Vehicle air conditioning device

Abstract

A vehicle air conditioning device (1) comprising: a compressor (2) for compressing a refrigerant; an interior heat exchanger (4, 9) to carry out heat exchange between the air supplied to the vehicle interior and the refrigerant; an external heat exchanger (7) located outside the vehicle interior; and a control device (11), wherein the vehicle air conditioning device (1) comprises a device temperature setting device (61) for setting a temperature of a temperature control object (55) installed in a vehicle, and wherein the control device (11) is configured to control the device temperature setting device (61) based on a gradient of a change in an index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object (55), wherein the device temperature setting device (61) is able to cool the temperature control object (55) using the refrigerant, and wherein the control device (11) is configured to start cooling the temperature control object (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) when a rate of increase ΔT of the indices indicating the temperature of the temperature control object (55) is greater than or equal to a predetermined value A1, wherein the temperature control object (55) is an externally rechargeable battery (55), and wherein the control device (11) is configured to change the predetermined value A1 in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery (55).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner of a heat pump system that conditions the air of a vehicle interior of a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle air conditioning device capable of adjusting the temperature of a temperature control object such as a battery mounted in a vehicle. State of the art

[0002] Due to the relevance of environmental problems in recent years, vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid cars have become widespread, each of which has an engine powered by electricity supplied by a battery mounted in the vehicle.Furthermore, an air conditioner suitable for such a vehicle has been developed, which includes a refrigerant circuit to which a compressor, a radiator, a heat absorber, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected, and which conditions the air of a vehicle interior by causing a refrigerant discharged from the compressor to radiate heat into the radiator and the refrigerant from which the heat has been radiated into the radiator to absorb heat in the outdoor heat exchanger to thereby perform heating, and by causing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to radiate heat in the outdoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant to absorb heat in the heat absorber to thereby perform cooling, etc. (see, for example, JP 2014-213765 A).

[0003] On the other hand, for example, if the battery is charged and discharged in an environment where the temperature becomes high due to self-heating or the like during the charging and discharging process, deterioration occurs, and ultimately there is a risk of the battery malfunctioning and breaking down. Furthermore, the charging and discharging performance is also reduced at low temperatures. Therefore, a device has also been developed that allows a battery coolant (heat transfer medium) that exchanges heat with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit to be circulated within the battery, thereby enabling the battery temperature to be adjusted (see, for example, JP 5 860 360 B2 and JP 5 860 361 B2).

[0004] From JP 2018 - 140 720 A, a vehicle air conditioning system is known which has a device for adjusting the battery temperature. Depending on the current battery temperature, the predetermined lower and upper battery temperature limits, the temperature of an external heat exchanger, and the outside temperature, the battery is cooled or heated in a controlled manner by a control device. For this purpose, a heating medium is circulated. In cooling mode, this heat absorbs heat from the battery and releases it to the air, among other things, in an air-heating medium heat exchanger arranged on the leeward side of an external heat exchanger.

[0005] Publication JP 2014 - 063 577 A describes the cooling device and method for a secondary battery. If a battery temperature exceeds an upper temperature limit, the temperature rise rate is calculated. The cooling capacity of the cooling device is then varied based on the magnitude of the rise rate.

[0006] DE 11 2019 003 620 T5 describes a vehicle air conditioning system with a control system for cooling a battery to or below a specified temperature. Whether battery cooling is necessary is assessed based on the temperature of the heat transfer fluid flowing through a heat transfer fluid circuit, as measured by the heat transfer fluid temperature sensor.

[0007] JP 2004 - 336 832 A discloses a vehicle battery temperature control device in which a battery is heated / cooled using its electrical energy when the battery's state of charge exceeds a set limit. Heating mode is activated when the air temperature is equal to or below a first set temperature, and cooling mode is activated when the air temperature is at or above a second set temperature, which is higher than the first. At air temperatures between the set values ​​or when the state of charge is too low, no cooling / heating of the battery occurs. Summary of the inventionProblems solved by the invention

[0008] However, in the above-described patent documents JP 5 860 360 B2 and JP 5 860 361 B2, the control for starting / stopping battery temperature control was performed when the battery coolant temperature reached predetermined thresholds, which were set upward and downward. Therefore, the fluctuation range of the battery coolant (heat transfer medium) temperature became large. Furthermore, in the state where the battery coolant (heat transfer medium) was stable between the thresholds, the battery temperature was controlled even though there was no need for temperature control, resulting in the problem of wasted energy consumption.

[0009] The present invention has been developed to solve such conventional technical problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle air conditioning device capable of accurately judging the need for temperature control of a temperature control object such as a battery mounted in a vehicle and efficiently performing temperature control. Means of solving the tasks

[0010] A vehicle air conditioning device of the present invention that conditions the air of a vehicle interior is provided, comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an interior heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the air supplied to the vehicle interior and the refrigerant, an exterior heat exchanger arranged outside the vehicle interior, and a control device. The vehicle air conditioning device is characterized in that it comprises an equipment temperature setting device for setting a temperature of a temperature control object mounted in a vehicle, and the control device is configured to control the equipment temperature setting device based on a gradient of change in an index indicative of the temperature of the temperature control object.

[0011] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention is further characterized in that, in the above invention, the device temperature adjusting device is capable of cooling the temperature control object using the refrigerant, and when a rate of increase ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object is greater than or equal to a predetermined value A1, the control device is configured to start cooling the temperature control object by the device temperature adjusting device, wherein the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, and the control device is configured to change the predetermined value A1 in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery.

[0012] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that in the above invention, the control device is configured to start the cooling of the temperature control object by the device temperature setting device under the condition that an outside air temperature Tam is greater than or equal to a predetermined value Tam1.

[0013] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 2, the control device is configured to change the predetermined value Tam1 in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery.

[0014] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that in the invention according to one of claims 1 to 3, the control device is configured to set the predetermined value A1 at the time of charging the battery as follows: A1=(TUL−Tam) / charging time, or A1=(TUL−T0) / charging time, where TUL is an upper limit value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery, Tam is an outside air temperature, T0 is a value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery at the start of charging, and the charging time is a time from the start of charging of the battery to the completion of charging of the battery.

[0015] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that in the inventions according to claims 1 to 4, the control device is configured to predict a temperature rise in the battery during charging based on the outside air temperature Tam and a remaining charge of the battery, and when cooling is required by a result of the prediction, the control device is configured to start cooling of the battery by the device temperature setting device from the charging start time.

[0016] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that in the inventions according to claims 1 to 5, when a cooling capacity Wcool output from the device temperature adjusting device falls below a predetermined value Wcooloff and the increase rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object falls below a predetermined value A2, the control device is configured to stop the cooling of the temperature control object by the device temperature adjusting device.

[0017] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that in the above invention, the control device is configured to stop the cooling of the temperature control object by the device temperature setting device under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is less than a predetermined value Tam2.

[0018] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 6 or 7, the control device is configured to change any one of the predetermined value Wcooloff, the predetermined value A2 or the predetermined value Tam2 or a combination thereof or all of them in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery.

[0019] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 6 or 7, the control device is configured to set the predetermined value A2 at the time of charging the battery as follows: A2=(TUL−Tp) / remaining charging time, where TUL is an upper limit value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery, Tp is a value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery at the present time, and the remaining charge time is a time from the present time until the completion of charging of the battery.

[0020] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that in the respective above inventions, the device temperature adjusting device has a heater and is capable of heating the temperature control object, and when the rising rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object is less than or equal to a predetermined value B1, the control device starts heating the temperature control object by the device temperature adjusting device.

[0021] The present invention further relates to the provision of a vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 11, which conditions the air of a vehicle interior, comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an interior heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the air supplied to the vehicle interior and the refrigerant, an exterior heat exchanger arranged outside the vehicle interior, and a control device. The vehicle air conditioning device is characterized in that it comprises a device temperature setting device for setting a temperature of a temperature control object mounted in a vehicle, and in that the control device is configured to control the device temperature setting device based on a gradient of the change of an index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object.wherein the device temperature adjustment device is capable of heating the temperature control object, and when a rate of increase ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object is less than or equal to a predetermined value B1, the control device is configured to start heating the temperature control object by the device temperature adjustment device, wherein the temperature control object is an externally rechargeable battery, and the control device is configured to change the predetermined value B1 in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery.

[0022] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 12 is characterized in that the control device is configured to start heating of the temperature control object by the device temperature setting device under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is less than or equal to a predetermined value Tam3.

[0023] The vehicle air conditioning system according to the invention according to claim 13 is characterized in that in the invention 12 the control device is configured to change the predetermined value Tam3 ​​in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery.

[0024] A preferred vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 10 or 11, the control device is configured to set the predetermined value B1 at the time of charging the battery as follows: B1=(TLL−Tam) / charging time, or B1=(TLL−T0) / charging time, where TLL is a lower limit value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery, Tam is an outside air temperature, T0 is a value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery at the start of charging, and the charging time is a time from the start of charging of the battery to the completion of charging of the battery.

