JPH07205634A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make comfortable air conditioning to be compatible with capability-saving of cooling capacity. CONSTITUTION:Maximum wind speed allowable value and head target temperature for retaining comfortableness for a human body is calculated based on head solar radiation value detected by a head solar radiation value sensor 65 attached to the vicinity of a human body head, head temperature detected by a head temperature sensor 66, head wind speed detected by a head wind speed sensor 67, and inner air temperature detected by a car room inner temperature sensor 68. Air conditioning in a main air conditioning area A centering around the human head is performed by controlling wind quantity of a blower so that the head wind speed of the air conditioning air reaching to the human body head becomes the maximum wind speed allowable value, and also controlling an air mix damper so that the head temperature of the air conditioning air reaching to the human body head becomes the head target temperature. Hereby, the higher head wind speed for the human body can set the head temperature and the car room inner temperature in higher temperature during the steady operation period of a cooling mode so that comfortableness for the human body is retained even though the cooling capacity of a refrigerating cycle evaporator is insufficient.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for automatically controlling the wind speed of a blower based on the warm feeling of a human body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an automatic air conditioner for a vehicle, since the air conditioning in the vehicle interior is the basis,
Based on at least the vehicle interior temperature and the set temperature, the target air flow rate corresponding to the heat load is calculated, and the air flow rate of the air blower is controlled so as to reach the target air flow rate. That is,
The maximum air flow rate is controlled at the initial stage of startup with a large heat load, and the minimum air flow rate is controlled during a steady operation with a small heat load.

Further, for example, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-37846, the head temperature of the human body is detected, and the maximum air volume is limited based on the head temperature of the human body. The maximum air volume is prevented from being supplied for a long period of time to cause discomfort.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, since the air conditioning of the entire passenger compartment is the basis,
It is only a temporary control method until the vehicle interior temperature reaches the set temperature in the initial stage of startup, etc., and during steady operation, it is controlled by the minimum air volume, which consumes a large amount of cooling capacity or heating capacity. There was a problem.

It is also conceivable to control the air volume by using a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the human body, the amount of solar radiation, and the wind speed so as to correspond to the temperature sensation of the human body. When the temperature of the human body is preferentially controlled as described above, there is a problem that the cooling capacity or the heating capacity is consumed greatly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner capable of achieving both comfortable air conditioning and capacity saving.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to temperature control means for controlling the temperature of air, a blower for blowing the conditioned air adjusted by the temperature control means, and solar radiation in the main air-conditioning area centering on the human body. A solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting the amount, and a human body temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the main air-conditioning area, and a thermal sensation detecting means for detecting the thermal sensation of the human body, and a human body detected by this thermal sensation detecting means. Based on the sense of temperature, the maximum allowable wind speed that can maintain the comfort of the human body is determined, and the blower is set so that the wind speed of the conditioned air blown to the main air-conditioning area becomes the maximum allowable wind speed. The technical means with control means for controlling was adopted.

As the temperature sensation detecting means, in addition to the solar radiation amount detecting means and the human body temperature detecting means, a wind speed detecting means for detecting the wind speed of the conditioned air blown to the main air conditioning area, and the main air conditioning. A main air conditioning outside temperature detecting means for detecting the outside temperature may be added. Further, as the temperature adjusting means, a cooler capable of changing the cooling capacity of passing air may be provided. Further, as the temperature adjusting means, a cooler for cooling the passing air, a heater arranged downstream of the cooler for heating the passing air, and an air amount passing through the heater and the heater are provided. An air amount adjusting means for adjusting the amount of bypassed air may be provided.

