Control device for a vehicle, thermal arrangement with such a control device and vehicle with such a thermal arrangement

Abstract

Control device (15) for a vehicle (1), with - a state detection module (17) which is configured to detect whether the vehicle (1) is in an open state in which at least one vehicle door (3) of the vehicle (1) is open, and with - a heat flow control module (19) which is configured to output at least a first heat flow control signal when the state detection module (17) detects the open state, which is configured to release a thermal connection between a latent heat accumulator (11) and an interior space (5) of the vehicle (1) accessible through the at least one vehicle door (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control device for a vehicle, a thermal arrangement with such a control device, and a vehicle with such a thermal arrangement.

[0002] In vehicles that have an interior accessible through at least one vehicle door, particularly for the transport of persons, there is a need to provide and maintain a comfortable interior temperature in the interior, particularly for the persons being transported. For this purpose, such a vehicle has, in particular, an interior heating system for heating the interior. During normal driving operation, the necessary heating energy requirement is typically subject to large fluctuations. During driving, it is relatively constant; in contrast, when the vehicle is in a stop-open state in which the vehicle is stationary and at least one vehicle door is open, the interior temperature can drop relatively quickly.To counteract such a drop in temperature, the interior heating system must then increase its heating output dramatically, in particular in order to return to the set comfort temperature level after at least one vehicle door has been closed. It is possible for the required heating output to be provided by a drive system of the vehicle, in particular via a cooling water heat exchanger. Alternatively or additionally, the heating output can be provided by electrically operated air heaters. On the one hand, it is problematic if the cooling water of the drive system cools below an operating temperature; on the other hand, it is problematic if electric heaters have to be operated at high power, so that an electrical storage system, in particular a battery, is subjected to a heavy load.In particular, if the required battery capacity is to be maintained for this purpose, this significantly increases the investment costs associated with the vehicle, especially in connection with a hybrid drive system.

[0003] JP 2011 - 246 030 A discloses an air conditioning device for a vehicle. DE 10 2012 218 191 A1 also discloses a heat transport arrangement for a vehicle, as do DE 195 35 027 A1 and DE 10 2018 115 105 A1.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating a control device for a vehicle, a thermal arrangement with such a control device and a vehicle with such a thermal arrangement, wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are at least partially avoided, preferably eliminated.

[0005] The object is achieved by providing the present technical teaching, in particular the teaching of the independent claims as well as the preferred embodiments disclosed in the dependent claims and the description.

[0006] The object is achieved in particular by providing a control device for a vehicle, which has a state detection module configured to detect whether an open state exists in which at least one vehicle door of the vehicle is open. The control device also has a heat flow control module configured to output at least one first heat flow control signal when the state detection module detects the open state. The heat flow control signal is configured to release a thermal connection, also referred to below as a second thermal connection, between a latent heat accumulator and an interior of the vehicle accessible through the at least one vehicle door.Heat stored in the latent heat accumulator is advantageously used to at least largely maintain the comfortable temperature in the interior even when the vehicle door is open in the open state, wherein at the same time a drive device of the vehicle is thermally relieved. Preferably, no heat is advantageously extracted from the drive device in the open state, so that in particular the cooling water of the drive device does not cool below an operating temperature. This facilitates, in particular, a restart of the drive device after the end of the open state, which in a preferred embodiment is a stop-open state in which the vehicle is stationary. Furthermore, the control device proposed here makes it possible to put the drive device into a rest state or to switch it off, particularly in the stop-open state, since it is not required to heat the interior.At the same time, no or only a comparatively small amount of additional heating using electrical energy is required, so that a corresponding battery can be dimensioned smaller if necessary, since no or only a relatively small amount of additional battery capacity needs to be kept available for heating the interior.

[0007] Preferably, the control device is configured to detect whether the vehicle is in the stop-open state, in which the vehicle is stationary and at least one vehicle door is open. In particular, the open state is preferably the stop-open state.

