Vehicle air conditioning unit and control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of vehicle air conditioning technology, and specifically provides a vehicle air conditioning unit and a control method thereof, aiming to solve the problems of high energy consumption and short life of vehicle batteries in existing vehicle air conditioners. To this end, the vehicle air conditioning unit of the present invention includes an in-vehicle unit, an out-vehicle unit, and a refrigerant circulation loop arranged between the in-vehicle unit and the out-vehicle unit. The out-vehicle unit includes a housing and an out-vehicle fan. A heat exchange channel is formed in the housing. The housing is also provided with an air outlet, a first air inlet, and a second air inlet. The air outlet is connected to one end of the heat exchange channel. The second air inlet is located on the air flow path during vehicle driving. One of the first air inlet and the second air inlet can be selectively connected to the other end of the heat exchange channel. Based on this, the present invention can determine the timing of switching from the state in which the first air inlet is connected to the heat exchange channel to the state in which the second air inlet is connected to the heat exchange channel according to the temperature inside the vehicle, effectively reducing energy consumption by using air passing through the housing, and ensuring the life of the vehicle battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of vehicle-mounted air conditioners, and specifically provides a vehicle-mounted air conditioner unit and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Most vehicles are equipped with onboard air conditioning units to regulate the temperature and humidity inside the vehicle, providing a more comfortable riding environment, reducing driver fatigue, and ensuring driving safety. However, when the onboard air conditioning unit is used while driving, the vehicle battery is constantly discharging and charging, which can shorten the battery life. Furthermore, the high operating power of existing onboard air conditioners can lead to excessive energy consumption in the vehicle, all of which can result in a poor user experience.

[0003] Accordingly, the art requires a new vehicle air-conditioning unit and a control method thereof to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to solve the above technical problems, that is, to solve the problems of high energy consumption and short life of vehicle batteries in existing vehicle air-conditioning units.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a control method for a vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit, wherein the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit includes an in-vehicle unit, an out-vehicle unit, and a refrigerant circulation loop arranged between the in-vehicle unit and the out-vehicle unit, wherein the out-vehicle unit includes a housing and an out-vehicle fan, a heat exchange channel is formed in the housing, and a condenser, a throttling component, an evaporator, and a compressor are sequentially arranged on the refrigerant circulation loop, the evaporator is located in the in-vehicle unit, the condenser and the out-vehicle fan are arranged in the heat exchange channel, and the housing is also provided with an air outlet, a first air inlet, and a second air outlet. and a second air inlet, the air outlet is connected to one end of the heat exchange channel, the second air inlet is located on the air flow path during the vehicle's driving, and the first air inlet and the second air inlet are configured to be selectively connected to the other end of the heat exchange channel, the control method comprising: after the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit receives a power-on heat exchange instruction, controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel; after a preset time, obtaining the temperature inside the vehicle; and selectively controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the temperature inside the vehicle.

[0006] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned control method, the step of "selectively controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the temperature inside the vehicle" specifically includes: calculating the absolute value of the difference between the temperature inside the vehicle and the target temperature; and selectively controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the absolute value of the difference between the temperature inside the vehicle and the target temperature.

[0007] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned control method, the step of "selectively controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature" includes: if the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature is less than a preset value, further obtaining the displacement speed of the vehicle; and selectively controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the displacement speed of the vehicle.

[0008] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned control method, the step of "selectively controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the absolute value of the difference between the interior temperature and the target temperature" also includes: if the absolute value of the difference between the interior temperature and the target temperature is greater than or equal to the preset value, the second air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

[0009] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned control method, the step of "selectively controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the displacement speed of the vehicle" includes: if the displacement speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the preset displacement speed, controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

[0010] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned control method, the step of "selectively controlling the second air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the displacement speed of the vehicle" also includes: if the displacement speed of the vehicle is less than the preset displacement speed, the second air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

[0011] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned control method, when the second air inlet is connected to the heat exchange channel, the control method further includes: obtaining the vehicle interior temperature again; and selectively controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel based on the vehicle interior temperature obtained again.

