Air conditioning system, motor vehicle and associated operating method

Abstract

The invention relates to an air conditioning system, a motor vehicle and an associated operating method. The invention relates to an air-conditioning system for regulating the temperature of the air supplied to the cab of a motor vehicle, comprising a cooler, a heater, a fresh air supply, an exhaust gas discharge, and a heat exchanger, which is connected to the exhaust gas discharge and the fresh air supply and is configured such that it enables a medium-separated heat transfer between the fresh air and the exhaust gas. The air-conditioning system also has at least one jet pump having: a suction connection which is connected to the exhaust gas discharge downstream of the heat exchanger with respect to the exhaust gas flow; a working medium inlet, which is coupled to a flowing air supply, which guides flowing air, which flows to and / or around the motor vehicle and is generated by the driving operation of the motor vehicle, from the surroundings of the vehicle to the working medium inlet; and a mixed gas outlet coupled with the exhaust gas discharge portion such that the exhaust gas discharge portion discharges a mixed gas formed by the exhaust gas and the flowing air into the vehicle surroundings.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an air-conditioning system for conditioning the incoming air of a vehicle cab of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such an air-conditioning system. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for operating the air-conditioning system to condition the incoming air of the vehicle cab of a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Generic air-conditioning systems are known from DE 10 2014 012 706 A1 and have a cooler for cooling the incoming air, a heater for heating the incoming air, a fresh air delivery section for delivering fresh air from the vehicle surroundings to the cooler and / or the heater, an exhaust gas discharge section for discharging the exhaust gas from the vehicle cab to the vehicle surroundings, and a heat exchanger connected to the exhaust gas discharge section and the fresh air delivery section and configured to enable a heat transfer for separating the medium between the fresh air and the exhaust gas. In order to be able to suck the exhaust gas from the vehicle cab, traditional air-conditioning systems usually have an exhaust gas fan connected to the exhaust gas discharge section and used to drive the exhaust gas.

[0003] Herein, such an exhaust gas fan represents an additional energy consumer, which is particularly disadvantageous in battery-powered vehicles, for example, in terms of the achievable mileage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention is directed to solving the problem that an improved or at least one additional embodiment is provided for an air-conditioning system of the aforementioned type, a motor vehicle equipped with such an air-conditioning system of the aforementioned type, or the associated operating method, which is characterized in particular by reduced energy consumption, and in which a compact structural form is also achieved.

[0005] According to the present invention, this problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The present invention is based on the general idea of using a jet pump to suck the exhaust gas, wherein the flowing air that flows towards, around, and / or partially through the vehicle during the driving mode of the motor vehicle is used as the working medium. Such a jet pump does not require movable parts, can generally work reliably for a long time, and can be realized relatively compactly, so that such a jet pump occupies a relatively small structural space. Using the flowing air as the working medium of the jet pump utilizes the energy that already exists during the driving operation of the motor vehicle, so that in particular, no electrical energy is required to drive the exhaust gas or suck the exhaust gas from the vehicle cab. Therefore, the air-conditioning system introduced herein requires less external energy and can thus operate particularly efficiently with respect to its energy consumption.

[0007] Specifically, for the air-conditioning system according to the present invention, it is proposed that it is equipped with at least one jet pump, wherein the jet pump has a suction interface, a working medium inlet and a mixture gas outlet. The suction interface is fluidly connected to the exhaust gas duct downstream of the heat exchanger with respect to the exhaust gas flow. The working medium inlet is fluidly connected to the flowing air conveying part of the air-conditioning system, and the flowing air conveying part guides the flowing air generated due to the driving operation of the motor vehicle, flowing towards and / or around the motor vehicle, from the vehicle surrounding environment to the working medium inlet and / or guides at least part of the flowing air passing through the motor vehicle to the working medium inlet. The mixture gas outlet is fluidly connected to the exhaust gas duct, so that the exhaust gas duct discharges the mixture gas formed by the exhaust gas and the flowing air into the vehicle surrounding environment. Therefore, the jet pump is connected to the exhaust gas duct through the suction interface and the mixture gas outlet and drives the exhaust gas by being connected to the flowing air conveying part through the working medium inlet. Subsequently, during the driving operation of the motor vehicle, flowing air is generated, and the flowing air is conveyed to the working medium inlet of the jet pump through the flowing air conveying part. When the flowing air passes through the jet pump, a negative pressure for sucking the exhaust gas is generated at the suction interface. The sucked exhaust gas is mixed with the flowing air within the jet pump, so that the mixture gas formed by the exhaust gas and the flowing air is discharged at the mixture gas outlet, and then the mixture gas is guided by the exhaust gas duct to the vehicle surrounding environment.