[0025] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 14 is characterized in that in the inventions according to claims 10 to 13, the control device is configured to predict a temperature rise in the battery during charging based on the outside air temperature Tam and a remaining charge of the battery, and the control device is configured to start heating of the battery by the device temperature setting device from the start time of charging when heating is required based on a result of the prediction.

[0026] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 15 is characterized in that in the inventions according to claims 10 to 14, when a heating power Wheat output from the device temperature setting device falls below a predetermined value Wheatoff and the increase rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object becomes greater than a predetermined value B2, the control device is configured to stop the heating of the temperature control object by the device temperature setting device.

[0027] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 16 is characterized in that the control device is configured to stop the heating of the temperature control object by the device temperature setting device under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is higher than a predetermined value Tam4.

[0028] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 17 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 15 or 16, the control device is configured to perform, at the time of charging the battery, a change of the predetermined value Wheatoff in the ascending direction, a change of the predetermined value B2 in the descending direction, or a change of the predetermined value Tam4 in the descending direction, or a combination thereof or all thereof.

[0029] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 18 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 15 or 16, the control device is configured to set the predetermined value B2 at the time of charging the battery as follows: B2=(TLL−Tp) / Remaining charging time, where TLL is a lower limit value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery, Tp is a value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery at the present time, and the remaining charge time is a time from the present time until the completion of charging of the battery.

[0030] The vehicle air conditioning device according to the invention according to claim 19 is characterized in that in the above respective inventions, the control device is configured to perform a predetermined operation to notify that the temperature of the temperature control object is adjusted by the device temperature adjusting device. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0031] According to the present invention, in a vehicle air conditioning device that conditions the air of a vehicle interior, comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an interior heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between air supplied to the vehicle interior and the refrigerant, an exterior heat exchanger arranged outside the vehicle interior, and a control device, an equipment temperature adjusting device for adjusting a temperature of a temperature control object mounted in a vehicle is provided, wherein the control device is configured to control the equipment temperature adjusting device based on a gradient of a change in an index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object.It is therefore possible to accurately judge the need for temperature control of the temperature control object based on the gradient of the change of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object and improve energy saving and reliability.

[0032] For example, when the temperature control object is cooled using the refrigerant by the device temperature adjusting device, the control device is configured to start the cooling of the temperature control object by the device temperature adjusting device in the case where a rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object is greater than or equal to a predetermined value A1, thereby making it possible to early judge from the rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object whether or not the temperature control object needs to be cooled, and thereby start the cooling of the temperature control object.

[0033] Here, in an environment where the outside air temperature is low, even if the rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object is high, there is a low probability that the temperature of the temperature control object will become abnormally high. Therefore, as in the invention according to claim 2, if the control device is configured to start cooling the temperature control object by the device temperature setting device under the condition that an outside air temperature Tam is greater than or equal to a predetermined value Tam1, it is possible to accurately judge the necessity of cooling the temperature control object by taking into account the influence of the outside air temperature, which cannot be distinguished only by the rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object.

[0034] Furthermore, since self-heating increases during charging when the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature of the battery rises slightly compared to other operations, etc. Thus, the control device according to the invention as recited in claims 1 and 4 is configured to change the above-described predetermined value A1 and the predetermined value Tam1 in a descending direction at the time of battery charging. Therefore, it is possible to start cooling the battery at an earlier time by the device temperature adjustment device and prevent an abnormal temperature rise in the battery during charging in advance.

[0035] Since the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature rises dramatically during charging due to self-heating. Therefore, the control device is configured, as in the invention according to claim 4, to set the predetermined value A1 at the time of battery charging as follows: A1=(TUL−Tam) / charging time, or A1=(TUL−T0) / charging time, where TUL is an upper limit value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery, Tam is an outside air temperature, T0 is a value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery at the start of charging, and the charging time is a time from the start time of battery charging to the completion of the battery charging. Therefore, by cooling by the device temperature adjustment device, it is possible to safely avoid discomfort by increasing the index indicating the temperature of the battery to the upper limit value TUL from the start of charging to its completion, while changing the predetermined value A1 according to the outside air temperature Tam and the value T0 of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object at the start of charging.

[0036] Furthermore, in the case where the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature rise at the time of charging becomes large when the remaining charge of the battery is low, and the temperature rise becomes even large when the outside air temperature Tam is high. Thus, as in the invention according to claim 5, the control device predicts a temperature rise in the battery during charging based on the outside air temperature Tam and the remaining charge of the battery. When cooling is required based on a result of the prediction, the control device is configured to stop cooling the battery by the device temperature setting device from the charging start time. Consequently, it is possible to more surely avoid inconveniences in which the battery fails at a high temperature by cooling the battery from the charging start time.

[0037] Furthermore, the control device according to claim 6 is configured to stop the cooling of the temperature control object by the device temperature adjustment device when a cooling power Wcool output by the device temperature adjustment device falls below a predetermined value Wcooloff and the increase rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object falls below a predetermined value A2. Consequently, it is possible to accurately judge when the temperature control object does not need to be cooled to stop the cooling by the device temperature adjustment device, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.

[0038] Here, in an environment with a high outside air temperature, the temperature of the temperature control object may easily be high even if the cooling capacity Wcool output by the device temperature adjustment device and the rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object are low. Thus, as in the invention according to claim 7, the control device is configured to control the cooling of the temperature control object by the device temperature adjustment device under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is less than a predetermined value Tam2.Thus, taking into account the influence of the outside air temperature, which cannot be distinguished solely by the cooling capacity Wcool output by the device temperature adjusting device, and the rising rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object, it can be accurately judged when the cooling of the temperature control object is no longer required.

[0039] Since self-heating increases during charging when the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, it is easy for the temperature of the battery to rise compared to other operations, etc. Thus, the control device according to the invention as recited in claim 8 is configured to change any one of the predetermined value Wcooloff, the predetermined value A2, or the predetermined value Tam2, or a combination of them, or all of them in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery, thereby making it possible to cool the battery to a safer state by the device temperature setting device and then stop the cooling.

[0040] Since the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature rises dramatically during charging due to self-heating. Therefore, as in the invention according to claim 9, the control device is configured to set the predetermined value A2 at the time of battery charging as follows: A2=(TUL−Tp) / remaining charging time, where TUL is an upper limit value of an index indicating a battery temperature, Tp is a value of an index indicating a battery temperature at the current time, and the remaining charge time is a time from the current time until the completion of charging the battery. Consequently, it is possible to safely avoid inconveniences in which the index indicating the battery temperature rises to the upper limit value TUL until the completion of charging, while changing the predetermined value A2 according to the value Tp of the index indicating the battery temperature at the current time, and appropriately stopping cooling by the device temperature adjusting device.

[0041] On the other hand, as in the invention according to claim 10, when the device temperature adjusting device has a heating device and is capable of heating the temperature control object, the control device is configured to start heating of the temperature control object by the device temperature adjusting device when the increase rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object is less than or equal to a predetermined value B1, whereby it is possible to early judge whether the temperature control object needs to be heated or not from the increase rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object, and thereby start heating the temperature control object.

[0042] Here, in an environment where the outside air temperature is high, even if the rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object is low, there is a low probability that the temperature of the temperature control object will become abnormally low. Therefore, as in the invention according to claim 12, if the control device is configured to start heating the temperature control object by the device temperature setting device under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is less than or equal to a predetermined value Tam3, it is possible to accurately judge the necessity of heating the temperature control object by taking into account the influence of the outside air temperature, which cannot be distinguished only by the rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object.

[0043] Since self-heating increases during charging when the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature of the battery is also liable to rise compared to other operating conditions, etc. Thus, as in the invention according to claims 11 and 13, the control device changes the predetermined value B1 and the predetermined value Tam3 ​​in a descending direction at the time of battery charging, thereby making it possible to prevent in advance the occurrence of inconveniences in which the battery is unnecessarily heated during charging while making a heating start condition for the battery more stringent by the device temperature setting device.

[0044] Since the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature rises dramatically during charging due to the self-heating described above. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the control device is configured to set the predetermined value B1 at the time of battery charging as follows: B1=(TLL−Tam) / charging time, or B1=(TLL−T0) / charging time, where TLL is a lower limit value of an index indicating a battery temperature, Tam is an outside air temperature, T0 is a value of an index indicating a battery temperature at the start of charging, and the charging time is a time from the start of battery charging to the completion of battery charging. Therefore, the preset value B1 is changed according to the outside air temperature Tam and the value T0 of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object at the start of charging, and the index indicating the battery temperature can be reliably raised to the lower limit value TLL from the start of charging to its completion.

[0045] Furthermore, since the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature rise at the time of charging becomes small when the remaining charge of the battery is large, while the temperature rise also becomes small when the outside air temperature Tam is low. Thus, as in the invention according to claim 14, the control device is configured to predict a temperature rise in the battery during charging based on the outside air temperature Tam and the remaining charge of the battery, and when heating is required based on a result of the prediction, is configured to start heating the battery by the device temperature setting device from the charging start time. Consequently, it is possible to more securely avoid inconveniences in which the battery fails at a low temperature by heating the battery from the charging start time.

