KR20150063712A - Hot water-supplying and heating system using engine heat of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, provided is a hot water-supplying and heating system of a vehicle using the engine heat of a vehicle, the hot water-supplying and heating system of a vehicle comprising: a heater core for heating air inside a vehicle; an upper heater hose which is the path of cooling water flowing from an engine to the heater core; a lower heater hose which is the path of cooling water flowing from the heater core to the engine; a hot water tank for storing water; an upper branching hose branching from the upper heater hose and connecting to the hot water tank; a lower branching hose branching from the lower heater hose and connecting to the hot water tank; a heat exchanger connected to the upper branching hose and the lower branching hose inside the hot water tank to exchange heat with the cooling water and the water; a first valve installed between the heater core and a branching point into the upper branching hose on the flow path of the upper heater hose; a second valve installed on the flow path of the upper branching hose; and a control part for controlling the opening and closing each of the first valve and the second valve.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a hot water supply system for a vehicle,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a hot water and heating system for a vehicle using engine heat of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a system and a method for supplying hot water to a vehicle by heating water in a hot water tank using cooling water circulating around the engine, The present invention relates to a hot water system and a heating system for a vehicle.

As the five-day workweek is getting bigger and more and more people are focusing on leisure activities, the culture of camping is rapidly growing in Korea. Here's a more unique and comfortable camping experience that leads to interest in camper cars. Auto camping is being developed in a variety of ways. There is a way to carry tents and camping equipment to your campsite, a trailer caravan to drive a camping trailer, an autocaravan with a bed, a sink, a toilet and a TV in your car Camper cars) can be used.

In the case of an integrated camper car equipped with accommodation equipment in the vehicle, in order to satisfy the sensitivity of the consumer demanding a camping car having the convenience of feeling in the house though it is camping to be enjoyed outdoors, not only various electronic equipments but also functions of hot water and heating It is essential to have it. However, in order to supply the hot water, the existing motorcycle car was mainly used by attaching a small gas boiler to the vehicle, and an electric heater was used separately for the floor heating. Therefore, there is a problem in the existing camper cars that secondary equipment such as gas boilers, electric heaters, and energy sources are required for hot water and heating.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hot water and heating system for a vehicle that can utilize engine heat of a vehicle for hot water and heating without a secondary energy source.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hot water and heating system for a vehicle that can increase energy efficiency by using engine waste heat that occurs naturally when the engine is running.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hot water and heating system for a vehicle using engine heat of a vehicle, comprising: a heater core for heating indoor air of a vehicle; An upper heater hose which is a passage of cooling water flowing from the engine to the heater core; A lower heater hose which is a passage of cooling water flowing from the heater core to the engine; A hot water tank for storing water; An upper branch hose branched from the upper heater hose and connected to the hot water tank; A lower branch hose branched from the lower heater hose and connected to the hot water tank; A heat exchanger connected to the upper branch hose and the lower branch hose in the hot water tank to perform heat exchange between the cooling water and the water; A first valve disposed between a branch point between the upper branch hose and the heater core in the flow path of the upper heater hose; A second valve installed in the flow path of the upper branch hose; And a controller for controlling the opening and closing of the first and second valves, respectively.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that energy efficiency can be improved by using engine waste heat, which is naturally generated when the vehicle engine is running, without using a secondary energy source for hot water and heating.

1 is a flow chart of engine cooling water according to the prior art,
2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hot water and heating system of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention,
3 is a view for explaining the operation of the control unit of the hot water and heating system of the vehicle according to the embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments disclosed herein are provided so that the disclosure can be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

In this specification, when an element is referred to as being "above" (or "below", "right", or "left") another element, ) Or it may mean that a third component may be interposed therebetween. Further, in the drawings, the thickness of the components is exaggerated for an effective description of the technical content.

Also, in this specification, expressions such as 'upper', 'lower (lower)', 'left', 'right', 'front', 'rear' And it is a relative expression used for convenience of explanation based on the drawings when describing the present invention with reference to the respective drawings.

Where the terms first, second, etc. are used herein to describe components, these components should not be limited by such terms. These terms have only been used to distinguish one component from another. The embodiments described and exemplified herein also include their complementary embodiments.

In the present specification, the singular form includes plural forms unless otherwise specified in the specification. The terms "comprise" and / or "comprising" used in the specification do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In describing the specific embodiments below, various specific details have been set forth in order to explain the invention in greater detail and to assist in understanding it. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be understood by those skilled in the art without departing from such specific details. In some cases, it should be mentioned in advance that it is common knowledge in describing an invention that parts not significantly related to the invention are not described in order to avoid confusion in explaining the present invention.