[0008] Preferably, the at least one first heat flow control signal is configured to interrupt a first thermal connection between the drive device of the vehicle and the latent heat accumulator. In this case, in particular, no heat is extracted from the drive device in the open state, particularly in the stop-open state, so that preferably, in particular, the cooling water of the drive device does not cool below an operating temperature.

[0009] The fact that the state detection module detects the open state, in particular the stop-open state, means in particular that the state detection module detects that the vehicle is in the open state, in particular in the stop-open state.

[0010] The first heat flow control signal is particularly suitable for releasing a heat flow or heat current between the latent heat accumulator and the interior, and preferably for interrupting a heat flow or heat current between the drive device of the vehicle and the latent heat accumulator.

[0011] The thermal connection between the latent heat storage device and the interior is in particular a thermal connection between the latent heat storage device and an interior heating device which is designed to heat the interior.

[0012] A latent heat storage device is understood, in particular, to be a heat storage device that comprises at least one phase-change material (PCM) whose latent heat, in particular heat of fusion, heat of solution, heat of absorption, or heat of adsorption, is greater than the heat that the phase-change material can store due to its normal specific heat capacity—away from a phase transition. In addition to the specific heat capacity, the latent heat of the phase transition, for example, from liquid to solid, is also available for storing thermal energy.

[0013] A module can be implemented in hardware or software. In particular, the functionality of a module can be implemented in the control device using hardware and / or software. The module does not necessarily have to be a separate, physically or conceptually separable device or structure.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle door is, in particular, an exterior door, in particular a door that opens the interior, in particular a passenger compartment, to an exterior area of ​​the vehicle. However, it is also possible for the vehicle door to be an interior door that opens the passenger compartment, for example, to another interior area, for example, another passenger compartment, of the vehicle.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, the heat flow control module is configured to output at least one second heat flow control signal when the state detection module detects that the vehicle is not in the open state, in particular in the stop-open state. This second heat flow control signal is configured to block the second thermal connection between the latent heat accumulator and the interior. In this way, heat loss from the latent heat accumulator to the interior is advantageously prevented in states in which no heat from the latent heat accumulator is required to heat the interior.

[0016] The at least one second heat flow control signal is preferably configured to release the first thermal connection between the drive device and the latent heat accumulator. In this way, waste heat from the drive device can advantageously be stored in the latent heat accumulator outside the open state, in particular outside the stop-open state, in particular while the vehicle is moving. This waste heat is then later available for heating the interior. In particular, the waste heat from the drive device can be utilized instead of dissipating it into the vehicle's surroundings.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the control device comprises a drive control module configured to output a drive control signal, when the state detection module detects the stop-open state, which drive control signal is configured to switch the drive device to a standby state or to switch it off. This advantageously contributes to the energy efficiency of the vehicle, in particular to reduced fuel consumption. Although in this case the drive device no longer emits any waste heat or only emits a small amount of waste heat, a cooling circuit assigned to the drive device does not cool down because the thermal connection to the latent heat accumulator is preferably blocked, and the interior is heated from the latent heat accumulator and in particular not by the drive device.

[0018] A rest state of the drive device is understood to mean, in particular, a stand-by state, in particular a state in which the drive device does not deliver any power.

[0019] According to a further development of the invention, the heat flow control module is configured to output at least one third heat flow control signal when the state detection module detects the open state, in particular the hold-open state. This third heat flow control signal is configured to disconnect a third thermal connection between the drive device and the interior. In particular, the first heat flow control signal can simultaneously be the third heat flow control signal or be configured accordingly. Thus, heat loss from the drive device toward the interior can be prevented in a particularly efficient manner.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the drive device can be thermally connected to the interior exclusively indirectly via the latent heat accumulator, wherein preferably either the drive device is connected to the latent heat accumulator in a heat-transfer manner, or the latent heat accumulator is connected to the interior in a heat-transfer manner. There is never a direct heat-transfer connection between the drive device and the interior, and preferably not even via the latent heat accumulator in such a way that the latter would be simultaneously connected to the drive device and the interior. This advantageously completely prevents heat loss from the drive device toward the interior in the open state, particularly in the hold-open state.