[0008] By using the jet pump, the size of the fan for driving the exhaust gas existing in the exhaust gas duct can be significantly reduced. It is also conceivable to completely eliminate such a fan for driving the exhaust gas arranged in the exhaust gas duct.

[0009] A preferred embodiment is that the heat exchanger module is connected to the fresh air conveying part upstream of the cooler and / or the heater with respect to the fresh air flow. Therefore, the heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the incoming air is carried out before the incoming air is temperature-controlled. Thus, the fresh air can be pre-temperature-controlled by means of the exhaust gas, so that less energy is required for the temperature control of the incoming air. In this regard, the fresh air refers to the air sucked from the vehicle surrounding environment, and the incoming air refers to the air conveyed to the vehicle cab. Therefore, the fresh air becomes the incoming air through the temperature control implemented by the air-conditioning system. The actual air is the same in the fresh air and the incoming air, however, the temperature and / or humidity in the incoming air can be different from those in the fresh air.

[0010] A particularly advantageous embodiment is that the flowing air in the flowing air conveying part is only driven by the driving operation of the motor vehicle. Therefore, an additional fan can be eliminated within the flowing air conveying part.

[0011] By using a jet pump to drive the exhaust gas, the size of the fan used to drive the exhaust gas can be reduced. It is also conceivable to eliminate such a fan for driving the exhaust gas. Accordingly, it can be optionally provided that the exhaust gas is only driven by the jet pump in the exhaust gas guiding section.

[0012] A particularly suitable embodiment is one in which the jet pump is configured as a Venturi pump. Such a Venturi pump is particularly efficient especially during gas flow.

[0013] In this context, "configured" is equivalent to "designed" and / or "set up", so that the expression "configured as follows" is equivalent to "designed as follows and / or set up as follows".

[0014] In an advantageous refinement, the Venturi pump can have a narrowed nozzle which is axially connected to the working medium inlet. Thus, in the nozzle, an acceleration of the working medium (i.e., flowing air) is achieved. Furthermore, the Venturi pump can have an annular suction chamber which coaxially surrounds the nozzle and is radially connected to the suction interface. During the operation of the Venturi pump, the exhaust gas is sucked through this suction chamber. In addition, the Venturi pump can have an enlarged mixing chamber which is axially connected to the nozzle and is coaxially connected to the nozzle and the suction chamber and extends to the mixture outlet. Sufficient mixing of the exhaust gas and the flowing air is achieved in the mixing chamber. In addition, a deceleration of the flow is achieved in the mixing chamber. The Venturi pump can also be equipped with an annular gap which fluidically connects the axial nozzle outlet, the axial mixing chamber inlet arranged coaxially with the nozzle outlet, and the annular radial suction chamber outlet arranged axially between the nozzle outlet and the mixing chamber inlet. Thus, the nozzle, the mixing chamber and the suction chamber are fluidically connected by this annular gap. Due to the structure of the Venturi pump, a negative pressure exists in the region of the annular gap, which spreads through the suction chamber to the suction interface and enables the suction of the exhaust gas.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the fresh air conveying section can have at least one fan for driving the fresh air. Thus, fresh air can be sucked at any location of the vehicle or the amount of air entering through dynamic pressure can be increased.

