery BP (that is, a condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm) is satisfied. In the present embodiment, as a condition that does not require temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP (that is, a condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm), the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is based on a preset allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin of the assembled battery BP. The condition that holds when the value is low is also adopted. That is, in step S112, control device 100 determines whether or not battery temperature Tb of assembled battery BP is lower than a preset allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin of assembled battery BP. For example, the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin is set to a temperature (for example, 10 ° C.) at which the input / output characteristics of the assembled battery BP hardly deteriorate even when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP decreases.

  As a result of the determination processing in step S112, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is equal to or higher than the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin, the control device 100 performs cooling in which the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is set in advance in step S114. It is determined whether or not the temperature is higher than the necessary temperature Tbth. The required cooling temperature Tbth is set to a temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) at which the input / output characteristics of the assembled battery BP hardly deteriorate even if the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP increases.

  As a result of the determination process in step S114, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is higher than the required cooling temperature Tbth, the device temperature adjustment device 1 shifts to a cooling mode for cooling the assembled battery BP.

  Specifically, when it is determined as a result of the determination process in step S114 that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is higher than the required cooling temperature Tbth, the control device 100 stops cooling by the cooling device 40 in step S116. At the same time, the branch passage opening / closing valve 50 is controlled to be opened. In step S <b> 118, the control device 100 activates the blower fan BF to start radiating the working fluid existing in the condenser 14.

  In the device temperature control apparatus 1, when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP rises due to self-heating during traveling of the vehicle in the cooling mode, the heat of the assembled battery BP moves to the device heat exchanger 12. In the equipment heat exchanger 12, a part of the liquid working fluid evaporates by absorbing heat from the assembled battery BP. The assembled battery BP is cooled by the latent heat of vaporization of the working fluid existing inside the equipment heat exchanger 12, and the temperature thereof decreases.

  The gaseous working fluid evaporated in the equipment heat exchanger 12 flows out from the gas outlet section 122 of the equipment heat exchanger 12 to the gas passage section 16, and as shown by an arrow Fcg in FIG. 16 to condenser 14.

  In the condenser 14, the gaseous working fluid is condensed by dissipating heat to the blown air from the blower fan BF. Inside the condenser 14, the gaseous working fluid is liquefied and the specific gravity of the working fluid increases. Thereby, the working fluid liquefied inside the condenser 14 descends toward the liquid outlet 142 of the condenser 14 by its own weight.

  The liquid working fluid condensed in the condenser 14 flows out from the liquid outlet part 142 of the condenser 14 to the liquid passage part 18, and as shown by an arrow Fcl in FIG. Move to vessel 12. In the apparatus heat exchanger 12, a part of the liquid working fluid that has flowed from the liquid inlet portion 123 via the liquid passage portion 18 evaporates by absorbing heat from the assembled battery BP.

  In this way, the device temperature control device 1 circulates between the device heat exchanger 12 and the condenser 14 while the phase of the working fluid changes between the gas state and the liquid state in the cooling mode, thereby exchanging heat for the device. The assembled battery BP is cooled by transporting heat from the condenser 12 to the condenser 14.

  The device temperature control device 1 is configured such that the working fluid naturally circulates inside the device fluid circuit 10 without the driving force required for circulating the working fluid by a compressor or the like. For this reason, the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 can implement | achieve the efficient temperature control of the assembled battery BP which suppressed both power consumption and noise compared with the refrigerating cycle etc.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is equal to or lower than the cooling required temperature Tbth as a result of the determination process in step S <b> 114, the device temperature adjustment device 1 stops the heat radiation of the working fluid in the condenser 14. . That is, as a result of the determination process in step S114, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is equal to or lower than the cooling required temperature Tbth, the control device 100 stops cooling by the cooling device 40 in step S120 and The on-off valve 50 is controlled to be opened. Moreover, the control apparatus 100 stops the action | operation of the ventilation fan BF in step S122, and stops the thermal radiation of the working fluid which exists in the inside of the condenser 14. FIG.

  When the temperature of the working fluid existing in the condenser 14 is higher than the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP, the device temperature control device 1 is configured from the device heat exchanger 12 even when the operation of the blower fan BF is stopped. The assembled battery BP is cooled by transporting heat to the condenser 14. That is, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, when the temperature of the working fluid existing in the condenser 14 is higher than the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP, the cooling of the assembled battery BP is maintained as in the cooling mode. .

  For this reason, when the surroundings of the condenser 14 become low temperature in winter and the temperature of the condenser 14 becomes low, the cooling of the assembled battery BP by the device temperature control device 1 is continued, so that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP. May fall below the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin.

  On the other hand, when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP falls below the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin so that the assembled battery BP is not excessively cooled, the device temperature control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment shifts to the overcooling prevention mode. To do. That is, as a result of the determination process in step S112, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is lower than the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin, the control device 100 starts cooling by the cooling device 40 in step S124 and branches. The passage opening / closing valve 50 is controlled to be opened. Moreover, the control apparatus 100 stops the action | operation of the ventilation fan BF in step S126, and stops the thermal radiation of the working fluid which exists in the inside of the condenser 14. FIG.

  In the device temperature control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the cooling of the liquid storage unit 30 by the cooling device 40 is started in the state in which the branch passage portion 33 is opened by the branch passage opening / closing valve 50 in the overcooling prevention mode. At this time, the control device 100 controls the cooling device 40 so that the temperature of the liquid storage unit 30 is lower than the temperature of the condenser 14.

  In the device temperature control apparatus 1, when the liquid storage unit 30 is cooled by the cooling device 40, the gaseous working fluid existing in the device fluid circuit 10 is condensed in the liquid storage unit 30. Thereby, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 9, the liquid working fluid condensed in the liquid storage part 30 is stored in the tank part 32 of the liquid storage part 30.

  In the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, as the liquid working fluid stored in the liquid storage unit 30 increases, the liquid working fluid existing inside the apparatus heat exchanger 12 decreases. And in the heat exchanger 12 for apparatuses, as shown in FIG. 10, the liquid level LS of a working fluid falls to the downward side of the apparatus proximity part 121. As shown in FIG. That is, in the equipment heat exchanger 12, the gaseous working fluid is closer to the equipment proximity portion 121 than the liquid working fluid. Thereby, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the heat absorption from the assembled battery BP by evaporation of the working fluid of the apparatus heat exchanger 12 is suppressed.

  Returning to FIG. 7, after starting the cooling of the liquid storage unit 30 by the cooling device 40, the control device 100 determines whether or not the storage of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 is completed in step S <b> 128. To do. The control device 100 of the present embodiment stores the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 when a predetermined reference time has elapsed after the cooling device 40 starts cooling the cooling device 40 in step S126. Is determined to be complete.

  Here, in the process of step S128, the storage of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 is completed regardless of the elapsed time since the cooling device 40 starts cooling the liquid storage unit 30 in step S126. It may be a process for determining whether or not.

  For example, the control device 100 starts liquid cooling to the liquid storage unit 30 when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP rises to a predetermined temperature after starting the cooling of the liquid storage unit 30 by the cooling device 40 in step S126. It may be configured to determine that the storage of the working fluid is completed. In addition, the control device 100 monitors the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the actual liquid storage unit 30, and when the liquid storage amount exceeds a predetermined reference amount, It may be configured to determine that the working fluid has been stored.