[0046] Further, as in the invention of claim 15, the control device is configured to stop heating of the temperature control object by the device temperature adjustment device when a heating power Wheat output by the device temperature adjustment device falls below a predetermined value Wheatoff and the increase rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object becomes higher than a predetermined value B2. Consequently, it is possible to accurately judge when the temperature control object does not need to be heated to stop heating by the device temperature adjustment device, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.

[0047] Here, in an environment where the outside air temperature is low, the temperature of the temperature control object is likely to become low even if the heating power Wheat output by the device temperature setting device and the increase rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object are high. Thus, as in the invention according to claim 16, the control device is configured to stop the heating of the temperature control object by the device temperature setting device under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is higher than a predetermined value Tam4.Thus, taking into account the influence of the outside air temperature, which cannot be distinguished solely by the heating power Wheat output by the device temperature adjusting device and the rising rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object, it can be accurately judged when the heating of the temperature control object is no longer required.

[0048] Since self-heating increases during charging when the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature of the battery is likely to rise compared to other operating conditions, etc. Therefore, as in the invention according to claim 17, the control device is configured to perform, at the time of battery charging, a change in the predetermined value Wheatoff in an ascending direction, a change in the predetermined value B2 in a descending direction, a change in the predetermined value Tam4 in a descending direction, or a combination thereof or all of them. Consequently, during charging, the heating of the battery is stopped earlier by the device temperature adjustment device, so that unnecessary power consumption can be avoided.

[0049] Since the temperature control object is an externally chargeable battery, the temperature rises dramatically during charging due to the self-heating described above. Therefore, as in the invention according to claim 18, the control device is configured to set the predetermined value B2 at the time of battery charging as follows: B2=(TLL−Tp) / Remaining charging time, where TLL is a lower limit value of an index indicating a battery temperature, Tp is a value of an index indicating a battery temperature at the current time, and the remaining charge time is a time from the current time until the completion of charging the battery. Consequently, the predetermined value B2 is changed according to the value Tp of the index indicating the battery temperature at the current time, and heating by the device temperature adjusting device is stopped accordingly, making it possible to safely increase the index indicating the battery temperature to the lower limit value TLL until charging is completed.

[0050] Furthermore, the control device according to the invention of claim 19 is configured to perform a predetermined operation to indicate that the temperature of the temperature control object is being adjusted by the device temperature adjustment device. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a user from unnecessarily feeling that an error may have occurred, etc., especially when the vehicle interior is not being air-conditioned but the vehicle air conditioning device is being operated to adjust the temperature of the temperature control object. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioning apparatus of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a control device in the vehicle air conditioning device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagram describing an operation mode used by the control device of Fig. 2 is executed; Fig. 4 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle air conditioning device showing a heating mode by a heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2 describes; Fig. 5 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle air conditioning device showing a dehumidification and heating mode by the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2 describes; Fig. 6 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle air conditioning device showing a dehumidification and cooling mode by the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2 describes; Fig. 7 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle air conditioning device showing a cooling mode by the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2 describes; Fig. 8 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle air conditioning device showing an air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode and a battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode by the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2 describes; Fig. 9 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle air conditioning device showing a (simple) battery cooling mode by the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2 describes; Fig. 10 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle air conditioning device showing a defrost mode by the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2 describes; Fig. 11 is a control block diagram relating to the compressor control of the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is another control block diagram relating to the compressor control of the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2; Fig. 13 is yet another control block diagram relating to the compressor control of the heat pump controller of the control device of Fig. 2; Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating the control of battery cooling by a device temperature adjusting device of the vehicle air conditioning device of Fig. 1 describes; Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the conditions of start and stop of battery cooling by the device temperature setting device of the vehicle air conditioning device of Fig. 1 describes; Fig. 16 is a diagram describing that the given values ​​A1 and A2 in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 can be changed depending on the outside air temperature; Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the changes of the predetermined values ​​A1 and A2 in Fig. 14 describes; Fig. 18 is a diagram showing another starting condition for battery cooling by the device temperature setting device of the vehicle air conditioning device of Fig. 1 describes; Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the control of the battery heater by the device temperature setting device of the vehicle air conditioning device of Fig. 1 describes; Fig. 20 is a diagram showing the conditions of starting and stopping a battery heater by the device temperature setting device of the vehicle air conditioning device of Fig. 1 describes; Fig. 21 is a diagram describing that the given values ​​B1 and B2 in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20 can be changed depending on the outside air temperature; Fig. 22 is a diagram showing the changes of the predetermined values ​​B1 and B2 in Fig. 19 describes; and Fig. 23 is a diagram showing another heating start condition of the battery by the device temperature setting device of the vehicle air conditioning device of Fig. 1 describes. Mode for implementing the invention

[0051] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioning device 1 of one embodiment of the present invention. A vehicle of the embodiment to which the present invention is applied is an electric vehicle (EV) in which no engine (internal combustion engine) is mounted, and which runs with a drive motor (electric motor and not shown in the drawing) driven by the supply of power from a battery 55 mounted in the vehicle. A compressor 2 in the vehicle air conditioning device 1 of the present invention, which will be explained in detail later, is also driven by the power supplied from the battery 55.

[0052] That is, in the electric vehicle that is unable to perform heating based on engine waste heat, the vehicle air conditioning device 1 of the embodiment is responsible for switching and executing the respective operation modes of a heating mode, a dehumidifying and heating mode, a dehumidifying and cooling mode, a cooling mode, a defrosting mode, an air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode, a battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode, and a battery cooling (simple) mode, through a heat pump operation in which a refrigerant cycle R is used to perform air conditioning of a vehicle interior and temperature control of the battery 55.

[0053] Incidentally, the vehicle is not limited to the electric vehicle, and the present invention is also effective for a so-called hybrid vehicle in which the internal combustion engine is used together with the drive motor. The vehicle to which the vehicle air conditioning device 1 of the embodiment is applied is one in which the battery 55 can be charged by an external charger (rapid charger or normal charger). Furthermore, the battery 55, the drive motor, the inverter that controls it, and the like described above are temperature control objects mounted in the vehicle in the present invention, but in the following embodiments, the battery 55 will be used as an example for description.

[0054] The vehicle air conditioning device 1 of the embodiment performs air conditioning (heating, cooling, dehumidification, and ventilation) of the vehicle interior of the electric vehicle. It includes an electric compressor 2 for compressing a refrigerant; a radiator 4 as an interior heat exchanger provided in an air flow duct 3 of an HVAC unit 10, in which the air in the vehicle interior is ventilated and circulated; and the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 flows through a muffler 5 and a refrigerant pipe 13G therein, allowing the refrigerant to radiate heat to the vehicle interior (dissipating the heat of the refrigerant); an outdoor expansion valve 6 consisting of an electric valve (electronic expansion valve) that decompresses and expands the refrigerant during heating; and an outdoor heat exchanger 7 that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outside air.to act as a radiator so that the refrigerant radiates heat during cooling, and to act as an evaporator so that the refrigerant absorbs heat during heating (allows the refrigerant to absorb heat), an indoor expansion valve 8 consisting of a mechanical expansion valve to decompress and expand the refrigerant, a heat absorber 9 as an indoor heat exchanger provided in the air flow channel 3 to allow the refrigerant to absorb heat during cooling and dehumidification from the interior and exterior of the vehicle (allowing the refrigerant to absorb heat), an accumulator 12, and others are sequentially connected through a refrigerant pipe 13, thereby forming a refrigerant cycle R.

[0055] Subsequently, the outdoor expansion valve 6 decompresses and expands the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator 4 and into the outdoor heat exchanger 7, and can also be completely closed. In this embodiment, the indoor expansion valve 8, with the aid of the mechanical expansion valve, decompresses and expands the refrigerant flowing into the heat absorber 9 and adjusts the degree of superheat of the refrigerant in the heat absorber 9.

[0056] Furthermore, an outdoor fan 15 is provided in the outdoor heat exchanger 7. The outdoor fan 15 forcibly passes the outside air through the outdoor heat exchanger 7 to perform heat exchange between the outside air and the refrigerant, and the outside air is passed through the outdoor heat exchanger 7 even when the vehicle is stopped (ie, its speed is 0 km / h).

[0057] Furthermore, the outdoor heat exchanger 7 has a receiver dryer unit 14 and a subcooling unit 16 sequentially on the downstream side of the refrigerant. The refrigerant line 13A on the refrigerant outlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 is connected to the receiver dryer unit 14 via a solenoid valve 17 (for cooling) serving as an opening / closing valve that opens when the refrigerant is allowed to flow into the heat absorber 9. The refrigerant line 13B on the outlet side of the subcooling unit 16 is sequentially connected to the refrigerant inlet side of the heat absorber 9 via a check valve 18, the indoor expansion valve 8, and a solenoid valve 35 (for the vehicle interior) serving as an opening / closing valve. Incidentally, the receiver dryer unit 14 and the subcooling unit 16 are structurally part of the outdoor heat exchanger 7.Furthermore, the check valve 18 is configured so that the direction of the internal expansion valve 8 serves as the forward direction.