1 is a flowchart of engine cooling water in a conventional general vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] Generally, in various vehicles using an internal combustion engine (engine) as a power source, indoor heating is performed using heat recovered from cooling water circulating through a water jacket inside an engine. 1, cooling water that absorbs engine heat in a water jacket (not shown) surrounding the surface of the engine 10 flows into the radiator 20 through the upper radiator hose 11 and flows into the radiator 20 The cooled cooling water flows back to the engine 10 through the lower radiator hose 12 and discharges the engine heat to the outside of the vehicle by the cooling water circulation between the engine 10 and the radiator 20. [

At this time, a part of the cooling water flows into the heater core 30 through the upper heater hose 31. The heater core 30 has a plurality of micro-tube structures arranged in parallel such that the cooling water can flow similarly to the radiator 20. When the cooling water passes through the micro-tubes, the blower operates, The heated air around the custom pipe flows into the interior of the vehicle through the air outlet of the interior of the vehicle, thereby heating the interior. Thus, in the conventional vehicle, a part of the cooling water heated by the heat of the engine is circulated through the upper heater hose 31, the heater core 30, and the lower heater hose 32 to heat the vehicle interior air.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hot water and heating system of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a hot water and heating system of a vehicle according to an embodiment includes an engine 10, a radiator 20, and a heater core 30, similar to the configuration of FIG.

The heater core 30 is a device for heating indoor air of a vehicle as in Fig. Between the engine 10 and the heater core 30 there are provided an upper heater hose 31 which is a passage for cooling water flowing from the engine 10 to the heater core 30 and a passage for cooling water flowing from the heater core 30 to the engine 10 And the lower heater hose 32 is connected to the indoor heat exchanger.

As used herein, the terms "upper" and "lower" are used to denote the flow direction of the cooling water without referring to the physical position of the hose. The upper heater hose 31 is a passage through which the cooling water flows from the engine 10 to the heater core 30 and the lower heater hose 32 is the passage through which the cooling water flows from the heater core 30 to the engine 10 .

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the hot water and heating system of the vehicle further comprises a hot water tank 40 and an upper branch hose 41 and a lower branch hose 42 so that cooling water can circulate in the hot water tank.

The upper branch hose 41 is branched from the upper heater hose 31 and connected to the hot water tank 40. A part of the cooling water flowing from the engine 10 to the heater core 30 through the upper heater hose 31 is branched And flows to the hot water tank 40 side.

The lower branch hose 42 branches from the lower heater hose 32 and is connected to the hot water tank 40. The cooling water flowing from the hot water tank 40 side flows through the lower branch hose 42 and flows into the lower heater hose 32 And then returns to the engine 10. [0050]

The hot water tank 40 is a water tank for storing water. In one embodiment, the hot water and heating system of the present invention is applied to a camper car equipped with a sink, a toilet, and the like in a vehicle. In this case, the hot water tank 40 stores water used in a sink or a toilet, have.

The hot water tank 40 includes a heat exchanger 43 therein. The heat exchanger 43 is connected to the upper branch hose 41 and the lower branch hose 42 in the hot water tank 40. The cooling water heated at the engine 10 side can be introduced into the heat exchanger 43 through the upper heater hose 31 and the upper branch hose 41. [ The heated cooling water flowing into the heat exchanger 43 performs heat exchange with the water stored in the hot water tank 40, whereby the cooling water temperature is lowered and the water temperature is raised. After the heat exchange in the heat exchanger 43 is performed, the cooling water passes through the lower branch hose 42 and the lower heater hose 32 in order, and returns to the engine 10 again.

The hot water and heating system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes a first valve 35 and a second valve 45 and a control unit 50 for controlling the flow rate of the cooling water flowing to the heat exchanger 43 . The first valve 35 is installed between the branch point of the upper heater hose 31 with the upper branch hose 41 and the heater core 30 and the second valve 45 is disposed between the upper branch hose 41 and the upper branch hose 41, (41). The control unit 50 may control the opening and closing of the first and second valves 35 and 45 by transmitting a control signal to the first valve 35 and the second valve 45, respectively.

The hot water tank 40 has a temperature sensor 44 for measuring the temperature of the stored water, and the temperature sensor 40 is communicable with the control unit 50. The sensing signal measured by the temperature sensor 44 is transmitted to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 controls the opening and closing of the first and second valves 35 and 45 based on the sensing signal from the temperature sensor Can be controlled.