[0009]

According to the invention, the maximum wind speed allowable value is determined by the control means from the solar radiation amount of the main air-conditioning region detected by the solar radiation amount detecting device and the temperature of the main air-conditioning region detected by the human body temperature detecting device. Then, by controlling the wind speed of the blower so as to reach the determined maximum wind speed allowable value, the conditioned air that is comfortable for the human body is sent to the main air conditioning area centering on the human body. Note that, during the cooling operation, the temperature of the human body and the temperature around the human body can be set to be higher when the wind speed hitting the human body is higher, so that it is possible to suppress the air conditioning capacity of the temperature adjusting means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An air conditioner according to the present invention will be described below based on an embodiment applied to an automobile air conditioner.

[Structure of First Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 to 4 are views showing an automobile air conditioner.

The automobile auto air conditioner 1 includes a duct 2 for sending air into the passenger compartment, a blower 3 for generating an air flow toward the passenger compartment in the duct 2, an evaporator 4 for cooling air flowing in the duct 2, a passenger compartment. A heater core 5 for heating air flowing through the heater core 5, an air mix damper 6 rotatably attached to the inlet side of the heater core 5, and an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU) 7 for controlling each air conditioner are provided.

The duct 2 is arranged on the front side in the vehicle compartment. Two inlets, an inside air inlet 8 and an outside air inlet 9, are provided on the inlet side of this duct 2, and inside the outside air inlet 8 and outside air inlet 9 serve as inside / outside air switching means. The air switching damper 10 is rotatably attached. The inside / outside air switching damper 10 is driven by a servo motor 11 as a driving means,
The inside air circulation mode for introducing air inside the vehicle (hereinafter abbreviated as inside air) from the inside air inlet 8 and the outside air introduction mode for introducing outside air (hereinafter abbreviated as outside air) from the outside air inlet 9 are switched.

A defrost duct 12, a foot duct 13 and a face duct 14 are connected to the outlet side of the duct 2. A defrost outlet 15 is provided at the outlet of the defrost duct 12, and a defrost damper 16 as an outlet mode switching unit is rotatably attached on the upstream side of the defrost outlet 15.
In addition, at the outlet of the foot duct 13, the foot outlet 17
Is provided, and a foot damper 18 as an outlet mode switching means is rotatably attached on the upstream side of the foot outlet 17.

As shown in FIG. 5, six branch ducts 19 to 24 are connected to the outlet side of the face duct 14. At the outlets of the branch ducts 19 and 20, center face outlets 26 and 27 that are open at the center of the front surface of the instrument panel 25 are provided. Further, side face outlets 28 and 29 are provided at the outlets of the branch ducts 21 and 22 and open near the side glass of the automobile. Then, at the outlets of the branch ducts 23 and 24, the middle face outlets 3 which are opened between the center face outlets 26 and 27 and the side face outlets 28 and 29.
0 and 31 are provided.

The middle face outlet 3 on the driver's side
0 indicates the meter panel 32 of the automobile as shown in FIG.
Since the same opening method as that of the middle-face outlet 31 on the passenger side cannot be realized due to the steering wheel 33 and the handle 33, an opening portion is provided in the meter hood portion 32a of the meter panel 32 as shown in FIG.

The face outlets 26 to 31 are provided on the instrument panel 25 installed on the front side in the passenger compartment.
The wide flow outlet 34 is formed to open over substantially the entire width of the above, and a grill for changing the direction of the blown air is attached.

On the upstream side of the face duct 14, a face damper 35 as an outlet mode switching means is provided.
Is rotatably attached to the branch ducts 23, 2
4 On the upstream side, middle face dampers 36 and 37, which serve as air outlet mode switching means, are rotatably attached. The face damper 35 and the middle face dampers 36 and 37 change the opening area of the wide flow outlet 34.

The defrost damper 16, the foot damper 18, the face damper 35, and the middle face dampers 36, 37 are servo motors 38 to 38 serving as driving means.
By controlling the opening degree by 42, the face mode which mainly sends the cool air from the wide flow outlet 34 to the head and chest of the human body and the upper portion of the passenger compartment, and the wide flow outlet 34 from the head and chest of the human body and the upper portion of the passenger compartment. A bi-level mode that mainly sends cool air to the feet of the human body from the foot outlet 17, a foot mode that mainly sends warm air to the feet of the human body from the foot outlet 17, indoor heating and the windshield The air outlet mode is switched to the foot diff mode for removing the fog on the windshield, the diff mode for removing the fog on the windshield, and the like.

