JPH08244439A - Air conditioner for electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To control transmission of current to electric heaters or a compressor according to the residual power and instantaneous power consumption of a battery so that any problem against running is not produced. CONSTITUTION: An air conditioner control means 16 switches over the heating capacity of electric heaters 11a and 11b or a compressor 2 based on signals detected by a battery residual capacity detector means 15 or a power consumption detector means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an air conditioner for an electric vehicle,
In particular, the present invention relates to an air conditioner for an electric vehicle that can suppress energization of an electric heater or a compressor based on the remaining amount of electricity in a battery and maintain a desired traveling distance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an air conditioner for an electric vehicle, a compressor is driven to circulate a heat exchange medium in a heat pump cycle and the circulation direction is changed to heat the air passing through the heat exchanger inside the vehicle. Alternatively, it is cooled to supply warm air or cold air to the inside of the vehicle. In addition, an electric heater is provided on the downstream side of the vehicle-side heat exchanger so as not to be insufficiently heated during heating.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional air conditioner for an electric vehicle, since the compressor and the electric heater are both energized by the power supplied from the battery, the remaining amount of power in the battery is reduced. However, if the electric power is consumed in the same manner, there is a problem in that the electric power supplied to the traveling motor necessary for traveling of the vehicle is hindered.

If the power consumption of the compressor or the electric heater increases while the vehicle is traveling, the power supplied to the traveling motor is temporarily reduced even if the remaining battery power is sufficient, for example, to accelerate an automobile. If you do so, a problem will occur.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention is for an electric vehicle that controls energization to an electric heater or a compressor so as not to hinder traveling depending on the remaining amount of power or the power consumption state of a battery. The purpose is to provide an air conditioner.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, in the present invention, the heat exchange medium is circulated in a heat pump cycle by driving a compressor, and the circulation direction is changed so that the heat exchange medium passes through the heat exchanger inside the vehicle. In an air conditioner for an electric vehicle that heats or cools the air to supply warm air or cold air to the inside of the vehicle, it is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger inside the vehicle and generates heat by supplying power from a battery. The electric heater capable of switching the heating capacity for heating the passing air, the battery residual quantity detecting means for detecting the electric power residual quantity of the battery, and the electric heater based on the detection signal from the battery residual quantity detecting means. And an air conditioner control means for switching the heating capacity of.

Further, a power consumption detecting means for detecting the instantaneous power consumption of the power supplied from the battery is provided.
The air conditioner control means may switch the heating capacity of the electric heater based on a detection signal from the power consumption detection means.

Further, the air conditioner control means is provided with frequency adjusting means for adjusting the drive frequency of the compressor, and the electric heater is energized based on a detection signal from the battery remaining amount detecting means or the power consumption detecting means. It is preferable that the drive frequency of the compressor is adjusted by the frequency adjusting means after the stop.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the air conditioner for an electric vehicle shown in FIG. 1, the cycle in which the heat exchange medium circulates is switched by the four-way valve 1 between a heating cycle and a cooling cycle. And during these cycles, the four-way valve 1
, A compressor 2, a vehicle interior heat exchanger 3, a vehicle exterior heat exchanger 4, and an accumulator 5 are respectively arranged. Reference numeral 6 is a throttle valve that opens and closes the pipe a by driving the motor 6a.

The four-way valve 1 has a structure in which a rotary body having a pair of communication passages is housed in the valve body, and switches according to a control signal from a controller (not shown) as shown by a solid line during heating and during cooling. It switches as shown by the dotted line.

The compressor 2 includes a frequency adjusting device 7
A built-in motor (not shown) is driven by a predetermined frequency, and the heat exchange medium sucked inside at a predetermined flow rate is discharged in a high temperature / high pressure state according to the driving frequency.

The inside heat exchanger 3 and the outside heat exchanger 4 have a structure in which flat tubes and corrugated fins are laminated and integrated, and when the heat exchange medium flows while meandering through the flat tubes,
It is designed to exchange heat with the air passing through the fins.

The in-vehicle heat exchanger 3 is disposed in the unit 8 at the front of the vehicle, and radiates heat during heating to warm the passing air and cool it during cooling. On the other hand, the exterior heat exchanger 4
Is attached to the front part of the vehicle and exchanges heat between the heat exchange medium flowing inside and the outside air passing outside.

The accumulator 5 stores a heat exchange medium to separate gas and liquid, and supplies only gas to the compressor 2.

Inside the unit 8, a blower 9, a mix damper 10 and an electric heater 11 are provided outside the vehicle interior heat exchanger 3, respectively.