[0016] In another advantageous embodiment, the air conditioning system can have a recirculated air conveying section which sucks recirculated air from the vehicle cab and conveys it to the fresh air or the incoming air upstream or downstream of the cooler and / or the heater with respect to the fresh air flow. The utilization of the recirculated air can also be used for tempering the incoming air in order to consume less energy.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the flowing air conveyance is assigned a control device for controlling the volume flow rate of the flowing air. Such a control device can be, for example, a damper device having at least one damper arranged in the flow-through cross-section of the flowing air conveyance, the damper being adjustable in order to influence the flow-through cross-section of the flowing air conveyance. Such a control device can in particular be arranged in the region of the inlet of the flowing air conveyance. Such a control device can in particular be provided on the vehicle side. The inlet of the flowing air conveyance can be located, for example, in the region of the grille of a motor vehicle. The control device can consist of a damper device constructed on the grille. The control device can be, for example, a grille damper device. Since the flowing air depends on the current driving operation of the motor vehicle with respect to its volume flow rate or with respect to its flow velocity, i.e., in particular on the current vehicle speed, a volume flow rate of the flowing air that depends on the current vehicle speed is obtained within the flowing air conveyance. In order to avoid an undesired strong suction of exhaust gases at higher vehicle speeds, the volume flow rate of the flowing air within the flowing air conveyance can be controlled by means of such a control device. Optionally, the control device can also be arranged downstream of the grille between the front part of the vehicle and the cab air inlet.

[0018] The motor vehicle according to the invention is characterized in that it has a vehicle cab and is equipped with an air-conditioning system of the above-mentioned type.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the inlet of the flowing air conveyance can be arranged on the front part of the vehicle or on the vehicle bottom or on the vehicle side or on the A-pillar of the motor vehicle, the B-pillar of the motor vehicle, the C-pillar of the motor vehicle or the D-pillar of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the flowing air conveyance can have a channel for guiding the flowing air, the channel connecting the respective inlet to the working medium inlet. Thus, the jet pump can be positioned almost at any suitable location within the motor vehicle.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the outlet of the exhaust gas conveyance can be arranged on the rear part of the vehicle or on the vehicle bottom or on the vehicle side or on the A-pillar of the motor vehicle, the B-pillar of the motor vehicle, the C-pillar of the motor vehicle or the D-pillar of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the exhaust gas conveyance can have a channel for guiding the exhaust gas, the channel connecting the mixture outlet to the respective outlet. Thus, the jet pump can be positioned almost at any suitable location within the motor vehicle.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the motor vehicle can have a diffuser that is open towards the vehicle surroundings. Preferably, the exhaust gas conveyance is fluidly connected to the diffuser on the discharge side. Alternatively, the exhaust gas conveyance can be arranged in the chassis region on the vehicle between the front region and the rear region on the discharge side.

[0022] The motor vehicle can be a passenger car, a truck, a bus or a tractor.

[0023] A method for operating an air-conditioning system to condition the supply air of a vehicle cab of a motor vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that exhaust gas is sucked from the vehicle cab by means of an ejector pump and driven in the direction of the vehicle's surroundings, wherein the ejector pump is driven by flowing air which flows towards and / or around the motor vehicle during the driving operation of the motor vehicle.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment, heat can be transferred in a medium-separated manner between the exhaust gas and the fresh air sucked from the vehicle's surroundings and driven in the direction of the vehicle cab. Here, depending on the temperature relationship between the vehicle's surroundings and the vehicle cab, heat can be transferred from the exhaust gas to the fresh air to heat the fresh air, or heat can be transferred from the fresh air to the exhaust gas to cool the fresh air.

[0025] Other important features and advantages of the present invention result from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the drawings.

[0026] It should be understood that, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention defined by the claims, the above-mentioned features and the features still to be described below can be used not only in the separately described combinations, but also in other combinations or alone. The separately marked components of the above-mentioned and still to be mentioned higher-level units (such as devices, equipment or facilities) can form independent components or parts of the unit, or integrated areas or sections of the unit, even if this is shown differently in the drawings.