The blower 3 is the blower of the present invention, the rotation speed of which is controlled by a blower motor 44 as a drive means whose applied voltage is controlled by a blower drive circuit 43, and whichever of the inside air inlet port 8 or the outside air inlet port 9 is used. Air is sucked from the opened inlet and blown into the vehicle interior through the duct 2.

The evaporator 4 is a cooler of the present invention, which is a refrigerant evaporator which is arranged in the duct 2 on the downstream side of the blower 3 and cools the air sent by the blower 3. It is one of the constituent elements. The evaporator 4 has its air cooling capacity changed according to the refrigerant circulation amount.

The refrigeration cycle 45 includes a compressor 46, a condenser 47, and a receiver 4 as a gas-liquid separating means.
8. A refrigerant is circulated to the compressor 46 via the expansion valve 49 as a pressure reducing means and the evaporator 4 as a cooling means. Then, the compressor 46 is rotationally driven by transmitting rotational power of the engine via an electromagnetic clutch (not shown) whose energization is controlled by the compressor drive circuit 50.

In the refrigeration cycle 45, the compressor 46 operates (ON) to obtain the air cooling function of the evaporator 4, and the compressor 46 stops operating (OFF) to stop the air cooling of the evaporator 4. Further, the compressor 46 can change the refrigerant discharge amount (refrigerant circulation amount) by changing the energization time of the electromagnetic clutch.

The heater core 5 is the heater of the present invention, and uses the cooling water of the automobile engine cooling system as a heat source.
This is a heat exchanger that heats the air sent from the upstream side of the duct 2. The air mix damper 6 is the air amount adjusting means of the present invention, and according to the opening degree set by the servomotor 51, the air amount passing through the heater core 5 and the air amount bypassing the heater core 5 and passing through the bypass path 52. Adjust and. In addition, the evaporator 4, the heater core 5, and the air mix damper 6 constitute the temperature control means of the present invention. Further, instead of the heater core 5, a condenser of a refrigeration cycle may be used as a heater.

The ECU 7 is the control means of the present invention,
As shown in FIG. 4, the ignition switch 60 includes a CPU, a ROM and a RAM.
It is connected to the battery 61 via. This ECU 7
Stores a control program for controlling the air conditioning in the vehicle compartment in advance in the ROM, and performs various calculations and processes based on the control program.

Further, the ECU 7 includes a vehicle outside temperature sensor 6
2. Based on the input signals input from the after-evaporation temperature sensor 63, the water temperature sensor 64, the temperature sensor S, and the control panel P and the above-mentioned control program, the servo motor 1
1, 38 to 42, 51, the blower drive circuit 43, the compressor drive circuit 50 and the like are controlled to automatically control the air conditioning in the vehicle compartment.

The vehicle outside temperature sensor 62 is a vehicle outside temperature detecting means for detecting an air temperature (outside air temperature) outside the vehicle. The post-evaporation temperature sensor 63 is a post-evaporation temperature detection unit that detects the air temperature (post-evaporation temperature) on the leeward side of the evaporator 4. The water temperature sensor 64 is a water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the cooling water of the engine cooling system of the automobile.

The temperature sensor S is a head solar radiation sensor 65,
It is composed of a head temperature sensor 66, a head wind speed sensor 67, and a vehicle interior temperature sensor 68, and detects the warmth of the human body. The head solar radiation amount sensor 65 is the solar radiation amount detecting means of the present invention, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, mainly the upper body of the human body in the face mode (wide flow outlet 34 fully open). The amount of solar radiation in the air conditioning area A is detected.