[0012] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned control method, the step of "selectively controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel according to the vehicle interior temperature obtained again" includes: when the vehicle air-conditioning unit is operating in a cooling condition, if the vehicle interior temperature obtained again rises, controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel; when the vehicle air-conditioning unit is operating in a heating condition, if the vehicle interior temperature obtained again drops, controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

[0013] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned control method, the step of "selectively controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel based on the vehicle interior temperature obtained again" also includes: when the vehicle air-conditioning unit is operating in a cooling condition, if the vehicle interior temperature obtained again has not risen, the first air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel; when the vehicle air-conditioning unit is operating in a heating condition, if the vehicle interior temperature obtained again has not dropped, the first air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

[0014] On the other hand, the present invention further provides a vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit, which includes a controller capable of executing the control method described in any one of the above-mentioned preferred technical solutions.

[0015] When adopting the above-mentioned technical solution, the present invention can selectively control the connection between the second air inlet and the heat exchange channel according to the temperature inside the vehicle. While ensuring the operational stability of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit, it can also make full use of the natural flow of air passing through the casing during vehicle driving to exchange heat with the condenser, thereby reducing the frequency of use of the external fan, thereby effectively reducing the number of charge and discharge times of the vehicle-mounted battery, achieving the purpose of protecting the vehicle-mounted battery and extending its service life, and can also effectively reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the vehicle air-conditioning unit of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the vehicle exterior unit of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the vehicle exterior unit of the present invention when it is in active air supply mode;

[0020] Figure 4 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the vehicle exterior unit of the present invention when in natural air supply mode;

[0021] Figure 5 It is a flow chart of the main steps of the control method of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the specific steps of a preferred embodiment of the control method of the present invention;

[0023] Reference numerals:

[0024] 1. Outdoor unit;

[0025] 11. Casing; 111. Air outlet; 112. First air inlet; 113. Second air inlet;

[0026] 12. External fan;

[0027] 13. Shielding member; 131. Rotating member; 132. First engaging structure; 133. Second engaging structure; 134. Locking member;

[0028] 14. Temperature sensor; 15. Controller; 16. Baffle;

[0029] 2. Refrigerant circulation circuit;

[0030] 21. Condenser; 22. Throttling component; 23. Evaporator; 24. Compressor; 25. Four-way valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are only used to explain the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments to them as needed to adapt to specific applications. For example, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific application objects of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit. It can be applied to gasoline vehicles, electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Technicians can set the application objects of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit according to actual usage requirements. Such changes in specific application objects do not deviate from the principles of the present invention and still fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] It should be noted that in the description of the present invention, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front," and "back" indicating directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or component described must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] In addition, it should be noted that in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances. Although the various steps of the compressor frequency control method of the present invention are described in this application in a specific order, these orders are not restrictive. Without deviating from the basic principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can perform the steps in different orders.

[0034] See first Figure 1 and 2 , Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of the vehicle air-conditioning unit of the present invention, Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the vehicle exterior unit of the present invention. Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the vehicle air conditioning unit of the present invention includes an in-vehicle unit (not shown), an outdoor unit 1, and a refrigerant circulation circuit 2 disposed between the in-vehicle unit and the outdoor unit 1. The outdoor unit 1 includes a housing 11 and an outdoor fan 12. A heat exchange channel is formed in the housing 11. The refrigerant circulation circuit 2 is sequentially provided with a condenser 21, a throttling member 22, an evaporator 23, a compressor 24, and a four-way valve 25. The evaporator 23 is located in the in-vehicle unit, and the condenser 21 and the outdoor fan 12 are disposed in the heat exchange channel. The housing 11 is also provided with an air outlet 111, a first air inlet 112, and a second air inlet 113. The air outlet 111 is connected to one end of the heat exchange channel. The second air inlet 113 is located in the airflow path during vehicle travel. The first air inlet 112 and the second air inlet 113 are configured to selectively connect to the other end of the heat exchange channel. Based on the above-mentioned setting method, the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit of the present invention can make full use of the natural flow of air passing through the casing 11 during the vehicle's driving to facilitate heat exchange for the condenser 21, thereby reducing the frequency of use of the external fan 12, and thus effectively reducing the number of charge and discharge times of the vehicle-mounted battery, thereby achieving the purpose of protecting the vehicle-mounted battery and extending its service life, and can also effectively reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit, providing users with a good user experience.

