KR20020045041A - Air conditioner for electric vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An air conditioning system for electric automobile is provided to simplify a heating system. CONSTITUTION: A system includes a heat pump cooling and heating device; an air conditioning case(9); a heater core(10); and a heat generating device(12). The heat pump cooling and heating device has a compressor(1); an outdoor heat exchanger(2); an indoor air blower(6); an expansion valve(4); an indoor heat exchanger(5); a car room heat exchanging air blower; a refrigerant circulation circuit and a four-way valve(7). The air conditioning case has the indoor heat exchanger installed therein and is connected with an indoor bleed hole(8) to flow air-conditioned air. The heater core comprises heat pipes placed in the air conditioning case. The heat generating device is placed out of a car room and provides heat to the heater core.

Description

Air Conditioner for Electric Vehicles

The present invention relates to an air conditioner for an electric vehicle for air conditioning the interior of an electric vehicle.

Conventional fuel engine air conditioners for automobiles are driven by a compressor that compresses a refrigerant with an engine, and radiates to the outside air by an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor blower to liquefy the refrigerant, and then heats the refrigerant through an throttling device. The air is introduced into the air conditioner and evaporated while cooling and damping the air in the vehicle interior with the indoor blower to perform the cooling operation. In addition, heating is performed by hot water heater using engine water temperature.

In the air conditioner for electric vehicles, the cooling operation is the same as above, but since the heating operation cannot use the engine water temperature, the refrigerant flow path is reversed using a four-way valve that is switched on the downstream side of the compressor. After heat dissipation, the refrigerant is compressed and liquefied, and the refrigerant is introduced into an outdoor heat exchanger through an expansion valve, where it is necessary to perform heat pump heating to endothermic and evaporate the refrigerant while cooling and damping the air outside the vehicle interior.

6 shows an example of a conventional air conditioner for an electric vehicle disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-89333.

Referring to the drawings, the compressor (31), outdoor heat exchanger (32), outdoor blower (33), throttle device (34), indoor heat exchanger (35), indoor blower (36), four-way valve (37), hot water A heater core 38 for heating air by the air, a damper 39 for controlling the amount of air introduced into the heater core, a combustion water heater 40 disposed outside to heat water by combustion, and an electric heater for heating air with electricity. The water heater 43 and the hot water circuit 43 connected by connecting the water pump 42, the heater core 38, the combustion water heater 40, the electric water heater 41, and the water pump 42. ) Is placed.

When the heating capacity is insufficient in the air conditioner for the electric vehicle configured as described above, the damper 39 is switched, and water is heated on one side or the other side of the combustion water heater 40 and the electric water heater 41. By heating the air circulating hot water in the heater core 38 with the water pump 42, the heating capability can be compensated.

However, conventional air conditioners for electric vehicles use electric heaters and combustion heaters for shortage of heating heat sources, and include a circulation circuit for circulating hot water heated by them, and a water pump for forcibly circulating hot water. The system of the air conditioner is complicated because it is installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner for an electric vehicle that can simplify the heating system of the air conditioner.

The first embodiment of the air conditioner for an electric vehicle of the present invention for achieving the above object is a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor blower, a throttling device for throttling the refrigerant flow rate, an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor blower, a circulation path of a refrigerant Heat pump cooling and heating device having a refrigerant circulation circuit for providing a four-way valve for reversing the flow direction of the refrigerant; An air conditioning case installed inside the indoor heat exchanger and connected to an outlet of the vehicle to flow air conditioning air; A heater core disposed in the air conditioning case; And heat generating means disposed outside the vehicle compartment and providing a heat source to the heater core. The heat generating means may be any of combustion type and electric type.

Here, the heater core may heat the fluid by the heat generating means and heat it by the heated fluid, or may be directly heated by the heat generating means. In addition, an accumulator is installed in the suction side refrigerant circulation of the compressor to prevent the liquid refrigerant from being sucked into the compressor.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a first temperature sensor installed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger, a second temperature sensor installed downstream of the heater core, a third temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heat generating means, and the first, second and third temperatures. Control means for controlling the heat generating means in accordance with the detection value of the sensor.

The second embodiment of the present invention comprises a refrigerant circuit for connecting the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger in a parallel circuit, each of which comprises an expansion valve and a receiver in the refrigerant branch circuit of the parallel circuit and the refrigerant branch circuit. A three-way valve is installed at the branch point of, and the refrigerant is circulated in either direction by switching of the three-way valve.

