KR20100065877A - Air conditioner for vehicle and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An air conditioner for a vehicle and a control method thereof are provided to enhance heating efficiency by heat-exchanging the air discharged to a floor vent twice. CONSTITUTION: An air conditioner for a vehicle comprises an air conditioning case(110), a plurality of mode doors(121,122,123), and a PTC(Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater(140). The air conditioning case comprises an evaporator(101), a heater core(102), an air inlet(111), a defrost vent(112a), a face vent(112b), and floor vents(112c,112d). The mode doors open and close the vents. The PTC heater is installed in the air conditioning case. The PTC heater is installed across the downstream hot-wind passage(P2) of the heater core divided by a partition(113) and the passage(P3) at which the floor vents are located.

Description

Air conditioner for vehicle and its control method

The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to install a single PTC heater over a heater core downstream hot air passage and a floor vent side passage, By variablely controlling the capacity of the primary zone and the secondary zone, the air discharged to the floor vent is heat-exchanged for the second time to improve the heating performance and to the primary zone or the secondary zone of the PTC heater according to the air conditioning mode. The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner and a method of controlling the same, which can use the maximum capacity, as well as control each area independently to reduce the use of unnecessary capacity.

In general, the vehicle air conditioner is a vehicle interior that is installed for the purpose of securing the driver's front and rear view by removing the frost that is caught in the windshield during the rainy season or the winter, or by cooling or heating the interior of the car during the summer or winter season. These air conditioners are usually equipped with a heating device and a cooling device at the same time, and by selectively introducing the inside or outside air through a blower unit, the air is heated or cooled and blown into the interior of the vehicle to cool, heat or ventilate the interior of the car. Done.

According to the independent structure of the blower unit, the evaporator unit and the heater core unit, the air conditioner has a three-piece type in which the three units are independently provided, the evaporator unit and the heater core unit are built in the air conditioning case, and the blower unit is Semi-center type is provided as a separate unit, and all three units can be divided into a center mounting type that is built in the air conditioning case.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a semi-center type vehicle air conditioner, as shown, an air inlet 11 is formed at the inlet side and the defrost vent 12a, the face vent 12b, the floor vent 12c, 12d) is formed between the air conditioning case 10, the evaporator (2) and the heater core (3) which is installed inside the air conditioning case (10), and between the evaporator (2) and the heater core (3) In addition, by adjusting the opening degree of the cold air passage (P1) bypassing the heater core (3) and the warm air passage (P2) passing through the heater core (3), and the temperature of the temporal door (20), and each vent (12a) It is provided on the ~ 12d) side comprises a mode door 30 for adjusting the opening degree of each vent (12a ~ 12d) according to the air conditioning mode.

In addition, a PTC heater 5 for heating by using electrical energy of the battery as an auxiliary heating device for heating at the beginning of the start is installed downstream of the heater core 3.

On the other hand, an air inlet 11 side of the air conditioning case 10 is provided with a blower (not shown) for blowing the internal and external air to the air conditioning case 10 side.

Therefore, the air blown by the blower is exchanged with the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 2 while passing through the evaporator 2 to be changed into cold air, and then some cold air is controlled by adjusting the opening degree of the temper 20. The heat bypasses the heater core 3 and flows to the mixing chamber MC, and some cold air passes through the heater core 3 and the PTC heater 5 to be heat-exchanged to turn into warm air and flow to the mixing chamber MC. Thereafter, the cold and warm air flowing into the mixing chamber MC are mixed with each other and then mixed by the mode door 30 according to a predetermined air conditioning mode (face mode, bi-level mode, floor mode, mix mode, defrost mode). By discharging to the vehicle interior through the open vents 12a to 12d, cooling and heating of the vehicle interior are performed.

At this time, the PTC heater (5) is activated when the heating performance is insufficient, such as the initial startup to improve the heating performance.