The blower 9 is located upstream of the heat exchanger 3 inside the vehicle, and sucks the inside air or the outside air into the unit 8 by driving the blower motor 9a and blows the air inside the vehicle.

The mix damper 10 is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 3 inside the vehicle, and its rotational position is determined based on a control signal from the opening adjusting device 12, and the air passing therethrough is diverted.

The electric heater 11 is a mix damper 1
It is arranged in one of the flow paths divided by 0. The electric heater 11 has a configuration capable of switching the heating capacity. In the present embodiment, a pair of electric heaters 11a and 11b is used, and the heating capacity can be switched depending on whether both are energized, only one is energized, or neither is energized. ing. That is, the electric heaters 11a and 11b are energized to both by energizing only the relay 13a and closing its contact, and deenergizing the relay 13a and energizing the relay 13b to close its contact. Only the relays 13a and 13b are energized and neither is energized.

The driving of the compressor 2 and the heat generation of the electric heaters 11a and 11b are both performed by the electric power supplied from the battery 14. However, the electric power of the battery 14 is mainly consumed by a traveling motor of an automobile (not shown). Also, the remaining amount of electricity P of the battery 14
Is detected by the battery remaining amount detecting device 15. As the battery remaining amount detecting device 15,
For example, the power consumption is calculated from the one that directly detects the remaining amount of electricity P, the current value from the battery 14 and the energization time,
It is possible to apply, for example, a device that estimates the remaining amount P of electricity of the battery 14 from this power consumption amount.

When heating the inside of the vehicle (when the heat exchange medium is circulated in the direction shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 1), if the desired blast temperature cannot be obtained by heating only the heat exchanger 3 inside the vehicle,
The power supply to the electric heaters 11a and 11b is controlled by the air conditioner control device 16 according to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, the remaining electricity amount P of the battery 14 is read, and in step S2, it is determined whether or not the remaining electricity amount P is larger than the first reference value P ₁ . This first reference value is set to a value which is determined such that, when both the electric heaters 11a and 11b are energized, the power consumption is large and the traveling is hindered (the desired traveling distance cannot be obtained).

If P> P ₁ is satisfied, the battery 14
Of the electric heaters 1 for both of the electric heaters 1 is determined in step S3.
Energize 1a and 11b. This makes it possible to obtain a desired blast temperature even when heating only the heat exchanger 3 inside the vehicle is insufficient or when the heat exchanger 3 inside the vehicle changes from heating to cooling or vice versa. Can respond appropriately and promptly.

If P> P ₁ is not satisfied, the remaining amount of electricity P of the battery 14 is determined to be the second reference value P _{2 in} step S4.
Is greater than or equal to. This second reference value P
₂ , if both electric heaters 11a and 11b are energized,
The value is set to a value that does not hinder the running, but does not hinder the energization of only one of the electric heaters 11a.

When P> P ₂ is satisfied, only one electric heater 11a is energized in step S5. This allows
A desired blast temperature can be obtained while suppressing power consumption and ensuring a desired traveling distance. However, the response is poor as compared with the case where both electric heaters 11a and 11b are energized, and it takes some time before the air can be blown at a desired blowing temperature.

If P> P ₂ is not satisfied, step S6
Therefore, the electric heaters 11a and 11b are not energized, and the traveling distance is prioritized over the heating in the vehicle. As a result, as a result of properly heating the inside of the vehicle, there will be no trouble such as hindrance to traveling.

In the above embodiment, only the power supply to the electric heaters 11a and 11b is controlled based on the remaining amount P of electricity of the battery 14, but the battery 14
The energization of the compressor 2 may be controlled based on the remaining amount P of electricity.

That is, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3, based on whether or not the electric remaining amount P of the battery 14 is larger than the first reference value P ₁ and the second reference value P ₂ , the same as in the above embodiment. The power supply to the electric heaters 11a and 11b is controlled (steps S1 to S6). And step S
After the power supply to both electric heaters 11a and 11b is stopped in step 6, it is determined in step S7 whether or not the remaining electricity amount P of the battery 14 is larger than the third reference value P ₃ .

When P> P ₃ is satisfied, the compressor 2
It is determined that the driving frequency is within a range that does not hinder traveling, and the driving frequency of the compressor 2 can be increased up to a maximum of 80 Hz in step S8.

If P> P ₃ is not satisfied, the remaining amount P of electricity in the battery 14 is determined to be the fourth reference value P _{4 in} step S9.
Is greater than or equal to.

When P> P ₄ is satisfied, the compressor 2
The maximum drive frequency is controlled to 60 Hz or less. This is the drive frequency of the compressor 2 60Hz
This is because if it is used as described above, the power consumption of the compressor 2 is large and it is thought that traveling will be hindered.