The third embodiment of the present invention further comprises an evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit for passing the low temperature evaporative refrigerant flowing into the compressor suction side via the heating means, wherein the evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit is provided between the indoor heat exchanger and the four-way valve. A parallel circuit may be configured to pass through the heat generating means, or a refrigerant circuit between the four-way valve and the suction side of the compressor may be configured as a parallel circuit passing through the heat generating means. In addition, by installing a three-way valve at the branch point between the four-way valve and the suction side of the compressor, it is characterized in that the evaporative refrigerant is selectively bypassed to the heat generating means.

According to the present invention in the transfer of the heat source generated by the heating means to the heater core consisting of a heat pipe (heat pipe), the direct heating method for directly heating the heater core or heating the working medium and heating the working medium By adopting an indirect heating method in which the heat source is transferred to the heater core, the conventional hot water circuit and the water pump for circulating the hot water can be excluded, thereby simplifying the air conditioning system.

1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an air conditioner for an electric vehicle of the present invention;

2 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the air conditioner for an electric vehicle of the present invention;

3 and 4 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention;

5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a heater core;

6 is a block diagram of a conventional air conditioner.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1: Compressor 2: Outdoor Heat Exchanger

3: outdoor blower 4: expansion valve

5: indoor heat exchanger 6: indoor blower

7: 4-way valve 8: Outlet

10: heater core 11: damper

12: heating device 13: control device

14: refrigerant circulation circuit 15: accumulator

16,17: refrigerant feeder circuit 18,19: expansion valve

20,21: Receiver 22,25: 3-way valve

23,24: circuit

1 is a system diagram showing a first embodiment of an air conditioner for an electric vehicle of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is a compressor (1), outdoor heat exchanger (2), outdoor blower (3), expansion valve (4), indoor heat exchanger (5), indoor blower (6) and four-way valve (7) And a heat pump heating and cooling device having a).

In addition, an indoor heat exchanger (5) is disposed in the vehicle cabin, an air conditioning case (9) for introducing air sucked from the indoor blower (6) to the vehicle outlet (8), and an indoor heat exchanger (5) in the air conditioning case (9). A heater core 10 disposed downstream to heat air, a damper 11 controlling an amount of air introduced into the heater core, and a heat generator 12 disposed outside to provide a heat source to the heater core 10. . The heating device 12 may use either a method of electric or combustion, or both.

The present invention provides a first temperature sensor (13a) installed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger (5), the second temperature sensor (13b) installed downstream of the heater core 10, the agent for measuring the heat generated temperature of the heat generating device (12) And a control device 13 for controlling the on / off of the heat generating device 12 according to the detected temperatures of the first, second and third temperature sensors.

5 illustrates various embodiments of a heater core. Referring to FIG. 5A, the heater core 10 includes a plurality of heat pipes 10a arranged side by side and a cooling fin 10b interposed therebetween, and one end of the heat pipe 10a is heated. (12) is introduced.

The heating device 12 stores a working fluid therein and heats the working fluid with an electric heater 12a connected to a battery power source. The heating fluid 12 supplies another heating body stored in the heat pipe 10a by the working fluid. Heat transfer or direct heat source is transferred to the heat pipe, 5b adopts a method of directly heating by heating the electric heater 12a to the heat pipe (10a).

When the cooling operation is performed in the air conditioner for the electric vehicle configured as described above, the refrigerant of the gaseous phase compressed in the state of high temperature and high pressure in the compressor 1 passes through the four-way valve 7 and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 2. Thus, the liquid phase is condensed into the liquid phase refrigerant through heat exchange with the outdoor refrigerant, and the liquid phase refrigerant is expanded to low temperature and low pressure in the expansion valve 4 and flows into the indoor heat exchanger 5. The low temperature refrigerant exchanges heat with the air introduced into the duct by the indoor blower 6, and the introduced air is cooled, and at the same time, the low temperature refrigerant is changed into a gaseous refrigerant from the liquid phase and has a cycle of being sucked into the compressor 1.

In the case of the heating operation, the four-way valve 7 is switched to flow the refrigerant as opposed to the cooling operation. In this case, when the heating capacity is insufficient, that is, the heater core 10 is operated when the outside temperature is 0 ° C or lower. .