For example, the control unit 50 may control the second valve 45 to prevent the hot water tank 40 from overheating. For example, the maximum heating temperature of the water in the hot water tank 40 can be preset to 60 degrees, and when the water temperature measured by the water temperature sensor 44 reaches the set temperature, the engine cooling water no longer flows through the heat exchanger 43, The second valve 45 can be closed. The specific control operation of the control unit 50 will be described later with reference to Fig.

The hot water tank 40 includes a water inlet pipe 46 for receiving water from the outside and a water outlet pipe 47 for discharging the water to the outside. The water inlet pipe 46 is preferably installed on the upper part of the hot water tank 40. For example, the water hose may be directly connected to the water inlet pipe 46 to inject tap water or a separate water supply device, Water can be injected into the reaction chamber 40. The water outlet pipe 47 is preferably installed at the bottom of the hot water tank 40 and can be connected to one or more water outlets 70, for example, through a hose, such as an in-vehicle sink or toilet faucet.

At this time, when the hot water tank 40 is mounted on the lower portion of the vehicle, a separate pressurizing device may be provided to smoothly discharge the water to the water outlet 70. And may include a compressor 83 as a pressurizing device in the illustrated embodiment. The compressor 83 can receive the sensing signal from the pressure sensor 81 measuring the pressure in the hot water tank 40 and adjusts the pressure in the hot water tank based on the sensing signal. For example, when a predetermined pressure (for example, 2 to 3 kgf / cm 2) is set in advance and the pressure in the hot water tank 40 becomes smaller than the predetermined pressure value, the compressor 83 is automatically operated to discharge the water to the water outlet 70 The water pressure of the water can be maintained at a certain level or higher.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the compressor 83 directly receives the sensing signal of the pressure sensor 81 and operates automatically. However, in an alternative embodiment, the sensing signal of the pressure sensor 81 is supplied to the control unit 50), and the compressor (83) is operated under the control of the control unit (50).

On the other hand, the compressor 83 can be supplied with electric power from the vehicle battery provided in the vehicle, and in an alternative embodiment, the compressor 83 can receive electric power from the battery provided separately from the vehicle battery.

In addition, as a further or alternative method for maintaining the water pressure of the water at a predetermined level, a flow sensor 73 is installed in the water pipe 47 and the operation of the compressor 83 is controlled based on the sensing signal of the flow sensor 73 You may. In this embodiment, the sensing signal of the flow sensor 73 is transmitted to the control unit 50 and can be implemented to operate the compressor 83 under the control of the control unit 50. [ The control operation of the control unit 50 based on the sensing signal of the pressure sensor 81 and / or the flow sensor 73 will be described later with reference to Fig.

Meanwhile, the hot water and heating system of the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes a heating unit 60, a circulation motor 63, and a heating control unit 65 for heating the vehicle interior.

The heating device 60 is a device for heating the floor, side, and / or ceiling of the vehicle interior by the water in the hot water tank 40. The heating device 60 is connected to the hot water tank 40 by the heating pipes 48 and 49. The water heated by the heat exchanger (43) in the hot water tank (40) flows into the heating device (60) through the heating pipe (48). The heating device 60 is constituted by a pipe through which the water discharged in at least one of the floor, side, or ceiling of the vehicle can flow, and heats the vehicle interior on the same principle as the ondol. That is, the heated water flows through the pipe of the heating device 60 to heat the vehicle interior and return to the hot water tank 40 through the pipe 49. At this time, a circulation motor 63 is installed in the pipe 48 so that the water can be introduced into the heating device 60 through the pipe 48.

The heating device 60 is provided with a temperature sensor 61 for measuring the room temperature and a sensing signal measured by the temperature sensor 61 is transmitted to the heating control part 65. [ The heating control unit 65 may include a display unit for displaying the measured room temperature to a user and may control the operation of the circulation motor 63 according to a user's input or a preset temperature. The heating control unit 65 may be implemented as a separate device from the control unit 50. In an alternative embodiment, the control unit 50 and the heating control unit 65 may be integrated into one control unit.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the operation of the control unit of the hot water and heating system of the vehicle according to the embodiment. In FIG. 3, only some of the components are selectively shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the vehicle hot water and heating system may include a control box 90. The control box 90 can be integrally mounted on the driver's seat panel of the vehicle or installed around the driver's seat for easy operation by the driver. In the illustrated embodiment, the control box 90 includes a control unit 50, an input unit 91, and a display 93.

