Air conditioning apparatus

• US 7,669,647 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsubone, Kenji, Aikawa, Yasukazu, Hijikata, Yasutane
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford; John K
• Application Number:
  US10/521,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,436 Days
• Field of Search: 165/10, 165/41, 165/42, 165/43, 165/236, 165/202, 165/240, 624/34, 624/35, 622/44, 621/85, 622/01, 237/12.3 R, 237/12.3 A, 237/12.3 B, 237/2.A, 237/2.B, 123/142.5 R
• US Class Current: 165/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00492 comprising regenerative heating or cooling means, e.g. heat accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00892 Devices specially adapted for avoiding uncomfortable feeling, e.g. sudden temperature changes B60H1/00885 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3204 using compression B60H1/3233 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32281 comprising a single secondary circuit, e.g. at evaporator or condenser side
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00928 comprising a secondary circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00935 comprising four way valves for controlling the fluid direction
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/02341 during cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/02344 during heating
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2327/001 of the internal combustion type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/24 Storage receiver heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/04 Desuperheaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/025 by reversing the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/00 Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/0016 the conduits for one medium or the conduits for both media being bent F28D7/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/005 the plates having openings therein for both heat-exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

An air conditioning system for cooling or heating an air, and for feeding the heated or cooled air to predetermined portions is characterized by comprising: a first circulating circuit for circulating a first heating medium; a second circulating circuit for circulating a second heating medium; a control unit for controlling the heat for executing heat exchange between the first heating medium and the second heating medium to flow through either the heat exchanger or the first heat storing device. Moreover, an air temperature is controlled by heat of the second heating medium.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for cooling or heating an air, and for feeding the heated or cooled air to predetermined portions, comprising:

a first circulating circuit circulating a first heating medium;

a second circulating circuit circulating a second heating medium;

a first heat exchanger executing heat exchange between the first and second heating media;

a second heat exchanger for executing heat exchange between the second heating medium and the heated or cooled air;

a compressor pressurizing the first heating medium;

an expander distributing the pressurized first heating medium, connected with the first heat exchanger;

a first heat storing device having a storing material which is heated or cooled by the first heating medium, executing heat exchange among the first heating medium, the second heating medium, and the heat storing material;

a three-way valve arranged in the second circulating circuit and connected with the first heat exchanger, the first heat storing device, and the second heat exchanger;

a controller connected with the three-way valve and executing a switching operation of the three-way valve on the basis of an air conditioning demand, the controller comprising a microcomputer having a central processing unit, a memory unit, an input, and an output; and

a pump pressurizing and flowing the second heating medium;

wherein the controller comprises a means for controlling an output of the pump on the basis of a deviation between the air temperature and a target temperature at a predetermined position in the outlet side of the second heat exchanger;

wherein the second circulating circuit comprises a first sub-circuit flowing the second heating medium through the first heat exchanger, a second sub-circuit flowing the second heating medium through the first heat storing device, and the three-way valve communicating the second heat exchanger selectively to the first sub-circuit and the second sub-circuit;

wherein the first heat exchanger is arranged on an upstream side of the first heat storing device in a flowing direction of the low-temperatured first heating medium;

wherein the three-way valve executes a switching operation to flow the second heating medium into the first heat exchanger through the first sub-circuit in case the rapid cooling is demanded, and executes a switching operation to flow the second heating medium into the first heat storing device through the second sub-circuit in case the normal cooling is demanded;

wherein a second heat storing device having a heat storage material which receives heat from the first heating medium and stores the heat therein is arranged in the first circulating circuit; and

wherein the controller operates the first circulating circuit in accordance with a temperature of at least one of the first and second heat storing devices and operates the second circulating circuit in accordance with the air temperature.

2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller controls a switching operation of the three-way valve so as to flow the second heating medium through a selected one of the first heat exchanger and the first heat storing device, when the air conditioning demand increases.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first heat exchanger comprises a first flow passage flowing the first heating medium, and a second flow passage formed adjacent to and in parallel with the first flow passage and flowing the second heating medium; and

a flowing direction of the first heating medium in the first flow passage and a flowing direction of the second heating medium in the second flow passage are opposite to each other.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heat source mechanism, including said compressor, heating and cooling the first heating medium;

wherein

the controller operates the heat source mechanism, in case the temperature of the heat storage material in at least any one of the heat storing devices is at a predetermined value or lower, and air conditioning is demanded.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the first heat storing device and the second heat storing device comprises a pipe penetrating the heat storage material flowing the first heating medium or the second heating medium therethrough, and a plurality of fins embedded in the heat storage material and integrated with the pipe.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second heat storing device is arranged on an upstream side of the first heat storing device in a flowing direction of the first heating medium.

7. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third heat exchanger executing heat exchange selectively with the air; and

a third circuit circulating a third heating medium between the second heat storing device and the third heat exchanger, and providing heat to the third heating medium in the second heat storing device.

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a determining device determining permission and non-permission of operation of the compressor on the basis of the temperature of the heat storage material in either the first heat storing device or the second heat storing device;

wherein a hysteresis is set to the permissible temperature and non-permissible temperature of operation of the compressor.

9. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a thawing device heating the first heat storing device temporarily;

wherein the first heat storing device stores energy for cooling, and the second heat storing device stores heat for heating.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein:

the air conditioning system is mounted in a vehicle; and

wherein the thawing device comprises a means for setting the amount of heat for heating the first heat storing device on the basis of at least one of a road information on which the vehicle is running, weather around the vehicle, a vehicle speed, an engine speed, outside temperature, and an amount of heat necessary to air condition the room.

11. The air conditioning system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a prime mover outputting a power, which runs the vehicle and, that drives the compressor;

wherein

the controller selects a pre-heat storing mode, in which heat is stored in the first heat storing device or radiated by driving the compressor by a running inertia force, when the prime mover is driven compulsorily by the running inertia force.

12. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selector valve switching a flowing direction of the first heating medium, into a direction from the compressor through a heat radiator and the expander to the first heat storing device, and into a direction from a heater through the first heat storing device and the expander to the heat radiator.

13. The air conditioning system according to claim 12, wherein:

the second heat storing device, which receives heat from the first heating medium and stores the heat therein, is arranged between a discharging port of the compressor and the selector valve.

14. The air conditioning system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third heat exchanger executing heat exchange selectively with the air; and

a third circulating circuit circulating a third heating medium between the second heat storing device and the third heat exchanger, and providing heat to the third heating medium in the second heat storing device.

15. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an air mix executing device providing heat of the second heat storing device to the air cooled by the second heat exchanger, thereby heating the air.

16. An air conditioning system for cooling or heating an air, and for feeding the heated or cooled air to predetermined portions, comprising:

a first circulating circuit circulating a first heating medium;

a second circulating circuit circulating a second heating medium;

a first heat exchanger executing heat exchange between the first and second heating media;

a second heat exchanger for executing heat exchange between the second heating medium and the heated or cooled air;

a compressor pressurizing the first heating medium;

an expander distributing the pressurized first heating medium, connected with the first heat exchanger;

a first heat storing device having a heat storing material which is heated or cooled by the first heating medium, executing heat exchange among the first heating medium, the second heating medium, and the heat storing material;

a three-way valve arranged in the second circulating circuit and connected with the first heat exchanger, the first heat storing device, and the second heat exchanger;

a controller connected with the three-way valve and executing a switching operation of the three-way valve on the basis of an air conditioning demand, the controller comprising a microcomputer having a central processing unit, a memory unit, an input, and an output;

a second heat storing device having a heat storage material which receives heat from the first heating medium and stores the heat therein is arranged in the first circulating circuit; and

at least one of an internal combustion engine and a drive unit having oil;

wherein the controller provides heat stored in the second heat storing device to any one of the internal combustion engine or the drive unit, thereby executing either warming up of the internal combustion engine or heating of the oil;

wherein the second circulating circuit comprises a first sub-circuit flowing the second heating medium through the first heat exchanger, a second sub-circuit flowing the second heating medium through the first heat storing device, and the three-way valve communicating the second heat exchanger selectively to the first sub-circuit and the second sub-circuit;

wherein the first heat exchanger is arranged on an upstream side of the first heat storing device in a flowing direction of the low-temperatured first heating medium; and

wherein the three-way valve executes a switching operation to flow the second heating medium into the first heat exchanger through the first sub-circuit in case the rapid cooling is demanded, and executes a switching operation to flow the second heating medium into the first heat storing device through the second sub-circuit in case the normal cooling is demanded.

17. The air conditioning system according to claim 16, wherein:

the controller operates a first circulating circuit in accordance with a temperature of at least one of the heat storing devices and operates the second circulating circuit in accordance with the air temperature.

18. The air conditioning system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a means for warming up the internal combustion engine by the heat of the second heat storing device, while the internal combustion engine is halted.