Air conditioning for a vehicle with a passenger compartment and a vehicle with such an air conditioning system

Abstract

Air conditioning (10', 10") for a vehicle with a passenger compartment (12), comprising: - an air supply duct (14) for supplying air to the passenger compartment (12); - a blower (16', 16') arranged in the air supply duct (14) to generate an air volume flow (18) for the air supply to the passenger compartment (12); - a cooling device (20', 20"), which is arranged in the air supply duct (14) downstream of the blower (16', 16"), in order to guide the air volume flow (18) through the cooling device (20', 20"), thereby cooling and dehumidifying it to a desired extent; - a heating device (22', 22"), which is arranged in the air supply duct (14) downstream of the cooling device (20', 20"), in order to guide the air volume flow (18) through the heating device (22', 22") and thereby heat it to the desired extent; - at least two air outlets (26, 28, 30) connected downstream of the heating device (22', 22") to the air supply duct (14) and each supplying a partial air volume flow (32', 32", 34', 34", 36', 36") of the air volume flow (18) into the passenger compartment (12); and - at least one air guide device (35, 37) arranged in the air supply duct (14) to divide the air volume flow (18) into the partial air volume flows (32', 32", 34', 34", 36', 36"); wherein the heating device (22', 22") is designed as a heat exchanger (24', 24") integrated into a coolant circuit (38), wherein a temperature difference between a supply connection (40', 40") of the heat exchanger (24', 24") and a return connection (42', 42") of the heat exchanger (24', 24") is variably adjustable, characterized in that the coolant circuit (38) has at least two parallel partial circuits (38', 38") and a heating device (22', 22") is incorporated in each of the partial circuits (38', 38"), each of which is connected to its own air supply duct (14) is assigned, and the flow connection (40', 40") and the return connection (42', 42") of the respective heating device (22', 22") are arranged on opposite sides of the air supply duct (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle with a passenger compartment having the features mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 and to a vehicle with such an air conditioning system.

[0002] Air conditioning systems of this type are well known. They are used to cool and / or heat the interior of a vehicle.

[0003] Such air conditioning systems have an air supply duct to which a fan is assigned so that a corresponding air volume flow can be supplied to the passenger compartment.

[0004] A cooling device is arranged in the air supply duct, by means of which the air flow can be dried and cooled. Furthermore, a heating device is provided downstream of the cooling device, with which the air flow can be heated.

[0005] To distribute the cooled and / or heated air flow, at least two, usually more, air outlets are connected to the air supply duct, through which a portion of the air flow can be released into different areas of the passenger compartment. For this purpose, corresponding air guiding devices are provided, which are arranged downstream of the heating device and upstream of the air outlets.

[0006] The heating device, which is usually a heat exchanger, is integrated into the coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine. This allows the waste heat from the internal combustion engine to be used to heat the vehicle interior. Both the temperature and the volume flow of the coolant are defined by the operating state of the internal combustion engine.

[0007] In all electrically powered vehicles, it is common practice to integrate the heating system of the air conditioning system into a cooling circuit of a heat pump.

[0008] DE 10 2017 200 947 A1 discloses a heat exchanger for a vehicle and an air conditioning unit, in which the heating device is formed by electric heaters arranged across the cross-section of the air supply duct. By controlling these electric heaters differently, a stratification of the air volume flow in the air supply duct can be achieved, allowing the existing air vents to be supplied with differently heated air.

[0009] DE 10 2011 115 210 A1 discloses a heating device for a motor vehicle with a heating circuit comprising an electric heating cartridge, a circulation pump, and a heat exchanger. Using a control unit and a temperature sensor connected to it, the ventilation temperature or interior temperature can be regulated by adjusting the heating output of the electric heating cartridge. Temperature stratification in the ventilation of a vehicle is possible with this heating device.