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are described in detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar or functionally identical components. Description of the Drawings

[0028] Wherein correspondingly:

[0029] Figure 1 Schematically shows a significantly simplified schematic diagram of a motor vehicle having an air-conditioning system,

[0030] Figure 2 Schematically shows Figure 1 a significantly simplified view of detail II in the ejector pump area in

[0031] Figure 3 Schematically shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of an ejector pump according to an embodiment. Detailed Description

[0032] According to Figure 1 , the motor vehicle 1 (which can be a passenger car in the shown example) includes a vehicle cab 2 and an air-conditioning system 3. The air-conditioning system 3 is used to condition the supply air 4, and the supply air is in Figure 1is indicated by an arrow. The supply air 4 is conveyed to the vehicle cab 2. For this purpose, the air-conditioning system 3 has at least one cooler 5 for cooling the supply air 4 and at least one heater 6 for heating the supply air 4. In addition, the air-conditioning system 3 has a fresh air conveyance section 7 which is configured to convey fresh air 8 from the vehicle surroundings 9, which is indicated by an arrow 1 in Figure 1 to the cooler 5 and / or the heater 6. A blower 10 may be assigned to the fresh air conveyance section 7 for driving the fresh air 8.

[0033] The air-conditioning system 3 also has at least one exhaust gas duct section 11 which is configured to duct exhaust gas 12 from the vehicle cab 2 and to convey the exhaust gas 12 to the vehicle surroundings 9. The exhaust gas 12 is indicated by an arrow in Figures 1 to 3 . The air-conditioning system 3 is also equipped with a heat exchanger 13 which is connected to the exhaust gas duct section 11 and the fresh air conveyance section 7, and which is configured here to effect a medium-separated heat transfer between the fresh air 8 and the exhaust gas 12.

[0034] According to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the air-conditioning system 3 may be equipped with at least one ejector 14 for driving the exhaust gas 12. The ejector 14 has a suction connection 15 which is fluidically connected to the exhaust gas duct section 11 downstream of the heat exchanger 13 with respect to the exhaust gas flow. The exhaust gas duct section 11 is indicated by an arrow in Figure 2 and Figure 3 .

[0035] The ejector 14 also has a working medium inlet 16 which is fluidically connected to the flowing air conveyance section 17 of the air-conditioning system 3. The flowing air conveyance section 17 is indicated by an arrow in Figure 2 and Figure 3 respectively, and by a channel 18 in Figure 1 . The flowing air conveyance section 17 may guide flowing air 19 (which is indicated by an arrow in Figures 1 to 3 ) from the vehicle surroundings 9 to the working medium inlet 16. The flowing air 19 is generated by the driving operation of the motor vehicle 1 and is represented by the so-called "driving wind", which flows towards and / or around the driving motor vehicle 1 and, depending on the structural design, also partially flows through the driving motor vehicle 1.

[0036] The ejector 14 also has a mixture outlet 20 which is fluidically connected to the exhaust gas duct section 11, specifically such that the exhaust gas duct section 11 ducts a mixture 21 of the exhaust gas 12 and the flowing air 19 into the vehicle surroundings 9. The mixture 21 is also indicated by an arrow in Figures 1 to 3 .

[0037] The heat exchanger 13 is preferably connected to the fresh air delivery section 7 upstream of the cooler 5 and / or the heater 6 with respect to the fresh air flow.

[0038] The flowing air 19 can suitably be driven within the flowing air delivery section 17 solely by the driving operation of the motor vehicle 1. The exhaust gas 12 can be driven within the exhaust gas discharge section 11 solely by the jet pump 14. It is also conceivable that an additional blower is provided in the exhaust gas discharge section 11, which is, however, not shown here. When the vehicle 1 is stationary or the vehicle 1 is traveling slowly, the additional blower can support or promote the driving of the exhaust gas 12.

