Air-conditioning system for vehicle

• US 20080011005A1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Shimoyama, Takeshi, Yamamoto, Naoki, Obayashi, Kazuyoshi, Tani, Keisuke, Yamashita, Yukihiro, Tanaka, Katsunori
• Granted Patent: US 8,001,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/243
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00492 comprising regenerative heating or cooling means, e.g. heat accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/04 from cooling liquid of the plant B60H1/025, B60H1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3211 for increasing the efficiency of a vehicle refrigeration cycle

Abstract

In an air-conditioning system for a vehicle, which has multiple heat sources (an evaporator and a heat accumulator), either one of the heat sources, for which the input energy amount for the unit cooling capacity is smaller than that for the other heat source, is preferentially used for performing the cooling operation, an energy amount for the air-conditioning operation can be reduced.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle comprising:

multiple heat sources for performing cooling operation; and

means for selecting one of the heat sources such that the selected one of the heat sources, for which an input energy amount for a unit cooling capacity is smaller than that for the other heat source, is preferentially used for performing the cooling operation to control the temperature of the vehicle inside air.

2. An air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein

the multiple heat sources comprises;

an evaporator to which refrigerant compressed by a compressor is supplied, wherein the compressor is driven by an engine for driving the vehicle; and

a heat accumulator for storing the heat of the refrigerant.

3. An air-conditioning system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first calculating means for calculating input energy amount of energy, which is inputted to the compressor for achieving the unit cooling capacity by the evaporator; and

a second calculating means for calculating input energy amount of energy, which is inputted to the heat accumulator for achieving the unit cooling capacity by the heat accumulator,

wherein the selecting means selects one of the heat sources which is preferentially used, based on the input energy amounts respectively inputted to the evaporator and the heat accumulator.

4. An air-conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein

the engine for the vehicle is an internal combustion engine, and

the first calculating means calculates the input energy amount of energy, which is inputted to the compressor, based on an operation point of the internal combustion engine.

5. An air-conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein

the second calculating means comprises a memory means, wherein

the memory means memorizes the input energy amount of energy for producing a unit of heat, each time when the unit of heat for achieving the unit cooling capacity is stored in the heat accumulator,

the memory means removes the input energy amount of energy for producing the unit of heat, each time when the unit of heat is taken away from the heat accumulator, and

the second calculating means calculates the input energy amount based on the input energy amount memorized in the memory means.

6. An air-conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein

the memory means removes, from its memorized amount, any amount of heat which is naturally radiated from the heat accumulator to the outside.

7. An air-conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein

the engine for the vehicle is an internal combustion engine, and

the selecting means has a map, based on which the selecting means selects the evaporator or the heat accumulator in accordance with the current operation point of the engine.

8. An air-conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein

the selecting means selects the evaporator independently from the input energy amount for the unit cooling capacity, when an accumulated amount of heat in the heat accumulator is smaller than a predetermined value.

9. An air-conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein

the selecting means has a further function for storing the heat in the heat accumulator, when the input energy amount to the compressor is smaller than a predetermined value.

10. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle comprising:

multiple driving sources for driving a compressor to perform cooling operation; and

means for selecting one of the driving sources such that the selected one of the driving sources, for which an input energy amount for a unit cooling capacity is smaller than that for the other driving source, is preferentially used for performing the cooling operation to control the temperature of the vehicle inside air.

11. An air-conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein

the driving source comprises an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

12. An air-conditioning system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a first calculating means for calculating input energy amount of energy, which is inputted to the internal combustion engine for achieving the unit cooling capacity by the internal combustion engine; and

a second calculating means for calculating input energy amount of energy, which is inputted to the electric motor for achieving the unit cooling capacity by the electric motor,

wherein the selecting means selects one of the driving sources which is preferentially used, based on the input energy amounts respectively inputted to the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.

13. An air-conditioning system according to claim 12, wherein

the first calculating means calculates the input energy amount of energy, which is inputted to the internal combustion engine, based on an operation point of the internal combustion engine.

14. An air-conditioning system according to claim 12, wherein

the second calculating means comprises a memory means, wherein

the memory means memorizes the input energy amount necessary for charging a unit of electric energy to an electric power supply means, each time when the unit of electric energy is charged into the electric power supply means, wherein the electric power supply means supplies the electric power to the electric motor,

the memory means removes from its memory the input energy amount of energy for producing the unit of electric energy, each time when the unit of electric energy is discharged from the electric power supply means, and

the second calculating means calculates the input energy amount based on the input energy amount memorized in the memory means.

15. An air-conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein

the selecting means has a map, based on which the selecting means selects the internal combustion engine or the electric motor as the driving source for the compressor in accordance with the current operation point of the engine.

16. An air-conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein

a demand for a target temperature of a vehicle inside air is primarily quantified as a demand for output of the compressor.

17. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle comprising:

an evaporator to which refrigerant compressed by a compressor is supplied, wherein the compressor is driven by an engine for driving the vehicle; and

a heat accumulator for storing the heat of the refrigerant,

wherein the heat accumulator can be selected, instead of the evaporator, as a heat source for performing cooling operation, when the engine is in its operation.

18. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle comprising:

multiple driving sources for driving a compressor, the multiple driving sources including an internal combustion engine of the vehicle,

wherein the other driving source than the internal combustion engine can be selected, instead of the internal combustion engine, as the driving source for the compressor to perform cooling operation, when the engine is in its operation.

19. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle comprising:

a refrigerating cycle including a compressor driven by an engine, a condenser, and an evaporator, wherein the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator are connected in a closed circuit;

a heat accumulator connected to the refrigerating cycle in parallel to the evaporator, so that refrigerant of the refrigerating cycle operatively flows in a closed circuit of the compressor, the condenser, and the heat accumulator; and

an electronic control unit for controlling a cooling operation of the refrigerating cycle,

wherein the electronic control unit selects the evaporator or the heat accumulator, in such a way that an input energy amount for a unit cooling capacity for the selected evaporator or heat accumulator is smaller than that for the non-selected evaporator or heat accumulator, and

wherein the selected evaporator or heat accumulator is preferentially used for performing the cooling operation to control temperature of vehicle inside air.

20. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle comprising:

a refrigerating cycle including a compressor to be operatively driven by an engine, a condenser, and an evaporator, wherein the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator are connected in a closed circuit;

an electric motor connected to a battery for selectively driving the compressor, when electric power is supplied from the battery to the electric motor; and

an electronic control unit for controlling a cooling operation of the refrigerating cycle,

wherein the electronic control unit selects the engine or the electric motor as a driving source for the compressor, in such a way that an input energy amount for a unit cooling capacity for the selected driving source is smaller than that for the non-selected driving source, and

wherein the selected driving source is preferentially used for driving the compressor to perform the cooling operation to control temperature of vehicle inside air.