[0010] DE 10 2015 206 928 B4 discloses a heating device for a motor vehicle comprising a heating circuit, a heating element, a heat exchanger, a control unit, and a temperature sensor. Furthermore, an electric pump is provided for circulating a heat transfer fluid in the heating circuit. The heating element is integrated into a pump chamber of the pump. The temperature-controlled heat transfer fluid can be distributed via at least two outlets of the pump chamber.

[0011] DE 689 11 248 T2 discloses an air conditioning system for a vehicle with a passenger compartment. The air supply duct comprises an air supply duct, a fan, a cooling device, a heating device, and at least two air outlets. The heating device is designed as a heat exchanger integrated into a coolant circuit. A temperature difference between a flow connection of the heat exchanger and a return connection of the heat exchanger is variably adjustable. The flow connection and return connection of the heat exchanger are located one behind the other in the air supply duct on the same side of the air supply duct.

[0012] The invention is based on the object of creating an air conditioning system of the generic type by means of which a temperature stratification in a passenger compartment of a vehicle can be easily adjusted.

[0013] According to the invention, this object is achieved by an air conditioning system having the features recited in claim 1. Because the heating device is designed as a heat exchanger integrated into a cooling circuit, wherein a temperature difference between a flow connection of the heat exchanger and a return connection of the heat exchanger is variably adjustable, it is advantageously possible, by adjusting the temperature difference, to stratify the air volume flow passing through the heating device with regard to its outlet temperature across the cross-section of an air supply duct. The temperature difference between the flow connection and the return connection determines the heat transfer from the heat exchanger to the air volume flow. The greater the temperature difference, the greater the temperature stratification of the air volume flow passing through the heat exchanger.Near the supply connection, which has the higher temperature, more heat is transferred to the air flow passing through the heat exchanger. The closer the air flow passes the return connection, less heat is transferred to the air flow via the heat exchanger. Geometrically speaking, this means that a temperature stratification occurs from the supply connection toward the return connection. For this purpose, the invention provides for the supply connection and the return connection of the heating device to be arranged on opposite sides of the air supply duct.

[0014] According to the invention, the cooling circuit comprises at least two parallel subcircuits, and each of the subcircuits incorporates a heating device, each of which is assigned to its own air supply duct. This allows the air conditioning system according to the invention to create zones within the passenger compartment in which a different air flow stratification can be achieved. For example, the stratification in the area of ​​a driver can be adjusted differently than the stratification in the area of ​​a front passenger and / or in the area of ​​rear passengers.

[0015] Depending on the air vents arranged below, this temperature-stratified volume flow can be directed into different areas of the passenger compartment.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an additional heating element, preferably an additional electric heating element, is integrated into the coolant circuit. By controlling this heating element, the temperature of the medium circulating in the coolant circuit can be increased—regardless of the operating situation of the device that actually determines the temperature of the coolant medium. This allows the temperature at the flow connection of the air conditioning system's heat exchanger to be increased in a simple manner. In combination with the air volume flow passing through the heating device, the temperature difference between the flow connection and the return connection can be varied, i.e., adjusted.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a conveying device, in particular a pump, is integrated into the coolant circuit. By controlling this pump, the volume flow of the cooling medium can be easily varied. Depending on the volume flow rate and its temperature, the temperature difference between the cooling water supply and cooling water return of the air conditioning system's heat exchanger can thus be easily adjusted.

[0018] In particular, by combining the heating element and the conveying device in the coolant circuit, the temperature difference and thus the temperature stratification of the air volume flow passing through the air conditioning system can be adjusted very variably.

[0019] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a controller is assigned to the additional heating element and the conveying device, which controls the temperature of a medium in the cooling circuit and / or a volume flow of the medium in the cooling circuit based on user input. This makes it easy for a user, for example a vehicle driver, to variably adjust the temperature stratification to their personal needs.