[0035] It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure of the in-car unit, nor does it impose any restrictions on the specific types and specific structures of the condenser 21, the throttling component 22, the evaporator 23 and the compressor 24. The condenser 21 and the evaporator 23 can be coil heat exchangers, fin heat exchangers, or shell and tube heat exchangers; the throttling component 22 can be a throttling capillary or an electronic expansion valve. This is not restrictive. As long as the on-board air-conditioning unit can achieve heat exchange through the in-car unit, the outdoor unit 1 and the refrigerant circulation loop 2 arranged between the in-car unit and the outdoor unit 1, technicians can set it themselves according to actual usage.

[0036] Furthermore, it should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific shape of the housing 11. It can be circular, square, or irregular, and technicians can customize it based on actual usage. As a preferred configuration, the shape of the housing 11 is determined by the specific location of the off-board unit 1 in the vehicle to more efficiently utilize the vehicle's space.

[0037] As a specific embodiment, the exterior unit 1 further includes a shielding member 13. The shielding member 13 is configured to be movable between the first air inlet 112 and the second air inlet 113 so that either the first air inlet 112 or the second air inlet 113 can be connected to the other end of the heat exchange channel. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure or shape of the shielding member 13. As long as the shielding member 13 can enable either the first air inlet 112 or the second air inlet 113 to be connected to the other end of the heat exchange channel, technicians can customize the structure based on actual usage.

[0038] Preferably, the shielding member 13 is rotatably connected to the housing 11, and a portion of the housing 11 can be rotated by the shielding member 13 to open or close the second air inlet 113. Specifically, a rotating member 131 is provided at the connection between the shielding member 13 and the housing 11 to enable the shielding member 13 to be rotatably moved between the first air inlet 112 and the second air inlet 113. Of course, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure of the rotating member 131. It can be a rotating hinge structure or a rotating spring structure, which is not restrictive. Technicians can set it according to the actual rotation of the shielding member 13.

[0039] Further preferably, the shielding member 13 is further provided with a first engaging structure 132 and a second engaging structure 133. The first engaging structure 132 can engage with the first air inlet 112 to seal the first air inlet 112, and the second engaging structure 133 can engage with the second air inlet 113 to seal the second air inlet 113. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure and shape of the first engaging structure 132 and the second engaging structure 133. The first engaging structure 132 and the second engaging structure 133 can be shielding plates or shielding blocks, which are not restrictive. Technicians can set the first engaging structure 132 and the second engaging structure 133 according to the actual shielding situation.

[0040] As a specific embodiment, the first joint structure 132 and the second joint structure 133 are both shielding plates, so as to effectively ensure the sealing of the first air inlet 112 and the second air inlet 113, and effectively ensure that when the heat exchange channel is connected to the second air inlet 113, the first air inlet 112 will not leak air, thereby effectively reducing the frequency of use of the external fan 12 and ensuring the service life of the vehicle battery. At the same time, it can also effectively reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle air-conditioning unit and enhance the user experience.

[0041] Furthermore, one end of the first engaging structure 132 and one end of the second engaging structure 133 are connected to form an obtuse angle, so that the shielding member 13 can selectively shield the first air inlet 112 and the second air inlet 113. Of course, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific angle formed between the first engaging structure 132 and the second engaging structure 133. Technicians can set the angle between the first engaging structure 132 and the second engaging structure 133 according to actual engagement conditions.

[0042] Further preferably, one end of the second coupling structure 133 away from the first coupling structure 132 is connected to the rotating member 131. During the rotation of the second coupling structure 133, the first coupling structure 132 rotates with the second coupling structure 133 to realize the opening or closing of the first air inlet 112 and the second air inlet 113.

