Vehicular cooling system using air conditioner refrigerant

• US 6,938,431 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hanada, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang, Chen Wen
• Application Number:
  US10/466,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 622/01, 62/98, 62/99, 624/34, 624/30, 622/44, 622/39, 165/202, 165/42, 165/43
• US Class Current: 62/201
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3222 characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00928 comprising a secondary circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00949 comprising additional heating/cooling sources, e.g. second evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/24 Storage receiver heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/021 Inverters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/2511 Evaporator distribution valves
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/02 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 16/00 Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04029 Heat exchange using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04059 Evaporative processes for the cooling of a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A cooling system for a vehicle which includes a coolant circuit (21) for circulating coolant to cool a unit (1) carried on the vehicle; a refrigerant circuit (41) for circulating refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle; and a heat exchanger (15) connected to the coolant and refrigerant circuits (21, 41), provided with a storage medium (25) for storing cool of the refrigerant. The heat exchanger (15) carries out heat-exchanges between the coolant and the storage medium, and between the coolant and the refrigerant.

Claims

1. A cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a coolant circuit for circulating coolant to cool a unit carried on the vehicle;

a refrigerant circuit for circulating refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle; and

a heat exchanger connected to the coolant and refrigerant circuits, provided with a storage medium for storing cool of the refrigerant, the heat exchanger carrying out heat-exchanges between the coolant and the storage medium, and between the coolant and the refrigerant.

2. The cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a coolant bypass provided in the coolant circuit, connected to the heat exchanger; and

a coolant line switching valve for switching flow of the coolant into the coolant bypass on and off.

3. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a refrigerant bypass provided in the refrigerant circuit, connected to the heat exchanger; and

a refrigerant line switching valve for switching flow of the refrigerant into the refrigerant bypass on and off.

4. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant line switching valve can be switched to allow the refrigerant to flow to either the heat exchanger or an evaporator of the air conditioner, or both of the heat exchanger and the evaporator.

5. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the unit is a fuel cell.

6. A vehicle, comprising:

a cooling system according to claim 5.

7. A vehicle, comprising:

a cooling system according to claim 1.

8. A cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a coolant circuit for circulating coolant to cool a unit carried on the vehicle;

a refrigerator circuit for circulating refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle; and

a heat exchanger connected to the coolant and refrigerant circuits, provided with a storage medium for storing cool of the refrigerant, the heat exchanger carrying out heat-exchanges between the coolant and the storage medium, and between the coolant and the refrigerant;

wherein

the heat exchanger includes;

a coolant region arranged on one side of the storage medium, connected to the coolant circuit;

a first refrigerant region arranged on a side of the coolant region opposite the storage medium, connected to the refrigerant circuit; and

a second refrigerant region arranged on the other side of the storage medium, connected to the refrigerant circuit, and wherein

the heat exchanger carries out heat-exchanges between the coolant and the storage medium, between the coolant and the refrigerant, and between the storage medium and the refrigerant.

9. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the unit is a fuel cell.

10. A cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a coolant circuit for circulating coolant to cool a unit carried on the vehicle;

a refrigerator circuit for circulating refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle; and

a heat exchanger connected to the coolant and refrigerant circuits, provided with a storage medium for storing cool of the refrigerant, the heat exchanger carrying out heat-exchanges between the coolant and the storage medium, and between the coolant and the refrigerant;

wherein

the heat exchanger includes;

a refrigerant region on one side of the storage medium, connected to the refrigerant circuit;

a first coolant region arranged on a side of the refrigerant region opposite the storage medium, connected to the coolant circuit; and

a second coolant region arranged on the other side of the storage medium, connected to the coolant circuit wherein

the heat exchanger carries out heat-exchanges between the refrigerant and the storage medium, between the refrigerant and the coolant, and between the storage medium and the coolant.

11. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the unit is a fuel cell.