[0021] However, a design is also possible in which the drive device is always connected to the interior – possibly in addition to the thermal connection to the latent heat storage device. At least in this case, however, the thermal load on the drive device is reduced in the open state, particularly in the hold-open state, since the interior is heated at least partly, preferably essentially, by the latent heat storage device.

[0022] The object is also achieved by providing a thermal arrangement comprising a drive device, in particular for driving a vehicle, as well as a latent heat accumulator and an interior heating device. The thermal arrangement further comprises a control device according to the invention or a control device according to one of the previously described exemplary embodiments. The drive device can be thermally connected to the latent heat accumulator via a first switchable heat transport device. The latent heat accumulator can be thermally connected to the interior heating device via a second switchable heat transport device. The heat transport devices can each be switched between a first thermally connecting functional state and a second thermally separating functional state.The control device is operatively connected to the first heat transport device and the second heat transport device, respectively, and is configured to switch the heat transport devices depending on the state detected by the state detection module. In connection with the thermal arrangement, the advantages already explained in connection with the control device arise in particular.

[0023] The switchable heat transport devices are preferably each formed by a circuit, in particular a coolant circuit, in particular a cooling water circuit, and at least one switching valve. Switching the heat transport devices means, in particular, switching the corresponding switching valves.

[0024] The control device is switchable between a first operating state and a second operating state, in particular depending on the state detected by the state detection module. In the first operating state, the second switchable heat transport device is in the first functional state, and preferably the first switchable heat transport device is in the second functional state, so that preferably the drive device is thermally separated from the latent heat accumulator, but the latent heat accumulator is thermally connected to the interior heating device. In the second operating state of the control device, the second heat transport device is in the second functional state, and preferably the first heat transport device is in the first functional state, so that preferably the drive device is thermally connected to the latent heat accumulator, but the latent heat accumulator is thermally separated from the interior heating device.

[0025] The control device assumes the first operating state when the state detection module detects that the vehicle is in the open state, in particular in the stop-open state. The control device assumes the second operating state when the state detection module detects that the vehicle is not in the open state, in particular in the stop-open state.

[0026] According to a further development of the invention, the latent heat storage device comprises at least one phase-change material. In a preferred embodiment, the phase-change material is selected from a group consisting of: a salt hydrate, paraffin, and sodium acetate trihydrate. The latent heat storage device preferably comprises paraffin spheres in a plastic casing.

[0027] The phase change material of the latent heat storage preferably has a phase transition from solid to liquid in a temperature range of more than 20 °C and less than 86 °C.

[0028] The latent heat storage device is preferably designed such that its usable heat storage capacity is sufficient to heat the interior to a predetermined comfort temperature on the coldest possible winter day after a long assumed duration of the open state, in particular the hold-open state, with the highest assumed wind speed.

[0029] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the drive device is designed as an internal combustion engine, as an internal combustion engine in combination with an electric machine, in particular as a parallel hybrid drive or as a serial hybrid drive, or as a fuel cell.

[0030] When the drive device is in operation, the latent heat storage device is preferably flowed through by cooling water from a cooling circuit assigned to the drive device.

[0031] In particular, the first heat transport device is preferably the cooling circuit or part of the cooling circuit.

[0032] The object is also achieved by providing a vehicle having an interior accessible through at least one openable vehicle door, as well as a thermal arrangement according to the invention or a thermal arrangement according to one of the previously described embodiments. The interior heater of the thermal arrangement is assigned to the interior of the vehicle for heating the interior. In connection with the vehicle, the advantages already described in connection with the control device and the thermal arrangement are realized, in particular.

[0033] According to a further development of the invention, the vehicle is designed as a rail vehicle. The aforementioned advantages are particularly realized in rail vehicles, especially when the "stop-open" state corresponds to the rail vehicle being in a station or at a stopping point, with at least one vehicle door being open for passengers to board or disembark.

[0034] According to a further development of the invention, the rail vehicle is designed as a train or a railcar. The aforementioned advantages are particularly realized in these configurations.