[0058] Furthermore, the refrigerant line 13A extending from the outdoor heat exchanger 7 branches into a refrigerant line 13D, and this branched refrigerant line 13D communicates and connects with a refrigerant line 13C on the refrigerant outlet side of the heat absorber 9 via a solenoid valve 21 (for heating) serving as a valve to be opened / closed during heating. Then, the refrigerant line 13C is connected to the inlet side of the accumulator 12, and the outlet side of the accumulator 12 is connected to a refrigerant line 13K on the refrigerant suction side of the compressor 2.

[0059] Furthermore, a strainer 19 is connected to a refrigerant line 13E on the refrigerant outlet side of the radiator 4. Furthermore, the refrigerant line 13E branches into a refrigerant line 13J and a refrigerant line 13F before the outdoor expansion valve 6 (upstream of the refrigerant). One branched refrigerant line 13J is connected to the refrigerant inlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 via the outdoor expansion valve 6. The other branched refrigerant line 13F is connected and communicates with the refrigerant line 13B located on the downstream side of the check valve 18 and the upstream side of the indoor expansion valve 8 via a solenoid valve 22 (for dehumidification) as an open / close valve that is opened during dehumidification.

[0060] Consequently, the refrigerant line 13F is connected in parallel to a series circuit consisting of the outdoor expansion valve 6, the outdoor heat exchanger 7, and the check valve 18. The refrigerant line 13F serves as a bypass circuit that bypasses the outdoor expansion valve 6, the outdoor heat exchanger 7, and the check valve 18. In addition, a solenoid valve 20 is connected in parallel to the outdoor expansion valve 6 as an opening / closing valve for the bypass.

[0061] In addition, in the air flow channel 3 on an upstream side of the heat absorber 9, respective intake openings such as an outside air intake opening and an inside air intake opening are formed (in Fig. 1 by an intake opening 25), and an intake change flap 26 is arranged in the intake opening 25 to change the air to be introduced into the air flow duct 3 into inside air, i.e., the air of the vehicle interior (inside air recirculation), and outside air, i.e., the air outside the vehicle interior (outside air introduction). Furthermore, an interior blower (fan blower) 27 for supplying the introduced inside or outside air into the air flow duct 3 is arranged on a downstream airstream side of the intake change flap 26.

[0062] Incidentally, the intake changing door 26 of the embodiment is configured such that the ratio of the inside air to the air flowing into the heat absorber 9 in the air flow duct 3 (outside air and inside air) can be adjusted at any ratio between 0% and 100% by opening and closing the outside air intake port and the inside air intake port of the intake port 25 (the ratio of the outside air can also be adjusted between 100% and 0%).

[0063] Furthermore, an auxiliary heater 23 is provided as an additional heating device in the air flow duct 3 on the leeward side (downstream side) of the radiator 4. In this embodiment, the auxiliary heater 23 is comprised of a PTC (electric) heater and is capable of heating the air supplied to the vehicle interior through the radiator 4. Furthermore, an air mixing damper 28 is provided in the air flow duct 3 on an upstream side of the radiator 4 to adjust a ratio at which the air in the air flow duct 3 (the inside or outside air), which flows into the air flow duct 3 and passes through the heat absorber 9, is passed through the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23.

[0064] Furthermore, in the air flow channel 3 on a downstream side of the radiator 4, each outlet (in Fig. 1 by an outlet 29) is formed as FOOT (foot), VENT (vent) or DEF (defroster), and an outlet changing damper 31 is arranged in the outlet 29 to carry out change control of blowing out the air from each of the above-mentioned outlets.

[0065] Furthermore, the vehicle air conditioning device 1 is provided with a device temperature adjustment device 61 for circulating a heat carrier through the battery 55 (temperature control object) to adjust the temperature of the battery 55. The device temperature adjustment device 61 of the embodiment includes a circulation pump 62 as a circulation device for circulating the heat carrier through the battery 55, a refrigerant-heat carrier heat exchanger 64, and a heat carrier heater 63 as a heating device. The heat carrier and the battery 55 are connected in an annular manner by a heat carrier conduit 66.

[0066] In the case of the embodiment, an inlet of a heat carrier flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-to-heat carrier heat exchanger 64 is connected to an outlet side of the circulation pump 62. An outlet of the heat carrier flow channel 64A is connected to an inlet of the heat carrier heater 63. An outlet of the heat carrier heater 63 is connected to an inlet of the battery 55, and an outlet of the battery 55 is connected to a suction side of the circulation pump 62.

[0067] For example, water, a refrigerant such as HFO-1234yf, a liquid such as a coolant or the like, or a gas such as air or the like can be used as the heat transfer medium in the device temperature adjustment device 61. Incidentally, in the embodiment, water is used as the heat transfer medium. Furthermore, the heat transfer medium heater 63 consists of an electric heater such as a PTC heater or the like. Furthermore, a jacket structure is provided around the battery 55, for example, to circulate the heat transfer medium in a heat exchange relationship with the battery 55.

[0068] When the circulation pump 62 is operating, the heat transfer fluid exiting the circulation pump 62 flows into the heat transfer fluid flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-to-heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 64. The heat transfer fluid flowing out of the heat transfer fluid flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-to-heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 64 reaches the heat transfer fluid heater 63. When the heat transfer fluid heater 63 generates heat, the heat transfer fluid is heated there and then enters the battery 55. There, the heat transfer fluid undergoes heat exchange with the battery 55. Subsequently, the heat transfer fluid, which has completed the heat exchange with the battery 55, is sucked into the circulation pump 62 to circulate in the heat transfer fluid line 66.

[0069] On the other hand, one end of a branch pipe 67 as a branch circuit is connected to the refrigerant pipe 13B, which is arranged on a refrigerant downstream side of a connecting part of the refrigerant pipe 13F and the refrigerant pipe 13B in the refrigerant circuit R and on the refrigerant upstream side of the indoor expansion valve 8. In the embodiment, the branch pipe 67 is provided with an auxiliary expansion valve 68 consisting of a mechanical expansion valve and a solenoid valve (for refrigeration) 69 as an opening / closing valve in sequence. The auxiliary expansion valve 68 decompresses and expands the refrigerant flowing into a downstream refrigerant flow passage 64B of the refrigerant-heat-medium heat exchanger 64 and adjusts a superheat degree of the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow passage 64B of the refrigerant-heat-medium heat exchanger 64.

[0070] Then, the other end of the branch line 67 is connected to the refrigerant flow channel 64B of the refrigerant-heat-transfer medium heat exchanger 64. One end of a refrigerant line 71 is connected to an outlet of the refrigerant flow channel 64B, and the other end of the refrigerant line 71 is connected to the refrigerant line 13C on the upstream side of the refrigerant (on the upstream side of the accumulator 12) from a connection point with the refrigerant line 13D. Then, this auxiliary expansion valve 68, the solenoid valve 69, and the refrigerant flow channel 64B of the refrigerant-heat-transfer medium heat exchanger 64, etc., also constitute part of the refrigerant circuit R and, at the same time, also constitute part of the device temperature adjusting device 61.

[0071] When the solenoid valve 69 is opened, the refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 (part of the refrigerant or all of the refrigerant) flows into the branch line 67 and is decompressed by the auxiliary expansion valve 68. The refrigerant then flows through the solenoid valve 69 into the refrigerant flow channel 64B of the refrigerant-heat exchanger 64 to evaporate. Flowing through the refrigerant flow channel 64B, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the heat carrier flowing through the heat carrier flow channel 64A and is then drawn from the refrigerant line 13K to the compressor 2 via the branch line 71, the refrigerant line 13C, and the accumulator 12.

[0072] Next, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the control device 11 of the vehicle air conditioning device 1 of the embodiment. The control device 11 consists of an air conditioning controller 45 and a heat pump controller 32, each consisting of a microcomputer, which is an example of a computer with a processor. These are connected to a vehicle communication bus 65, which is a CAN (Controller Area Network) or a LIN (Local Interconnect Network). Furthermore, the compressor 2 and the auxiliary heater 23, as well as the circulation pump 62 and the heat transfer medium heater 63, are also connected to the vehicle communication bus 65. The air conditioning controller 45, the heat pump controller 32, the compressor 2, the auxiliary heater 23, the circulation pump 62, and the heat transfer medium heater 64 are configured to transmit and receive data via the vehicle communication bus 65.