12. A cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a coolant circuit for circulating coolant to cool a unit carried on the vehicle;

a refrigerator circuit for circulating refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle;

a heat exchanger connected to the coolant and refrigerant circuits, provided with a storage medium for storing cool of the refrigerant, the heat exchanger carrying out heat-exchanges between the coolant and the storage medium, and between the coolant and the refrigerant;

a coolant bypass provided in the coolant circuit, connected to the heat exchanger;

a coolant line switching valve for switching flow of the coolant into the coolant bypass on and off;

a temperature increase rate calculating unit for calculating an increase rate of a temperature of the coolant;

a output increase rate calculating unit for calculating an increase rate of an output of the unit; and

a control unit for controlling switching of the coolant line switching valve in dependence to the calculated coolant temperature and unit output increase rates.

13. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the coolant line switching valve is controlled to turn on the flow of the coolant into the coolant bypass to carry out heat-exchange between the coolant and the storage medium, as the calculated coolant temperature and unit output increase rates are respectively equal to or higher than respective set values.

14. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the unit is a fuel cell.

15. A cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a coolant circuit for circulating coolant to cool a unit carried on the vehicle;

a refrigerant circuit for circulating refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle;

a heat exchanger connected to the coolant and refrigerant circuits, provided with a storage medium for storing cool of the refrigerant, the heat exchanger carrying out heat-exchanges between the coolant and the storage medium, and between the coolant and the refrigerant;

a coolant bypass provided in the coolant circuit, connected to the heat exchanger;

a coolant line switching valve for switching flow of the coolant into the coolant bypass on and off;

a refrigerant bypass provided in the refrigerant circuit, connected to the heat exchanger;

a refrigerant line switching valve for switching flow of the refrigerant into the refrigerant bypass on and off; and

a control unit for controlling the coolant line switching valve to allow the coolant to flow into the coolant bypass and the refrigerant line switching valve to allow the refrigerant to flow into the refrigerant bypass, as coolant temperature is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value.

16. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the coolant line switching valve is controlled in dependence to increase rates of the coolant temperature and an output of the unit, and the refrigerant line switching valve is controlled in dependence to a temperature of the storage medium, as the coolant temperature is lower than the first predetermined value and equal to or higher than a second predetermined value.

17. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the coolant and refrigerant line switching valves are controlled to carry out heat-exchange between the storage medium and the refrigerant, as the temperature of the coolant is lower than the second predetermined value, the temperature of the storage medium is equal to or higher than a stipulated value, and a temperature in a car room is higher than a setting temperature by a predetermined range.

18. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein a compressor of the air conditioner comprises an electric compressor for variable cooling power, and the cooling power is increased, as heat-exchange between the storage medium and the refrigerant is carried out to store the cool of the refrigerant in the storage medium.

19. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein a compressor of the air conditioner comprises an electric compressor for a variable cooling power, and the cooling power is increased, as heat-exchange between the coolant and the refrigerant is carried out.

20. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the unit is a fuel cell.

21. A cooling method for a unit carried on a vehicle, comprising:

connecting a coolant circuit for circulating coolant to cool the unit, and a refrigerant circuit for circulating a refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle to a heat exchanger including a storage medium, a coolant region connected to the coolant circuit, and first and second refrigerant regions connected to the refrigerant circuit, the heat exchanger being capable of performing a first heat-exchange between coolant of the coolant region and refrigerant of the first refrigerant region, a second heat-exchange between the storage medium and refrigerant of the second refrigerant region, and a third heat-exchange between the coolant and the storage medium;

carrying out the first heat-exchange by using a coolant line switching valve provided in the coolant circuit to cause the coolant to flow into the coolant region of the heat exchanger, and by using a refrigerant line switching valve provided in the refrigerant circuit to cause the refrigerant to flow into the first refrigerant region of the heat exchanger;

carrying out the second heat-exchange by using the coolant line switching valve to shut off the flowing of the coolant into the heat exchanger, and by using the refrigerant line switching valve to cause the refrigerant to flow into the second refrigerant region of the heat exchanger;

carrying out the third heat-exchange by using the refrigerant line switching valve to shut off the flowing of the refrigerant into the heat exchanger, and by using the coolant line switching valve to cause the coolant to flow into the coolant region of the heat exchanger; and

stopping the first, second and third heat-exchanges by using the refrigerant line switching valve to shut off the flowing of the refrigerant into the heat exchanger, and by using the coolant line switching valve to shut off the flowing of the coolant into the heat exchanger.