However, in the conventional air conditioner 1, the air passing through the heater core 3 does not heat exchange while passing through the PTC heater 5, but partly bypasses the PTC heater 5 without passing through it. In addition, in a mode in which air is discharged to the floor vents 12c and 12d such as a floor mode, a mix mode, and a bi-level mode, heat exchange and mixing chambers with an inner surface of the air conditioning case 10 in the process of air flow. Due to the heat loss generated in the MC), the temperature of the air is lowered, thereby lowering the heating performance.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to install a single PTC heater on the heater core downstream hot air passage and the floor vent side passage, and the primary and secondary regions of the PTC heater located on each passage. By variable control of the capacity, the heat discharged through the floor vent is heat exchanged for 2 times to improve the heating performance and the maximum capacity can be used in the primary or secondary region of the PTC heater according to the air conditioning mode. Of course, to provide a vehicle air conditioner and a control method that can reduce the power consumption by reducing the use of unnecessary capacity by independently variable control of each area.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with an evaporator and a heater core therein, and an air inlet is formed at the inlet side, and the defrost vent, the face vent, and the downstream side of the heater core are partitioned through the hot air passage and the partition wall. A vehicle air conditioner comprising an air conditioner case having a floor vent, a plurality of mode doors to open and close the vents, and a single PTC heater installed inside the air conditioner case, wherein the single PTC heater comprises the compartment. And a downstream hot air passage of the heater core partitioned by a wall and over a passage in which the floor vent is located.

In addition, an air inlet is formed inside the evaporator and a heater core, and an air inlet is formed at the inlet side, and a defrost vent, a face vent, and a floor vent partitioned through a downstream hot air passage and a partition wall of the heater core are formed. And a plurality of mode doors for opening and closing the vents, and a single PTC heater disposed on the downstream hot air passage of the heater core partitioned by the partition wall and the passage on which the floor vents are located. As a control method of an air conditioning apparatus; According to the air conditioning mode, the capacity of the primary region of the PTC heater located on the hot air passage and the secondary region of the PTC heater located on the floor vent side passage are variably controlled.

According to the present invention, a single PTC heater is disposed on a heater core downstream hot air passage and a floor vent side passage, and the capacity of the primary and secondary regions of the PTC heater located on each passage is variably controlled. By heating the air discharged to the floor vents for 2 times, the heating performance is improved and the maximum capacity can be used in the primary or secondary areas of the PTC heater depending on the air conditioning mode. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced by reducing the use of unnecessary capacity.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a floor mode of the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a face mode of the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a vehicle air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a face mode of Fig. 5 and a cross-sectional view showing a PTC heater in a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention.

As shown, the vehicle air conditioner 100 according to the present invention, the air inlet 111 is formed on the inlet side and a plurality of air outlets are formed on the outlet side and the air conditioning case 110 and the air passage formed therein and , And an evaporator 101 and a heater core 102 installed on an air passage inside the air conditioning case 110.

In addition, the air inlet 111 of the air conditioning case 110 selectively introduces inside or outside air through an inside and outside air inlet (not shown) and an outside air inlet (not shown) that are opened and closed by an internal and outdoor air conversion door (not shown). A blower (not shown) for blowing air is installed.

In addition, the plurality of air discharge ports formed at the outlet side of the air conditioning case 110 may include a defrost vent 112a for discharging air toward the windshield of the vehicle and a face vent for discharging air toward the face of the front occupant. 112b and floor vents 112c and 112d for discharging air toward the occupant's foot are formed in this order.

The floor vents 112c and 112d are branched into a front seat vent 112c for discharging air toward the front occupant's foot and a rear seat vent 112d for discharging air toward the rear occupant's foot. It is.

On the other hand, a partition wall 113 is formed between the downstream side hot air passage P2 of the heater core 102 and the floor vents 112c and 112d and partitioned from each other.

And, between the evaporator 101 and the heater core 102 to adjust the opening degree of the cold air passage (P1) bypassing the heater core 102 and the warm air passage (P2) passing through the heater core 102. Temp door 120 to adjust the temperature is installed, the plurality of mode doors (121, 122, 123) for opening and closing each vent is installed on the defrost vent (112a), face vent (112b), floor vent (112c, 112d) side do.