  When it is determined in step S128 that the storage of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 has been completed, the control device 100 stops cooling the liquid storage unit 30 by the cooling device 40 in step S130, and The branch passage portion 33 is closed by the branch passage opening / closing valve 50.

  The reason why the branch passage portion 33 is closed by the branch passage opening / closing valve 50 is that when the branch passage portion 33 is open, the liquid is transferred from the liquid storage portion 30 side to the device fluid circuit 10 side via the branch passage portion 33. This is because the working fluid may move.

  The apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment described above is configured in the liquid storage unit 30 by cooling the liquid storage unit 30 with the cooling device 40 when a condition that does not require temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is satisfied. The liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid is increased.

  According to this, when a condition that does not require temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is satisfied (that is, a condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm), the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage section 30 branched and connected to the device fluid circuit 10 The amount of liquid storage increases. Along with this, the liquid working fluid existing inside the device fluid circuit 10 decreases, and the liquid level of the working fluid in the device heat exchanger 12 decreases, so the liquid working fluid in the device heat exchanger 12 decreases. The heat absorption from the assembled battery BP due to the evaporation of can be suppressed.

  Therefore, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this embodiment, it can fully suppress that the assembled battery BP is cooled too much when the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP becomes unnecessary.

  In addition, in the device temperature adjustment device 1 of the present embodiment, when the condition that the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is unnecessary is established, the liquid level of the working fluid inside the device heat exchanger 12 is below the device proximity portion 121. It is the structure which increases the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage part 30 so that it may be located in. That is, when the condition for keeping the assembled battery BP is satisfied, the device temperature control apparatus 1 interposes a gaseous working fluid below the portion of the equipment heat exchanger 12 that exchanges heat with the assembled battery BP. The liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 is increased so that the liquid level is formed in the state.

  According to this, when a condition that does not require temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP (that is, a condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm) is established, the liquid level of the working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger 12 is Decreases to the lower side. Thereby, the assembled battery BP comes close to a part where the gaseous working fluid exists in the heat exchanger 12 for equipment. For this reason, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this embodiment, since the heat absorption from the assembled battery BP by evaporation of the working fluid of the apparatus heat exchanger 12 is suppressed, the assembled battery BP is excessively cooled. It can be suppressed sufficiently.

  Here, in the device fluid circuit 10, a branch connection portion 31 for branching and connecting the liquid storage portion 30 to a portion located on the upper side of the portion located on the uppermost side in the vertical direction DRg of the device heat exchanger 12. Is provided.

  According to this, when adjusting the temperature of the assembled battery BP, it is possible to suppress the liquid working fluid from flowing into the liquid storage unit 30 instead of the equipment heat exchanger 12 due to its own weight or the like. That is, when the temperature of the assembled battery BP is adjusted, the flow of the liquid working fluid into the liquid storage unit 30 is suppressed, so that a sufficient flow rate of the working fluid circulating in the device fluid circuit 10 is ensured. Can do.

  In the device temperature control device 1 of the present embodiment, the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30 is larger than the internal volume of the device heat exchanger 12. According to this, when the condition that the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is not necessary is established, the liquid working fluid existing inside the equipment heat exchanger 12 can be stored in the liquid storage section 30. It is possible to sufficiently suppress heat absorption from the assembled battery BP due to evaporation of the working fluid in the heat exchanger 12.

  Here, as described above, the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30 is configured to be able to store the liquid amount when all the working fluid filled in the device fluid circuit 10 is liquefied, that is, the total liquid amount. It is desirable. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the liquid working fluid from remaining in the equipment heat exchanger 12 when it is not necessary to adjust the temperature of the assembled battery BP.

  Specifically, the liquid storage unit 30 of the present embodiment includes a tank unit 32 that stores a liquid working fluid. As described above, when the liquid storage unit 30 includes the tank unit 32, a sufficient internal volume for storing the liquid working fluid can be secured with a small number of components.

  Moreover, the liquid storage part 30 of this embodiment is comprised including the branch channel | path part 33 which connects the tank part 32 and the fluid circuit 10 for apparatuses. And the sum total of the internal volume of the tank part 32 and the internal volume of the branch channel | path part 33 is a volume larger than the internal volume of the heat exchanger 12 for apparatuses. Thus, if the liquid storage part 30 is configured to include the branch passage part 33, it is possible to sufficiently secure an internal volume for storing the liquid working fluid while suppressing an increase in the capacity of the tank part 32. it can.

  Furthermore, when the storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 reaches a predetermined reference amount in the supercooling prevention mode, the device temperature control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment uses the branch channel opening / closing valve 50 to branch the channel unit. 33 is closed.

  According to this, since the movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage unit 30 and the device fluid circuit 10 is interrupted after the liquid working fluid is stored in the liquid storage unit 30, the liquid storage unit 30 is not intended. It is possible to prevent the working fluid inside the fluid from moving to the device fluid circuit 10.

(Modification of the first embodiment)
Hereinafter, the 1st-5th modification of the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 11-16. Note that the contents described in the present modification can be applied to the device temperature control apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment to be described later as long as there is no particular problem.

(First modification)
In the first embodiment described above, the total volume of the internal volume of the tank portion 32 and the internal volume of the branch passage portion 33 is set as the internal volume of the liquid storage portion 30, but is not limited to this. When the internal volume of the branch passage part 33 is very small compared to the internal volume of the tank part 32, the internal volume of the tank part 32 may be used as the internal volume of the liquid storage part 30. In this case, the tank part 32 which comprises the liquid storage part 30 should just be the volume which can store the liquid working fluid which the internal volume exists in the inside of the apparatus heat exchanger 12. FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the tank part 32 of the liquid storage part 30 has an internal volume Vt for the equipment so that the liquid working fluid existing in the equipment heat exchanger 12 can be stored. It only needs to be larger than the internal volume Ve2 of the heat exchanger 12.

(Second modification)
In the first embodiment described above, the configuration in which the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30 is larger than the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger 12 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the device temperature control apparatus 1 of the present modification has a gas passage portion 16 that is located on the lower side of the uppermost portion Hu in the device heat exchanger 12. 161 is comprised. Moreover, the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this modification is comprised including the lower side liquid passage part 181 in which the liquid channel part 18 is located in the downward side rather than the site | part Hu located in the uppermost part in the apparatus heat exchanger 12. FIG. Has been.

  And the liquid storage part 30 of this modification has the liquid working fluid which exists in the inside of the heat exchanger 12 for apparatuses, when the conditions in which the internal volume does not need the temperature adjustment of assembled battery BP are satisfied, and The volume is such that a liquid working fluid that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger 12 can be stored. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the liquid storage unit 30 of the present embodiment has an internal volume Vc3 of the internal volume Ve1 of the equipment heat exchanger 12, the internal volume Vpg of the lower side gas passage 161, and the lower side liquid. The total volume Ve3 of the internal volume Vpl of the passage portion 181 is larger.