[0043] Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment, a locking member 134 is provided at one end of the portion of the housing 11 that rotates with the shielding member 13, away from the rotating member 131. The locking member 134 can lock the housing 11 that rotates with the shielding member 13, thereby sealing the second air inlet 113. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any limitations on the specific structure of the locking member 134. The locking member 134 can be a magnetic locking structure or a snap-on locking structure, which is not restrictive and can be configured by a skilled person based on actual locking requirements.

[0044] Furthermore, the external fan 12 is configured to be turned on only when the first air inlet 112 is connected to the heat exchange channel, so that the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit can make full use of the natural flow of air passing through the casing 11 during the vehicle's driving to exchange heat with the condenser 21, thereby reducing the frequency of use of the external fan 12, thereby effectively reducing the number of charge and discharge times of the vehicle-mounted battery, achieving the purpose of protecting the vehicle-mounted battery and extending its service life, and can also effectively reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit, providing users with a good user experience.

[0045] Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment, a first air inlet 112 is positioned on the side of the housing 11, and a second air inlet 113 is positioned at the top of the housing 11. The second air inlet 113 forms an angle with the vehicle's direction of travel, effectively utilizing the natural flow of air through the housing 11 during travel, thereby effectively protecting the vehicle's battery and reducing energy consumption of the vehicle air conditioning unit. Furthermore, two first air inlets 112 are positioned on either side of the housing 11 to effectively exchange heat with the condenser 21.

[0046] It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific number and location of the air outlet 111, the first air inlet 112, and the second air inlet 113. Furthermore, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure and shape of the air outlet 111, the first air inlet 112, and the second air inlet 113. The air outlet 111, the first air inlet 112, and the second air inlet 113 can have a mesh structure or a single hole-like structure. This is not restrictive and can be set by technicians based on actual usage.

[0047] Furthermore, the condenser 21 and the external fan 12 are sequentially arranged in the heat exchange channel along the direction of the heat exchange airflow, with the external fan 12 located near the air outlet 111 to effectively ensure the heat exchange effect of the heat exchange channel on the condenser 21, thereby effectively reducing the energy consumption of the vehicle air conditioning unit, protecting the vehicle battery, and ensuring the service life of the vehicle battery. Of course, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific location of the condenser 21 and the external fan 12. The condenser 21 and the external fan 12 can also be located in other positions within the external unit 1, and technicians can set them according to actual usage.

[0048] In addition, in this preferred embodiment, the outdoor unit 1 also includes a temperature sensor 14 and a controller 15. The temperature sensor 14 can sense the temperature of the condenser 21, and the controller 15 can control the operating state of the on-board air-conditioning unit, for example, controlling the frequency of the compressor 24, the speed and operating state of the outdoor fan 12, etc. Specifically, the temperature sensor 14 is located in the condenser 21, and the controller 15 is located near the compressor 24. Of course, the specific location of the temperature sensor 14 and the controller 15 is not restrictive. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure and model of the controller 15, and the controller 15 can be the original controller of the on-board air-conditioning unit, or it can be a controller separately set for executing the compressor frequency control method of the present invention. The technician can set the structure and model of the controller 15 according to actual use requirements.

[0049] Furthermore, the outdoor unit 1 also includes a baffle 16, one end of the baffle 16 is connected to the rotating member 131, and the other end is connected to the casing 11 to isolate the compressor 24 and the controller 15, thereby effectively preventing the air in the heat exchange channel from affecting the service life of the compressor 24 and the controller 15.

[0050] In this preferred embodiment, the vehicle air conditioning unit includes an active air supply mode and a natural air supply mode. Based on the specific structure of the above vehicle air conditioning unit, the working principles of the active air supply mode and the natural air supply mode of the vehicle air conditioning unit are as follows:

[0051] First, see Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the vehicle exterior unit of the present invention when it is in active air supply mode. Figure 3 As shown, in the active air supply mode, the locking member 134 is in a closed state, the second coupling structure 133 and part of the housing 11 jointly cover the second air inlet 113, and the first coupling structure 132 and the first air inlet 112 are in a separated state. The air of the outdoor unit 1 can enter the heat exchange channel from the first air inlet 112 to exchange heat with the condenser 21. At this time, the outdoor fan 12 is in working state, and the air after heat exchange is drawn out by the outdoor fan 12 to the air outlet 111, and then discharged to the outside of the vehicle.

