JPH1076839A - Air conditioner for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automobile air conditioner that is mounted with a Stirling refrigerator being low pollution and high efficiency, having even the heat efficiency of an outdoor heat exchanger improved, aside from being canapct in size. SOLUTION: In this automobile air conditioner equipped with a Stirling refrigerator which performs at least a hear transfer among a hot chamber, a radiator, a regenerator, a heat absorber and a cool chamber by means of a primary heating medium, and also a heat exchange for the radiator and the heat absorber through a secondary heating medium, the radiating secondary heating medium flowing into a water-cooled heat exchanger 31 installed in the said radiator is used as engine cooling water, and the heat absorber is connected to a cooling heat exchanger 4 via another secondary heating medium, and then a radiator 11 is connected to a heating heat exchanger 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner, and more particularly to a vehicle air conditioner equipped with a Stirling refrigerator as a refrigerator that does not use Freon as a refrigerant.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicular air conditioning system employs a vapor compression air conditioning system using chlorofluorocarbon as a refrigerant as shown in FIG. In this air conditioner, the refrigerant is
The gas is compressed by the compressor 1 which operates by obtaining driving force from the engine 8 of the automobile by the V-belt 9 or the like, and is converted into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas. Since the pressure of the supercooled liquid is rapidly reduced by the expansion valve 3, the supercooled liquid is expanded and converted into low-temperature, low-pressure steam, which is sent to the cooling heat exchanger 4. The cooling heat exchanger 4 is usually called an evaporator. The low-temperature and low-pressure steam is vaporized by the cooling heat exchanger 4 and taken in by the fan 6 in the air conditioner unit 5. After cooling the air in the passenger compartment, the air is sent to the compressor 1 again. In addition, the air cooled by the cooling heat exchanger 4 is sent into the vehicle cabin through the ventilation port 7 and used for cooling the vehicle cabin.
This vapor compression type air conditioning system using Freon is used only for cooling or dehumidifying heating. During heating, the circulation pump 12 causes the water pipe 13a and the flow regulating valve 13b to be used.
And the water pipe 13c, the engine 8 and the radiator 11
The cooling water of the engine circulating through the
And the cooling water is passed from the water pipe 13d through the heating heat exchanger 10 to the water pipe 13e and returned to the water pipe 13c. In the heating heat exchanger 10, the cooling water and the fan 6 in the air conditioner unit 5 are removed. Heat is exchanged with the air taken into the vehicle cabin by the above, and the vehicle cabin is heated. However, the above-mentioned introduction of the engine cooling water into the heating heat exchanger 10 is not necessarily limited to heating, and is also performed when performing temperature adjustment during cooling or during dehumidifying heating. Further, reference numeral 14 in the figure denotes the heating heat exchanger 10.
It is a mix door provided in the.

However, in recent years, an air conditioning system that does not use Freon has been developed due to environmental problems caused by Freon. As one of them, an air conditioning system equipped with a low-pollution and high-efficiency Stirling refrigerator, which operates using a natural gas such as helium or nitrogen as a heat medium, has attracted attention. As shown in FIG. 5, the Stirling refrigerator 15 includes a high-temperature chamber 18 in which a working gas such as helium formed between the upper part of the compression cylinder 16 (cylinder head 16a) and the compression piston 17 is compressed to a high temperature, Expansion cylinder 19
Upper part (cylinder head 19a) and expansion piston 20
, A low-temperature chamber 21 in which the working gas formed between the high-temperature chamber 18 and the low-temperature chamber 21 becomes a low-temperature chamber by expanding the working gas, and a gas connecting the high-temperature chamber 18 and the regenerator 22. A flow path 23a, a gas flow path 23b connecting the low-temperature chamber 21 and the regenerator 22, a radiator 24 disposed on the high-temperature chamber 18 side of the gas flow path 23a, and a gas flow path 23b on the low-temperature chamber 21 side of the gas flow path 23b. A heat absorber 25 is provided, and a crank chamber 27 for accommodating a crank mechanism 26 for reciprocating the compression piston 17 and the expansion piston 20 with a predetermined phase difference is provided. The crankshaft 26 of the crank mechanism 26
a is rotated by an automobile engine or a dedicated motor to reciprocate the compression piston 17 and the expansion piston 20, respectively.