Here, the cold air flowing through the cold air passage (P1) and the warm air flowing through the hot air passage (P2) are mixed in the mixing chamber (MC) located in the upper side direction of the heater core 102 and then discharged to each vent. . That is, in the floor mode as shown in FIG. 2, the air mixed in the mixing chamber MC is discharged to the floor vents 112c and 112d, and in the face mode as shown in FIG. 3, the air mixed in the mixing chamber MC is paced. It is discharged to the vent 112b.

The temporal door 120 and the mode doors 121, 122, and 123 are connected to a cam (not shown) or a lever (not shown) driven by an actuator (not shown) installed on an outer surface of the air conditioning case 110 to rotate. While controlling the cold and hot air passage (P1) (P2) and the opening degree of each of the vent (112a ~ 112d).

In addition, a single PTC heater 140 is installed inside the air conditioning case 110.

The PTC heater 140 is provided with a plurality of PTC elements 145 and the heat dissipation fins 146 therein so that heat exchange occurs between heat generated by the PTC elements 145 and air passing through the heat dissipation fins 146. To perform the heating role.

The PTC heater 140 is controlled by a known relay control method or pulse width modulation (PWM) control method.

In addition, the single PTC heater 140 has a passage P3 in which the downstream hot air passage P2 and the floor vents 112c and 112d of the heater core 102 partitioned by the partition wall 113 are located. Installed across the

That is, the single PTC heater 140 is divided into two regions 141 and 142 based on the partition wall 113, and the primary region 141 is located on the warm air passage 116a. The vehicle region 142 is provided so as to be located on the passage P3 on the floor vents 112c and 112d.

At this time, the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 and the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 located on the floor vents 112c and 112d side passage P3 on the hot air passage 116a. Are independently controlled.

In other words, the PTC element 145 installed in the primary region 141 and the PTC element 145 provided in the secondary region 142 are independently controlled through the relay or PWM control, respectively. ) Can be set differently.

In addition, the mode door 123 for opening and closing the floor vents 112c and 112d may be installed upstream or downstream of the PTC heater 140 on the passage P3 where the floor vents 112c and 112d are located. At this time, the floor vent (112c, 112d) is preferably installed on the downstream side than the mode door (123).

On the other hand, the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 located on the warm air passage (P2) is installed to cover the entire outlet side region of the warm air passage (P2). In this case, the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 located on the floor vents 112c and 112d side passages P3 may be installed to cover the entirety of the passages P3 or to cover only a portion of the passages P3. It may be installed.

Therefore, depending on the air conditioning mode, only the primary region 141 or the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 is used (operated), or both the primary region 141 and the secondary region 142 are used (operational). )can do. That is, in the face mode for discharging air to the face vent and the defrost mode for discharging air to the defrost vent, only the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 is used.

Floor mode for discharging air to the floor vents 112c and 112d, Mix mode for simultaneously discharging air to the floor vents 112c and 112d and the defrost vent 112a, and Floor vents 112c and 112d In the bi-level mode in which air is simultaneously discharged to the face vent 112b, only the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 is used or both primary and secondary regions 141 and 142 are used.

As described above, in the face mode and the defrost mode, the air heated by the heater core 102 while passing through the hot air passage P2 is heated again while passing through the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 to discharge temperature. In the floor mode, mix mode, and bi-level mode, the air heated by the heater core 102 passes through the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 while passing through the warm air passage P2. Since it is heated through the secondary region 142 for the second time, the discharge temperature is further increased and the heating performance is improved.

That is, the air heated while passing through the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 has a temperature of air due to heat exchange with the inner surface of the air conditioning case 110 and heat loss generated in the mixing chamber MC. Although lowered, it is heated again while passing through the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140, thereby further increasing heating efficiency.

On the other hand, the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 is turned on (operation) when receiving the feedback (FEED BACK) of the actuator for driving the mode door 123 in the floor mode, mix mode and bi-level mode do.