22. A cooling method according to claim 21, further comprising:

calculating a temperature increase rate of the coolant;

calculating an output increase rate of the unit,

wherein the third heat-exchange is carried out when the temperature increase rate of the coolant and the output increase rate of the unit are respectively equal to or higher than setting values.

23. A cooling method according to claim 22, wherein the first heat-exchange is carried out, as a temperature of the coolant is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value.

24. A cooling method according to claim 23, wherein the third heat-exchange is carried out in dependence to the temperature increase rate of the coolant and the output increase rate of the unit, and the first heat-exchange is carried out in dependence to a temperature of the storage medium, as the temperature of the coolant is lower than the first predetermined value and equal to or higher than a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value.

25. A cooling method according to claim 24, wherein the second heat-exchange is carried out, as the temperature of the coolant is lower than the second predetermined value, the temperature of the storage medium is equal to or higher than a stipulated value, and a temperature in a car room is in a range of a given temperature from a set temperature.

26. A cooling method according to claim 21, wherein the unit is a fuel cell.

27. A method for cooling a unit carried on a vehicle, comprising:

connecting a coolant circuit for circulating coolant to cool the unit and a refrigerant circuit for circulating a refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle to a heat exchanger including a storage medium, first and second coolant regions connected to the coolant circuit, and a refrigerant region connected to the refrigerant circuit, the heat exchanger being capable of performing a first heat-exchange between coolant of the first coolant region and refrigerant of the refrigerant region, a second heat-exchange between the storage medium and the refrigerant of the refrigerant region, and a third heat-exchange between coolant of the second coolant region and the storage medium;

carrying out the first heat-exchange by using a coolant line switching valve provided in the coolant circuit to cause the coolant to flow into the first coolant region of the heat exchanger, and by using a refrigerant line switching valve provided in the refrigerant circuit to cause the refrigerant to flow into the refrigerant region of the heat exchanger;

carrying out the second heat-exchange by using the coolant line switching valve to shut off the flowing of the coolant into the heat exchanger, and by using the refrigerant line switching valve to cause the refrigerant to flow into the refrigerant region of the heat exchanger;

carrying out the third heat-exchange by using the refrigerant line switching valve to shut off the flowing of the refrigerant into the heat exchanger, and by using the coolant line switching valve to cause the coolant to flow into the second coolant region of the heat exchanger;

stopping the first, second and third heat-exchanges by using the refrigerant line switching valve to shut off the flowing of the refrigerant into the heat exchanger, and by using the coolant line switching valve to shut off the flowing of the coolant into the heat exchanger; and

carrying out the first and second heat-exchanges by using the coolant line switching valve provided in the coolant circuit to cause the coolant to flow into the second coolant region of the heat exchanger, and by using the refrigerant line switching valve provided in the refrigerant circuit to cause the refrigerant to flow into the refrigerant region of the heat exchanger.

28. A cooling method according to claim 27, wherein the unit is a fuel cell.

29. A cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a coolant circuit for circulating coolant to cool a unit carried on the vehicle;

a refrigerant circuit for circulating refrigerant for an air conditioner of the vehicle; and

a heat exchanger connected to the coolant and refrigerant circuits, provided with a storage medium including a substance adapted to be cooled by the refrigerant and store thermal energy resulting from cooling of the substance by the refrigerant, the heat exchanger being adapted to carry out heat-exchanges between the coolant and the storage medium cooled by the refrigerant, and between the coolant and the refrigerant.

30. A cooling system for a vehicle according to claim 29, wherein the unit is a fuel cell.

31. A vehicle, comprising:

a cooling system according to claim 30.

32. A vehicle, comprising:

a cooling system according to claim 29.