[0004] The operation process of the Stirling refrigerator 15 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, as the crankshaft 26a rotates in the order of 1 → 2 → 3 → 4, the operation stroke of the Stirling refrigerator 15 is, in order, the compression stroke (1 → 2), the equal volume transition (2 → 3), Expansion stroke (3
→ 4), transition to equal volume (4 → 1)
When a rotates once, the above-described operation stroke is again performed in the compression stroke (1 →
Return to 2). In FIG. 5, the movement of the piston is schematically shown by a straight line, but the actual movement of the piston is sinusoidal. In the following description, the case where the compression piston 17 moves toward the cylinder head 16a and the case where the expansion piston 20 moves toward the cylinder head 19a are expressed as “up”, and the compression piston 17 The case where the piston moves away from the cylinder head 16a and the case where the expansion piston 20 moves away from the cylinder head 19a are expressed as “down” the piston. In the compression stroke (1 → 2), the expansion piston 20 is almost stationary and the compression piston 17
, The working gas such as helium is compressed and its volume is reduced. At that time, the generated heat is radiated through the radiator 24. In the equal volume transition (2 → 3), since the expansion piston 20 moves down and the compression piston 17 moves up,
The working gas is kept at a constant volume from the high temperature chamber 18 to the low temperature chamber 2.
Transferred to 1. At this time, the high-temperature gas in the high-temperature chamber 18 radiates heat to the regenerator 22 and becomes a low-temperature gas and flows into the low-temperature chamber 21. In the expansion stroke (3 → 4), the compression piston 17 is almost stationary and the expansion piston 20 moves down, so that the working gas is expanded and its volume increases. At that time, the generated cold heat is absorbed through the heat absorber 25, and the outside of the heat absorber 25 is cooled. In the equal volume transition (4 → 1), the expansion piston 20 moves up and the compression piston 17 moves down.
To the high-temperature chamber 18. At that time, the low-temperature gas in the low-temperature chamber 21 is transferred to the equal volume in the regenerator 22 (2).
The heat accumulated in the regenerator 22 is absorbed in the process (3), and flows into the high-temperature chamber 18 as a high-temperature gas.

When the above-mentioned Stirling refrigerator is to be mounted on an air conditioning system for automobiles, for example, the Stirling refrigerator is operated by using the engine of the automobile as a driving source, and the above-described heat cycle is applied to working gas such as helium. It is what is done. FIG. 7 shows a Stirling refrigerator 15.
1 shows an example of a configuration of an air conditioner for a vehicle using the same. FIG. 8 is a partial configuration diagram of FIG. 1 and illustrates the water-cooled heat exchanger 2 disposed in the heat absorber 25 of the Stirling refrigerator 15.
8 schematically shows the relationship between a water-cooled heat exchanger 31 disposed on the radiator 24 of the Stirling refrigerator 15. However, in FIG. 8, the passage of the cooling water at the time of heating after the flow control valve 13b is omitted. The automotive air conditioner includes an air conditioner unit 5 having a fan 6 for sending air into a vehicle interior, a cooling heat exchanger 4, a heating heat exchanger 10 provided with a mix door 14, and the like, a Stirling refrigerator 1
5, a water-cooled heat exchanger 28 disposed in the heat absorber 25 of the Stirling refrigerator 15, and a secondary heat medium (such as antifreeze) cooled by the water-cooled heat exchanger 28 is transferred to the cooling heat exchanger. Circulating pump 29 and water piping 30a, 3
0b, a water-cooled heat exchanger 31 disposed in the radiator 24 of the Stirling refrigerator 15, a radiator 34 for the Stirling refrigerator, and circulating water heated by the water-cooled heat exchanger 31. Radiator for machine 3
4 and a water pipe 33a, 3
3b, a flow control valve 13b for circulating the cooling water through the heating heat exchanger 10 and a water pipe 13d, 13e for switching the passage of the cooling water of the engine that circulates the engine 8 and the radiator 11 during heating or the like. Have.

