AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLE

• US 20170028813A1
• Filed: 11/28/2014
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: ENOMOTO, Norihiko, KAKEHASHI, Nobuharu, KATOH, Yoshiki, KUWAYAMA, Kazutoshi, MAKIHARA, Masamichi
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00899 Controlling the flow of liquid in a heat pump system controlling the properties of the refrigerant liquid, e.g. pressure or temperature, B60H1/3204
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/08 from other radiator than main radiator
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/24 Devices purely for ventilating or where the heating or cooling is irrelevant nozzles, air-diffusers B60H1/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32284 comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00307 Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00928 comprising a secondary circuit

Abstract

An air conditioner for a vehicle includes: a pump configured to take in and discharge a heat medium; a first heat medium/air heat exchanger disposed to regulate a temperature of ventilation air blown into a vehicle interior by conducting sensible-heat exchange between the ventilation air and the heat medium circulated by the pump; a first heat transfer device having a passage through which the heat medium flows and disposed to conduct heat transfer with the heat medium circulated by the pump; a heat medium temperature regulator disposed to regulate the temperature of the heat medium circulated by the pump; and a heat exchanger regulator disposed to regulate a heat transfer amount with the heat medium in the first heat transfer device or heat exchange capability of the first heat medium/air heat exchanger such that a temperature associated with a temperature of the ventilation air regulated by the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches a first target temperature.

Claims

1. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising:

a pump configured to take in and discharge a heat medium;

a first heat medium/air heat exchanger that regulates a temperature of ventilation air blown into a vehicle interior by conducting sensible-heat exchange between the ventilation air and the heat medium circulated by the pump;

a first heat transfer device having a passage through which the heat medium flows and configured to conduct heat transfer with the heat medium circulated by the pump;

a heat medium temperature regulator that regulates the temperature of the heat medium circulated by the pump; and

a heat exchanger regulator that regulates a heat transfer amount with the heat medium in the first heat transfer device or heat exchange capability of the first heat medium/air heat exchanger such that a temperature associated with a temperature of the ventilation air regulated by the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches a first target temperature;

a compressor disposed to take in and discharge a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle; and

a refrigerant flow regulator that regulates a flow rate of the refrigerant discharged by the compressor, wherein

the heat medium temperature regulator is disposed to cool or heat the heat medium by conducting heat exchange between the heat medium circulated by the pump and the refrigerant,

the heat exchanger regulator regulates a flow rate of the heat medium in at least one device of the first heat medium/air heat exchanger and the first heat transfer device, and

the heat exchanger regulator and the refrigerant flow regulator are disposed to regulate one of the flow rate of the refrigerant or a flow rate of the heat medium such that a temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air that is sensible-heat exchanged in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature, and regulate the other one of the flow rate of the refrigerant or the flow rate of the heat medium such that a temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches a second target temperature.

2. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger regulator regulates the amount of the heat transfer with the heat medium in the first heat transfer device by regulating a flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat transfer device.

3. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

the first heat transfer device is a heat generating device, and

the heat exchanger regulator regulates the amount of the heat transfer with the heat medium in the first heat transfer device by regulating a heat generating amount of the first heat transfer device.

4. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger regulator regulates the heat exchange capability of the first heat medium/air heat exchanger by regulating a flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger.

5. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger regulator regulates the heat exchange capability of the first heat medium/air heat exchanger by regulating an air volume of the ventilation air in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger.

9. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

the heat medium temperature regulator is disposed to heat the heat medium by conducting heat exchange between the refrigerant discharged by the compressor and the heat medium,

the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is disposed to heat the ventilation air by conducting sensible-heat exchange between the heat medium heated in the heat medium temperature regulator and the ventilation air,

when the first target temperature is higher than the second target temperature, the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air heated in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature, and the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature, and

when the second target temperature is higher than the first target temperature, the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature, and the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air heated in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature.

10. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

the heat medium temperature regulator is disposed to cool the heat medium by conducting heat exchange between the refrigerant decompressed and expanded in a decompression device and the heat medium,

the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is disposed to cool the ventilation air by conducting sensible-heat exchange between the heat medium cooled in the heat medium temperature regulator and the ventilation air,

when the first target temperature is lower than the second target temperature, the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air cooled in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature, and the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature, and

when the second target temperature is lower than the first target temperature, the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature, and the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air cooled in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature.

11. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air sensible-heat exchanged in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature, and

the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature,

12. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, comprising control modes of:

a first control mode in which the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air sensible-heat exchanged in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature, and the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature, and

a second control mode in which the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature, and the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air sensible-heat exchanged in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature, wherein

the refrigerant flow regulator and the heat exchanger regulator switch a control mode between the first and second control modes based on positive and negative of a first deviation Δ

T1 and positive and negative of a second deviation Δ

T2,

(i) when the first deviation Δ

T1 denotes a difference that the first target temperature is subtracted from the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air sensible-heat exchanged in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger in a case where the ventilation air is being cooled in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger, or a difference that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air sensible-heat exchanged in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is subtracted from the first target temperature in a case where the ventilation air is being heated in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger; and

(ii) when the second deviation Δ

T2 denotes a difference that the second target temperature is subtracted from the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device in a case where the heat medium is receiving heat in the first heat transfer device, or a difference that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device is subtracted from the second target temperature in a case where the heat medium is releasing heat in the first heat transfer device.

13. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

in a case where positive/negative of the first deviation Δ

T1 is the same as positive/negative of the second deviation Δ

T2, or (ii) where both the first and second deviations Δ

T1 and Δ

T2 change from positive values to negative values, or (iii) where both the first and second deviations Δ

T1 and Δ

T2 change from negative values to positive values, or (iv) where the first deviation Δ

T1 is a positive value and the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a negative value to a positive value, the first control mode is carried out when an absolute value of the first deviation Δ

T1 is greater than an absolute value of the second deviation Δ

T2, and the second control mode is carried out when an absolute value of the second deviation Δ

T2 is greater than an absolute value of the first deviation Δ

T1.

14. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

the first control mode is carried out when the first deviation Δ

T1 is a positive value and the second deviation Δ

T2 is a negative value, and

the second control mode is carried out when the first deviation Δ

T1 is a negative value and the second deviation Δ

T2 is a positive value.

15. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

when the first deviation Δ

T1 is a positive value and the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a positive value to a negative value, the first control mode is carried out, and

when the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a positive value to a negative value and the second deviation Δ

T2 is a positive value, the second control mode is carried out.

16. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

in a case where (i) the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a negative value to a positive value, (ii) the second deviation Δ

T2 is a positive value, and (iii) the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount, the first control mode is carried out when the absolute value of the first deviation Δ

T1 is greater than the absolute value of the second deviation Δ

T2, and the second control mode is carried out when the absolute value of the second deviation Δ

T2 is greater than the absolute value of the first deviation Δ

T1, and

when the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is less than the first predetermined amount in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a negative value to a positive value and the second deviation Δ

T2 is a positive value, the second control mode is carried out.

17. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a negative value to a positive value and the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a positive value to a negative value, or in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a negative value to a positive value and the second deviation Δ

T2 is a negative value, the first control mode is carried out when the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is greater than or equal to a second predetermined amount, and

in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a negative value to a positive value and the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a positive value to a negative value, or in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changed from a negative value to a positive value and the second deviation Δ

T2 is a negative value, the second control mode is carried out when the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is less than the second predetermined amount.

18. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a positive value to a negative value and the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a negative value to a positive value, or in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 is a negative value and the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a negative value to a positive value, the second control mode is carried out when the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat transfer device is greater than or equal to a third predetermined amount, and

in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a positive value to a negative value and the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a negative value to a positive value, or in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 is a negative value and the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a negative value to a positive value, the first control mode is carried out when the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat transfer device is less than the third predetermined amount.

19. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 is a negative value, the second deviation Δ

T2 changes from a positive value to a negative value, and the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is greater than or equal to a fourth predetermined amount, the first control mode is carried out when an absolute value of the first deviation Δ

T1 is greater than the absolute value of the second deviation Δ

T2, and the second control mode is carried out when the absolute value of the second deviation Δ

T2 is greater than the absolute value of the first deviation Δ

T1, and

in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 is a negative value, the second deviation Δ

T2 changed from a positive value to a negative value, and the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is less than the fourth predetermined amount, the second control mode is carried out.

20. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 12, wherein

in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a positive value to a negative value, the second deviation Δ

T2 is a negative value, and the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat transfer device is greater than or equal to a fifth predetermined amount, the first control mode is carried out when the absolute value of the first deviation Δ

T1 is greater than the absolute value of the second deviation Δ

T2, and the second control mode is carried out when the absolute value of the second deviation Δ

T2 is greater than the absolute value of the first deviation Δ

T1, and

in a case where the first deviation Δ

T1 changes from a positive value to a negative value, the second deviation Δ

T2 is a negative value, and the flow rate of the heat medium in the first heat transfer device is less than the fifth predetermined amount, the first control mode is carried out.

21. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein

in a case where an amount of heat exchange or a heat exchange demand between the coolant and the ventilation air in the first coolant-air heat exchanger is higher or presumed to be higher than a heat transfer amount or a heat transfer demand with the coolant in the first heat transfer device, the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air sensible-heat exchanged in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature, and the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature, and

in a case where a heat transfer amount or a heat transfer demand with the coolant in the first heat transfer device is higher or presumed to be higher than an amount of heat exchange or a heat exchange demand between the coolant and the ventilation air in the first coolant-air heat exchanger, the refrigerant flow regulator regulates the flow rate of the refrigerant such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the first heat transfer device approaches the second target temperature, and the heat exchanger regulator regulates the flow rate of the heat medium such that the temperature associated with the temperature of the ventilation air sensible-heat exchanged in the first heat medium/air heat exchanger approaches the first target temperature.

23. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an air-cooling heat exchanger disposed to cool the ventilation air;

an air-heating heat exchanger disposed to heat the ventilation air, wherein the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is the air-cooling heat exchanger or the air-heating heat exchanger; and

an air volume ratio adjustment part disposed to adjust a volume ratio of the ventilation air flowing the air-heating heat exchanger to the ventilation air bypassing the air-heating heat exchanger among the ventilation air cooled in the air-cooling heat exchanger such that a temperature associated with a temperature of the ventilation air temperature-regulated by at least one of the air-cooling heat exchanger and the air-heating heat exchanger and blown into the vehicle interior approaches a third target temperature.

24. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an air-cooling heat exchanger disposed to cool the ventilation air;

an air-heating heat exchanger disposed to heat the ventilation air, wherein the first heat medium/air heat exchanger is the air-cooling heat exchanger or the air-heating heat exchanger; and

an air volume control part which controls an air volume of the ventilation air such that a temperature associated with a temperature of the ventilation air temperature-regulated by at least one of the air-cooling heat exchanger and the air-heating heat exchanger and blown into the vehicle interior approaches a third target temperature.

39. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first heat transfer device is a rear seat heat exchanger disposed to conduct sensible-heat exchange between the heat medium and the ventilation air to be blown into a rear-seat occupant.

40. The air conditioner for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first heat transfer device is a battery temperature regulation heat exchanger disposed to regulate a temperature of a battery equipped in a vehicle by conducting sensible-heat exchange between the battery and the heat medium.

6-8. -8. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

25-38. -38. (canceled)