The control unit 50 is a control unit 50 described with reference to Fig. 2 and includes at least one of a temperature sensor 44 provided in the hot water tank 40, a flow rate sensor 73 provided in the pressure sensor 81 and the water outlet pipe 47, And is configured to receive a sensing signal from one sensor. The control unit 50 controls the opening and closing of the first valve 35 and the second valve 45 based on at least one of the user input received from the input unit 91 and the sensing signal of the temperature sensor 44. [ . The control unit 50 can also control the operation of the compressor 83 based on the sensing signal of at least one of the flow sensor 73 and the pressure sensor 81. [

The input unit 91 is a terminal device that receives input from a user and is capable of communicating with the control unit 50. The input unit 91 may be implemented by a touch panel, a button, a switch, or the like. The display 93 is a terminal device capable of communicating with the control unit 50, showing the operation status of the hot water and the heating system, information necessary for the user, and the like to the user. The display 93 can display information according to the sensing signal of at least one of the temperature sensor 44, the flow sensor 73 and the pressure sensor 81 and can display the information on the degree of flow of the water outlet pipe 47, The temperature and pressure of the water in the hot water tank 40 may be displayed. The display 93 may be implemented as one or more monitor screens, a touch panel, or the like, and the input unit 91 and the display 93 may be integrated into one touch panel device.

In this configuration, the control of the first and second valves 35, 45 by the control unit 50 will be described first.

In one embodiment, the control unit 50 may set the first valve 35 and the second valve 45 to one of a plurality of operation modes based on at least one of the user input and the sensing signal of the temperature sensor 44 . The plurality of operation modes may include one or more of the following three modes.

(i) the first operation mode: both the first valve and the second valve are opened

For this operation mode, the controller 50 opens both the first valve 35 and the second valve 45. Therefore, the cooling water flows both toward the heater core 30 and the hot water tank 40, so that indoor air heating of the vehicle, hot water and floor heating can both be performed. This operation mode is a general operation mode in which indoor air heating, hot water heating and floor heating are both required, and this operation mode can be set by a user input through the input unit 91. [

In one embodiment, the controller 50 may set the degree of opening of the first valve 35 and the degree of opening of the second valve 45 differently. For example, if the water in the hot water tank 40 is to be heated more quickly, the water heating can be performed more quickly by opening the second valve 45 100% and opening the first valve 35 only 50% for example will be. As described above, by setting the opening ratio of the two valves by user input through the input unit 91 or automatic control of the control unit 50, it is possible to cope with various situations appropriately.

(ii) second operating mode: opening the first valve and closing the second valve

For this mode of operation, the controller 50 opens the first valve 35 and closes the second valve 45. Therefore, the cooling water flows only toward the heater core 30 and does not flow toward the hot water tank 40 side. This operation mode can be set by the user's input through the input unit 91 when the indoor air heating only is performed and the hot water or the floor heating is not performed.

Also, for example, this mode can be switched to prevent overheating of the hot water tank when the water in the hot water tank 40 reaches a preset temperature. In this case, if the control unit 50 compares the sensed signal received from the temperature sensor 44 with the predetermined temperature, if the current water temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the control unit 50 controls the operation mode Can be set.

(iii) third operating mode: closing the first valve and opening the second valve

For this mode of operation, the controller 50 closes the first valve 35 and opens the second valve 45. Therefore, the cooling water does not flow into the heater core 30 but flows only toward the hot water tank 40 side. This operation mode can be set by a user's input through the input unit 91 when the indoor air is heated without heating the indoor air only.

In one embodiment, this operation mode can be set even when hot water is to be heated in a short time. A situation may occur in which the temperature of the water in the hot water tank 40 is extremely low immediately after completion of the water supply to the hot water tank 40. In this case, the control unit 50 determines, based on the received water temperature information from the temperature sensor 44 Temperature information such as "the water temperature is low" can be displayed to the user through the display 93. [ Accordingly, the operation mode can be switched by the user input through the input unit 91. Or alternatively, the controller 50 can automatically switch from this other operating mode to this operating mode if the water temperature is lower than a predetermined preset temperature.

Next, the water pressure control of the water by the control unit 50 will be described.