Next, the operation of the automotive air conditioner having the above configuration will be described. During cooling, in the water-cooled heat exchanger 28 provided in the heat absorber 25 of the Stirling refrigerator 15, the cold generated by the expansion of the working gas such as helium as the primary heat medium is converted into secondary heat such as antifreeze. The secondary heat medium is transferred to the medium and is cooled. And
The cooled secondary heat medium is guided to the cooling heat exchanger 4 by the circulation pump 29 and the water pipe 30a, and exchanges heat with air taken into the vehicle interior by the fan 6 in the air conditioner unit 5, The cooled air is sent into the vehicle interior from the air outlet 7 to cool the vehicle interior. The secondary heat medium returns to the water-cooled heat exchanger 28 via the water pipe 30b. On the other hand, the heat generated by the compression of the working gas is transmitted to the circulating water by a water-cooled heat exchanger 31 disposed on a radiator 24 of the Stirling refrigerator 15, and the circulating water is supplied to a circulating pump 32. And water pipe 33a
The cooling water is guided to the radiator 34 for the Stirling refrigerator by the cooling, and returns to the water-cooled heat exchanger 31 by the water pipe 33b. Further, since heating is performed by exhaust heat of the engine 8, the Stirling refrigerator 15 is stopped during heating. That is, the cooling water of the engine circulating through the water pipe 13a, the flow control valve 13b, and the water pipe 13c and circulating through the engine 8 and the radiator 11 is switched by the flow control valve 13b. The heat exchanger 10 returns to the water pipe 13c from the water pipe 13e through the exchanger 10, and in the heating heat exchanger 10, heat exchange between the cooling water and air taken into the vehicle interior by the fan 6 in the air conditioner unit 5 is performed. And heat the cabin. However, the above-mentioned introduction of the engine cooling water into the heating heat exchanger 10 is not necessarily limited to heating, and is also performed when performing temperature adjustment during cooling or during dehumidifying heating.

[0007]

However, when the Stirling refrigerator replaces the vapor compression air-conditioning system using Freon as a refrigerant as in the above-described example, the Stirling refrigerator 15 becomes Since it is larger than the compressor 1 in the air conditioning system, there is a problem in installation as an air conditioner for a vehicle that needs to be downsized.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, since a radiator 34 for the Stirling refrigerator 15 and a radiator 11 for the engine are required as the outdoor heat exchangers, only two circulation pumps for the outdoor heat exchanger are required. In addition, the number of pipes increases, and the thermal efficiency of each outdoor heat exchanger decreases. Furthermore, even when the Stirling refrigerator 15 stops operating, such as during heating, the radiator 34 and the like for the Stirling refrigerator 15 have a ventilation resistance, which greatly impairs the performance of the radiator 11 for the engine.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and has a low-pollution and high-efficiency Stirling refrigerator, and is small in size and has improved heat efficiency of an outdoor heat exchanger. It is an object to provide an air conditioner for use.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling apparatus for an automobile which moves by at least heat between a high-temperature chamber, a radiator, a regenerator, a heat absorber, and a low-temperature chamber by a primary heat medium. In a cooling device for an automobile equipped with a Stirling refrigerator for exchanging heat with a radiator and a heat sink with a secondary heat medium, the heat radiation secondary heat medium is used as engine cooling water, and the heat absorber is used as another secondary heat medium. And connected to a heat exchanger for cooling.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner for an automobile, wherein heat is transferred at least between a high-temperature room, a radiator, a regenerator, a heat absorber, and a low-temperature room by a primary heat medium. In an automotive air conditioner equipped with a Stirling refrigerator for exchanging heat with a secondary heat medium in a heat sink, a secondary heat medium for heat dissipation is used as engine cooling water, and a heat absorber is used for cooling heat through another secondary heat medium. The radiator is connected to a heat exchanger for heating.

[0011] The vehicle air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a heating heat exchanger is arranged downstream of the cooling heat exchanger in the air.

Further, in the air conditioner for a vehicle according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the heating heat exchanger includes a mixing door.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 will be described using the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram of FIG. 1, and a heat absorber 25 of a Stirling refrigerator 15 mounted on the air conditioner for a vehicle. 1 schematically shows the relationship between a water-cooled heat exchanger 28 provided in the Stirling refrigerator 15 and a water-cooled heat exchanger 31 provided in the radiator 24 of the Stirling refrigerator 15. However,
In FIG. 2, the water channel at the time of heating after the flow control valve 13b is omitted. The automotive air conditioner includes a fan 6 for taking in air in a vehicle compartment, a cooling heat exchanger 4 and a mixed door 1.
An air conditioner unit 5 having a heat exchanger 10 for heating provided with a stirrer 4, a Stirling refrigerator 15, and a water-cooled heat exchanger 28 disposed in a heat absorber 25 of the Stirling refrigerator 15.
And a circulation pump 29 for circulating the secondary heat medium cooled by the water-cooled heat exchanger 28 to the cooling heat exchanger 4, water pipes 30 a and 30 b, and a radiator 24 of the Stirling refrigerator 15. The cooling water passage is connected with the passage to the engine 8 downstream of the water pipe 35a, which is the passage of the cooling water of the engine that circulates the engine 8 and the radiator 11 by the circulation pump 12 and the circulated pump 12, and the water cooling type heat exchanger 31 and the cooling water. Pipe 36 that divides into a passage to the heat exchanger 31, and a water pipe 35 b that is a passage of the branch pipe 36 and the engine 8.
And a water pipe 35c which is a passage between the branch pipe 36 and the water-cooled heat exchanger 31, and a cooling water passage of the engine 8 which circulates the engine 8 and the radiator 11 from the water-cooled heat exchanger 31. Pipe 35d which is a passage for returning the engine 8 and the radiator 1 and the engine 8 during heating.
1 is provided with a flow control valve 13b and water pipes 13d, 13e for switching the passage of the cooling water of the engine circulating 1 and circulating the cooling water to the heating heat exchanger 10.