Since the heater core 10 only heats the natural heat, the heat generated by driving the heat generator 12 is transferred to the heater core 10 composed of heat pipes to compensate for the shortage of heating to increase the temperature of the air conditioning air. Forced convection

Moreover, the temperature of the air conditioning air can be controlled by controlling the amount of air introduced by controlling the opening angle of the damper 11 as well as the heat generation temperature of the heat generating device 12, and the temperature of the air conditioning air can be controlled indoors. The controller 13 controls the temperature of the heat exchanger 5, the heater core 10, and the heat generator 12 according to the detected temperatures of the respective temperature sensors 13a-13c.

In addition, the present invention is capable of dehumidifying heating by the system described above, the dehumidification heating is carried out through the heat pump heating device and the heater core, whereby the amount of air passing through the damper 11 is controlled to control the degree of dehumidification heating. .

Furthermore, in the present invention, the accumulator 15 is installed in the suction side refrigerant circulation circuit 14 of the compressor 1 to separate the liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant sucked into the compressor 1 and to introduce the refrigerant in the gas phase. This can prevent the liquid compression from being caught.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the air conditioner for an electric vehicle of the present invention, the same parts as the first embodiment are attached with the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is a compressor (1), outdoor heat exchanger (2), indoor blower (3), expansion valve (4), indoor heat exchanger (5), indoor blower (6) and four-way valve (7) And a heat pump heating and cooling device having a).

In addition, an indoor heat exchanger (5) is disposed in the vehicle cabin, an air conditioning case (9) for introducing air sucked from the indoor blower (6) to the vehicle outlet (8), and an indoor heat exchanger in the air conditioning case (9). 5) a heater core 10 disposed downstream to heat air, a damper 11 controlling an amount of air introduced into the heater core, and a heat generator 12 disposed outside to provide a heat source to the heater core 10. Has The heating device 12 may use either a method of electric or combustion, or both.

According to the present invention, the refrigerant circulation circuit (14) connecting the indoor heat exchanger (5) and the outdoor heat exchanger (2) comprises a parallel circuit, and a first expansion valve (18) is provided in each of the refrigerant branch circuits (16) of the parallel circuit. ), A second expansion valve 19, a first receiver 20, and a second receiver 21, and a three-way valve 22 is provided at a branch point of the refrigerant feeder circuit. By switching of (22), the refrigerant is circulated in either direction.

The present invention provides a first temperature sensor (13a) installed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger (5), the second temperature sensor (13b) installed downstream of the heater core 10, the agent for measuring the heat generated temperature of the heat generating device (12) And a control device 13 for controlling the on / off of the heat generating device 12 according to the detected temperatures of the first, second and third temperature sensors.

When the cooling operation is performed in the air conditioner for the electric vehicle configured as described above, the refrigerant of the gaseous phase compressed in the state of high temperature in the compressor 1 is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger 2 through the four-way valve 7. Thus, the liquid phase is condensed into the liquid phase refrigerant through heat exchange with the outdoor refrigerant, and the liquid phase refrigerant is expanded to low temperature and low pressure in the expansion valve 4 and flows into the indoor heat exchanger 5.

At this time, the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 5 is introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 5 through the first receiver 20 and the first expansion valve 18 by switching of the three-way valve 22.

The low temperature refrigerant introduced into the indoor heat exchanger (5) exchanges heat with the air introduced into the duct by the indoor blower (5), and the inlet air is cooled, while the low temperature refrigerant is changed from the liquid phase to the refrigerant in the gas phase. ) Has a cycle of suction.

In the case of the heating operation, the four-way valve 7 is switched to flow the refrigerant as opposed to the cooling operation. Here, the refrigerant is converted into the second receiver 21 and the second expansion valve by the switching of the three-way valve 22. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger (2) through (19) it is introduced into the compressor (1). At this time, when the heating capacity is insufficient, that is, the heater core 10 is operated when the outside temperature is 0 ℃ or less.

Here, since the heater core 10 composed of heat pipes performs only natural heat dissipation, the heat generating device 12 is driven to transfer generated heat to the heater core 10 to compensate for the shortage of heating, thereby raising the temperature of the air conditioning air and forcing it into the cabin. It is convection.

Moreover, the temperature of the air conditioning air can be controlled by controlling the amount of air introduced by controlling the opening angle of the damper 11 as well as the heat generation temperature of the heat generating device 12, and the temperature of the air conditioning air can be controlled indoors. The control device 13 controls the temperature of the heat exchanger 5, the heater core 10, and the heat generator 12 according to the detected temperatures of the respective temperature sensors 13a-13c.