[0020] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, different horizontal sections of the passenger compartment are assigned to the at least two air vents. Preferably, three air vents are provided, of which a first air vent is assigned to a foot area, a second air vent to a central area, and a third air vent to a head area of ​​the passenger compartment. This makes it easy to individually adjust the stratification in the passenger compartment to different parts of the body of a driver or another occupant using the air conditioning system according to the invention. In particular, stratifications can be achieved in which the foot area is heated more than the head area, in order to optimally correspond to a feeling of comfort or a user's perception.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control device adjusts a flow temperature and / or a volume flow of the medium flowing through the heating device. Thus, with minimal structural complexity, the stratification can be easily controlled via the temperature of the medium and the volume flow of the medium through the heat exchanger.

[0022] The invention further relates to a vehicle with the air conditioning system according to the invention.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view of an air conditioning system and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an air conditioning system according to the invention.

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an air conditioning system, designated overall by 10. The air conditioning system 10 serves to cool and / or heat the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The passenger compartment is indicated here by reference numeral 12.

[0025] The air conditioning system 10 comprises an air supply duct 14 for supplying air to the passenger compartment 12. A fan 16 is assigned to the air supply duct 14, by means of which an air volume flow 18 can be generated in the direction of the passenger compartment 12.

[0026] A cooling device 20 is arranged downstream of the fan 16. The cooling device 20 is formed, for example, by an evaporator of a heat pump circuit.

[0027] Downstream of the cooling device 20, a heating device 22 is arranged in the air supply duct 14. The heating device 22 is formed by a heat exchanger 24.

[0028] Downstream of the heating device 22, three air outlets 26, 28 and 30 are provided, via each of which a partial air volume flow 32, 34 and 36, respectively, can be directed into the passenger compartment 12.

[0029] The division into the partial air volume flows 32, 34, 36 from the air volume flow 18 takes place by means of air guiding devices 35 and 37, which are only indicated here and are provided in the air supply duct 14.

[0030] The air outlets 26, 28 and 30 can be assigned slats or the like, not shown in detail here, with which the direction of the partial air volume flows 32, 34, 36 can be adjusted.

[0031] The heat exchanger 24 is part of a coolant circuit 38, resulting in a flow connection 40 and a return connection 42 of the heat exchanger 24.

[0032] A heat exchanger 44 is integrated into the coolant circuit 38, which transfers heat to a medium, such as water, circulating in the coolant circuit 38. The heat exchanger 44 can, for example, be connected to a cooling system for an internal combustion engine. In electrically powered vehicles, the heat exchanger 44 can also be part of a vehicle's heat pump.

[0033] The integration of the heat exchanger 44 into the coolant circuit 38 is generally known, so that it will not be discussed in more detail in the following description.

[0034] A heating element 46 and a conveying device 48 are also integrated into the coolant circuit 38. The heating element 46 is, for example, an electrical heating element, by means of which the temperature of the medium in the coolant circuit 38 can be increased as needed.

[0035] The conveying device 48 is, for example, a pump by means of which a volume flow of the medium in the coolant circuit 38 can be influenced, in particular increased.

[0036] The air conditioning system 10 is assigned a control device 50, which has a control panel 52. The control panel 52 is preferably arranged in the vehicle (not shown) such that it can be reached by a person, in particular a driver, a front passenger, and / or a passenger. The control device 50 is connected to the heating element 46 via a signal line 54 and to the conveying device 48 via a signal line 56.

[0037] The Fig. The air conditioning system 10 shown in Figure 1 shows the following functions: During intended use, the air volume flow 18 is generated by the blower 16, so that when the air outlets 26, 28, and / or 30 are opened accordingly, the partial air volume flows 32, 34, and 36 are discharged into the passenger compartment 12. Here, the air outlet 26 is assigned to a foot area, the air outlet 28 to a central area, and the air outlet 30 to a head area of ​​the passenger compartment 12. This means that the partial air volume flow 32, the partial air volume flow 34, and the partial air volume flow 36 are essentially layered horizontally one above the other.

[0038] The air flow 18 can be cooled and dried as needed by means of the cooling device 20. The cooling device 20 can be selectively switched on or off by a user.