The operation of the automotive air conditioner having the above structure will be described. During cooling, in the water-cooled heat exchanger 28 provided in the heat absorber 25 of the Stirling refrigerator 15, the cold generated by the expansion of the working gas such as helium as the primary heat medium is converted into secondary heat such as antifreeze. The secondary heat medium is transferred to the medium and is cooled. Then, the cooled secondary heat medium is guided to the cooling heat exchanger 4 by the circulation pump 29 and the water pipe 30a, and
The air exchanged with the air taken into the vehicle cabin by the fan 6 inside the air-conditioning unit 5
Is blown into the vehicle interior from the air outlet 7 to cool the vehicle interior.
The heat generated by the compression of the working gas is transmitted to the secondary heat medium by the water-cooled heat exchanger 31 provided in the radiator 24 of the Stirling refrigerator 15. At this time, the cooling water of the engine 8 circulating through the engine 8 and the radiator 11 is used as the secondary heat medium. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the cooling water of the engine 8 is
The circulating pump 12 moves the water pipe 35a from the water pipe 35b.
The cooling water heated by the engine 8 passes through the water pipe 35c, is guided to the radiator 11, is cooled, and is again used to cool the engine 8 from the water pipe 35a through the water pipe 35b. You. On the other hand, the water pipe 3
The cooling water passing through the water pipe 5a is supplied to the water pipe 35 by a branch pipe 36.
b and a passage formed by a water pipe 35c, and a part of the cooling water is supplied from the water pipe 35c to the water-cooled heat exchanger 31 disposed in the radiator 24 of the Stirling refrigerator 15.
To exchange heat with the radiator 24. And
The cooling water warmed by the water-cooled heat exchanger 31 passes through a water pipe 35d at a junction 37 and passes through the water pipe 1
The cooling water flows into the cooling water 3c and is cooled by the radiator 11. In addition, since heating is performed by exhaust heat of the engine 8,
During heating, the Stirling refrigerator 15 is stopped. That is, the water pipe 13a, the flow control valve 13b, and the water pipe 13
c, the cooling water of the engine circulating through the engine 8 and the radiator 11 is switched by the flow control valve 13b,
The cooling water passes from the water pipe 13d through the heating heat exchanger 10 and returns from the water pipe 13e to the water pipe 13c. In the heating heat exchanger 10, the cooling water is taken in by the fan 6 in the air conditioner unit 5. It exchanges heat with the air in the passenger compartment to heat the passenger compartment. However, the above-described introduction of the engine cooling water into the heating heat exchanger 10 is not necessarily limited to the time of heating, but is also performed in the case of performing temperature adjustment during cooling or during dehumidifying heating.
That is, in this vehicle air conditioner, as is clear from FIG. 1, the air conditioner unit 5 has a reheat air mix structure in which the heating heat exchanger 10 is arranged downstream of the cooling heat exchanger 4 in the air. For example, when performing the temperature adjustment during cooling, the Stirling refrigerator 15 is operated to cool the air introduced into the air conditioner unit 5 into the vehicle interior by the cooling heat exchanger 4 and to cool the air. A part of the air is further exchanged with the heat of the cooling water heated by the engine 8 in the heating heat exchanger 10 so that the temperature of the cooled air can be adjusted appropriately. At this time, the temperature of the air is adjusted by controlling the opening / closing degree of the mix door 14 provided in the heating heat exchanger 10 and adjusting the air volume of the fan 6 disposed above the air conditioner unit 5. In addition, the dehumidifying heating temporarily cools the air introduced into the air conditioner unit 5 into the vehicle interior,
After lowering the humidity, the low-humidity air is warmed. The operation is exactly the same as that of the above-described temperature adjustment during cooling.