[0039] According to Figure 3 , the jet pump 14 is preferably configured as a Venturi pump 22. The Venturi pump 22 has a constricted nozzle 23, which is axially connected to the working medium inlet 16. Here, the axial direction is defined by the longitudinal central axis 24 of the Venturi pump 22. Here, the axial direction or the longitudinal central axis 24 is obtained by the main flow-through direction S of the Venturi pump 22, and the main flow-through direction within the Venturi pump 22 is defined by the flow direction of the flowing air 19, and is Figure 3 indicated by an arrow in. Within the Venturi pump 22, the mixture gas 21 also flows in the main flow-through direction S. The nozzle 23 narrows in the main flow-through direction S of the Venturi pump 22.

[0040] The Venturi pump 22 also has an annular suction chamber 25, which coaxially encloses the nozzle 23 and is radially connected to the suction interface 15. The Venturi pump 22 also has an expanded mixing chamber 26, which is axially connected to the nozzle 23, and the mixing chamber is also coaxially connected to the nozzle 23 and the suction chamber 25, and the mixing chamber extends to the mixture gas outlet 20. The mixing chamber 26 expands in the main flow-through direction S of the Venturi pump 22.

[0041] The Venturi pump 22 also has an annular gap 27, which fluidly connects the axial nozzle outlet 28, the axial mixing chamber inlet 29 coaxially arranged with the nozzle outlet 28, and the annular radial suction chamber outlet 30 axially arranged between the nozzle outlet 28 and the mixing chamber inlet 29.

[0042] According to Figure 1 a control device 31 can be assigned to the flowing air delivery section 17, by means of which the volume flow rate of the flowing air 19 within the flowing air delivery section 17 can be controlled. The control device 31 can for example have at least one damper arranged in the flow-through cross-section of the flowing air delivery section 17, and the damper can be adjusted to change the flow-through cross-section. In Figure 1In the example, the control device 31 is arranged in the area of the grille 32 of the vehicle 1. Accordingly, the inlet 33 of the flowing air conveyance section 17 is located here on the front part 34 of the vehicle. The passage 18 connects the inlet 33 with the working medium inlet 16. In Figure 1 the example, the outlet 35 of the exhaust gas guide section 11 is configured on the vehicle bottom 36, such that the mixture 21 enters the vehicle surroundings 9 at the vehicle bottom 36. For the inlet 33 of the flowing air conveyance section 17 and the outlet 35 of the exhaust gas guide section 11, in principle, any other position along the vehicle 1 can be achieved. For example, the inlet 33 and / or the outlet 35 can be located on the vehicle side, A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar, D-pillar, or the vehicle rear 37.

[0043] During the driving operation of the vehicle 1, the exhaust gas 12 is sucked from the vehicle cab 2 by means of the jet pump 14 and driven in the direction of the vehicle surroundings 9. Here, the jet pump 14 is driven by the flowing air 19, which flows to and around the motor vehicle 1 during the driving operation of the vehicle 1. Figure 1 It is also shown that the flowing air 19 can also enter the front space 38 of the vehicle 1 through the grille 32 and can be captured there by the flowing air conveyance section 17. Furthermore, a heat transfer for appropriately achieving a separation of the medium between the exhaust gas 12 and the fresh air 8 is realized in order to pre-condition the fresh air 8, after which it reaches the cooler 5 and the heater 6 in order to condition the incoming air for this purpose, and then the incoming air is introduced into the vehicle cab 2.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system (3) for controlling the temperature of supply air (4) to a vehicle cabin (2) of a motor vehicle (1), the air conditioning system comprising: - at least one cooler (5) for cooling the supply air (4), - at least one heater (6) for heating the supply air (4), at least one fresh air supply (7) for supplying fresh air (8) from the vehicle's surroundings (9) to the cooler (5) and / or the heater (6), at least one exhaust gas discharge (11) for discharging exhaust gases (12) from the vehicle cabin (2) into the vehicle surroundings (9), at least one heat exchanger (13), which is connected to the exhaust gas discharge (11) and the fresh air supply (7) and is configured such that it enables a medium-separated heat transfer between the fresh air (8) and the exhaust gas (12), It is characterized in that - the air conditioning system (3) also has at least one jet pump (14), the jet pump (14) has a suction connection (15) which is connected to the exhaust gas discharge (11) downstream of the heat exchanger (13) with respect to the exhaust gas flow, the jet pump (14) has a working medium inlet (16) which is connected to a flow air supply (17) which conducts flow air (19) generated by the driving operation of the motor vehicle (1) and which flows towards and / or around and / or at least partially through the motor vehicle (1) to the working medium inlet (16), The jet pump (14) has a mixture outlet (20) which is connected to the exhaust gas discharge (11) so that the exhaust gas discharge (11) discharges a mixture (21) formed from the exhaust gas (12) and the flow air (19) into the vehicle surroundings (9).