[0039] The fan 16 can also be switched on or off by a user at different levels if necessary.

[0040] By means of the heating device 22, the air volume flow 18 is heated so that the partial air volume flows 32, 34, 36 reach the passenger compartment 12 at a controlled temperature.

[0041] The temperature control is achieved by passing a medium through the heat exchanger 24 via the coolant circuit 38, the temperature of which medium is higher than the temperature of the air volume flow 18. The structure and function of such heat exchangers 24 are generally known.

[0042] A basic heating of the cooling medium in the coolant circuit 38 is carried out by the heat exchanger 44, to which, for example, waste heat from an internal combustion engine or heat via a heat pump is supplied.

[0043] The temperature of the medium in the coolant circuit 38 can be increased by the heating element 46. Depending on the control of the heating element 46, the temperature of the medium in the coolant circuit 38 can be increased, possibly in several heating stages.

[0044] The conveying device 48 influences the volume flow, i.e., the flow rate of the medium per unit of time in the coolant circuit 38, through the heat exchanger 24. The conveying device 48 can also be controlled in stages or continuously, so that the volume flow of the medium in the coolant circuit 38 can be adjusted accordingly. The arrow 58 indicates the circulation direction of the coolant in the coolant circuit 38.

[0045] The heating element 46 and conveying device 48 can be controlled by a user via the control panel 52. The user can, for example, select whether the footwell should be heated via the air vent 26 with a warmer portion of the air volume flow 18 compared to a default setting. The temperature of the partial air volume flows 34, 36 is lower than the temperature of the partial air volume flow 32, so that the head area, which is reached, for example, by the air vent 30, is exposed to less heated air.

[0046] This temperature spread due to the stratification of the partial air volume flows 32, 34, 36 can be influenced by controlling the heating element 46 and / or the conveying device 48.

[0047] If, for example, the medium in the coolant circuit 38 is heated more intensively by means of the heating element 46, so that the temperature at the flow connection 40 rises, the medium is passed through the heat exchanger 24 at this flow temperature in accordance with the set volume flow of the medium in the coolant circuit 38. The air volume flow 18, which is uniformly tempered across the cross-section of the air supply duct 14, passes over the heat exchanger 24 and removes heat accordingly from the medium in the coolant circuit 38. This means that the temperature of the medium in the coolant circuit 38 decreases over the flow length of the heat exchanger 24, so that the temperature at the return connection 42 is lower than the temperature at the flow connection 40.

[0048] The amount of heat that can be extracted from the medium in the coolant circuit 38 by the air volume flow 18 depends on the one hand on the inlet temperature at the flow connection 40 and on the other hand on the flow rate of the medium through the heat exchanger 24.

[0049] Since both the inlet temperature of the medium at the flow connection 40 can be varied by the heating element 46 and the flow rate of the medium through the heat exchanger 24 can be varied by the conveying device 48, the temperature difference between the flow connection 40 and the return connection 42 can be adjusted in conjunction with the air volume flow 18 in the air supply duct 14. The specific temperatures can be measured, recorded, and displayed, if necessary, by temperature sensors not shown in detail here.

[0050] In a concrete example, a high discharge temperature can be achieved without stratification with a flow temperature of 90° C and a return temperature of 80° C at heat exchanger 24.

[0051] A high discharge temperature and a large stratification can be achieved, for example, by setting a flow temperature of 110° C and a return temperature of 60° C on heat exchanger 24.

[0052] According to stored characteristic curves, very different stratifications, i.e. temperature spreads at the air outlets 26, 28 and 30, can be set via the control device 50.

[0053] In Fig. 2 is also schematic - although not as detailed as in Fig.1 - a variant is shown in which the coolant circuit 38 is divided into two sub-circuits 38', 38" for the variable supply of two separate air conditioning systems 10. Thus, for example, one air conditioning system 10' can be used for stratification in a driver's area of ​​the passenger compartment 12 and the second air conditioning system 10" can be used in a passenger's area in the passenger compartment 12. A further air conditioning system can also be used, for example, for the rear area of ​​the passenger compartment 12.