[0073] Furthermore, a vehicle control unit 72 (ECU) that controls the entire vehicle, including driving operations, a battery controller (BMS: Battery Management System) 73 that controls the charging and discharging of the battery 55, and a GPS navigation device 74 are connected to the vehicle communication bus 65. The vehicle controller 72, the battery controller 73, and the GPS navigation device 74 also consist of a microcomputer, which is an example of a computer with a processor. The air conditioning control unit 45 and the heat pump controller 32, which constitute the control device 11, are configured to send and receive information (data) to and from the vehicle control unit 72, the battery control unit 73, and the GPS navigation device 74 via the vehicle communication bus 65.

[0074] The climate controller 45 is a host controller. An input of the climate controller 45 is connected to corresponding outputs of an outside air temperature sensor 33 that detects an outside air temperature Tam of the vehicle, an outside air humidity sensor 34 that detects an outside air humidity, an HVAC intake temperature sensor 36 that detects a temperature of the air sucked from the intake port 25 to the air flow duct 3 and flowing into the heat absorber 9, an indoor air temperature sensor 37 that detects a temperature of the air of the vehicle interior (the interior air), an indoor air humidity sensor 38 that detects a humidity of the air of the vehicle interior, an indoor air CO2 concentration sensor 39 that detects a carbon dioxide concentration of the vehicle interior, an outlet temperature sensor 41 that detects a temperature of the air to be exhausted into the vehicle interior, and a solar radiation sensor 51, for example.a photosensor system for detecting the amount of solar radiation in the vehicle interior, a speed sensor 52 for detecting a moving speed (a velocity) of the vehicle, and an air conditioning operation part 53 for performing air conditioning adjustment operations of the vehicle interior, such as changing a predetermined temperature and operating modes in the vehicle interior, as well as displaying information. Incidentally, 53A in the figure is a display serving as a display output device provided in the air conditioning operation part 53.

[0075] Furthermore, an output of the climate controller 45 is connected to the exterior blower 15, the interior blower (blower) 27, the intake change valve 26, the air mix valve 28, and the exhaust change valve 31. They are controlled by the climate controller 45.

[0076] The heat pump controller 32 is a controller that primarily controls the refrigerant cycle R. An input of the heat pump controller 32 is connected to the respective outputs of a radiator inlet temperature sensor 43 that detects a refrigerant inlet temperature Tcxin (which is also a refrigerant outlet temperature of the compressor 2) of the radiator 4, a radiator outlet temperature sensor 44 that detects a refrigerant outlet temperature Tci of the radiator 4, a suction temperature sensor 46 that detects a refrigerant suction temperature Ts of the compressor 2, a radiator pressure sensor 47 that detects a refrigerant pressure (the pressure of the radiator 4: radiator pressure Pci) on the refrigerant outlet side of the radiator 4, a heat absorber temperature sensor 48 that detects a temperature (a refrigerant temperature of the heat absorber 9: heat absorber temperature Te) of the heat absorber 9, an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 49,which detects a refrigerant temperature (a refrigerant evaporation temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 7: outdoor heat exchanger temperature TXO) at the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 7, and the auxiliary heater temperature sensors 50A (driver's seat side) and 50B (passenger's seat side) which detect the temperature of the auxiliary heater 23.

[0077] Furthermore, an output of the heat pump controller 32 is connected to the outdoor expansion valve 6 and the respective solenoid valves of the solenoid valve 22 (for dehumidification), the solenoid valve 17 (for cooling), the solenoid valve 21 (for heating), the solenoid valve 20 (for bypass), the solenoid valve 35 (for vehicle interior), and the solenoid valve 69 (for refrigeration). They are controlled by the heat pump controller 32. Furthermore, the compressor 2, the auxiliary heater 23, the circulation pump 62, and the heat transfer fluid heater 63 each have a built-in controller. In the embodiment, the controllers of the compressor 2, the auxiliary heater 23, the circulation pump 62, and the heat transfer fluid heater 63 transmit / receive data to and from the heat pump controller 32 via the vehicle communication bus 65 and are controlled by the heat pump controller 32.

[0078] Incidentally, the circulation pump 62 and the heat-transfer medium heater 63, which constitute the device temperature adjustment device 61, can be controlled by the battery controller 73. Furthermore, the battery controller 73 is connected to outputs of a heat-transfer medium temperature sensor 76, which detects a temperature (a heat-transfer temperature Tw) of the heat-transfer medium on the outlet side of the heat-transfer medium flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-heat-transfer medium heat exchanger 64 in the device temperature adjustment device 61, and a battery temperature sensor 77, which detects a temperature (a temperature of the battery 55 itself: battery temperature Tcell) of the battery 55. Then, in the embodiment, the remaining charge of the battery 55 (the amount of stored electricity), information regarding the charge of the battery 55 (information that the battery is being charged, a charging time, the remaining charging time, etc.) are output.), the heat transfer fluid temperature Tw, and the battery temperature Tcell are transmitted from the battery control device 73 to the air conditioning control device 45 and the vehicle control device 72 via the vehicle communication bus 65. Incidentally, the information about the charging time and the remaining charging time when charging the battery 55 is information supplied from an external charger, such as a rapid charger, which will be explained later.

[0079] The heat pump controller 32 and the air conditioning controller 45 transmit and receive data via the vehicle communication bus 65 and control each device based on the output signal of each sensor and the setting input from the air conditioning operation part 53. However, in the present embodiment, an air flow ratio Ga (calculated by the air conditioning controller 45) of the air flow duct 3 and the air circulating in the air flow duct 3, an air flow ratio SW (calculated by the air conditioning controller 45) by the air mix door 28, a voltage (BLV) of the indoor blower 27,Information from the above-described battery controller 73, information from the GPS navigation device 74 and the output of the air conditioning operating part 53 are transmitted via the vehicle communication bus 65 from the air conditioning controller 45 to the heat pump controller 32 and subjected to control by the heat pump controller 32.

[0080] Furthermore, the heat pump controller 32 also transmits data (information) regarding the control of the refrigerant circuit R to the air conditioning controller 45 via the vehicle communication bus 65. Furthermore, the air volume ratio SW calculated by the air conditioning controller 45 through the above-described air mixing flap 28 is in the range 0≤SW≤1. Then, at SW=1, all the air that has flowed through the heat absorber 9 is ventilated through the air mixing flap 28 via the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23.

[0081] Next, an operation of the vehicle air conditioning device 1 of the embodiment having the above constitution will be described. In the embodiment, the control device 11 (the air conditioning controller 45 and the heat pump controller 32) switches and executes the respective air conditioning operations of the heating mode, the dehumidifying and heating mode, the dehumidifying and cooling mode, the cooling mode, and the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode, the respective battery cooling operations of the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode, the battery cooling (simple) mode, and the defrosting mode. These are shown in Fig. 3 shown.

[0082] Of these, the air conditioning operations of the heating mode, the dehumidifying and heating mode, the dehumidifying and cooling mode, the cooling mode, and the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode are executed in the embodiment in which the battery 55 is not charged, the ignition (IGN) of the vehicle is turned on, and the air conditioning switch of the air conditioning operation part 53 is turned on. On the other hand, the respective battery cooling operations of the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode and the battery cooling (simple) mode are executed when a connector is connected to the rapid charger (external power supply) to charge the battery 55, for example.

[0083] In addition, in the embodiment, when the ignition is turned on or when the battery 55 is being charged, even if the ignition is turned off at the time, the heat pump controller 32 operates the circulation pump 62 of the device temperature adjusting device 61 to circulate the heat carrier in the heat carrier line 66, as shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 4 to 10. Furthermore, although in Fig. 3, the heat pump controller 32 of the embodiment also executes a battery heating mode for heating the battery 55 by causing the heat transfer medium heater 63 of the device temperature adjusting device 61 to generate heat. (1) Heating mode

[0084] First, the heating mode is set with reference to Fig. 4. The control of the individual devices is achieved through the interaction of the heat pump controller 32 and the air conditioning controller 45, but in the following description, the heat pump controller 32 is considered the main control element and is briefly described. Fig. 4 shows the flow path of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit R in heating mode (solid arrows). When the heating mode is selected by the heat pump controller 32 (automatic mode) or the manual air conditioning setting operation (manual mode) on the air conditioning operation part 53 of the air conditioning controller 45, the heat pump controller 32 opens the solenoid valve 21 and closes the solenoid valve 17, the solenoid valve 20, the solenoid valve 22, the solenoid valve 35, and the solenoid valve 69. Then, the compressor 2 and the respective fans 15 and 27 are operated, and the air mix damper 28 is in the state of setting a ratio at which the air blown by the indoor fan 27 should pass through the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23.

[0085] As a result, a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 2 flows into the radiator 4. The air in the air flow channel 3 flows through the radiator 4, and thus the air in the air flow channel 3 is heated by heat exchange with the high-temperature refrigerant in the radiator 4. On the other hand, the heat of the refrigerant in the radiator 4 is absorbed by the air, and the refrigerant cools to condense and liquefy.