[0052] Next, see Figure 4 , Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the vehicle exterior unit of the present invention when it is in natural air supply mode. Figure 4As shown, in the natural air supply mode, the locking member 134 is in the open state, allowing the partial housing 11 to rotate clockwise with the shielding member 13 under the rotation of the rotating member 131. The partial housing 11 and the second engaging structure 133 rotate to open the second air inlet 113. At the same time, the first engaging structure 132 rotates to the first air inlet 112 and just covers the first air inlet 112. At this time, the external fan 12 is in the closed state. During the vehicle's driving, the naturally flowing air enters the heat exchange channel through the second air inlet 113 to exchange heat with the condenser 21. The heat-exchanged air is then discharged to the outside of the vehicle through the holes in the external fan 12 and the air outlet 111.

[0053] Based on the setting mode in which the above-mentioned vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit can switch between active air supply mode and natural air supply mode, when the active air supply mode is not needed, the external fan 12 is in the off state, and the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit can make full use of the natural flow of air passing through the casing 11 during the vehicle's driving to facilitate heat exchange for the condenser 21, thereby reducing the frequency of use of the external fan 12, thereby effectively reducing the number of charge and discharge times of the vehicle-mounted battery, achieving the purpose of protecting the vehicle-mounted battery and extending the service life of the vehicle-mounted battery, and can also effectively reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit, providing users with a good user experience.

[0054] See next Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a flow chart of the main steps of the control method of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, based on the vehicle air conditioning unit described in the above embodiment, the control method of the present invention mainly includes the following steps:

[0055] S1: After the vehicle air conditioning unit receives a start-up heat exchange instruction, controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel;

[0056] S2: After a preset time, obtain the temperature inside the vehicle;

[0057] S3: Selectively controlling the second air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the temperature inside the vehicle.

[0058] First, in step S1, after the vehicle air conditioning unit receives a power-on heat exchange instruction, the controller 15 controls the first air inlet 112 to communicate with the heat exchange channel, i.e., controls the vehicle air conditioning unit to be in active air supply mode. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific form of transmitting the power-on heat exchange instruction; it can be a text instruction, a voice instruction, or a gesture instruction; it can be transmitted via a mobile terminal connected to the vehicle air conditioning unit or via the vehicle's control terminal. These are not restrictive and can be set by technicians based on actual usage requirements.

[0059] Then, in steps S2 and S3, after the first air inlet 112 is connected to the heat exchange channel for a preset period of time, the temperature inside the vehicle is obtained, and based on the obtained temperature inside the vehicle, the second air inlet 113 is selectively controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel, that is, the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit is selectively controlled to switch to the natural air supply mode, so as to effectively utilize the natural flow of air passing through the casing 11 during the driving of the vehicle to exchange heat with the condenser 21, reduce the frequency of use of the external fan 12, and thus effectively reduce the number of charge and discharge times of the vehicle-mounted battery, thereby achieving the purpose of protecting the vehicle-mounted battery and extending the service life, and can also effectively reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit.

[0060] It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific method for obtaining the vehicle interior temperature. It can be determined by a temperature sensor installed in the vehicle based on the average temperature of the vehicle interior over different time periods, or it can be the real-time temperature of the vehicle interior, without any limitation. Preferably, the real-time temperature of the vehicle interior is used to enable timely changes to the operating mode of the vehicle air conditioning unit to reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the method for determining the preset time period. It can be set by the user or based on the actual operating conditions of the vehicle air conditioning unit and the vehicle, without any limitation.