[0054] According to a variant not shown, it can also be provided that cool air can be supplied to the already heated air volume flow 18 via a mixed air damper. This allows the variability of the stratification of the partial air volume flows 32, 34, 36 to be increased even further. List of reference symbols 10 Air conditioning 12 Passenger interior 14 Air supply duct 16 fans 18 Air volume flow 20 Cooling device 22 Heating device 24 heat exchangers 26 air vents 28 air vents 30 air vents 32 Partial air volume flow 34 Partial air volume flow 35 Air guiding device 36 Partial air volume flow 37 Air guiding device 38 Coolant circuit 38', 38" partial circuits 40 flow connection 42 Return connection 44 heat exchangers 46 Heating element 48 conveyor system 50 Control device 52 Control panel 54 Signal line 56 Signal line 58 Circulation direction

Claims

[1] Air conditioning system (10', 10") for a vehicle with a passenger compartment (12), comprising: - an air supply duct (14) for supplying air to the passenger compartment (12); - a fan (16', 16') arranged in the air supply duct (14) to generate an air volume flow (18) for supplying air to the passenger compartment (12); - a cooling device (20', 20") arranged in the air supply duct (14) downstream of the fan (16', 16") to guide the air volume flow (18) through the cooling device (20', 20"), thereby cooling and dehumidifying it to a desired extent; - a heating device (22', 22") arranged in the air supply duct (14) downstream of the cooling device (20', 20") in order to guide the air volume flow (18) through the heating device (22', 22") and thereby heat it to the desired extent; - at least two air outlets (26, 28, 30) which are connected to the air supply duct (14) downstream of the heating device (22', 22") and each discharge a partial air volume flow (32', 32", 34', 34", 36', 36") of the air volume flow (18) into the passenger compartment (12); and - at least one air guiding device (35, 37) arranged in the air supply duct (14) to divide the air volume flow (18) into the partial air volume flows (32', 32", 34', 34", 36', 36"); wherein the heating device (22', 22") is designed as a heat exchanger (24', 24") which is integrated into a coolant circuit (38), wherein a temperature difference between a flow connection (40', 40") of the heat exchanger (24', 24") and a return connection (42', 42") of the heat exchanger (24', 24") is variably adjustable, characterized byin that the coolant circuit (38) has at least two parallel partial circuits (38', 38") and in each of the partial circuits (38', 38") a heating device (22', 22") is introduced, each of which is assigned to its own air supply duct (14), and the supply connection (40', 40") and the return connection (42', 42") of the respective heating device (22', 22") are arranged on opposite sides of the air supply duct (14). [2] Air conditioning system (10', 10") according to claim 1, characterized by that an additional heating element (46', 46"), in particular an electrical heating element, is integrated into the coolant circuit (38', 38"). [3] Air conditioning system (10', 10") according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a conveying device (48', 48") is integrated into the coolant circuit (38', 38"). [4] Air conditioning system (10', 10") according to claim 2 or 3, characterized bythat the additional heating element (46', 46") and the conveying device (48', 48") are assigned a control device (50) which, based on a user input, controls the temperature of the medium of the coolant circuit (38', 38") and / or a volume flow of the medium in the coolant circuit (38', 38'). [5] Air conditioning system (10' 10") according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that different horizontal sections of the passenger compartment (12) are assigned to the at least two air outlets (26, 28, 30). [6] Air conditioning system (10', 10") according to claim 5, characterized by that three air vents (26, 28, 30) are provided, of which a first air vent (26) is assigned to a foot area, a second air vent (28) to a central area and a third air vent (30) to a head area of ​​the passenger compartment (12). [7] Motor vehicle with an air conditioning system (10', 10") according to at least one of claims 1 to 6.

Images