In addition, the present invention is capable of dehumidifying heating by the above-described system, the dehumidification heating is performed through the heat pump heating device and the heater core 10, where the degree of dehumidification heating by adjusting the amount of air passing through the damper (11). Control.

3 and 4 are schematic diagrams showing a third embodiment of an air conditioner for an electric vehicle according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the same parts as in the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention is a compressor (1), outdoor heat exchanger (2), outdoor blower (3), expansion valve (4), indoor heat exchanger (5), indoor blower (6) and four-way valve (7) And a heat pump heating and cooling device having a).

In addition, an indoor heat exchanger (5) is disposed in the vehicle cabin, an air conditioning case (9) for introducing air sucked from the indoor blower (6) to the vehicle outlet (8), and an indoor heat exchanger in the air conditioning case (9). 5) a heater core 10 composed of a heat pipe disposed downstream to heat the air, a damper 11 for controlling the amount of air introduced into the heater core, and an external heat source for providing the heat source to the heater core 10. It has a heat generator 12. The heating device 12 may use either a method of electric or combustion, or both.

According to the present invention, a refrigerant circulation circuit (14) connecting the indoor heat exchanger (5) and the outdoor heat exchanger (2) comprises a parallel circuit, and a first expansion is provided in each of the refrigerant branch circuits (16) and (17) of the parallel circuit. A valve 18, a second expansion valve 19, a first receiver 20, and a second receiver 21 are provided, and a three-way valve 22 is provided at the branch point of the refrigerant feeder circuit. By switching the three-way valve 22, the refrigerant is circulated in either direction.

In addition, the present invention further includes an evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit 23 through which the low-temperature evaporative refrigerant flowing into the suction side of the compressor 1 passes through the heat generator 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, the evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit 23 is configured as a parallel circuit between the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the four-way valve 7 so as to pass through the heat generating device 12. Valves 23a and 23b are provided to control the flow of the refrigerant. In addition, the circulation circuit 23 can be easily configured by providing a three-way valve at a branch point without using the solenoid valves 23a and 23b.

Referring to FIG. 4, the evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit 24 constitutes a parallel circuit through which the refrigerant circuit between the four-way valve 7 and the suction side of the compressor 1 passes through the heat generator 12. By providing the three-way valve 25 at the branch point between the four-way valve 7 and the suction side of the compressor 1, the evaporative refrigerant can be selectively diverted to the heat generator 12.

3 and 4 show both the first temperature sensor 13a installed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger 5, the second temperature sensor 13b installed downstream of the heater core 10, and the heat generator 12. A third temperature sensor (13c) for measuring the heating temperature and the control device 13 for controlling the on / off of the heating device 12 in accordance with the detected temperature of the first, second, third temperature sensors.

When the cooling operation is performed in the air conditioner for the electric vehicle configured as described above, the refrigerant of the gaseous phase compressed in the state of high temperature in the compressor 1 is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger 2 through the four-way valve 7. Thus, the liquid phase is condensed into the liquid phase refrigerant through heat exchange with the outdoor refrigerant, and the liquid phase refrigerant is expanded to low temperature and low pressure in the expansion valve 4 and flows into the indoor heat exchanger 5.

At this time, the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 5 is introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 5 through the first receiver 20 and the first expansion valve 18 by switching of the three-way valve 22.

The low temperature refrigerant introduced into the indoor heat exchanger (5) exchanges heat with the air introduced into the duct by the indoor blower (6), and the inlet air is cooled while the low temperature refrigerant rises in temperature to change from the liquid phase to the gaseous refrigerant. And a cycle that is sucked into the compressor 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the low-temperature refrigerant sucked into the compressor 1 lacks the degree of superheat, the solenoid valve 23a is closed and another solenoid valve 23b is opened to open the refrigerant through the heat generating device 12. By allowing the bypass, the refrigerant is brought to a saturated steam state at which the temperature is increased, and the desired degree of superheat can be obtained, thereby preventing the liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the low-temperature refrigerant sucked into the compressor 1 lacks a degree of superheat, the three-way valve 25 provided at the rear of the four-way valve 7 is switched to switch the refrigerant through the heat generator 12. By allowing the refrigerant to bypass, the refrigerant becomes a superheated steam state in which the temperature is increased, and a desired degree of superheat can be obtained, thereby preventing the liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor 1.