[0061] It should also be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific judgment method of the vehicle air-conditioning unit switching to the natural air supply mode according to the vehicle interior temperature. It can be judged by comparing the vehicle interior temperature with the target temperature, or by comparing the vehicle interior temperature before and after the switching; in addition, the judgment can be made only by the vehicle interior temperature, or other parameters such as the vehicle displacement speed can be introduced for joint judgment. This is not restrictive, and technicians can set it themselves according to actual usage.

[0062] Next see Figure 6 , Figure 6 1 is a flow chart of the specific steps of a preferred embodiment of the control method of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, based on the vehicle air conditioning unit described in the above preferred embodiment, the preferred embodiment of the control method of the present invention specifically includes the following steps:

[0063] S101: After the vehicle air conditioning unit receives a start-up heat exchange instruction, controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel;

[0064] S102: After a preset time, obtain the temperature inside the vehicle;

[0065] S103: Calculating the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature;

[0066] S104: If the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature is less than a preset value, further obtaining the displacement speed of the vehicle;

[0067] S105: If the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature is greater than or equal to a preset value, the second air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel;

[0068] S106: If the displacement speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the preset displacement speed, controlling the second air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel;

[0069] S107: If the displacement speed of the vehicle is less than the preset displacement speed, the second air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel;

[0070] S108: Obtain the vehicle interior temperature again;

[0071] S109: If the obtained vehicle interior temperature rises again, controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel;

[0072] S110: If the vehicle interior temperature obtained again does not rise, the first air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel;

[0073] S111: If the obtained vehicle interior temperature drops again, controlling the first air inlet to be connected to the heat exchange channel;

[0074] S112: If the vehicle interior temperature obtained again has not dropped, the first air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

[0075] First, in step S101, after the vehicle air conditioning unit receives a power-on heat exchange instruction, the controller 15 controls the first air inlet 112 to communicate with the heat exchange channel, i.e., controls the vehicle air conditioning unit to be in active air supply mode. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific form of transmitting the power-on heat exchange instruction; it can be a text instruction, a voice instruction, or a gesture instruction; it can be transmitted via a mobile terminal connected to the vehicle air conditioning unit or via the vehicle's control terminal. These are not restrictive and can be customized by technicians based on actual usage requirements.

[0076] Then, in step S102, after the first air inlet 112 is connected to the heat exchange channel for a preset period of time, the temperature inside the vehicle is obtained, and according to the temperature inside the vehicle, the second air inlet 113 is selectively controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel, that is, the vehicle air-conditioning unit is selectively controlled to switch to the natural air supply mode, so as to effectively utilize the natural flow of air passing through the casing 11 during the driving of the vehicle to exchange heat with the condenser 21, reduce the frequency of use of the external fan 12, and thus effectively reduce the number of charge and discharge times of the vehicle battery, thereby achieving the purpose of protecting the vehicle battery and extending the service life, and can also effectively reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle air-conditioning unit.

[0077] It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific method for obtaining the vehicle interior temperature. It can be determined by a temperature sensor installed in the vehicle based on the average temperature of the vehicle interior over different time periods, or it can be the real-time temperature of the vehicle interior, without any limitation. Preferably, the real-time temperature of the vehicle interior is used to enable timely changes to the operating mode of the vehicle air conditioning unit to reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the method for determining the preset time period. It can be set by the user or based on the actual operating conditions of the vehicle air conditioning unit and the vehicle, without any limitation.

[0078] It should also be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific judgment method of the vehicle air-conditioning unit switching to the natural air supply mode according to the vehicle interior temperature. It can be judged by comparing the vehicle interior temperature with the target temperature, or by comparing the vehicle interior temperature before and after the switching; in addition, the judgment can be made only by the vehicle interior temperature, or other parameters such as the vehicle displacement speed can be introduced for joint judgment. This is not restrictive, and technicians can set it themselves according to actual usage.

[0079] As a preferred setting method, in order to more intuitively and quickly determine whether the second air inlet 113 is connected to the heat exchange channel, this embodiment makes a judgment based on the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature.

[0080] Specifically, first, in step S103, the absolute value of the difference between the interior temperature and the target temperature is calculated, and based on the absolute value of the difference between the interior temperature and the target temperature, the second air inlet is selectively controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel. Further, in steps S104 and S105, if the absolute value of the difference between the interior temperature and the target temperature is greater than or equal to the preset value, the second air inlet 113 is not controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel, that is, the vehicle air conditioning unit continues to be in active air supply mode; conversely, if the absolute value of the difference between the interior temperature and the target temperature is less than the preset value, the vehicle's displacement speed is further obtained, and based on the vehicle's displacement speed, the second air inlet 113 is selectively controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel.

[0081] It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific determination method of the target temperature and the preset value. The target temperature and the preset value can be set by the user or according to the actual operating conditions of the vehicle air-conditioning unit and the vehicle. Preferably, the target temperature is 20°C and the preset value is 3°C, so that while ensuring the stable operation of the vehicle air-conditioning unit, it can also switch from the active air supply mode to the natural air supply mode in time to reduce energy consumption and ensure the service life of the vehicle battery.

[0082] Further preferably, in steps S106 and S107, if the displacement speed of the vehicle is less than the preset displacement speed, the second air inlet 113 is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel; on the contrary, if the displacement speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the preset displacement speed, the second air inlet 113 is controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel, that is, the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit is controlled to switch from the active air supply mode to the natural air supply mode, so as to effectively utilize the natural flow of air passing through the casing 11 during the driving of the vehicle to exchange heat with the condenser 21.

[0083] It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific method for obtaining the displacement speed of the vehicle. It can be obtained based on a vehicle speed detector set on the vehicle, or it can be calculated based on the actual running time and running distance of the vehicle. This is not restrictive. Preferably, the preset displacement speed is 20 km / h to effectively meet the user's usage needs, while effectively reducing the energy consumption of the on-board air conditioning unit and ensuring the service life of the on-board battery. In addition, it should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the method for determining the preset displacement speed. It can be set by the user or based on the actual operating conditions of the on-board air conditioning unit and the vehicle. Technicians can set it according to actual conditions.

[0084] Furthermore, in step S108, when the second air inlet 113 is connected to the heat exchange channel, that is, when the vehicle air conditioning unit is in natural air supply mode, the vehicle interior temperature is again acquired. Based on the acquired vehicle interior temperature, the first air inlet 112 is selectively controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel to effectively meet the user's actual needs. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the timing of acquiring the vehicle interior temperature again. The acquisition can be made after a preset target duration or immediately, and neither is restrictive. Preferably, the vehicle interior temperature is acquired again after a preset duration to effectively prevent the vehicle air conditioning unit from frequently switching between active air supply mode and natural air supply mode, thereby damaging the vehicle in which the vehicle air conditioning unit is installed.

[0085] Specifically, in steps S109 and S110, when the vehicle air conditioning unit is in the cooling mode, if the vehicle interior temperature is increased, the first air inlet 112 is controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel. Of course, the first air inlet 112 can be controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel after the vehicle interior temperature is increased to a preset temperature increase value, or the first air inlet 112 can be controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel as long as the vehicle interior temperature is increased. As a preferred configuration, the first air inlet 112 can be controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel after the vehicle interior temperature is increased to the preset temperature increase value, so as to effectively prevent the vehicle air conditioning unit from frequently switching between the active air supply mode and the natural air supply mode, thereby damaging the vehicle. Conversely, if the vehicle interior temperature is not increased, the first air inlet 112 is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

[0086] Then, in steps S111 and S112, when the vehicle air conditioning unit is in the heating mode, if the vehicle interior temperature is lowered again, the first air inlet 112 is controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel. Of course, the first air inlet 112 can be controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel after the vehicle interior temperature is lowered to a preset temperature drop value, or the first air inlet 112 can be controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel as long as the vehicle interior temperature is lowered again. As a preferred setting, the first air inlet 112 can be controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel after the vehicle interior temperature is lowered to the preset temperature drop value, so as to effectively avoid the vehicle air conditioning unit frequently switching between the active air supply mode and the natural air supply mode, thereby damaging the vehicle. Conversely, if the vehicle interior temperature is not lowered again, the first air inlet 112 is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

[0087] It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific determination method of the preset temperature rise value and the preset temperature drop value. They can be set by the user or according to the actual operating conditions of the vehicle air-conditioning unit and the vehicle. This is not restrictive.

[0088] In addition, it should be noted that when the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit is in the active air supply mode, the timing for the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit to switch to the natural air supply mode can be determined only by the temperature inside the vehicle, or the timing for the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit to switch to the natural air supply mode can be determined jointly by the temperature inside the vehicle and the displacement speed of the vehicle; preferably, the timing for the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit to switch to the natural air supply mode can be determined jointly by the temperature inside the vehicle and the displacement speed of the vehicle, so that on the basis of effectively ensuring the stable operation of the vehicle-mounted air-conditioning unit, energy consumption can be further and more effectively reduced, thereby effectively ensuring the service life of the vehicle battery.

[0089] Thus far, the technical solutions of the present invention have been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art may make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after such changes or substitutions will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for a vehicle air-conditioning unit, characterized in that: The vehicle air conditioning unit includes an in-vehicle unit, an out-vehicle unit, and a refrigerant circulation circuit provided between the in-vehicle unit and the out-vehicle unit. The off-board unit includes a housing and an off-board fan, wherein a heat exchange channel is formed in the housing. The refrigerant circulation loop is sequentially provided with a condenser, a throttling component, an evaporator and a compressor, the evaporator is located in the in-vehicle unit, the condenser and the outdoor fan are provided in the heat exchange channel, The housing is further provided with an air outlet, a first air inlet, and a second air inlet. The air outlet is connected to one end of the heat exchange channel, and the second air inlet is located on the air flow path during the vehicle's driving process. The first air inlet and the second air inlet are configured to selectively connect to the other end of the heat exchange channel. The control method includes: After the vehicle air conditioning unit receives a start-up heat exchange instruction, controlling the first air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel; After the preset time, obtain the temperature inside the car; selectively controlling the second air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the vehicle interior temperature; When the second air inlet is connected to the heat exchange channel, the control method further includes: Get the temperature inside the car again; selectively controlling the first air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the vehicle interior temperature obtained again; The step of “selectively controlling the first air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel based on the vehicle interior temperature obtained again” includes: When the vehicle air conditioning unit operates in a cooling mode, if the vehicle interior temperature obtained again rises, controlling the first air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel; When the vehicle air-conditioning unit operates in a heating mode, if the vehicle interior temperature obtained again decreases, the first air inlet is controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step of “selectively controlling the second air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the vehicle interior temperature” specifically includes: Calculating the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature; The second air inlet is selectively controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to an absolute value of a difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature.

3. The control method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The step of “selectively controlling the second air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature” includes: If the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature is less than a preset value, further obtaining the displacement speed of the vehicle; The second air inlet is selectively controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the displacement speed of the vehicle.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The step of “selectively controlling the second air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature” further includes: If the absolute value of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature and the target temperature is greater than or equal to the preset value, the second air inlet is not controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel.

5. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The step of “selectively controlling the second air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the displacement speed of the vehicle” includes: If the displacement speed of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a preset displacement speed, the second air inlet is controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The step of “selectively controlling the second air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel according to the displacement speed of the vehicle” further includes: If the displacement speed of the vehicle is less than the preset displacement speed, the second air inlet is not controlled to communicate with the heat exchange channel.

7. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step of “selectively controlling the first air inlet to communicate with the heat exchange channel based on the vehicle interior temperature obtained again” further includes: When the vehicle air conditioning unit operates in a cooling mode, if the vehicle interior temperature obtained again does not rise, the first air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel; When the vehicle air-conditioning unit operates in a heating mode, if the vehicle interior temperature obtained again does not decrease, the first air inlet is not controlled to be connected to the heat exchange channel.

8. A vehicle-mounted air conditioning unit, characterized in that: The vehicle air conditioning unit includes a controller capable of executing the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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