The head temperature sensor 66 is the human body temperature detecting means of the present invention, and detects the temperature in the main air-conditioning area A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The head wind speed sensor 67 is the wind speed detecting means of the present invention, and detects the wind speed in the main air conditioning area A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The head solar radiation sensor 65, the head temperature sensor 66, and the head wind speed sensor 67 are attached near the human head, that is, on the side surface of the headrest of the front seat.

The vehicle interior temperature sensor 68 is a main air conditioning zone outside temperature detecting means of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 1, detects the air temperature (inside air temperature) inside the vehicle compartment outside the main air conditioning zone A. Then, it is installed in the duct 69 provided in the lower portion of the instrument panel 25. It should be noted that the vehicle interior temperature sensor 68 detects the air in the vehicle interior by sucking the air in the vehicle interior by generating a negative pressure in the duct 69 or by the action of a small fan (not shown).

FIG. 6 is a view showing the control panel P of the automobile air conditioner 1. The control panel P is provided below the center face outlets 26 and 27 of the instrument panel 25. The control panel P includes an auto switch 71, an off switch 72, a temperature setting switch 73 as temperature setting means,
Inside / outside air fixing switch 7 as inside / outside air mode indicating means
4, an air conditioner switch 75, an air volume fixing switch 76 as an air volume instructing means, and an air outlet fixing switch 77 as an air outlet mode instructing means.

The temperature setting switch 73 is a switch for setting the temperature inside the vehicle compartment to a desired temperature. In the vicinity of the temperature setting switch 73, the temperature setting switch 73
A liquid crystal display 78 is provided as a display means for displaying the set temperature (for example, 25 ° C.) set in step 2.

[Operation of First Embodiment] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. Here, FIG. 7 is an example of a main control program of the ECU 7. This control program uses the ignition switch 6
0, while the auto switch 71 is turned on, it is executed every predetermined time. First, the set temperature set by the temperature setting switch 73 is input (step S1).

Next, input signals are input from various sensors. That is, the outside air temperature detected by the vehicle exterior temperature sensor 62, the post-evaporation temperature detected by the post-evaporation temperature sensor 63, and the temperature of the cooling water detected by the water temperature sensor 64 are input. Furthermore, the head solar radiation amount detected by the head solar radiation amount sensor 65,
The head temperature detected by the head temperature sensor 66, the head wind speed detected by the head wind speed sensor 67, and the inside air temperature detected by the vehicle interior temperature sensor 68 are input (step S2).
Next, it is determined whether or not the cooling mode is selected as the air conditioning mode (step S3). If the determination result in step S3 is No, the process returns.

If the result of the determination in step S3 is Yes, that is, if the cooling mode has been selected, then it is determined whether the face mode has been selected as the outlet mode (step S4). . If the determination result of step S4 is No, it is determined whether or not the bi-level mode is selected as the outlet mode (step S5). The determination result of step S5 is No
In case of, it returns.

Further, the judgment result of steps S4 and S5 is Y.
In the case of es, that is, when the face mode or the bi-level mode is selected, it is determined whether the heat load is small. For example, it is determined whether or not the temperature difference (Tset-Tr) between the set temperature and the inside temperature is within a predetermined temperature difference ± α (step S6). If the determination result in step S6 is No, the applied voltage according to the maximum air volume is applied to the blower motor 44 to operate the blower 3 (step S6).
7) The refrigeration cycle 45 is operated with the maximum cooling capacity (step S8). Then return.

When the result of the determination in step S6 is Yes, that is, when the heat load is small and the engine is in the steady operation, the head insolation amount is calculated based on the maximum wind speed allowable value calculation data in FIG. , The maximum allowable wind speed X capable of maintaining the comfort of the human body's warmth is calculated from the head temperature and the indoor temperature (step S9), and then based on the calculation data of the target head temperature in FIG. Then, the head target temperature Y is calculated from the head solar radiation amount, the head wind speed, and the room temperature (step S10).