[0086] The refrigerant liquefied in the radiator 4 flows out of the radiator 4 and then flows through the refrigerant lines 13E and 13J to the outdoor expansion valve 6. The refrigerant flowing into the outdoor expansion valve 6 is decompressed therein and then flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 7. The refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 7 evaporates, and the heat is pumped up from the passing outside air or the outdoor fan 15 (heat absorption). In other words, the refrigerant cycle R functions as a heat pump. The low-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 then flows through the refrigerant line 13A and the refrigerant line 13D and the solenoid valve 21 to the refrigerant line 13C and further flows into the accumulator 12 through the refrigerant line 13C to perform gas-liquid separation there.The gaseous refrigerant is then drawn from the refrigerant line 13K into the compressor 2, repeating this cycle. The air heated in the radiator 4 is expelled from the outlet 29, heating the vehicle interior.

[0087] The heat pump controller 32 calculates the target radiator pressure PCO calculated from a target heater temperature TCO (a target temperature of the radiator 4) calculated from a target outlet temperature TAO (a target value of the temperature of the air blown into the vehicle interior) to be described later. The heat pump controller 32 controls the number of revolutions of the compressor 2 based on the target radiator pressure PCO and the radiator pressure Pci (high pressure of the refrigerant circuit R) detected by the radiator pressure sensor 47, and controls the valve position of the outdoor expansion valve 6 based on the refrigerant outlet temperature Tci of the radiator 4 detected by the radiator outlet temperature sensor 44 and the radiator pressure Pci detected by the radiator pressure sensor 47, so as to control the degree of subcooling of the refrigerant at the outlet of the radiator 4.

[0088] If the heating capacity of the radiator 4 is insufficient to meet the required heating output, the heat pump controller 32 supplements this deficiency with the heat generated by the auxiliary heater 23. This ensures that the vehicle interior is easily heated even at low outside temperatures, etc. (2) Dehumidification and heating mode

[0089] Next, the dehumidification and heating mode is described with reference to Fig. 5 described. Fig. Figure 5 shows how the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant circuit R in dehumidification and heating mode (solid line arrows). During dehumidification and heating operation, the heat pump controller 32 opens the solenoid valve 21, the solenoid valve 22, and the solenoid valve 35, and closes the solenoid valve 17, the solenoid valve 20, and the solenoid valve 69. Then, the compressor 2 and the respective fans 15 and 27 are operated, and the air mix damper 28 is in a state where it sets a ratio at which the air blown by the indoor fan 27 should pass through the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23.

[0090] Consequently, a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 2 flows into the radiator 4. The air in the air flow channel 3 flows through the radiator 4, and thus the air in the air flow channel 3 is heated by heat exchange with the high-temperature refrigerant in the radiator 4. On the other hand, the heat of the refrigerant in the radiator 4 is absorbed by the air, causing the refrigerant to cool to condense and liquefy.

[0091] The refrigerant liquefied in the radiator 4 flows out of the radiator 4, and a portion of it flows into the refrigerant line 13J through the refrigerant line 13E to reach the outdoor expansion valve 6. The refrigerant flowing into the outdoor expansion valve 6 is decompressed therein and then flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 7. The refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 7 evaporates, and the heat is pumped up from the passing outside air or the outdoor fan (heat absorption). Subsequently, the low-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 enters the refrigerant line 13C through the refrigerant line 13A and the refrigerant line 13D, and the solenoid valve 21, and flows through the refrigerant line 13C into the accumulator 12 to perform gas-liquid separation. The gaseous refrigerant is then sucked from the refrigerant line 13K into the compressor 2, whereby this cycle is repeated.

[0092] On the other hand, the remaining condensed refrigerant flowing through the radiator 4 into the refrigerant line 13E is dispersed, and the dispersed refrigerant flows through the solenoid valve 22 into the refrigerant line 13F to reach the refrigerant line 13B. Subsequently, the refrigerant reaches the indoor expansion valve 8 and is decompressed by the indoor expansion valve 8. Then, it flows through the solenoid valve 35 into the heat absorber 9 to evaporate. The water in the air blown out by the indoor fan 27 coagulates and adheres to the heat absorber 9 due to the heat absorption process of the refrigerant that occurs in the heat absorber 9 at this time. This cools and dehumidifies the air.

[0093] The refrigerant evaporated in the heat absorber 9 flows out to the refrigerant line 13C to combine with the refrigerant (refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 7) from the refrigerant line 13D, and then flows through the accumulator 12 to be drawn into the compressor 2 from the refrigerant line 13K, thus repeating this cycle. The air dehumidified in the heat absorber 9 is reheated as it passes through the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23 (when heat is generated), thereby dehumidifying and heating the vehicle interior.

[0094] In the embodiment, the heat pump controller 32 controls the rotation speed of the compressor 2 based on the target radiator pressure PCO calculated from the target heater temperature TCO and the radiator pressure Pci (the high pressure of the refrigerant circuit R) detected by the radiator pressure sensor 47, or the heat pump controller 32 controls the rotation speed of the compressor 2 based on the temperature (the heat absorber temperature Te) of the heat absorber 9 detected by the heat absorber temperature sensor 48, with the target heat absorber temperature TEO as its set value. At this time, the heat pump controller 32 selects a smaller target compressor rotation speed (the lower of TGNCh and TGNCc, which will be described later) from the target compressor rotation speeds that can be obtained by either calculation from the radiator pressure Pci and the heat absorber temperature Te to control the compressor 2.Furthermore, the heat pump controller 32 controls the valve position of the outdoor expansion valve 6 depending on the heat absorber temperature Te.

[0095] If the heating capacity of radiator 4 is insufficient compared to the required heating capacity, even in dehumidification and heating mode, the heat pump controller 32 supplements this deficiency with the heat generated by the auxiliary heater 23. Thus, the vehicle interior is easily dehumidified and heated even at low outside temperatures, etc. (3) Dehumidification and cooling mode

[0096] Next, the dehumidification and cooling mode is described with reference to Fig. 6 described. Fig. Figure 6 shows how the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant circuit R in dehumidification and cooling mode (solid line arrows). In dehumidification and cooling mode, the heat pump controller 32 opens the solenoid valve 17 and the solenoid valve 35, and closes the solenoid valve 20, the solenoid valve 21, the solenoid valve 22, and the solenoid valve 69. Then, the compressor 2 and the respective fans 15 and 27 are operated, and the air mix damper 28 is in a state of adjusting a ratio at which the air blown by the indoor fan 27 should pass through the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23.

[0097] Consequently, a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 2 flows into the radiator 4. The air in the air flow channel 3 flows through the radiator 4, and thus, the air in the air flow channel 3 is heated by heat exchange with the high-temperature refrigerant in the radiator 4. On the other hand, the heat of the refrigerant in the radiator 4 is absorbed by the air, and the refrigerant cools to condense and liquefy.

[0098] The refrigerant flowing out of the radiator 4 reaches the outdoor expansion valve 6 via the refrigerant lines 13E and 13J, and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 7 through the outdoor expansion valve 6, which is controlled to a slightly open position (in the range of a large valve position) in heating mode and dehumidification and heating mode. The refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 7 is cooled therein by the driving or the outside air passed by the outdoor fan 15 to condense. The refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 flows into the refrigerant line 13B through the refrigerant line 13A, the solenoid valve 17, the receiver dryer unit 14, and the subcooling unit 16, and then through the check valve 18 to reach the indoor expansion valve 8. The refrigerant is decompressed by the indoor expansion valve 8 and then flows through the solenoid valve 35 into the heat absorber 9 to evaporate.The water in the air blown out by the indoor fan 27 coagulates to attach to the heat absorber 9 by the heat absorption operation at this time, and thus the air is cooled and dehumidified.

[0099] The refrigerant evaporated in the heat absorber 9 enters the accumulator 12 through the refrigerant line 13C and flows through the accumulator 12 to be drawn into the compressor 2 by the refrigerant line 13K, thus repeating this cycle. The air cooled and dehumidified in the heat absorber 9 is reheated (the heating capacity is lower than during dehumidification and heating) as it passes through the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23 (when heat is generated), thereby dehumidifying and cooling the vehicle interior.

[0100] The heat pump controller 32 controls, based on the temperature (the heat absorber temperature Te) of the heat absorber 9 detected by the heat absorber temperature sensor 48 and a target heat absorber temperature TEO (a target value of the heat absorber temperature Te) of the heat absorber 9, the number of revolutions of the compressor 2 to adjust the heat absorber temperature Te to the target heat absorber temperature TEO, and controls, based on the radiator pressure Pci (the high pressure of the refrigerant cycle R) detected by the radiator pressure sensor 47 and the target radiator pressure PCO (a target value of the radiator pressure Pci), the valve position of the outdoor expansion valve 6 to adjust the radiator pressure Pci to the target radiator pressure PCO, thereby obtaining a required reheat (reheat amount) by the radiator 4.