[0035] According to another preferred embodiment, however, it is also possible for the vehicle to be designed as a different type of vehicle, for example, as a road vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft. In particular, it is possible for the vehicle to be designed as a ship, wherein the vehicle door can preferably open an interior of the ship, in particular a passenger compartment, to an exterior area of ​​the ship.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The single figure shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with an exemplary embodiment of a thermal arrangement and an exemplary embodiment of a control device.

[0037] The sole figure shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a vehicle 1, with an interior 5 accessible through at least one openable vehicle door 3, wherein the vehicle 1 has an embodiment of a thermal arrangement 7.

[0038] The thermal arrangement 7 has a drive device 9 for the vehicle, as well as a latent heat accumulator 11 and an interior heating device 13, which is assigned to the interior 5 for heating it.

[0039] In addition, the thermal arrangement 7 comprises an exemplary embodiment of a control device 15. The control device 15 comprises a state detection module 17 configured to detect whether the vehicle 1 is in a stop-open state, in which the vehicle 1 is stationary and in which the at least one vehicle door 3 is open. Furthermore, the control device 15 comprises a heat flow control module 19 configured to output, when the state detection module 17 detects the stop-open state, at least a first heat flow control signal configured to interrupt a first thermal connection between the drive device 9 and the latent heat accumulator 11 and to release a second thermal connection between the latent heat accumulator 11 and the interior 5.

[0040] The first thermal connection is implemented here by a first switchable heat transport device 21, which is designed in particular as a coolant circuit with a first switching valve 23. The second thermal connection is formed here by a second heat transport device 25, which is also designed as a coolant circuit or heat transfer fluid circuit with a second switching valve 27. The switching valves 23, 27 can be controlled by the control device 15, in particular by the first heat flow control signal. Thus, the drive device 9 can be thermally connected to the latent heat accumulator 11 via the first switchable heat transport device 21, and the latent heat accumulator 11 can be thermally connected to the interior heating device 13 via the second switchable heat transport device 25.

[0041] The heat transport devices 21, 25 can each be switched between a first thermally connecting functional state and a second thermally separating functional state. The control device 15 is operatively connected to the first and second heat transport devices 21, 25, in particular to the first switching valve 23 and the second switching valve 27, such that the heat transport devices 21, 25 can be switched depending on the state detected by the state detection module 17. In particular, the switching valves 23, 27 can be switched accordingly.

[0042] The heat flow control module 19 is preferably configured to output at least one second heat flow control signal - in particular to the switching valves 23, 27 - when the state detection module 17 determines that the vehicle is not in the stop-open state, and thus to release the first thermal connection between the drive device 9 and the latent heat accumulator 11 and at the same time to block the second thermal connection between the latent heat accumulator 11 and the interior 5, in particular the interior heating device 13.

[0043] Preferably, the control device 15 has a drive control module 29 which is configured to output a drive control signal which is configured to switch the drive device 9 into a rest state or to switch it off when the state detection module 17 detects that the vehicle is in the stop-open state.

[0044] The heat flow control module 19 is preferably configured to output at least one third heat flow control signal—in particular to at least one third switching valve 33—when the state detection module 17 detects the hold-open state, thereby breaking a third thermal connection between the drive device 9 and the interior 5, in particular the interior heating device 13. The third thermal connection is preferably implemented by a third heat transport device 31, which is preferably designed as a coolant circuit or heat transfer fluid circuit with the at least one third switching valve 33, preferably here with two third switching valves 33.

[0045] The latent heat storage device 11 preferably comprises a phase change material.

[0046] The drive device 9 is preferably designed as an internal combustion engine, as an internal combustion engine in combination with an electric machine, or as a fuel cell.

[0047] The vehicle 1 is preferably designed as a rail vehicle, in particular as a train or as a railcar.