Then, an applied voltage corresponding to the maximum wind speed allowable value X is applied to the blower motor 44 to apply the applied voltage to the blower 3
Is operated (step S11), and the cooling capacity of the refrigeration cycle 45 (cooling capacity of the evaporator 4) and the opening degree of the air mix damper 6 are adjusted so that the head target temperature Y is reached (step S12). Then return.

Here, as shown in the calculation data of the maximum allowable wind speed in FIG. 8, the head radiation amount is, for example, 200 W /
When m ² , the head temperature is, for example, 28.2 ° C., and the inside temperature is the head temperature + 4 ° C., the maximum allowable wind speed value X for maintaining the warmth of the human body comfortably (neutral) is 0.65 m / s.

Further, as shown in the calculation data of the target head temperature in FIG. 8, the head insolation amount is, for example, 300 W / m ² , the head wind speed is, for example, 0.75 m / s, and the inside temperature is the head temperature +4.
When the temperature is ℃, the target head temperature Y for keeping the warmth of the human body comfortable (neutral) is 27.5 ° C. Since the target head temperature Y and the temperature of the air blown out from the wide flow outlet 34 do not match, it is necessary to adjust the opening of the air mix damper 6 in anticipation thereof.

Therefore, during steady operation, the air cooled by the evaporator 4 of the refrigeration cycle 45 is heated by the heater core 5 in accordance with the opening degree of the air mix damper 6, and the cool air having the optimum temperature is operated by the blower 3. The wide-flow outlet 34 blows off the main air-conditioning area A centering on the head of the human body with an air volume commensurate with the maximum allowable wind speed.

As shown in the calculation data of the maximum allowable wind speed in FIG. 8, there are an infinite number of combinations of head wind speed and head temperature at which the warm feeling of the human body becomes neutral even under the same solar radiation conditions. However, the higher the wind speed, the higher the human head and internal temperature can be. Therefore, as a matter of course, the cooling capacity of the refrigeration cycle 45 (cooling capacity of the evaporator 4) is small, the operating rate of the compressor 46 can be reduced, and the compressor 46 can save power.

[Effects of the First Embodiment] As described above, in the automobile air conditioner 1, the air flow rate of the blower 3 is controlled so that the head wind speed of the human body becomes the maximum allowable wind speed in terms of comfort. In addition, by performing the opening control of the air mix damper 6 so that the head temperature of the human body becomes an allowable head target temperature in terms of comfort, the comfort of the human body in the main air conditioning area A is improved. Therefore, the cooling capacity of the refrigeration cycle 45 can be reduced. Therefore, optimal air conditioning can be performed in the main air conditioning area A.

Here, the effect of reducing the cooling capacity during the steady operation by the inside air circulation mode will be concretely described based on the isocapacity diagram of FIG. In this experiment, the outside temperature was 30 ° C., the humidity outside the vehicle was 60% RH, the vehicle speed was 40 km / h, and the ventilation volume was 20 m ³ /
h, vehicle interior humidity 35% RH, head insolation 300 W / m ²
Was carried out under the conditions of

As can be seen from the isocapacity diagram of FIG. 9, the conventional technology (operating the blower with the minimum air volume during steady operation) required cooling capacity of 2080 W.
Example (Operating the blower with the minimum allowable wind speed during steady operation)
Then, the cooling capacity became 1680W. That is, by adopting this embodiment, a power saving effect of 20% can be obtained.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is a view showing an instrument panel 25 of an automobile. The detection of the amount of solar radiation on the human head is not limited to the direct detection in the vicinity of the human body as in the first embodiment, but as in this embodiment, the instrument panel 25.
The solar radiation amount sensor 65 may be attached to the front end of the to detect the solar radiation amount and the solar radiation direction to estimate the head solar radiation amount.