[0101] If the heating capacity (post-heating capacity) of radiator 4 is insufficient with respect to the required heating capacity, even in dehumidification and cooling mode, the heat pump controller 32 supplements this shortfall with the heat generated by the auxiliary heater 23. This dehumidifies and cools the vehicle interior without excessively lowering the temperature of the vehicle interior. (4) Cooling mode

[0102] Next, the cooling mode is described with reference to Fig. 7 described. Fig. Figure 7 shows how the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant circuit R in cooling mode (solid line arrows). In cooling mode, the heat pump controller 32 opens the solenoid valve 17, the solenoid valve 20, and the solenoid valve 35, and closes the solenoid valve 21, the solenoid valve 22, and the solenoid valve 69. Then, the compressor 2 and the respective fans 15 and 27 are operated, and the air mix damper 28 is in a state where it sets a ratio in which the air blown by the indoor fan 27 should pass through the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23. Incidentally, the auxiliary heater 23 is not turned on.

[0103] Consequently, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 2 flows into the radiator 4. The air in the air flow channel 3 is passed through the radiator 4, but its proportion becomes small (because it only reheats during cooling). Therefore, the refrigerant almost only passes through the radiator, and the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator 4 flows through the refrigerant line 13E to reach the refrigerant line 13J. At this time, the solenoid valve 20 is opened, and thus the refrigerant flows unchanged through the solenoid valve 20 into the outdoor heat exchanger 7, where the refrigerant is cooled by the outside air flowing therein or conditioned by the outdoor fan 15 to condense and liquefy.

[0104] The refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 flows through the refrigerant line 13A, the solenoid valve 17, the receiver dryer unit 14, and the subcooling unit 16 to enter the refrigerant line 13B, and flows through the check valve 18 to reach the indoor expansion valve 8. The refrigerant is decompressed in the indoor expansion valve 8 and then flows through the solenoid valve 35 into the heat absorber 9 to evaporate. The air blown out from the indoor fan 27 and exchanging heat with the heat absorber 9 is cooled by the heat absorption operation at this time.

[0105] The refrigerant evaporated in the heat absorber 9 enters the accumulator 12 through the refrigerant line 13C and from there flows through the refrigerant line 13K to be drawn into the compressor 2, thus repeating this cycle. The air cooled in the heat absorber 9 is blown into the vehicle interior from the outlet 29, thereby cooling the vehicle interior. In this cooling mode, the heat pump controller 32 controls the speed of the compressor 2 depending on the temperature (the heat absorber temperature Te) of the heat absorber 9, which is detected by the heat absorber temperature sensor 48. (5) Air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode

[0106] Next, the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode is selected with reference to Fig. 8 described. Fig. Figure 8 shows how the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant circuit R in the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode (solid line arrows). In the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode, the heat pump controller 32 opens solenoid valve 17, solenoid valve 20, solenoid valve 35, and solenoid valve 69 and closes solenoid valve 21 and solenoid valve 22.

[0107] Then, compressor 2 and the respective fans 15 and 27 are operated, and the air mixing damper 28 is in a state where it sets a ratio in which the air blown by the interior fan 27 is to be directed through the radiator 4 and the auxiliary heater 23. In this operating mode, the auxiliary heater 23 is not switched on. The heat transfer fluid heater 63 is also not switched on.

[0108] Thus, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 2 flows into the radiator 4. The air in the air flow channel 3 passes through the radiator 4, but its proportion becomes small (because it only reheats during cooling). Therefore, the refrigerant almost only passes through the radiator, and the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator 4 flows through the refrigerant line 13E to reach the refrigerant line 13J. At this time, the solenoid valve 20 is opened, and thus the refrigerant flows unchanged through the solenoid valve 20 into the outdoor heat exchanger 7, where the refrigerant is cooled by the outside air flowing therein or conditioned by the outdoor fan 15 to condense and liquefy.

[0109] The refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 flows through the refrigerant line 13A, the solenoid valve 17, the receiver dryer unit 14, and the subcooling unit 16 to enter the refrigerant line 13B. The refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant line 13B is distributed after passing through the check valve 18, and the distributed refrigerant flows unchanged through the refrigerant line 13B to reach the indoor expansion valve 8. The refrigerant flowing into the indoor expansion valve 8 is decompressed there and then flows through the solenoid valve 35 into the heat absorber 9 to evaporate. The air blown out from the indoor blower 27 and exchanging heat with the heat absorber 9 is cooled at this time by the heat absorption operation.

[0110] The refrigerant evaporated in the heat absorber 9 enters the accumulator 12 through the refrigerant line 13C and from there flows through the refrigerant line 13K to be drawn into the compressor 2, thus repeating this cycle. The air cooled in the heat absorber 9 is expelled from the outlet 29 into the vehicle interior, thereby cooling the vehicle interior.

[0111] On the other hand, the remaining refrigerant passing through the check valve 18 is distributed and flows into the branch line 67 to reach the auxiliary expansion valve 68. Therein, the refrigerant is decompressed and then flows through the solenoid valve 69 into the refrigerant flow channel 64B of the refrigerant-heat exchanger 64 to evaporate therein. At this time, a heat-absorbing action is exerted. A cycle is repeated in which the refrigerant evaporated in the refrigerant flow channel 64B sequentially flows through the refrigerant line 71, the refrigerant line 13C, and the accumulator 12 to be sucked by the refrigerant line 13K to the compressor 2 (this is indicated by the solid line arrows in Fig. 8 indicated).

[0112] Since the circulation pump 62 is operating, the heat transfer fluid discharged from the circulation pump 62 flows into the heat transfer fluid line 66 to reach the heat transfer fluid flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-to-heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 64, where the heat transfer fluid exchanges heat with the refrigerant evaporated in the refrigerant flow channel 64B, causing the refrigerant to absorb heat therefrom and cool the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid flowing out of the heat transfer fluid flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-to-heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 64 enters the heat transfer fluid heater 63. However, in this operating mode, no heat is generated in the heat transfer fluid heater 63, so the heat transfer fluid flows through unchanged and reaches the battery 55, where heat exchange occurs with the battery 55. Consequently, the battery 55 is cooled and the heat transfer medium is sucked into the circulation pump 62 after the battery 55 has cooled down, whereby this cycle is repeated (this is indicated by the dashed line arrows in Fig. 8 indicated).

[0113] In this air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode, the heat pump controller 32 maintains the solenoid valve 35 open and controls the rotation speed of the compressor 2 based on the temperature of the heat absorber 9 (the heat absorber temperature Te) detected by the heat absorber temperature sensor 48, as will be explained in detail later. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the heat pump controller 32 controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 69 based on the heat medium temperature detected by the heat medium temperature sensor 76 (heat medium temperature Tw: transmitted from the battery controller 73). Incidentally, the heat medium temperature Tw is used as an index indicating the temperature of the battery 55, which is the temperature control object in this embodiment (hereinafter, the same applies).

[0114] That is, the heat pump controller 32 sets an upper limit value TUL and a lower limit value TLL with a predetermined temperature difference above and below a predetermined target heat medium temperature TWO as the target value of the heat medium temperature Tw. Then, when the heat medium temperature Tw rises due to heat generation of the battery 55 or the like from the state where the solenoid valve 69 is closed and reaches the upper limit value TUL, the solenoid valve 69 is opened. Then, the refrigerant flows into the refrigerant flow channel 64B of the refrigerant-heat medium heat exchanger 64 to evaporate and cools the heat medium flowing through the heat medium flow channel 64A. Therefore, the battery 55 is cooled by the cooled heat medium.

[0115] Thereafter, when the heat-medium temperature Tw drops to the lower limit value TLL, the solenoid valve 69 is closed. Thereafter, the solenoid valve 69 is repeatedly opened and closed as described above to control the heat-medium temperature Tw to the target heat-medium temperature TWO, prioritizing cooling the vehicle interior, and thus cooling the battery 55. (6) Changing the air conditioning operation

[0116] The heat pump controller 32 calculates the above-mentioned target discharge temperature TAO from the following equation (I). The target discharge temperature TAO is a target value for the temperature of the air to be discharged from the outlet 29 into the vehicle interior. TAO=(Tset−Tin)×K+Tbal(f(Tset, SUN, Tam)) where Tset is a predetermined temperature of the vehicle interior set by the air conditioning operation part 53, Tin is a temperature of the vehicle interior air detected by the interior air temperature sensor 37, K is a coefficient, and Tbal is a balance value calculated from the predetermined temperature Tset, a solar radiation amount SUN detected by the solar radiation sensor 51, and the outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 33. Moreover, in general, the lower the outside air temperature Tam, the higher the target outlet temperature TAO becomes, and the higher the outside air temperature Tam, the lower the target outlet temperature TAO becomes.

[0117] Then, the heat pump controller 32 selects any one of the above-mentioned respective air conditioning modes based on the outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 33 and the target outlet temperature TAO at startup. Furthermore, after startup, the heat pump controller selects and changes the above-mentioned respective air conditioning modes according to changes in the operating conditions, ambient conditions, and setting conditions, such as the outside air temperature Tam, the target outlet temperature TAO, the heat medium temperature Tw, etc. (7) Battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode

[0118] Next, the operation of the battery 55 during its charging process will be described. For example, when the charging plug is connected to the rapid charger (external power source) and the battery 55 is being charged (this information is transmitted from the battery controller 73), the heat pump controller 32 executes the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode, in which the vehicle ignition (IGN) is turned on and the air conditioning switch of the air conditioning operating part 53 is turned on. The way the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant circuit R in the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode is similar to the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode described in Fig. 8 is shown.