4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a face mode of an air conditioner for a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the partition wall 113 includes a portion of air flowing through the hot air passage P2 in the floor vents 112c and 112d. The bypass passage 114 for bypassing the passage (P3) is located is formed, one side of the bypass passage 114 is to install a bypass door 130 for opening and closing the bypass passage 114.

That is, in the face mode and the defrost mode, only the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 is used, but the bypass passage 114 formed in the circumferential wall 113 is used as the bypass door 130. When opened, both the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 can be used in the face mode and the defrost mode.

As a result, in the face mode and the defrost mode in which air is not discharged to the floor vents 112c and 112d, the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 can be used as well as the secondary region 142. Maximum performance can be achieved. That is, the PTC capacity in the floor mode can be additionally compared with the PTC capacity operating in the face mode and the defrost mode.

Here, when the bypass door 130 opens the bypass passage 114, the floor vents 112c and 112d are closed by the mode door 123, and the floor vents 112c and 112d are closed. The side mode door 123 is preferably installed downstream from the secondary region 142 and the bypass door 130 of the PTC heater 140.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 4, the air flow process in the face mode will be described. Part of the air heated by the heater core 102 while passing through the warm air passage P2 may be the primary of the PTC heater 140. Heated again while passing through the region 141 and moved to the mixing chamber MC, and part of the heat is passed again while passing through the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 through the bypass passage 114. It moves to the mixing chamber MC.

Thereafter, the warm air moved to the mixing chamber MC while passing through the first and second regions 141 and 142 of the PTC heater 140, and the cold air moved to the mixing chamber MC while passing through the cold air passage P1. After mixing with each other it is discharged to the vehicle interior through the face vent (112b).

Hereinafter, a control method of a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention will be described.

The control method is a PTC heater (1) located on the primary region (141) of the PTC heater 140 located on the warm air passage (P2) and the passage (P3) side of the floor vents (112c, 112d) according to the air conditioning mode ( The capacitance (capacitance) of the secondary region 142 of the 140 is variably controlled.

That is, the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 is turned off and the secondary region 142 is turned on in the floor mode 112c and 112d of the air conditioning mode and the mixed mode and the bilevel mode. ) Is turned on, and in the face mode and the defrost mode, the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 is turned on and the secondary region 142 is turned off.

At this time, the off condition of the PTC heater 140 primary region 141 in the floor mode, the mix mode, and the bi-level mode may use a vehicle battery voltage, a coolant temperature, an outside temperature, and an indoor temperature as INPUT factors. However, for example, the capacity of the primary region 141 may be used under the condition that the cooling water temperature does not increase by a constant temperature.

As such, in a condition in which the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 may be turned off or some capacity may be used depending on the air conditioning mode and the INPUT condition, and the primary region 141 and the secondary region 142 are turned on at the same time. The capacity of the primary region 141 may not exceed the capacity of the secondary region 142.

That is, when both the primary region 141 and the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 are turned on in the floor mode, the mix mode, and the bilevel mode, the capacity of the primary region 141 is secondary. It is preferable to control smaller than the capacity of the region 142.

The reason is that in the face mode and the defrost mode, the high temperature is not required, so the capacity of the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 must be set low to reduce the waste of power consumption. In the bilevel mode, increasing the temperature of the air discharged to the floor vents 112c and 112d increases the actual sensory performance of the occupant, thereby increasing the capacity of the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 in the primary region 141. ) It is set higher than capacity.

On the other hand, in the variable capacitance control of the primary region 141 and the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140, it is preferable to use a PWM control method that can independently control the capacitance of each region (141, 142). Do.

As described above, the control method of the present invention enables maximum use of the capacity of the PTC heater 140 and the primary region 141 in the face mode and the defrost mode, and the PTC in the floor mode, the mix mode, and the bilevel mode. The capacity of the heater 140 and the secondary region 142 may be maximized. In this case, when the primary region 141 and the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 are used at the same time, the primary region ( The capacity of 141 may not exceed the capacity of the secondary region 142.