  According to this, in the equipment temperature control apparatus 1, in addition to the liquid working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger 12, the lower gas passage 161 and the lower side that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger 12. The liquid storage part 30 can be stored including the liquid working fluid existing in the liquid passage part 181. For this reason, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this modification, when the temperature adjustment of assembled battery BP becomes unnecessary, the liquid level of the working fluid in the apparatus heat exchanger 12 can be sufficiently lowered. The heat absorption from the assembled battery BP in the heat exchanger 12 can be sufficiently suppressed.

(Third Modification)
As in the first embodiment described above, the branch connection portion 31 is located above the portion Hu of the equipment fluid circuit 10 that is located on the uppermost side in the vertical direction DRg of the equipment heat exchanger 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the branch connection portion 31 is a part located on the lower side of the part Hu located on the uppermost side in the vertical direction DRg of the equipment heat exchanger 12 in the equipment fluid circuit 10. May be provided. In this case, it is desirable that the branch passage opening / closing valve 50 is opened only when the cooling device 40 is operated to store the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 and is kept closed at other timings. .

(Fourth modification)
In the above-described first embodiment, the blower fan BF is exemplified as the heat release amount adjustment unit that adjusts the heat release amount of the working fluid existing in the condenser 14, but the heat release amount adjustment unit is not limited to the blower fan BF.

  As illustrated in FIG. 15, the heat release amount adjustment unit may include a refrigerant side heat exchanger HEC in which a low-temperature refrigerant in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle flows. In this case, the amount of heat release in the condenser 14 is changed by increasing or decreasing the rotational speed of the compressor in the refrigeration cycle. For this reason, when the refrigerant | coolant side heat exchanger HEC shown in FIG. 15 is used as a heat radiation amount adjustment part, the structure which controls the rotation speed of a compressor comprises the control part which controls a heat radiation amount adjustment part.

(5th modification)
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 16, the heat radiation amount adjustment unit may be configured by a water-side heat exchanger HEL in which a low-temperature antifreeze liquid flowing in the cooling water circuit flows. In this case, the heat radiation amount in the condenser 14 changes by increasing or decreasing the number of rotations of the water pump in the cooling water circuit. For this reason, when the water side heat exchanger HEL shown in FIG. 16 is used as the heat radiation amount adjusting unit, the configuration for controlling the rotation speed of the water pump constitutes the control unit for controlling the heat radiation amount adjusting unit.

(Sixth Modification)
As in the first embodiment described above, the cooling device 40 is desirably provided adjacent to the lower surface portion of the tank portion 32, but is not limited thereto. The cooling device 40 may be provided, for example, on at least one location of the side surface of the tank portion 32 or the branch passage portion 33.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the liquid storage amount adjustment unit that increases or decreases the storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30A is configured not by the cooling device 40 but by the volume adjustment unit 60 that increases or decreases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A. This is different from the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the device temperature control device 1 of the present embodiment includes a liquid storage unit 30 </ b> A, a volume adjustment unit in order to adjust the amount of working fluid inside the device heat exchanger 12. 60, a branch passage opening / closing valve 50A is provided. In addition, the cooling device 40 is not provided in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this embodiment.

  The liquid storage part 30A stores the liquid working fluid existing in the device fluid circuit 10. The liquid storage unit 30A is branched and connected to the device fluid circuit 10. The liquid storage part 30 </ b> A of the present embodiment is connected to the device fluid circuit 10 via a branch connection part 31 </ b> A provided in the liquid passage part 18.

  The branch connection portion 31 </ b> A is configured by a three-way joint provided in the device fluid circuit 10. The branch connection portion 31 </ b> A of the present embodiment is provided in a part of the equipment fluid circuit 10 that is located on the lower side of the part Hu that is located on the uppermost side in the vertical direction DRg of the equipment heat exchanger 12. .

  The liquid storage part 30A of the present embodiment includes a tank part 32A that stores a liquid working fluid, and a branch passage part 33A that connects the tank part 32A and the device fluid circuit 10. The tank portion 32A has a branch passage portion 33A connected to the upper surface portion thereof. One end side of the branch passage portion 33A is connected to the upper surface portion of the tank portion 32A, and the other end side is connected to the branch connection portion 31A.

  The volume adjusting unit 60 increases or decreases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A. The volume adjusting unit 60 includes a volume variable unit 61 that varies the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A by sliding inside the liquid storage unit 30A, and an actuator 62 that drives the volume variable unit 61.

  The capacity variable unit 61 of the present embodiment is configured by a block-like member disposed on the lower side of the liquid storage unit 30A so as to be slidable inside the liquid storage unit 30A. The actuator 62 increases or decreases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A by changing the position of the capacity variable unit 61 inside the liquid storage unit 30A.

  Specifically, the volume adjusting unit 60 is configured so that the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A becomes substantially zero when the variable capacity unit 61 is moved to the uppermost position by the actuator 62. . The volume adjusting unit 60 is configured so that the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A becomes the maximum volume when the variable capacity unit 61 is moved to the lowest position by the actuator 62. The operation of the volume adjusting unit 60 of the present embodiment is controlled by the control device 100.

  As described above, in the device temperature control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the storage amount of the working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 </ b> A increases or decreases by changing the position of the capacity variable unit 61 by the volume adjusting unit 60. In the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the volume adjustment unit 60 functions as a storage amount adjustment unit that increases or decreases the storage amount of the working fluid stored in the storage unit 30A. Note that the volume adjustment unit 60 described in the present embodiment is an example, and may be realized by another configuration.

  In the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, as the liquid working fluid stored in the liquid storage section 30A increases, the amount of the working fluid existing inside the apparatus heat exchanger 12 decreases. When the condition that the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is not necessary is established, the volume adjustment unit 60 of the present embodiment has the liquid level of the working fluid inside the device heat exchanger 12 on the lower side of the device proximity unit 121. It is the structure which increases the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in 30 A of liquid storage parts so that it may be located. That is, when the condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm is satisfied, the volume adjusting unit 60 interposes a gaseous working fluid below the portion of the equipment heat exchanger 12 that exchanges heat with the assembled battery BP. The liquid storage amount of the liquid storage part 30A is increased so as to form the liquid level in the wet state.

  The liquid storage unit 30A has a maximum volume when the volume adjustment unit 60 increases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A. The liquid level of the working fluid inside the device heat exchanger 12 is below the device proximity unit 121. The liquid working fluid is configured such that the liquid working fluid does not overflow from the liquid storage portion 30A.

  Specifically, the liquid storage unit 30A can store the liquid working fluid whose maximum volume when the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A is increased by the volume adjustment unit 60 is present in the heat exchanger 12 for equipment. The volume is large. That is, as shown in FIG. 19, the volume adjusting unit 60 of the present embodiment increases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30 </ b> A so that the liquid working fluid existing in the equipment heat exchanger 12 can be stored. The maximum volume Vc4 at this time is larger than the internal volume Ve4 of the equipment heat exchanger 12.

  Here, by storing the entire amount of the liquid working fluid existing in the device fluid circuit 10 in the liquid storage unit 30A, the cooling of the assembled battery BP in the device heat exchanger 12 can be reliably stopped. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 20, the liquid storage unit 30A has a maximum volume Vc4 that is the amount of liquid when all of the working fluid sealed in the device fluid circuit 10 is liquefied (ie, the total liquid amount All). It is desirable that the volume be sufficient to store liquid.