2. The air conditioning system (3) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The heat exchanger (13) is connected to the fresh air supply (7) upstream of the cooler (5) and / or heater (6) with respect to the fresh air flow.

3. The air conditioning system (3) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The flow air (19) in the flow air supply (17) is driven exclusively by the driving operation of the motor vehicle (1).

4. Air conditioning system (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The jet pump (14) is configured as a Venturi pump (22).

5. The air conditioning system (3) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The Venturi pump (22) has a narrowing nozzle (23) which is axially connected to the working medium inlet (16), The Venturi pump (22) has an annular suction chamber (25) coaxially surrounding the nozzle (23), the suction chamber being radially connected to the suction port (15), the Venturi pump (22) has a widened mixing chamber (26), which is coaxially connected to the nozzle (23) and the suction chamber (25) and extends to the mixed gas outlet (20), The Venturi pump (22) has an annular gap (27) which interconnects a nozzle outlet (28), a mixing chamber inlet (29) arranged coaxially with the nozzle outlet (28), and an annular suction chamber outlet (30) arranged axially between the nozzle outlet (28) and the mixing chamber inlet (29).

6. Air conditioning system (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The fresh air supply (7) has at least one fan (10) for driving the fresh air (8).

7. Air conditioning system (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The flow air supply (17) is assigned a control device (31) for controlling the volume flow of the flow air (19).

8. A motor vehicle (1), comprising: - vehicle cab (2), - Air conditioning system (3) according to any of the preceding claims.

9. A motor vehicle (1) according to claim 8, It is characterized in that - the inlet (33) of the flow air delivery section (17) is arranged at the front of the vehicle (34) or at the bottom of the vehicle (36) or at the side of the vehicle or at the A-pillar of the motor vehicle (1) or at the B-pillar of the motor vehicle (1) or at the C-pillar of the motor vehicle (1) or at the D-pillar of the motor vehicle (1), The flow air supply (17) has a channel (18) for conducting the flow air (19), which connects the inlet (33) to the working medium inlet (16).

10. A motor vehicle (1) according to claim 8 or 9, It is characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) has a diffuser which is open toward the vehicle surroundings (9), The exhaust gas discharge (11) is connected to the diffuser on the outlet side.

11. Method for operating an air conditioning system (3) for temperature-controlling the supply air (4) of a vehicle cabin (2) of a motor vehicle (1), - wherein the exhaust gas (12) is sucked out of the vehicle cabin (2) by means of a jet pump (14) and driven in the direction of the vehicle surroundings (9), -in, The jet pump (14) is driven by flow air (19), which flows toward and / or around and / or at least partially through the motor vehicle (1) during driving operation of the motor vehicle (1).

12. The method according to claim 11, It is characterized in that - a medium-separated transfer of heat between the exhaust gas (12) and fresh air (8) which is drawn in from the vehicle surroundings (9) and driven in the direction of the vehicle cabin (2).

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