The hot water and heating system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pressure sensor 81 for measuring the pressure in the hot water tank 40 and a compressor 83 as a pressurizing device through which when the water is lower than a predetermined pressure, The water pressure can be increased. At this time, according to one embodiment, the sensing signal of the pressure sensor 81 may be directly input to the compressor 83 so that the compressor 83 can operate automatically. In an alternative embodiment, the sensing signal of the pressure sensor 81 May be transmitted to the control unit 50 and the compressor 83 may be operated under the control of the control unit 50. [

In another alternative embodiment, the control unit 50 may receive the sensing signal of the flow sensor 73 provided in the water outlet pipe 47 and control the operation of the compressor 83 based thereon. The water pressure is regulated based on the flow rate of the water flowing in the water pipe 47 rather than the pressure in the hot water tank 40. [ In this case, for example, based on the sensing signal of the flow sensor 73, the control unit 50 can convert the degree of the flow rate into a grade such as upper, middle, lower, etc. and display it to the user through the display 93, The control unit 50 can control the compressor 83 by the user input through the control unit 50. [ Alternatively, the controller 50 may automatically control the operation of the compressor 83 when the measured flow rate is smaller than the minimum threshold value of the preset flow rate in the controller 50.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the controller 50 may receive both the sensing signal of the flow sensor 73 and the sensing signal of the pressure sensor 81 and control the operation of the compressor 83 based thereon. According to the concrete situation, the pressure in the hot water tank 40 measured by the pressure sensor 81 is preferably higher than the predetermined first threshold value, but the flow rate measured by the flow sensor 73 is lower than the predetermined second threshold value Situations may arise or vice versa. In this case, if the measurement value of the pressure sensor 81 is equal to or less than the predetermined first threshold value and the measurement value of the flow rate sensor 73 is equal to or less than the predetermined second threshold value, (83) can be operated.

Various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the described embodiments, but should be determined by the scope of the appended claims, as well as the appended claims.

10: Engine
20: Radiator
30: heater core
40: Hot water tank
50:
60: Heating
70: Water outlet
90: Control box

Claims (10)

In a hot water and heating system of a vehicle using engine heat of a vehicle,
A heater core (30) for heating indoor air of the vehicle;
An upper heater hose (31) which is a passage of cooling water flowing from the engine to the heater core;
A lower heater hose 32 which is a passage of cooling water flowing from the heater core to the engine;
A hot water tank (40) for storing water;
An upper branch hose 41 branched from the upper heater hose 31 and connected to the hot water tank 40;
A lower branch hose (42) branched from the lower heater hose (32) and connected to the hot water tank (40);
A heat exchanger (43) connected to the upper branch hose and the lower branch hose in the hot water tank to perform heat exchange between the cooling water and the water;
A first valve (35) provided between a branch point of the flow path of the upper heater hose (31) with the upper branch hose (41) and the heater core (30);
A second valve (45) installed in the flow path of the upper branch hose (41); And
And a controller (50) for controlling the opening and closing of each of the first valve and the second valve. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a temperature sensor (44) for measuring the temperature of the water in the hot water tank (40)
Wherein the control unit (50) controls the opening and closing of the second valve (45) based on a sensing signal from the temperature sensor. The method according to claim 1,
A temperature sensor 44 for measuring the temperature of the water in the hot water tank 40; And
And a control box (90) having an input unit (91) capable of communicating with the control unit (50) and receiving a user input,
The control unit 50 controls opening and closing of the first valve and the second valve based on at least one of a user input received from the input unit 91 and a sensing signal of the temperature sensor 44 The hot water and heating system of the vehicle. The method of claim 3,
The control unit (50), based on at least one of the user input and the sensing signal of the temperature sensor,
(i) a first mode of opening the first valve and closing the second valve;
(ii) a second mode of closing the first valve and opening the second valve; And
(iii) a third mode for opening both the first valve and the second valve; Wherein the first and second valves are controlled so as to be in at least one mode among the first mode and the second mode. The method of claim 3,
A heating device (60) for heating the bottom or side of the vehicle interior by the water; And
And a heating pipe (48) installed in the hot water tank (40) so that water can circulate between the hot water tank and the heating device. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the hot water tank (40) further comprises a water inlet pipe (46) for receiving water from outside and a water outlet pipe (47) for discharging water to the outside. The method according to claim 6,
Further comprising a flow sensor (73) for measuring a flow rate of the water flowing through the water pipe (47), wherein a sensing signal of the flow sensor is transmitted to the controller (50) . 8. The method of claim 7,
A pressure sensor (81) for measuring the pressure in the hot water tank; And
And a compressor (83) for adjusting the pressure in the hot water tank based on the sensing signal of the pressure sensor. 9. The method of claim 8,
A sensing signal of the pressure sensor 81 can be transmitted to the controller 50,
Wherein the control unit (50) controls the operation of the compressor (83) based on a sensing signal of at least one of the flow sensor (73) and the pressure sensor (81). 10. The method of claim 9,
The control box (90) further comprises a display (93) capable of communicating with the controller (50)
Wherein information according to a sensing signal of at least one of the temperature sensor (44), the flow sensor (73), and the pressure sensor (81) is displayed on the display.

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