  The branch passage opening / closing valve 50 </ b> A is a fluid blocking unit that blocks the movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage unit 30 </ b> A and the device fluid circuit 10. The branch passage opening / closing valve 50A of the present embodiment is provided in the branch passage portion 33A. The branch passage opening / closing valve 50 </ b> A of the present embodiment is configured by an electric valve mechanism controlled by the control device 100. Specifically, the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A of the present embodiment is a normally open electromagnetic valve that closes when energized and opens when de-energized.

  Then, the control apparatus 100 of the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. The control device 100 controls the operation of various devices such as the blower fan BF, the volume adjusting unit 60, and the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A connected to the output side.

  The control device 100 of the present embodiment includes a fan control unit 100a that controls the rotation speed of the blower fan BF, a valve control unit 100b that controls the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A, and a capacity control unit 100d that controls the operation of the volume adjustment unit 60. Etc. are aggregated. In the present embodiment, the valve control unit 100b and the capacity control unit 100d in the control device 100 constitute a control unit that controls the liquid storage amount adjusting unit and the fluid blocking unit.

  Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the device temperature control device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control process shown in FIG. 21 is executed by the control device 100 at a predetermined cycle. Of the control processing shown in FIG. 21, the processing of steps S210 to S214 is the same as the processing of steps S110 to S114 of FIG. 7 described in the first embodiment. For this reason, in this embodiment, the description is simplified about the process of step S210-S214.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the control device 100 first reads various sensor signals in step S210. Subsequently, in step S212, control device 100 determines whether or not battery temperature Tb of assembled battery BP is lower than a preset allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin of assembled battery BP.

  As a result of the determination processing in step S212, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is equal to or higher than the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin, the control device 100 performs cooling in which the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is set in advance in step S214. It is determined whether or not the temperature is higher than the necessary temperature Tbth.

  As a result of the determination process in step S214, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is higher than the required cooling temperature Tbth, the device temperature adjustment device 1 shifts to a cooling mode for cooling the assembled battery BP. That is, as a result of the determination process in step S214, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is higher than the required cooling temperature Tbth, the control device 100 minimizes the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A in step S216. At the same time, the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A is controlled to be opened. Moreover, the control apparatus 100 starts the heat dissipation of the working fluid which exists in the inside of the condenser 14 by operating the ventilation fan BF in step S218.

  Specifically, in the process of step S216, the control device 100 controls the volume adjusting unit 60 so that the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A becomes the minimum volume, and branches so that the branch passage unit 33A is opened. The passage opening / closing valve 50A is controlled. In step S216, the control device 100 controls the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A so that the branch passage portion 33A is opened, and then the volume adjusting unit 60 so that the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A becomes the minimum volume. To control.

  In the device temperature control apparatus 1, when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP rises due to self-heating during traveling of the vehicle in the cooling mode, the heat of the assembled battery BP moves to the device heat exchanger 12. In the equipment heat exchanger 12, a part of the liquid working fluid evaporates by absorbing heat from the assembled battery BP. The assembled battery BP is cooled by the latent heat of vaporization of the working fluid existing inside the equipment heat exchanger 12, and the temperature thereof decreases.

  The gaseous working fluid evaporated in the equipment heat exchanger 12 flows out from the gas outlet section 122 of the equipment heat exchanger 12 to the gas passage section 16, and as shown by an arrow Fcg in FIG. 16 to condenser 14.

  In the condenser 14, the gaseous working fluid is condensed by dissipating heat to the blown air from the blower fan BF. Inside the condenser 14, the gaseous working fluid is liquefied and the specific gravity of the working fluid increases. Thereby, the working fluid liquefied inside the condenser 14 descends toward the liquid outlet 142 of the condenser 14 by its own weight.

  The liquid working fluid condensed in the condenser 14 flows out from the liquid outlet part 142 of the condenser 14 to the liquid passage part 18, and as shown by an arrow Fcl in FIG. Move to vessel 12. At this time, since the internal volume of the liquid storage part 30A is the minimum volume, the liquid working fluid that circulates in the liquid passage part 18 is not stored in the liquid storage part 30A, but is transferred to the equipment heat exchanger 12. Moving.

  In this way, the device temperature control device 1 circulates between the device heat exchanger 12 and the condenser 14 while the phase of the working fluid changes between the gas state and the liquid state in the cooling mode, thereby exchanging heat for the device. The assembled battery BP is cooled by transporting heat from the condenser 12 to the condenser 14.

  Returning to FIG. 21, when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is determined to be equal to or lower than the cooling required temperature Tbth as a result of the determination process in step S <b> 214, the device temperature adjustment device 1 stops the heat radiation of the working fluid in the condenser 14. .

  Specifically, when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is determined to be equal to or lower than the cooling required temperature Tbth as a result of the determination process in step S214, the control device 100 minimizes the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A in step S220. And the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A is controlled to be opened. Moreover, the control apparatus 100 stops the action | operation of the ventilation fan BF in step S222, and stops the thermal radiation of the working fluid which exists in the inside of the condenser 14. FIG. In step S220, the control device 100 controls the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A so that the branch passage portion 33A is opened, and then the volume adjustment unit 60 so that the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A becomes the minimum volume. To control.

  If the temperature of the working fluid existing inside the condenser 14 is higher than the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP, the equipment temperature control device 1 is configured from the equipment heat exchanger 12 even if the heat dissipation of the condenser 14 is stopped. The assembled battery BP is cooled by transporting heat to the condenser 14.

  Here, when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is lower than the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin so that the assembled battery BP is not excessively cooled, the device temperature control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment shifts to the overcooling prevention mode. That is, as a result of the determination process in step S212, when it is determined that the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is lower than the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin, the control device 100 maximizes the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A in step S224. At the same time, the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A is controlled to be opened. And the control apparatus 100 stops the action | operation of the ventilation fan BF in step S226, and stops the thermal radiation of the working fluid which exists in the inside of the condenser 14. FIG.

  Specifically, in the process of step S224, the control device 100 controls the volume adjustment unit 60 so that the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A becomes the maximum volume, and branches so that the branch passage unit 33A is opened. The passage opening / closing valve 50A is controlled. In step S224, the control device 100 controls the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A so that the branch passage portion 33A is opened, and then the volume adjustment unit 60 so that the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A becomes the maximum volume. To control.

  In the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, in the supercooling prevention mode, the internal volume of the liquid storage section 30A becomes the maximum volume with the branch passage section 33A being opened. For this reason, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 23, the liquid working fluid condensed by the condenser 14 is stored in the liquid storage part 30A.

  In the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1, as the liquid working fluid stored in the liquid storage section 30A increases, the liquid working fluid existing inside the apparatus heat exchanger 12 decreases. Further, inside the equipment heat exchanger 12, as shown in FIG. 24, the liquid working fluid flows into the liquid storage section 30A as indicated by the arrow Fcl, so that the liquid level LS of the working fluid is changed to the equipment proximity section 121. It drops to the lower side. That is, in the equipment heat exchanger 12, the gaseous working fluid is closer to the equipment proximity portion 121 than the liquid working fluid. Thereby, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the heat absorption from the assembled battery BP by evaporation of the working fluid of the apparatus heat exchanger 12 is suppressed.