In the case of heating operation, as shown in FIG. 3, the four-way valve 7 is switched and the solenoid valve 23b is closed to allow the refrigerant to flow in the opposite direction to the cooling operation. In the case of FIG. 4, the three-way valve 25 is opened. The switched compressed refrigerant is allowed to flow straight through the four-way valve (7) to the indoor heat exchanger (5) without bypassing the heat generator (12).

The refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger (5) passes through the outdoor heat exchanger (2) through the second receiver (21) and the second expansion valve (19) by switching of the three-way valve (22). It flows into the compressor (1). At this time, when the heating capacity is insufficient, that is, the heater core 10 is operated when the outside temperature is 0 ℃ or less.

Here, the heater core 10 composed of heat pipes only heats naturally, so that the heat generating device 12 is driven to transfer the generated heat to the heater core 10 to compensate for the lack of heating, thereby raising the temperature of the air conditioning air and forcing it into the cabin. It is convection.

Moreover, the temperature of the air conditioning air can be controlled by controlling the amount of air introduced by controlling the opening angle of the damper 11 as well as the heat generation temperature of the heat generating device 12, and the temperature of the air conditioning air can be controlled indoors. The controller 13 controls the temperature of the heat exchanger 5, the heater core 10, and the heat generator 12 according to the detected temperatures of the respective temperature sensors 13a-13c.

In addition, the present invention is capable of dehumidifying heating by the above-described system, the dehumidification heating is performed through the heat pump heating device and the heater core 10, where the degree of dehumidification heating by adjusting the amount of air passing through the damper (11). Control is the same as in the first and second embodiments.

In the electric vehicle air conditioner configured as described above, when the heating capacity is insufficient, the damper 11 is switched, and the air conditioner discharged to the room by driving the heating device 12 by the outside air temperature below a predetermined temperature is returned from the heater core. By heating, the vehicle interior temperature can be maintained at an appropriate temperature.

As described above, the present invention is to directly heat the heat source of the heater core composed of the heat pipe through the heating device and the heat pipe provided outside the air conditioning case, and has a structure for circulating the hot water heated by the heater pump with a conventional hot water ash. Compared to this, the configuration of the air conditioner can be simplified.

Furthermore, the present invention includes a circuit in which a low-temperature refrigerant flowing into the compressor bypasses the heating device in the refrigerant circulation circuit so that the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger can be introduced into the compressor in a saturated steam state with a constant superheat degree. Overload can be prevented.

Claims (11)

Compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, indoor blower, expansion valve for condensing refrigerant flow rate, indoor heat exchanger, in-vehicle heat exchange blower, refrigerant circulation circuit providing circulation path of refrigerant, and 4-way valve for reversing the flow direction of refrigerant Heat pump air conditioning unit; An air conditioning case installed inside the indoor heat exchanger and connected to an outlet of the vehicle to flow air conditioning air; A heater core made of a heat pipe disposed in the air conditioning case; And And a heat generating means disposed outside the vehicle compartment and providing a heat source to the heater core. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the heat generating means is a combustion type. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the heat generating means is electric. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the heater core heats the fluid by the heat generating means and is heated by the heated fluid. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the heater core is directly heated by the heat generating means. The air conditioner for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an accumulator installed in a suction refrigerant circulation of the compressor. The refrigerant circulation circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the refrigerant circulation circuit connecting the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger comprises a parallel circuit, and an expansion valve and a receiver are provided in each of the refrigerant branch circuits of the parallel circuit. The three-way valve is installed in the air conditioner for an electric vehicle, characterized in that the refrigerant is circulated in any one direction by the switching of the three-way valve. The air conditioner for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit allowing the low temperature evaporative refrigerant flowing into the compressor suction side to pass through the heat generating means. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit comprises a parallel circuit in which an electromagnetic valve is installed between the indoor heat exchanger and the four-way valve to pass through the heat generating means. The evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit according to claim 8, wherein the evaporative refrigerant circulation circuit comprises a parallel circuit for allowing the refrigerant circuit between the four-way valve and the suction side of the compressor to pass through the heat generating means, and the three-way valve is provided at a branch point of the parallel circuit. The air conditioner for an electric vehicle, characterized in that to be selectively switched during the heating and heating operation mode. The method of claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor installed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger, the second temperature sensor installed downstream of the heater core, the third temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heat generating means and the first, second, 3. An air conditioner for an electric vehicle, further comprising control means for controlling the heat generating means in accordance with the detected value of the temperature sensor.