In this embodiment, as is apparent from a comparison between FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the only outdoor heat exchanger is the radiator 11 for the engine, the number of circulation pumps is one, and the cooling water is provided. Fewer pipes are required. Therefore, the system can be greatly simplified as compared with the conventional air conditioner for automobiles, and the radiator 3 dedicated to the Stirling refrigerating machine, which becomes the ventilation resistance of the radiator 11 for the engine, can be provided.
Since there is no 4, the heat exchange efficiency of the radiator 11 is also improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, a part of the cooling water of the engine is guided to the water-cooled heat exchanger 31 provided in the radiator 24 of the Stirling refrigerator 15, but as shown in FIG. As a cooling water passage, a water-cooled heat exchanger 31 provided in the radiator 24 may be provided upstream of the engine 8. That is, the cooling water of the engine cooled by the radiator 11 is introduced into the water-cooled heat exchanger 31 by the circulation pump 12 and the water pipes 37a and 37b. If the cooling water returns to the radiator 11 by the water pipe 13c after cooling the engine 8 by the water pipe 37c, the system can be greatly simplified similarly to the present embodiment, and the radiator can be simplified. 11 can also improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0018]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The automotive cooling device described in the above, in the automotive cooling device provided with a Stirling refrigerator, the secondary heat medium for heat radiation as engine cooling water, the heat exchanger for cooling through another secondary heat medium heat exchanger for cooling By connecting to, miniaturization is possible,
The heat efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger can also be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automotive air conditioner having a Stirling refrigerator, wherein a secondary heat medium for heat radiation is used as engine cooling water, and a heat absorber is used as another heat exchanger. By connecting to the heat exchanger for cooling via the secondary heat medium and connecting the radiator to the heat exchanger for heating, the size can be reduced and the heat efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner for a vehicle, wherein a heating heat exchanger is disposed downstream of the cooling heat exchanger in the air. Has a mix door, so that temperature adjustment during cooling and temperature adjustment during dehumidifying cooling can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for describing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram for describing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial configuration diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining an automotive air conditioner equipped with a conventional vapor compression air conditioning system using chlorofluorocarbon as a refrigerant.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional Stirling refrigerator.

FIG. 6 is an operation stroke diagram of a conventional Stirling refrigerator.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a vehicle air conditioner equipped with a conventional Stirling refrigerator.

FIG. 8 is a partial configuration diagram for explaining an automotive air conditioner equipped with a conventional Stirling refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 Heat exchanger for cooling 5 Air conditioner unit 6 Fan 7 Ventilation port 8 Engine 9 V belt 10 Heat exchanger for heating 11 Radiator 12, 29 Circulation pump 13a, 13c, 13d, 13e Water pipe 13b Flow control valve 14 Mix door 15 Stirling Refrigerator 28, 31 Water-cooled heat exchanger 30a, 30b, 35a, 35b, 35c Water pipe 36 Branch pipe

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A Stirling refrigeration system in which heat is transferred between at least a high-temperature chamber, a radiator, a regenerator, a heat absorber, and a low-temperature chamber by a primary heat medium, and heat exchange is performed between the radiator and the heat absorber with a secondary heat medium. In a vehicle air conditioner equipped with a heat exchanger, a secondary heat medium for heat radiation is used as engine cooling water, and a heat absorber is connected to a heat exchanger for cooling via another secondary heat medium. apparatus. 2. A Stirling refrigeration system in which heat is transferred between at least a high-temperature chamber, a radiator, a regenerator, a heat absorber, and a low-temperature chamber by a primary heat medium, and heat exchange is performed between the radiator and the heat absorber with a secondary heat medium. In a car air conditioner equipped with a heat exchanger, a secondary heat medium for heat dissipation is used as engine cooling water, a heat sink is connected to a heat exchanger for cooling via another secondary heat medium, and a radiator is used as a heat exchanger for heating. An air conditioner for a vehicle, wherein the air conditioner is connected to a vehicle. 3. A vehicle air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein a heating heat exchanger is arranged downstream of the cooling heat exchanger in the air. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the heating heat exchanger includes a mixing door.