Therefore, the maximum capacity of each region 141 and 142 of the PTC heater 140 given in each air conditioning mode can be used as a limited vehicle power supply, and unnecessary power consumption can be reduced by separately controlling each region 141 and 142.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional vehicle air conditioner,

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a floor mode of the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention;

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a face mode of the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a face mode of the vehicle air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention,

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a PTC heater in the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention.

<Code Description of Main Parts of Drawing>

100: air conditioner 101: evaporator

102: heater core 110: air conditioning case

111: air inlet 112a: defrost vent

112b: face vent 112c, 112d: floor vent

113: partition wall 114: bypass passage

120: temp door 121,122,123: mod door

130: bypass door 140: PTC heater

141: primary region 142: secondary region

145: PTC element 146: heat radiation fin

Claims (9)

An evaporator 101 and a heater core 102 are installed therein, and an air inlet 111 is formed at an inlet side and a defrost vent 112a, a face vent 112b, and a downstream side of the heater core 102 at an outlet side. An air conditioning case 110 having floor vents 112c and 112d partitioned through the warm air passage P2 and the partition wall 113, a plurality of mode doors 121, 122, and 123 opening and closing the vents, and the air conditioning case ( In the vehicle air conditioner comprising a single PTC heater 140 installed inside the 110, The single PTC heater 140 is a passage image (P3) in which the downstream hot air passage (P2) and the floor vents (112c, 112d) of the heater core 102 partitioned by the partition wall 113 is located. Vehicle air conditioning apparatus characterized in that is installed over. The method of claim 1, The PTC heater 140 may be independently controlled by the primary region 141 located on the hot air passage P2 and the secondary region 142 located on the passage P3 on the floor vents 112c and 112d. Vehicle air conditioner characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The mode door 123 for opening and closing the floor vents 112c and 112d may be installed upstream or downstream of the PTC heater 140 on the passage P3 where the floor vents 112c and 112d are located. Vehicle air conditioning system. The method of claim 1, The partition wall 113 is provided with a bypass passage 114 for bypassing some of the air flowing in the warm air passage (P2) to the passage (P3) side where the floor vent (112c, 112d) is located, the bypass One side of the passage passage 114, the vehicle air conditioner, characterized in that the bypass door 130 for opening and closing the bypass passage 114 is installed. The method of claim 1, The area 142 of the PTC heater 140 located on the hot air passage (P2) is installed to cover the entire area of the outlet side of the hot air passage (P2). An evaporator 101 and a heater core 102 are installed therein, and an air inlet 111 is formed at an inlet side and a defrost vent 112a, a face vent 112b, and a downstream side of the heater core 102 at an outlet side. An air conditioning case 110 having floor vents 112c and 112d partitioned through the warm air passage P2 and the partition wall 113, a plurality of mode doors 121, 122, and 123 for opening and closing the vents, and the partition wall ( A single PTC heater 140 installed to be disposed on the downstream hot air passage P2 and the passage P3 in which the floor vents 112c and 112d are located, which are divided by the heater core 102. As a control method of a vehicle air conditioner comprising; According to the air conditioning mode, the primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 located on the warm air passage P2 and the secondary of the PTC heater 140 located on the passage P3 on the floor vents 112c and 112d side. Control method of the vehicle air conditioner, characterized in that the variable control of the capacity of the area (142), respectively. The method of claim 6, The primary region 141 of the PTC heater 140 is turned off and the secondary region 142 is turned on when the air is discharged to the floor vents 112c and 112d among the air conditioning modes. The control method of the vehicle air conditioner, characterized in that the primary region (141) of the PTC heater 140 is turned on and the secondary region (142) is turned off. The method of claim 6, When both the primary region 141 and the secondary region 142 of the PTC heater 140 are turned on, the capacity of the primary region 141 is controlled to be smaller than the capacity of the secondary region 142. Control method of a vehicle air conditioning apparatus. The method of claim 6, The primary region (141) and the secondary region (142) of the PTC heater 140, the control method of the vehicle air conditioner, characterized in that the variable control through the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control.

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