[0048] By means of the control device 15 proposed here, as well as the thermal arrangement 7 proposed here, and the vehicle 1 proposed here, it is advantageously possible to maintain a comfortable temperature in the interior 5, particularly in the stop-open state, or at least to quickly reach it again after the stop-open state has ended, while simultaneously preventing the drive device 9, in particular a coolant circuit associated with the drive device 9, from cooling down. Furthermore, electrical heating energy for heating the interior 5 can be saved if necessary, so that, in particular, an electrical storage device can also be dimensioned smaller.This is advantageously possible because the heating energy required to maintain or again reach the comfortable temperature of the interior 5 can be stored in the latent heat storage 11 during driving operation of the vehicle 1 and then made available from the latent heat storage 11 in the stop-open state.

Claims

[1] Control device (15) for a vehicle (1), with - a state detection module (17) which is configured to detect whether the vehicle (1) is in an open state in which at least one vehicle door (3) of the vehicle (1) is open, and with - a heat flow control module (19) which is configured to output at least a first heat flow control signal when the state detection module (17) detects the open state, which is configured to release a thermal connection between a latent heat accumulator (11) and an interior space (5) of the vehicle (1) accessible through the at least one vehicle door (3). [2] Control device (15) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the heat flow control module (19) is configured to output at least a second heat flow control signal configured to block the thermal connection when the state detection module (17) detects that the vehicle (1) is not in the open state. [3] Control device (15), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the state detection module (17) is configured to detect whether the vehicle (1) is in a stop-open state in which the vehicle (1) is stationary and the at least one vehicle door (3) of the vehicle (1) is open, wherein the heat flow control module (19) is configured, when the state detection module (17) detects the stop-open state, to output the at least one first heat flow control signal, which is configured to interrupt a first thermal connection between a drive device (9) of the vehicle (1) and the latent heat accumulator (11) and to release the thermal connection between the latent heat accumulator (11) and the interior (5) as a second thermal connection. [4] Control device (15) according to claim 3, characterized bythat the heat flow control module (19) is configured to output, when the state detection module (17) detects that the vehicle (1) is not in the stop-open state, the at least one second heat flow control signal configured to release the first thermal connection and to block the second thermal connection. [5] Control device (15) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by a drive control module (29) which is configured to output a drive control signal when the state detection module (17) detects that the vehicle (1) is in the stop-open state, which drive control signal is configured to switch the drive device (9) to a rest state or to switch it off. [6] Control device (15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the heat flow control module (19) is configured to output at least one third heat flow control signal when the state detection module (17) detects that the vehicle (1) is in the open state, in particular in the stop-open state, which is configured to separate a third thermal connection between a or the drive device (9) and the interior (5). [7] Thermal arrangement (7), with - a drive device (9), in particular for driving a vehicle (1), - a latent heat storage device (11), - an interior heating device (13), and - a control device (15) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein - the drive device (9) can be thermally connected to the latent heat storage device (11) via a first switchable heat transport device (21), wherein - the latent heat accumulator (11) can be thermally connected to the interior heating device (13) via a second switchable heat transport device (25), wherein - the heat transport devices (21, 25) are each switchable between a first thermally connecting functional state and a second thermally separating functional state, and wherein - the control device (15) is operatively connected to the first heat transport device (21) and to the second heat transport device (25) and is configured to switch the heat transport devices (21, 25) depending on the state of the vehicle (1) detected by the state detection module (17). [8] Thermal arrangement (7) according to claim 7, characterized by that the latent heat storage device (11) comprises at least one phase change material. [9] Thermal arrangement (7) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized bythat the drive device (9) is designed as an internal combustion engine, as an internal combustion engine in combination with an electric machine, or as a fuel cell. [10] Vehicle (1) with an interior space (5) accessible through at least one openable vehicle door (3), and with a thermal arrangement (7) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the interior heating device (13) of the thermal arrangement (7) is assigned to the interior space (5) for heating the interior space (5). [11] Vehicle (1) according to claim 10, characterized by that the vehicle (1) is designed as a rail vehicle. [12] Vehicle (1) according to claim 11, characterized by that the vehicle (1) designed as a rail vehicle is designed as a train or as a railcar.

Images