  Returning to FIG. 21, after setting the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30 </ b> A to the maximum volume, the control device 100 determines whether or not the storage of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30 </ b> A is completed in step S <b> 228. . In step S226, the control device 100 according to the present embodiment stores the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30A when a predetermined reference time has elapsed after setting the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A to the maximum volume. Determine that completed.

  Here, whether or not the storage of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30A is completed in the process of step S228 regardless of the elapsed time since the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A is set to the maximum volume in step S226. It may be a process of determining.

  For example, after the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A is set to the maximum volume in step S226, the control device 100 operates the liquid to the liquid storage unit 30A when the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP rises to a predetermined temperature. It may be configured to determine that the fluid storage is completed. In addition, the control device 100 monitors the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the actual liquid storage unit 30A, and when the liquid storage amount exceeds a predetermined reference amount, It may be configured to determine that the working fluid has been stored.

  If it is determined in step S228 that the storage of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30A has been completed, the control device 100 closes the branch passage portion 33A by the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A in step S230.

  The reason why the branch passage portion 33A is closed by the branch passage opening / closing valve 50A is that when the branch passage portion 33A is in an open state, the liquid is transferred from the liquid storage portion 30A side to the device fluid circuit 10 side via the branch passage portion 33A. This is because the working fluid may move.

  The apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment described above increases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A by the volume adjustment unit 60 when the condition that the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is not necessary is satisfied. The liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid portion 30A is increased.

  According to this, when a condition that does not require temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP (that is, a condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm) is established, the liquid operation in the liquid storage section 30A provided to be branched to the fluid circuit for equipment 10 The amount of fluid stored increases. Along with this, the liquid working fluid existing in the equipment fluid circuit 10 decreases, and the liquid level of the working fluid in the equipment heat exchanger 12 decreases, so that the liquid working fluid in the equipment heat exchanger 12 evaporates. The heat absorption from the assembled battery BP can be suppressed.

  Therefore, in the device temperature control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the battery pack BP is excessively cooled when the temperature adjustment of the battery pack BP is not necessary, like the device temperature control apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. Can be sufficiently suppressed.

  In addition, when the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is not necessary, the device temperature control device 1 of the present embodiment is configured so that the liquid level of the working fluid inside the device heat exchanger 12 is positioned below the device proximity portion 121. In addition, the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage section 30A is increased.

  Thereby, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this embodiment, since the heat absorption from the assembled battery BP by evaporation of the working fluid of the apparatus heat exchanger 12 is suppressed, the assembled battery BP is excessively cooled. It can be suppressed sufficiently.

  Here, in the fluid circuit for equipment 10 of the present embodiment, the liquid storage unit 30A is branched and connected to a part located on the lower side of the part located on the uppermost side in the vertical direction DRg of the equipment heat exchanger 12. A branch connection 31A is provided.

  According to this, when the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP becomes unnecessary, the liquid working fluid existing in the device fluid circuit 10 flows into the liquid storage part 30A by its own weight, so that the liquid operation fluid in the device fluid circuit 10 is operated. It is possible to prevent the fluid from remaining.

  In the liquid storage unit 30A of the present embodiment, the maximum volume when the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30A is increased by the volume adjusting unit 60 is larger than the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger 12. Yes. According to this, when the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP becomes unnecessary, the liquid working fluid existing inside the equipment heat exchanger 12 can be stored in the liquid storage section 30A. It is possible to sufficiently suppress the heat absorption from the assembled battery BP due to evaporation of the working fluid.

  Here, as described above, it is desirable that the maximum volume of the liquid storage unit 30A has a configuration capable of storing the liquid amount when all the working fluid filled in the device fluid circuit 10 is liquefied. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the liquid working fluid from remaining in the equipment heat exchanger 12 when it is not necessary to adjust the temperature of the assembled battery BP.

  Furthermore, in the fluid circuit for equipment 10 of the present embodiment, when the storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit 30A reaches a predetermined reference amount in the supercooling prevention mode, the branch channel opening / closing valve 50A causes the branch channel unit to flow. 33A is closed.

  According to this, since the movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage unit 30A and the device fluid circuit 10 is blocked after the liquid working fluid is stored in the liquid storage unit 30A, the liquid storage unit 30A is not intended. It is possible to prevent the working fluid inside the fluid from moving to the device fluid circuit 10.

(Modification of the second embodiment)
Hereinafter, the 1st-3rd modification of the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 25-28. Note that the content described in the present modification can be applied to the device temperature adjustment device 1 of the first embodiment described above as long as no particular problem occurs.

(First modification)
As in the second embodiment described above, the branch connection portion 31A is located on the lower side of the part Hu in the vertical direction DRg of the equipment heat exchanger 12 in the equipment fluid circuit 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 25, the branch connection portion 31 </ b> A is located above the portion Hu located on the uppermost side in the vertical direction DRg of the device heat exchanger 12 in the liquid passage portion 1 of the device fluid circuit 10. You may be provided in the site | part located in the side.

(Second modification)
In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration in which the maximum volume of the liquid storage unit 30A is larger than the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger 12 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the device temperature control device 1 of the present modification has a gas passage portion 16 that is located on the lower side of the uppermost portion Hu in the device heat exchanger 12. 161A is comprised. Moreover, the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this modification is comprised including the downward | lower side liquid passage part 181A located in the downward side rather than the site | part Hu located in the uppermost part in the apparatus heat exchanger 12. FIG. Has been.

  Then, the liquid storage unit 30A of the present modification has a liquid working fluid existing in the equipment heat exchanger 12 when the maximum volume satisfies the condition that the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP is unnecessary, and The volume is such that a liquid working fluid that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger 12 can be stored. That is, as shown in FIG. 26, the liquid storage section 30A of the present embodiment has a maximum volume Vc5 of the internal volume Ve4 of the equipment heat exchanger 12, the internal volume Vpg1 of the lower gas passage section 161A, and the lower liquid. The total sum Ve5 of the internal volume Vpl1 of the passage portion 181A is larger.

  According to this, in addition to the liquid working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger 12, the liquid existing in the lower gas passage 161 </ b> A and the lower liquid passage 181 </ b> A that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger 12. The working fluid can be stored in the liquid storage part 30A. For this reason, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this modification, when the temperature adjustment of assembled battery BP becomes unnecessary, the liquid level of the working fluid in the apparatus heat exchanger 12 can be sufficiently lowered. The heat absorption from the assembled battery BP in the heat exchanger 12 can be sufficiently suppressed.

(Third Modification)
In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration in which the maximum volume of the liquid storage unit 30A is larger than the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger 12 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the device temperature control device 1 of the present modification has an upper gas passage portion in which the gas passage portion 16 is located above the lowermost portion Hd in the device heat exchanger 12. 162 is comprised. Moreover, the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this modification is comprised including the upper side liquid channel | path part 182 in which the liquid channel part 18 is located above the part Hd located in the lowest part in the heat exchanger 12 for apparatuses. Has been.

  And the liquid storage part 30A of the present modification has a liquid working fluid existing inside the equipment heat exchanger 12 when the condition that its internal volume does not require temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP, and The volume is such that a liquid working fluid that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger 12 can be stored. That is, as shown in FIG. 28, the liquid storage unit 30A of the present embodiment has a maximum volume Vc6 of the internal volume Ve4 of the equipment heat exchanger 12, the internal volume Vpg2 of the upper gas passage 162, and the upper liquid. The total volume Ve6 of the internal volume Vpl2 of the passage portion 182 is larger.

  According to this, in addition to the liquid working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger 12, the liquid existing in the upper gas passage section 162 and the upper liquid passage section 182 that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger 12. The working fluid can be stored in the liquid storage unit 30. For this reason, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 of this modification, when the temperature adjustment of assembled battery BP becomes unnecessary, the liquid level of the working fluid in the apparatus heat exchanger 12 can be sufficiently lowered. The heat absorption from the assembled battery BP in the heat exchanger 12 can be sufficiently suppressed.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although typical embodiment of this indication was described, this indication is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, for example, can be variously changed as follows.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the branch passage opening / closing valves 50 and 50A are configured by electromagnetic valves has been described. However, the branch passage opening / closing valves 50 and 50A have, for example, a mechanical type having a valve mechanism that operates regardless of energization. You may be comprised with the valve | bulb.

  As in the above-described embodiments, the internal volume of the liquid storage unit 30 or the maximum volume of the liquid storage unit 30A is preferably larger than the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the liquid storage parts 30 and 30 </ b> A have such a volume that the liquid working fluid does not overflow when the liquid level of the working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger 12 decreases to the lower side of the equipment proximity part 121. The inner volume or the maximum volume may be smaller than the inner volume of the equipment heat exchanger 12.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the equipment heat exchanger 12 is disposed at a position facing the bottom surface of the assembled battery BP has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the device temperature control device 1 may be configured such that the device heat exchanger 12 is disposed at a position facing the side surface of the assembled battery BP. In this case, as long as the working fluid is present inside the equipment heat exchanger 12, the liquid level LS of the working fluid may not be lowered below the equipment proximity portion 121. For this reason, in the configuration in which the equipment heat exchanger 12 is disposed opposite to the side surface portion of the assembled battery BP, in the supercooling prevention mode, the total amount of the liquid working fluid existing in the equipment heat exchanger 12 is stored in the liquid storage section. It is desirable to move to 30, 30A.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the gas outlet portion 122 and the liquid inlet portion 123 of the equipment heat exchanger 12 are provided on the side portions facing each other has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The gas outlet part 122 and the liquid inlet part 123 may be provided on the upper surface part of the equipment heat exchanger 12, for example.

  Further, the gas outlet portion 122 and the liquid inlet portion 123 of the equipment heat exchanger 12 may have different heights in the vertical direction DRg. In this case, it is desirable that the gas outlet portion 122 is positioned higher than the liquid inlet portion 123.

  In each above-mentioned embodiment, although the example which adjusts the temperature of the single assembled battery BP with the apparatus temperature control apparatus 1 was demonstrated, it is not limited to this. The device temperature control device 1 can adjust the temperatures of a plurality of devices.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP is lower than the allowable lower limit temperature Tbmin of the assembled battery BP as a condition that does not require temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP (that is, a condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm). However, the present invention is not limited to this. The condition that does not require the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery BP (that is, the condition for keeping the assembled battery BP warm) is a condition that is satisfied when, for example, the ambient temperature around the assembled battery BP is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. Also good.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the device temperature control device 1 of the present disclosure is applied to a device that adjusts the battery temperature Tb of the assembled battery BP mounted on a vehicle has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the application target of the device temperature adjustment device 1 of the present disclosure is not limited to the assembled battery BP, and can be widely applied to devices that adjust the temperature of other devices.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is needless to say that elements constituting the embodiment are not necessarily indispensable except for the case where it is clearly indicated that the element is essential and the case where it is considered that it is clearly essential in principle.

  In the above-described embodiment, when numerical values such as the number, numerical value, quantity, range, etc. of the constituent elements of the embodiment are mentioned, it is particularly limited to a specific number when clearly indicated as essential and in principle. Except in some cases, the number is not limited.

  In the above embodiment, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of the component, etc., the shape, positional relationship, etc. unless otherwise specified and in principle limited to a specific shape, positional relationship, etc. It is not limited to etc.

(Summary)
According to the 1st viewpoint shown by one part or all part of the above-mentioned embodiment, the apparatus temperature control apparatus is a liquid storage part which stores the liquid working fluid which exists in the fluid circuit for apparatuses, and the liquid state in a liquid storage part. A liquid storage amount adjusting unit that increases or decreases the storage amount of the working fluid. The liquid storage amount adjustment unit is configured to increase the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit when a condition for keeping the temperature control target device is established.

  According to the second aspect, the liquid storage amount adjustment unit of the device temperature adjustment device is a part that exchanges heat with the temperature adjustment target device in the device heat exchanger when a condition for keeping the temperature adjustment target device is established. The liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage section is increased so that the liquid level is formed in a state where the gaseous working fluid is interposed on the lower side.

  According to this, when the condition for maintaining the temperature control target device is established, the liquid level of the working fluid inside the device heat exchanger decreases to the lower side of the part that exchanges heat with the temperature control target device. The target device is close to a portion where the gaseous working fluid exists in the heat exchanger for the device. For this reason, in the device temperature control device of the present disclosure, heat absorption from the temperature control target device due to evaporation of the working fluid of the device heat exchanger is suppressed, so that the temperature control target device is sufficiently cooled. Can be suppressed.

  Moreover, according to the 3rd viewpoint, the apparatus temperature control apparatus is comprised including the cooling device with which a liquid storage amount adjustment part cools a liquid storage part. The liquid storage amount adjustment unit cools the working fluid existing inside the liquid storage unit by the cooling device when the condition for keeping the temperature control target device is established, thereby reducing the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit. It is configured to increase the amount of liquid storage.

  In this way, if the storage unit is cooled by the cooling device to increase the storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the storage unit, the liquid working fluid existing in the fluid circuit for the device can be reduced. Can do. Thereby, the heat absorption from the temperature control object apparatus by evaporation of the liquid working fluid in the apparatus heat exchanger can be suppressed.

  Moreover, according to the 4th viewpoint, in the apparatus fluid circuit of an apparatus temperature control apparatus, in the site | part located upwards rather than the site | part located in the uppermost part of the vertical direction of an apparatus heat exchanger, a liquid storage part A branch connection part for branch connection is provided.

  According to this, when adjusting the temperature of the temperature control target device, it is possible to prevent the liquid working fluid from flowing into the liquid storage unit instead of the device heat exchanger due to its own weight or the like. That is, when the temperature of the temperature control target device is adjusted, the flow of the liquid working fluid into the liquid storage unit is suppressed, so that a sufficient flow rate of the working fluid circulating in the device fluid circuit can be secured. it can.

  Moreover, according to the 5th viewpoint, as for the apparatus temperature control apparatus, the internal volume of a liquid storage part is a volume larger than the internal volume of the heat exchanger for apparatuses. According to this, the liquid working fluid existing inside the equipment heat exchanger can be stored in the liquid storage part when the condition that the temperature adjustment of the temperature control target equipment is unnecessary is established. It is possible to sufficiently suppress heat absorption from the temperature control target device due to evaporation of the working fluid in the exchanger.

  Moreover, according to the 6th viewpoint, the liquid storage part of an apparatus temperature control apparatus is comprised including the tank part which stores a liquid working fluid. As described above, if the liquid storage part includes the tank part, the internal volume for storing the liquid working fluid can be sufficiently secured with a small number of parts.

  Moreover, according to the 7th viewpoint, the liquid storage part of the apparatus temperature control apparatus is comprised including the branch channel | path part which connects a tank part and the fluid circuit for apparatuses. And the liquid storage part is a volume whose sum total of the internal volume of a tank part and the internal volume of a branch channel | path part is larger than the internal volume of the heat exchanger for apparatuses. As described above, if the liquid storage part includes the branch passage part, it is possible to sufficiently secure an internal volume for storing the liquid working fluid while suppressing an increase in capacity of the tank part.

  Further, according to the eighth aspect, the equipment temperature control device includes a portion where the gas passage portion is located on a lower side than a portion located on the uppermost side in the equipment heat exchanger, that is, a lower gas passage portion. It consists of Further, the liquid passage portion is configured to include a portion located on the lower side of the uppermost portion in the equipment heat exchanger, that is, a lower liquid passage portion. The internal volume of the liquid storage part is larger than the sum of the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger, the internal volume of the lower gas passage part, and the internal volume of the lower liquid passage part.

  According to this, the lower gas passage that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger in addition to the liquid working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger when the condition for keeping the temperature control target equipment is established. It is possible to store in the liquid storage part including the liquid working fluid existing in the part and the lower liquid passage part. For this reason, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus of this indication, the heat absorption from the temperature control object apparatus by evaporation of the liquid working fluid in the apparatus heat exchanger can fully be suppressed.

  Further, according to the ninth aspect, the device temperature control device is configured such that the total volume of the working fluid filled in the device fluid circuit is liquefied and the internal volume of the liquid storage part is The volume of the entire liquid can be stored.

  According to this, when the total volume of the working fluid filled in the fluid circuit for equipment is liquefied, the internal volume of the liquid storage part becomes larger, so that it is not necessary to adjust the temperature of the temperature control target equipment. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the liquid working fluid from remaining in the equipment heat exchanger.

  According to the tenth aspect, the liquid storage amount adjustment unit of the device temperature control device includes a volume adjustment unit that increases or decreases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit. The liquid storage amount adjustment unit increases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit by the volume adjustment unit when a condition for keeping the temperature adjustment target device is established, thereby storing the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit. It becomes the structure which increases quantity.

  In this way, if the volume adjustment unit increases the internal volume of the liquid storage unit to increase the amount of liquid working fluid stored in the liquid storage unit, the liquid working fluid existing in the fluid circuit for equipment is reduced. Can be made. Thereby, the heat absorption from the temperature control object apparatus by evaporation of the liquid working fluid in the apparatus heat exchanger can be suppressed.

  In addition, according to the eleventh aspect, in the device temperature control device, the maximum volume of the liquid storage unit when the internal volume of the liquid storage unit is increased by the volume adjustment unit is greater than the internal volume of the device heat exchanger. It has a large volume.

  According to this, since the liquid working fluid existing in the heat exchanger for equipment can be stored in the liquid storage section when the condition for keeping the temperature control target equipment is established, the operation of the equipment heat exchanger can be performed. It is possible to sufficiently suppress the heat absorption from the temperature control target device due to the evaporation of the fluid.

  Further, according to the twelfth aspect, the equipment temperature control device is configured such that the gas passage portion is located on a lower side than the uppermost position in the vertical direction of the equipment heat exchanger, that is, the lower gas passage. Part. Further, the liquid passage portion is configured to include a portion located on the lower side of the uppermost portion in the equipment heat exchanger, that is, a lower liquid passage portion. The maximum volume when the internal volume of the liquid storage unit is increased by the volume adjusting unit is the sum of the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger, the internal volume of the lower gas passage unit, and the internal volume of the lower liquid channel unit. It has a larger volume.

  According to this, the lower gas passage that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger in addition to the liquid working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger when the condition for keeping the temperature control target equipment is established. It is possible to store in the liquid storage part including the liquid working fluid existing in the part and the lower liquid passage part. For this reason, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus of this indication, the heat absorption from the temperature control object apparatus by evaporation of the liquid working fluid in the apparatus heat exchanger can fully be suppressed.

  Further, according to the thirteenth aspect, the equipment temperature control device is configured such that the gas passage portion is located on the upper side of the vertically located part of the equipment heat exchanger, that is, the upper gas passage. Part. Further, the liquid passage portion is configured to include a portion located on the lower side of the uppermost portion in the equipment heat exchanger, that is, an upper liquid passage portion. And the maximum volume of the liquid storage part when the internal volume of the liquid storage part is increased by the volume adjusting part is the internal volume of the heat exchanger for equipment, the internal volume of the upper gas passage part, the upper volume of the upper liquid passage part The volume is larger than the total internal volume.

  According to this, in addition to the liquid working fluid inside the equipment heat exchanger, the liquid working fluid existing in the upper gas passage section and the lower liquid passage section that may flow into the equipment heat exchanger is also present. It can be stored in the liquid storage part. For this reason, in the apparatus temperature control apparatus of this indication, the heat absorption from the temperature control object apparatus by evaporation of the liquid working fluid in the apparatus heat exchanger can fully be suppressed.

  Further, according to the fourteenth aspect, the device temperature control device is configured such that when the amount of the working fluid filled in the device fluid circuit is liquefied, the liquid amount is stored by the volume adjusting unit. The maximum volume of the liquid storage part when the internal volume of the liquid is increased is a volume capable of storing the total liquid amount.

  According to this, the maximum volume when the internal volume of the liquid storage part is increased becomes larger than the volume when the entire amount of the working fluid filled in the fluid circuit for equipment is liquefied. With such a configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent the liquid working fluid from remaining in the device heat exchanger when temperature adjustment of the temperature adjustment target device is not necessary.

  Further, according to the fifteenth aspect, the device temperature control device stores the liquid in the device fluid circuit at a position located on a lower side than a position located on the uppermost side in the vertical direction of the device heat exchanger. A branch connection part for branching the parts is provided.

  According to this, when the temperature control target device is kept warm, the liquid working fluid existing in the device fluid circuit flows into the liquid storage part by its own weight, so that the liquid working fluid remains in the device fluid circuit. That can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the sixteenth aspect, the device temperature adjustment device is configured such that when the condition for keeping the temperature adjustment target device is lower than the allowable lower limit temperature of the temperature adjustment target device, the temperature of the temperature adjustment target device is set in advance. It is a condition that holds.

  In this way, when the temperature of the temperature control target device falls below the allowable lower limit temperature, the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage portion branched and connected to the device fluid circuit is increased. It is possible to sufficiently suppress the adjustment target device from being excessively cooled.

  According to the seventeenth aspect, the device temperature control device includes a fluid blocking unit that blocks movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage unit and the device fluid circuit, a liquid storage amount adjusting unit, and a fluid blocking unit. A control unit for controlling. Then, the control unit increases the storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the storage unit by the storage amount adjustment unit, and then the storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the storage unit reaches a predetermined reference amount. The movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage unit and the device fluid circuit is blocked by the fluid blocking unit.

  According to this, since the movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage unit and the device fluid circuit is blocked after the liquid working fluid is stored in the liquid storage unit, the liquid working fluid is stored in the liquid storage unit. Later, it becomes possible to prevent the working fluid inside the liquid storage part from moving to the fluid circuit for equipment.

  Moreover, according to the 18th viewpoint, the apparatus temperature control apparatus is comprised by the assembled battery with which temperature control object apparatus is mounted in a vehicle. According to this, since the temperature of the assembled battery can be prevented from excessively decreasing, the output characteristics are deteriorated due to the suppression of chemical changes in the assembled battery, and the input characteristics are deteriorated due to an increase in the internal resistance of the assembled battery. It can be avoided.

Claims (18)

A device temperature control device capable of adjusting the temperature of at least one temperature control target device (BP),
An equipment heat exchanger (12) that absorbs heat from the temperature control target equipment and evaporates the liquid working fluid;
A condenser (14) disposed above the equipment heat exchanger and condensing the gaseous working fluid evaporated in the equipment heat exchanger;
A gas passage portion (16) for guiding the gaseous working fluid evaporated in the equipment heat exchanger to the condenser;
A liquid passage portion (18) for guiding the liquid working fluid condensed in the condenser to the equipment heat exchanger;
The apparatus heat circuit, the condenser, the gas passage part, and the liquid circuit part (10) configured to include the liquid passage part are branched from the liquid circuit that exists in the equipment fluid circuit. A liquid reservoir (30, 30A) for storing the working fluid;
A liquid storage amount adjustment unit (40, 60) for increasing or decreasing the amount of liquid working fluid stored in the liquid storage unit,
The liquid storage amount adjusting unit is configured to increase the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit when a condition for keeping the temperature adjustment target device is established.   When the condition for keeping the temperature adjustment target device is established, the liquid storage amount adjustment unit is in a gaseous state below the portion of the heat exchanger for the device that performs heat exchange with the temperature adjustment target device. The apparatus temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit is increased so as to form a liquid level with the working fluid interposed. The liquid storage amount adjusting unit is
A cooling device (40) configured to cool the liquid storage unit;
When the condition for keeping the temperature control target device is established, the amount of liquid working fluid stored in the liquid storage unit is increased by cooling the working fluid existing in the liquid storage unit by the cooling device. The device temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device temperature control device is configured to be configured.   The fluid circuit for equipment is provided with a branch connection part (31) for branching and connecting the liquid storage part at a part located above the part located at the uppermost position in the vertical direction of the heat exchanger for equipment. The apparatus temperature control apparatus of Claim 3 currently provided.   The apparatus temperature control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an inner volume of the liquid storage unit is larger than an inner volume of the apparatus heat exchanger.   The apparatus temperature adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid storage part includes a tank part (32) for storing a liquid working fluid. The liquid reservoir is
A branch passage portion (33) for connecting the tank portion and the fluid circuit for equipment is configured,
The equipment temperature control device according to claim 6, wherein a total sum of an internal volume of the tank section and an internal volume of the branch passage section is larger than an internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger. Of the gas passage part, a part located on the lower side of the part located on the uppermost side of the heat exchanger for equipment is defined as a lower gas passage part (161), and the heat exchanger for equipment in the liquid passage part. When the part located on the lower side than the part located on the uppermost side is the lower side liquid passage part (181),
The internal volume of the liquid storage part is larger than the sum of the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger, the internal volume of the lower gas passage part, and the internal volume of the lower liquid passage part. Item 8. The apparatus temperature control device according to any one of Items 1 to 7. When the total amount of liquid when all the working fluid filled in the fluid circuit for equipment is liquefied,
The apparatus temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an inner volume of the liquid storage section is a volume capable of storing the total liquid amount. The liquid storage amount adjusting unit is
A volume adjusting unit (60) for increasing or decreasing the internal volume of the liquid storage unit;
A configuration for increasing the liquid storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the liquid storage unit by increasing the internal volume of the liquid storage unit by the volume adjusting unit when a condition for keeping the temperature control target device is established. The apparatus temperature control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The maximum volume of the liquid storage unit when the internal volume of the liquid storage unit is increased by the volume adjustment unit is a volume larger than the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger. Equipment temperature control device. Of the gas passage part, a part located on the lower side of the part located on the uppermost side of the heat exchanger for equipment is defined as a lower gas passage part (161A), and the heat exchanger for equipment in the liquid passage part. When the portion located on the lower side than the portion located on the uppermost side is the lower liquid passage portion (181A),
The maximum volume when the internal volume of the liquid storage part is increased by the volume adjusting part is the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger, the internal volume of the lower gas passage part, or the content of the lower liquid passage part The apparatus temperature control device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the device has a volume larger than a sum of products. A portion of the gas passage portion that is located on the upper side of the portion that is located at the lowest position of the equipment heat exchanger is referred to as an upper gas passage portion (162), and the heat exchanger for the equipment of the liquid passage portion. When the portion located on the lower side than the portion located on the uppermost side is the upper liquid passage portion (182),
The maximum volume of the liquid storage part when the internal volume of the liquid storage part is increased by the volume adjusting part is the internal volume of the equipment heat exchanger, the internal volume of the upper gas passage part, the upper side The device temperature control device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the device has a volume larger than a total sum of internal volumes of the liquid passage portions. When the total amount of liquid when all the working fluid filled in the fluid circuit for equipment is liquefied,
The maximum volume of the liquid storage unit when the internal volume of the liquid storage unit is increased by the volume adjusting unit is a volume capable of storing the total liquid amount. Equipment temperature control device as described in one.   The fluid circuit for equipment is provided with a branch connection part (31A) for branching and connecting the liquid storage part at a part located below the part located at the uppermost part in the vertical direction of the heat exchanger for equipment. The apparatus temperature control apparatus as described in any one of Claims 10 thru | or 14 currently used.   The condition for maintaining the temperature control target device is a condition that is satisfied when the temperature of the temperature control target device falls below a preset allowable lower limit temperature of the temperature control target device. The apparatus temperature control apparatus as described in any one. A fluid blocking section (50, 50A) for blocking the movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage section and the device fluid circuit;
A control unit (100) for controlling the liquid storage amount adjusting unit and the fluid blocking unit,
The control unit increases the storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the storage unit by the storage amount adjustment unit, and then the storage amount of the liquid working fluid in the storage unit becomes a predetermined reference amount. The apparatus temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein when it reaches, the fluid blocking section blocks the movement of the working fluid between the liquid storage section and the apparatus fluid circuit.   The device for temperature regulation according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the temperature regulation target device is configured by a battery pack (BP) mounted on a vehicle.

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