[Modification] In this embodiment, the head temperature sensor 66 which directly detects the temperature of the human head in the vicinity of the human body is used. However, the head temperature depends on the blowing temperature, the air volume, the ambient room temperature, the blowing direction, and the like. May be estimated. Further, the wind speed of the human body such as the wind speed of the head may be estimated in consideration of reachability based on the blowing air volume, the blowing direction, and the like.

In this embodiment, the temperature of the head of the human body is detected, but the temperature of the foot of the human body, the temperature of the human body at other places such as the chest temperature may be detected. In this embodiment, the wind speed of the head of the human body is detected, but the wind speed of the human body may be detected at other places such as the wind speed at the feet of the human body and the wind speed at the chest. In this embodiment, the amount of solar radiation on the head of the human body is detected, but the amount of solar radiation on the human body at the feet and the amount of solar radiation on the chest may be detected. Since the head of the human body directly hits the conditioned air, it is desirable to detect the head solar radiation, the head temperature, and the head wind speed.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the automobile air conditioner 1 having the wide flow outlet 34, but as shown in FIG. 11, the present invention is applied to general face outlets 81, 82 and. Side face outlets 83, 8
It may be applied to the auto air conditioner 1 for an automobile equipped with the No.

Although the present invention is applied to the automobile air conditioner 1 in this embodiment, the present invention is also applicable to other vehicle air conditioners, marine air conditioners, airplane air conditioners, home air conditioners or factory air conditioners. good. An air conditioner for an automobile is desirable as an air conditioner to which the present invention is applied.

[0051]

According to the present invention, both the comfortable air conditioning and the saving of the air conditioning capacity of the temperature control means are achieved by controlling the wind speed of the blower at the maximum wind speed allowable value capable of maintaining the comfort of the human body. Can be made.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main air conditioning area according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a temperature sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an automobile air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of the automobile air conditioner of FIG.

5 is a schematic view showing a face duct of the automobile air conditioner of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a control panel of the automobile air conditioner of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main control program of the ECU.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing calculation data of maximum allowable wind speed and head target temperature.

FIG. 9 is an isocapability diagram showing calculated data of maximum allowable wind speed.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an instrument panel of an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Main air conditioning area S Temperature sensor (temperature sensor) 1 Auto air conditioner for automobile (air conditioner) 2 Duct 3 Blower (blower) 4 Evaporator (cooler) 5 Heater core (heater) 6 Air mix damper (air volume) Adjusting means) 7 ECU (control means) 34 Wide flow outlet 65 Head solar radiation amount sensor (solar radiation amount detecting means) 66 Head temperature sensor (human body temperature detecting means) 67 Head wind speed sensor (wind speed detecting means) 68 Vehicle interior Temperature sensor (main air conditioner outside temperature detection means)

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Sugimitsu 1-1 Showa-cho, Kariya city, Aichi Nihon Denso Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A temperature control means for controlling the temperature of air, (b) a blower for blowing the conditioned air adjusted by the temperature control means, and (c) a main air conditioning area centering on a human body. A thermal sensation detecting means for detecting the thermal sensation of the human body, which has a solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting the amount of solar radiation and a human body temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the main air-conditioning area, and (d) the thermal sensation detecting means. Based on the sensed warmth of the human body, the maximum allowable wind speed that can maintain the comfort of the human body is determined, and the wind speed of the conditioned air blown to the main air conditioning area becomes the maximum allowable wind speed. An air conditioner comprising: a control means for controlling the blower. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensation detecting unit detects the wind speed of the conditioned air sent to the main air conditioning region, and the temperature outside the main air conditioning region. An air conditioner having a main air conditioning outside temperature detecting means for detecting. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature adjusting means is a cooler capable of changing a cooling capacity of passing air. 4. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature adjusting means is a cooler for cooling the passing air, and the temperature adjusting means is disposed on the leeward side of the cooler and passes through the cooler. An air conditioner comprising: a heater for heating air; and an air amount adjusting means for adjusting an amount of air passing through the heater and an amount of air bypassing the heater.