If P> P ₄ is not satisfied, the driving of the compressor 2 is considered to hinder traveling, so that not only the electric heaters 11a and 11b are energized, but also the compressor 2 is energized. It is stopped and no air conditioning is performed inside the vehicle. In this case, it goes without saying that the drive of the blower 9 is stopped.

In the above embodiment, the electric power control to the electric heaters 11a and 11b and the compressor 2 by the electric remaining amount detecting means has been described, but the instantaneous power consumption of the battery 14 is detected by providing the power consumption detecting device. , Steps S2, S4, S7, S9 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 or 3 based on this instantaneous power consumption.
Then, it may be determined whether or not it is larger than the predetermined values P ₅ , P ₆ , P ₇ , and P ₈ .

According to this, in order to accelerate the vehicle by overtaking or the like, when it is necessary to temporarily rotate the traveling motor at a high speed, the instantaneous power consumption is the predetermined value P ₅ ,
If it is larger than P ₆ , P ₇ , and P ₈ , the power consumption of the traveling motor can be secured by suppressing the power consumption of the electric heaters 11a, 11b, etc. according to the respective cases. It is possible to obtain a good running condition.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, in the invention in which the electric power supplied to the electric heater or the like is suppressed according to the remaining amount of the electric power of the battery, the electric power supplied to the traveling motor necessary for traveling of the automobile is provided. Can be secured, and the traveling distance can be extended.

Further, in the invention in which the electric power supplied to the electric heater or the like is suppressed based on the instantaneous power consumption, it is possible to sufficiently cope with a sudden increase in the electric power required for traveling.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner for an electric vehicle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing energization control to an electric heater based on the remaining amount of electricity of a battery according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing energization control for the electric heater and the compressor based on the remaining amount of electricity in the battery according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Compressors 11a, 11b Electric heaters 15 Battery remaining amount detecting device (battery remaining amount detecting means) 16 Air conditioner control device (air conditioner controlling means)

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 12, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0031

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

If P> P ₄ is satisfied, step S10
Then, the maximum drive frequency of the compressor 2 is controlled to be 60 Hz or less. This is because if the drive frequency of the compressor 2 is used at 60 Hz or higher, it is considered that the power consumption of the compressor 2 is large and the traveling is hindered.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0032

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

If P> P ₄ is not satisfied, it is considered that driving the compressor 2 also hinders traveling, so not only the electric heaters 11a and 11b are energized, but also the compressor 2 is energized in step S11. The power is turned off, and no air conditioning is performed inside the vehicle. In this case, it goes without saying that the drive of the blower 9 is stopped.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hideaki Nishii Inventor Hideaki Nishii 5658 Yoshikawa, Hachihonmatsu-cho, Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture Japan Climate Systems Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A heat exchange medium is circulated in a heat pump cycle by driving a compressor, and the circulation direction is changed to heat or cool the air passing through the heat exchanger inside the vehicle to warm or cool the air inside the vehicle. In an air conditioner for an electric vehicle, the electric heater disposed downstream of the heat exchanger inside the vehicle and capable of switching the heating capacity for heating the passing air by generating heat by supplying power from a battery. And a battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of electric power of the battery, and an air conditioner controlling means for switching the heating capacity of the electric heater based on a detection signal from the battery remaining amount detecting means. A characteristic air conditioning system for electric vehicles. 2. A frequency adjusting means for adjusting a drive frequency of the compressor is provided, wherein the air conditioner controlling means stops the power supply to the electric heater based on a detection signal from the battery remaining amount detecting means, 2. The air conditioner for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the drive frequency of the compressor is adjusted by the frequency adjusting means. 3. A heat exchange medium is circulated in a heat pump cycle by driving a compressor, and the circulation direction is changed to heat or cool the air passing through the heat exchanger inside the vehicle to warm or cool the air inside the vehicle. In an air conditioner for an electric vehicle, the electric heater disposed downstream of the heat exchanger inside the vehicle and capable of switching the heating capacity for heating the passing air by generating heat by supplying power from a battery. A power consumption detection means for detecting the instantaneous power consumption of the power supplied from the battery, and an air conditioner control means for switching the heating capacity of the electric heater based on a detection signal from the power consumption detection means. An air conditioner for an electric vehicle, which is characterized by being provided. 4. A frequency adjusting means for adjusting a drive frequency of the compressor is provided, wherein the air conditioner controlling means stops the energization of the electric heater based on a detection signal from the power consumption detecting means, and then the frequency is adjusted. 4. The air conditioner for an electric vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the drive frequency of the compressor is adjusted by the adjusting means.