[0119] However, in the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode, the heat pump controller 32 in the embodiment maintains the solenoid valve 69 open and controls the rotation speed of the compressor 2 based on the heat medium temperature Tw detected by the heat medium temperature sensor 76 (transmitted from the battery controller 73), as described later. Furthermore, the heat pump controller 32 in this embodiment controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 35 as follows, based on the temperature of the heat absorber 9 detected by the heat absorber temperature sensor 48 (heat absorber temperature Te).

[0120] That is, the heat pump controller 32 sets an upper limit value TeUL and a lower limit value TeLL with a predetermined temperature difference above and below a predetermined target heat absorber temperature TEO as the target value of the heat absorber temperature Te. Then, when the heat absorber temperature Te rises from the state where the solenoid valve 35 is closed to the upper limit value TeUL, the solenoid valve 35 is opened. Consequently, the refrigerant flows into the heat absorber 9, evaporates, and cools the air flowing through the air flow channel 3.

[0121] Thereafter, when the heat absorber temperature Te drops to the lower limit TeLL, the solenoid valve 35 is closed. Thereafter, the solenoid valve 35 is repeatedly opened and closed as described above to control the heat absorber temperature Te to the target heat absorber temperature TEO, prioritizing cooling the battery 55, and thus cooling the vehicle interior. (8) Battery cooling mode (simple)

[0122] Next, with the vehicle's ignition (IGN) and the climate control switch of the climate control operating unit 53 also off, the charging connector is connected to the rapid charger. Once the battery 55 is charged, the heat pump controller 32 executes the battery cooling mode (simple). Fig. Figure 9 shows the refrigerant path in the refrigerant circuit R (solid arrows) in battery cooling mode (single). In battery cooling mode (single), the heat pump controller 32 opens solenoid valve 17, solenoid valve 20, and solenoid valve 69 and closes solenoid valve 21, solenoid valve 22, and solenoid valve 35.

[0123] Compressor 2 and outdoor fan 15 are then operated. The interior fan 27 is not operated, and the auxiliary heater 23 is not switched on. The heat transfer heater 63 is also not switched on in this operating mode.

[0124] Thus, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 flows into the radiator 4. Since the air in the air flow channel 3 is not passed through the radiator 4, the refrigerant flows only through it. The refrigerant discharged from the radiator 4 flows through the refrigerant line 13E and reaches the refrigerant line 13J. Since the solenoid valve 20 is open at this time, the refrigerant flows unchanged through the solenoid valve 20 into the outdoor heat exchanger 7, where the refrigerant is cooled by the outside air drawn in by the outdoor fan 15 to condense and liquefy.

[0125] The refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 flows through the refrigerant line 13A, the solenoid valve 17, the receiver dryer unit 14, and the subcooling unit 16 into the refrigerant line 13B. The refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant line 13B, after passing through the check valve 18, flows entirely into the branch line 67 to reach the auxiliary expansion valve 68. There, the refrigerant is decompressed and then flows through the solenoid valve 69 into the refrigerant flow channel 64B of the refrigerant-heat-transfer medium heat exchanger 64 to evaporate. At this time, the heat absorption function is performed. A cycle is repeated in which the refrigerant evaporated in the refrigerant flow channel 64B flows successively through the refrigerant line 71, the refrigerant line 13C and the accumulator 12 to be sucked by the refrigerant line 13K to the compressor 2 (this is indicated by the solid line arrows in Fig. 9).

[0126] On the other hand, since the circulation pump 62 is operating, the heat transfer fluid exiting the circulation pump 62 flows into the heat transfer fluid line 66 to enter the heat transfer fluid flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-to-heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 64, where heat is absorbed by the refrigerant evaporated in the refrigerant flow channel 64B, thereby cooling the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid exiting the heat transfer fluid flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-to-heat transfer fluid heat exchanger 64 enters the heat transfer fluid heater 63. However, in this operating mode, no heat is generated in the heat transfer fluid heater 63, so the heat transfer fluid flows through unchanged and reaches the battery 55, where heat exchange with the battery 55 takes place. As a result, the battery 55 is cooled, and the heat carrier is sucked into the circulation pump 62 after the battery 55 has cooled down, whereby this cycle is repeated (this is indicated by the dashed line arrows in Fig. 9).

[0127] Even in the battery cooling mode (simple), the heat pump controller 32 controls the speed of the compressor 2 based on the heat carrier temperature Tw detected by the heat carrier temperature sensor 76, as will be explained in more detail later, in order to cool the battery 55. (9) Defrost mode

[0128] Next, the defrosting mode of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 is described with reference to Fig. 10 described. Fig. Figure 10 shows the path of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit R in defrost mode (solid line arrows). In the heating mode described above, the refrigerant evaporates in the outdoor heat exchanger 7 and absorbs heat from the outside air to achieve a low temperature. Therefore, frost forms from the water in the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger 7 and adheres to it.

[0129] Consequently, the heat pump controller 32 calculates a difference ΔTXO (=TXObase-TXO) between the outdoor heat exchanger temperature TXO (the refrigerant evaporation temperature in the outdoor heat exchanger 7) detected by the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 49 and a refrigerant evaporation temperature TXObase in the non-frosted state of the outdoor heat exchanger 7. When the state in which the outdoor heat exchanger temperature TXO is lower than the refrigerant evaporation temperature TXObase in the non-frosted state and the difference ΔTXO therebetween has expanded to a predetermined value or more continues for a predetermined time, the heat pump controller 32 judges that the outdoor heat exchanger 7 is frosted, and a predetermined frost warning signal is set.

[0130] In the state where the frost warning signal is set and the air conditioning switch of the air conditioning operation part 53 is turned off, if the charging plug is connected to the rapid charger and the battery 55 is charged, the heat pump controller 32 executes the defrosting mode of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 in the following manner.

[0131] In this defrosting mode, the heat pump controller 32 sets the refrigerant circuit R to the heating mode described above and then fully opens the valve position of the outdoor expansion valve 6. Then, the compressor 2 is operated, and the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 is caused to flow into the outdoor heat exchanger 7 via the radiator 4 and the outdoor expansion valve 6, thereby melting the frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger 7 ( Fig. 10). Then, when the outdoor heat exchanger temperature TXO detected by the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 49 becomes higher than a predetermined defrosting end temperature (e.g., +3°C or the like), the heat pump controller 32 terminates the defrosting mode, assuming that the defrosting of the outdoor heat exchanger 7 is completed. (10) Battery heating mode

[0132] When air conditioning is running or battery 55 is charging, heat pump controller 32 also executes battery heating mode. In this battery heating mode, heat pump controller 32 operates circulation pump 62 and supplies power to heat transfer fluid heater 63. Otherwise, solenoid valve 69 is closed.

[0133] Consequently, the heat carrier discharged from the circulation pump 62 flows into the heat carrier line 66 to reach the heat carrier flow channel 64A of the refrigerant-heat carrier heat exchanger 64, and passes through the heat carrier line 66 to reach the heat carrier heater 63. Since the heat carrier heater 63 generates heat at this time, the heat carrier is heated by the heat carrier heater 63 and rises in temperature, then reaches the battery 55 and exchanges heat with the battery 55. As a result, the battery 55 is heated, and after the battery 55 is heated, the heat carrier is sucked into the circulation pump 62 to repeat this cycle.

[0134] In the battery heating mode, the heat pump controller 32 controls the heat medium heater 63 to turn on based on the heat medium temperature Tw detected by the heat medium temperature sensor 76, thereby setting the heat medium temperature Tw to a predetermined target heat medium temperature TWO to heat the battery 55. (11) Control of compressor 2 by the heat pump controller 32

[0135] Furthermore, the heat pump controller 32 calculates a target speed (target compressor speed) TGNCh of the compressor 2 through a control block diagram of Fig. 11 based on the radiator pressure Pci in heating mode, and calculates a target speed (target compressor speed) TGNCc of the compressor 2 through a control block diagram of Fig. 12 based on the heat absorber temperature Te in dehumidification and cooling mode, cooling mode, and air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode. Incidentally, in dehumidification and heating mode, the lower of the target compressor speed TGNCh and the target compressor speed TGNCc is selected. Furthermore, in battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode and battery cooling (single) mode, a target speed (target compressor speed) TGNCcb of compressor 2 is determined based on the heat carrier temperature Tw by a control block diagram of Fig. 13 calculated. (11-1) Calculation of the target compressor speed TGNCh based on the radiator pressure Pci

[0136] First, the control of the compressor 2 is carried out based on the radiator pressure Pci with reference to Fig. 11 described in detail. