Rotary heat pump, air conditioner and vehicle equipped with the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a rotary heat pump that can be further miniaturized in response to the current situation. As a solution, a rotary heat pump (100) is provided, which comprises: a rotary drive unit (60), which has a rotating shaft (10), a fixed gear (15), a rotor (20), a rotor housing (30), a first side housing (40) and a second side housing (50), wherein the rotor (20) has a rotor gear (24) meshing with the fixed gear (15) and performing eccentric rotation, the rotor housing (30) follows an epicycloid curve defined by the eccentric rotation of the rotor (20), and the first side housing (40) covers the rotor (20). A rotor housing (30) is covered at one end thereof, a fixed gear (15) is fixed to the first side housing (40), and a second side housing (50) covers the other end thereof; heat exchange fins (70) are respectively arranged in a compression region (32) having the smallest plane area and an expansion region (34) having the largest plane area, which are divided by the rotor (20) and the rotor housing (30); and a heat insulating portion (80) is formed at a boundary portion between the compression region (32) and the expansion region (34).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary heat pump and an air conditioner and a car equipped with the rotary heat pump. Background Art

[0002] Heat pumps (refrigerators) employing a Stirling engine are known. Reciprocating and rotary heat pumps have been proposed as alternatives to these heat pumps. However, rotary heat pumps are preferred over reciprocating heat pumps in terms of noise reduction and miniaturization. In recent years, a heat pump with a structure such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-38879) has been proposed as an alternative to rotary heat pumps.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-38879 (Claim 2, Figure 1 、 Figure 2 wait) Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] like Figure 6 As shown, the rotary heat pump RHP disclosed in Patent Document 1 employs a structure having two rotary rotors: a displacer-side rotary rotor DR and a power-side rotary rotor PR. Heat pumps, air conditioners equipped with heat pumps, and automobiles are desired to be even smaller and lighter than conventional ones. However, the structure of the rotary heat pump RHP disclosed in Patent Document 1 is unable to meet the demand for further reductions in size and weight for heat pumps, air conditioners equipped with heat pumps, and automobiles.

[0008] Furthermore, while the rapid electrification of the automotive industry has made progress at the legislative level in recent years, the energy density of existing batteries remains insufficient to meet the power requirements of onboard systems, including powertrain controllers, drive systems, safety features, and air conditioning systems. Consequently, there is a strong demand for higher efficiency across all of these systems. Air conditioning, as part of the onboard air conditioning system, consumes particularly high amounts of power, making higher efficiency a crucial issue for electrification.

[0009] Solutions for solving problems

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary heat pump that can be further reduced in size, weight, and efficiency compared to the current situation, an air conditioner equipped with the rotary heat pump, and a vehicle that can promote electrification.

[0011] That is, the present technical solution is a rotary heat pump, characterized in that the rotary heat pump includes: a rotary drive unit, which has a rotating shaft, a fixed gear, a rotor, a rotor housing, a first side housing and a second side housing, the rotating shaft passes through the fixed gear, the rotor rotates eccentrically with the rotation of the rotating shaft, the rotor has a rotor gear meshing with the fixed gear, the rotor gear is formed to have a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the fixed gear, the rotor housing is formed to be able to divide the radial outer area of ​​the rotor along an epicycloid curve specified by the eccentric rotation of the rotor, and the first side housing is formed to have a radial outer area of ​​the rotor A side shell has a through hole for the rotating shaft to pass through and covers one end side of the rotor shell, and the fixed gear is fixed to the first side shell, and the second side shell covers the other end side of the rotor shell; heat exchange fins are arranged on the outer surface of the rotor shell in each of the compression area with the smallest plane area in the area divided by the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor shell and the expansion area with the largest plane area in the area; and a heat insulating portion is arranged in a required range portion in the circumferential direction including the boundary between the compression area and the expansion area.

[0012] There is also a technical solution for a rotary heat pump, characterized in that it includes: a rotary drive unit having a rotary shaft, a fixed gear, a rotor, a rotor housing, a first side housing, and a second side housing, wherein the rotary shaft passes through the fixed gear, the rotor rotates eccentrically as the rotary shaft rotates, the rotor having a rotor gear meshing with the fixed gear, the rotor gear having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the fixed gear, the rotor housing being formed so as to be able to divide a radially outer region of the rotor along an epicycloid curve defined by the eccentric rotation of the rotor, the first side housing having a through hole for passing the rotary shaft and covering one end of the rotor housing, the fixed gear being fixed to the first side housing, and the second side housing covering the other end of the rotor housing; heat exchange fins disposed on the outer surface of the rotor housing in a compression region having the smallest planar area and an expansion region having the largest planar area among the regions divided by the outer circumferential surface of the rotor and the inner circumferential surface of the rotor housing; and a bypass path connecting the plurality of expansion regions.

[0013] Thus, heat dissipation and absorption can be performed by a single rotary structure, and thus the heat pump can be significantly smaller and lighter than conventional rotary heat pumps, while also achieving higher efficiency.

[0014] Furthermore, it is preferable that the bypass paths are respectively connected to bypass holes formed in at least one of the first side case and the second side case in the expansion region.

[0015] This can suppress the increase in outer dimensions due to the bypass path.

[0016] In addition, preferably, the rotor is a Wankel-type rotor, and the rotor housing is a Wankel-type rotor housing.

[0017] Thus, since a known rotation structure can be adopted, the reliability of the rotation structure can be improved.

[0018] Furthermore, there is also a technical solution of an air conditioner characterized by being equipped with any of the above-described rotary heat pumps, and there is also a technical solution of a car equipped with the air conditioner.

[0019] This can contribute to the reduction in size and weight of air conditioners and their increased efficiency. Furthermore, the reduction in size and weight of cars equipped with such air conditioners can also be promoted. Furthermore, the energy-saving improvements in onboard systems can promote the electrification of cars.

[0020] Effects of the Invention

[0021] The rotary heat pump structure of the present invention allows for a single rotor structure, resulting in significantly greater size, weight, and efficiency compared to conventional rotary heat pumps. Furthermore, air conditioners equipped with this rotary heat pump can also achieve greater size, weight, and efficiency. Furthermore, the use of this air conditioner in vehicles can contribute to the reduction in size, weight, and electrification of automobiles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a plan view showing the internal structure of the rotary heat pump in the first embodiment by looking through the second side casing.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a plan view showing the internal structure of the second side casing of the rotary heat pump in the second embodiment through perspective.

[0024] Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of a second side casing in a modified example of the rotary heat pump in the second embodiment through a transparent perspective view.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram showing an air conditioner equipped with the rotary heat pump in this embodiment.

[0026] Figure 5 Is installed Figure 4 An illustration of an air-conditioned car is shown.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a rotary heat pump in the prior art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Below, with reference to the attached Figure 1 The rotary heat pump 100 of the present invention will be described.

[0029] (First embodiment)

[0030] Figure 1 This is a top view showing the internal structure of the second side shell 50 of the rotary heat pump 100 in the first embodiment. The rotary heat pump 100 includes a rotary drive unit 60 and heat exchange fins 70 provided on the outer wall of the rotary drive unit 60. The rotary drive unit 60 of this embodiment includes a rotary shaft 10, a fixed gear 15, a rotor 20, a rotor shell 30, a first side shell 40, and a second side shell 50. The rotary drive unit 60 is constructed such that portions formed of a metal material and portions formed of a heat insulating material, i.e., heat insulating portions 80, are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. As shown by Figure 1 As can be seen, in this embodiment, a description will be given of a rotary heat pump 100 in which a Wankel-type rotary drive unit 60 is employed.

[0031] The first end of the rotating shaft 10 is rotatably supported within the interior space of the rotary drive unit 60, and the second end protrudes from a through-hole (not shown) in the first side housing 40 to the exterior of the rotary drive unit 60. The second end of the rotating shaft 10 is connected to the output shaft of the prime mover (not shown) located outside the rotary drive unit 60 by a known method. Furthermore, the fixed gear 15, which is inserted from the outer surface of the first side housing 40 and through which the rotating shaft 10 passes, is fixed to the through-hole of the first side housing 40 by screw fastening. It is preferable that the rotating shaft 10 utilize an eccentric shaft, similar to a rotary engine.

[0032] The rotor 20 in this embodiment is formed with a heat-insulating material, at least within a desired thickness range of its outer surface, into a so-called Reuleaux triangle (a Wankel rotor). The rotor 20 engages with the rotor journal 12 formed on the rotating shaft 10 at the engagement hole 22 and is fixed so as to be corotatable with the rotating shaft 10. A rotor gear 24 is formed in the center portion of the rotor 20 when viewed from above. This rotor gear 24 has a larger diameter than the outer diameters of the fixed gear 15 and the engagement hole 22, is coaxial with the engagement hole 22, and meshes with the fixed gear 15. The fixed gear 15, fixed to the first side housing 40, and the rotor gear 24 mesh only within a desired circumferential range. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 10 rotates, the rotor 20 performs eccentric rotation about the rotating shaft 10 (the fixed gear 15).

[0033] The rotor housing 30 is formed as a cocoon-like cylindrical body (a Wankel-type rotor housing) that can divide the radially outer region of the rotor 20 in a planar manner along an epicycloidal curve defined by the eccentric rotation of the rotor 20. One open surface of the rotor housing 30 is covered by a first side housing 40, which has a through-hole (not shown) formed in the first side housing 40 for inserting the fixed gear 15 into the interior of the rotor housing 30 (rotation drive unit 60). The rotating shaft 10 is inserted through the fixed gear 15, and the rotating shaft 10, fixed gear 15, and first side housing 40 are sealed using a known method.

[0034] Furthermore, a second side housing 50 is attached to the other open surface of the rotor housing 30, sealed against the rotor housing 30. The basic configuration of this rotary drive unit 60 can be similar to that of a so-called rotary engine, omitting the intake and exhaust sections and ignition section. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the space enclosed by the rotor 20, rotor housing 30, first side housing 40, and second side housing 50 is preferably sealed with a suitably provided sealing member (not shown). As an example of a refrigerant, helium gas is filled in each of these spaces.

[0035] Furthermore, heat exchange fins 70 are provided at multiple locations along the outer surface of the rotor housing 30, each covering a desired range. The shape and planar area of ​​the regions defined by the inner circumferential surface of the rotor housing 30 and the outer circumferential surface of the rotor 20 change with the eccentric rotation of the rotor 20. In this embodiment, with the rotating shaft 10 as the center of rotation, two compression regions 32, each with the smallest planar area, and two expansion regions 34, each with the largest planar area, are formed within the defined regions. These regions are alternately arranged at 90-degree intervals along the circumference of the rotor housing 30, with the center of the rotor housing 30 as the center of rotation.

[0036] In addition, among the heat exchange fins 70, the fins erected on the outer wall surface of the rotating drive part 60 at the position corresponding to the high temperature area, i.e., the compression area 32 are heat dissipation fins 72, and the fins erected on the outer wall surface of the rotating drive part 60 at the position corresponding to the low temperature area, i.e., the expansion area 34 are heat absorption fins 74.

[0037] When the rotary drive unit 60 in this embodiment is driven to rotate by the prime mover, helium gas, serving as a refrigerant filling the internal space of the rotary drive unit 60, is sequentially delivered to the compression region 32 and expansion region 34, which alternate in the circumferential direction of the rotor housing 30, thereby switching between a high-temperature state and a low-temperature state. Furthermore, the rotor housing 30, the first side housing 40, and the second side housing 50 in this embodiment are configured such that at least a desired circumferential range, including the boundary between the compression region 32 and the expansion region 34, is formed of an insulating material. This insulating material portion serves as the insulating portion 80. By configuring such an insulating portion 80 at the boundary between the compression region 32 and the expansion region 34, even a single-rotor rotary drive unit 60 can exchange heat with the outside air, which is the heat exchange target, at each of the heat dissipation fins 72 and the heat absorption fins 74. Furthermore, the first side housing 40 and the second side housing 50 in this embodiment are entirely formed of an insulating material.

[0038] By adopting the rotary heat pump 100 of this embodiment, a heat pump structure utilizing a full gas-phase Carnot cycle can be achieved. The rotor 20 of this embodiment can dissipate heat twice and absorb heat twice during one rotation within the interior of the rotor housing 30. This allows for efficient heat exchange despite its compact, lightweight structure and low noise levels. Furthermore, increasing the rotational speed of the rotor 20 by increasing the output shaft of the prime mover allows for rapid heating and cooling, which is also advantageous.

[0039] (Second embodiment)

[0040] Figure 2 This is a plan view through the second side casing 50 of the rotary heat pump 100 in the second embodiment, illustrating the internal structure of the rotary heat pump 100. In this embodiment, components identical to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0041] Compared to the structure described in the first embodiment, the rotary heat pump 100 in this embodiment is characterized by further including a bypass path 90 that connects the two expansion regions 34. Furthermore, the structure of the rotary heat pump 100 in this embodiment differs from that in the first embodiment in that the heat dissipating fins 72 and the heat absorbing fins 74 are each erected at a single location, and that the heat insulating portion 80 is provided at only two locations.

[0042] The bypass path 90 in this embodiment is connected to the bypass hole 34A, which is provided in the rotor housing 30 in each expansion region 34. By making the two expansion regions 34 connected to each other in this way, the volume of the expansion region 34 that is connected to the compression region 32 can be greatly increased, and the temperature reduction caused by the expansion of the helium gas can be promoted. In this embodiment, the two expansion regions 34 are connected, but the heat-absorbing fins 74 are only erected on the outer wall surface of the rotor housing 30 corresponding to the expansion region 34 provided at a position immediately behind the compression region 32. In addition, the expansion region 34 of the connection destination connected by the bypass path 90 (the expansion region 34 located immediately in front of the compression region 32 that becomes the high-temperature region) can also be formed as a whole into the heat-insulating portion 80. And, as Figure 2 As shown, a bypass radiator 92 can be provided in the bypass 90 .

[0043] Furthermore, in the rotary heat pump 100 of this embodiment, helium is substantially uncompressed in the compression region 32 located between the expansion regions 34 connected by the bypass path 90. Therefore, no heat dissipation fins 72 or insulation 80 are provided in this region. As described above, in the rotary heat pump 100 of this embodiment, the number of heat dissipation fins 72, heat absorption fins 74, and insulation 80 can be reduced, which is advantageous in that it contributes to further reducing the size and weight of the rotary heat pump 100 and lowering its manufacturing cost.

[0044] As described above, the rotary heat pump 100 of the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the rotary heat pump 100 in the above-described embodiments has been described as adopting a Wankel-type rotary drive unit 60, but is not limited to this structure. A known rotary drive unit 60 structure can also be used as appropriate. In the case where the rotary drive unit 60 has a plurality of expansion regions 34, three or more expansion regions 34 can be connected to each other via a bypass path 90. Thus, expansion regions composed of a plurality of expansion regions 34 can be provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the rotary drive unit 60.

[0045] In addition, regarding the rotary heat pump 100 in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the rotor housing 30 in the expansion region 34 is provided with a bypass hole 34A, and the bypass path 90 is connected to the bypass hole 34A, but the present invention is not limited to this form. The following forms can also be adopted: Figure 3As shown, instead of the bypass holes 34A provided in the rotor housing 30, bypass holes 34A are provided that penetrate the first side housing 40 in the plate thickness direction, and the bypass holes 34A in the plurality of expansion regions 34 are connected to each other via a bypass path 90. This bypass hole 34A can be provided not only in the first side housing 40 but also in the second side housing 50, or in both the first side housing 40 and the second side housing 50. Providing the bypass path 90 within the planar area of ​​the rotary drive unit 60 in this manner is preferable in that the planar dedicated area can be reduced compared to the rotary heat pump 100 of the second embodiment.

[0046] Similarly, in the second embodiment, a bypass radiator 92 is provided in the bypass 90, and heat exchange (heat absorption) is also possible in the bypass 90. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The bypass 90 may be formed of a heat insulating material, or the bypass radiator 92 may be omitted.

[0047] In addition, in this embodiment, the rotation drive unit 60 is filled with helium gas having high thermal conductivity as a refrigerant. However, the refrigerant having such characteristics is not limited to helium gas, and known refrigerants such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide can also be used as appropriate.

[0048] In addition, if Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , there is also a technical solution as an air conditioner 200 equipped with the rotary heat pump 100 described above. Figure 5 As shown, there is also a technical solution for a vehicle 300 equipped with an air conditioner 200 equipped with the rotary heat pump 100 described in this embodiment. Since the specific structures of the air conditioner 200 and the vehicle 300 are well known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. Furthermore, the air conditioner 200 according to the present invention can achieve both compactness and weight reduction as well as high efficiency. Furthermore, the vehicle 300 according to the present invention, in addition to being compact and lightweight, significantly reduces energy consumption in its onboard systems, thereby promoting the electrification of the vehicle 300.

[0049] Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the rotary heat pumps 100 described above are arranged in series along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 10. Thus, although the volume occupied by the rotary heat pump 100 increases, if a narrow space can be secured, a higher-performance rotary heat pump 100 and an air conditioner 200 and a vehicle 300 equipped with the rotary heat pump 100 can be provided.

[0050] Furthermore, the configuration of the present embodiment described above may also be a form in which the modified examples described in the specification and other known configurations are appropriately combined.

Claims

1. A rotary heat pump, characterized in that: The rotary heat pump has: a rotary drive unit comprising a rotary shaft, a fixed gear, a rotor, a rotor housing, a first side housing, and a second side housing, wherein the rotary shaft passes through the fixed gear, the rotor rotates eccentrically as the rotary shaft rotates, the rotor having a rotor gear meshing with the fixed gear, the rotor gear having a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the fixed gear, the rotor housing being formed so as to be able to divide a radially outer region of the rotor along an epicycloid curve defined by the eccentric rotation of the rotor, the first side housing having a through hole through which the rotary shaft passes and covering one end of the rotor housing, the fixed gear being fixed to the first side housing, and the second side housing covering the other end of the rotor housing; heat exchange fins provided on the outer surface of the rotor housing in a compression region having the smallest planar area and an expansion region having the largest planar area in a region defined by the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and the inner peripheral surface of the rotor housing; as well as a bypass path connecting the plurality of expansion regions, The heat exchange fins include heat absorbing fins and heat dissipating fins. The heat absorbing fins are arranged in the expansion region on the upstream side of the two expansion regions connected by the bypass path. The heat dissipating fins are arranged in the compression region located immediately behind the expansion region on the downstream side of the expansion regions connected by the bypass path. A bypass radiator is provided in the bypass.

2. The rotary heat pump according to claim 1, characterized in that The bypass paths are respectively connected to bypass holes formed in at least one of the first side case and the second side case in the expansion region.

3. The rotary heat pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The rotor is a Wankel-type rotor, and the rotor housing is a Wankel-type rotor housing.

4. An air conditioner, characterized in that: This air conditioner is equipped with the rotary heat pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A car, characterized in that: The automobile is equipped with the air conditioner according to claim 4.

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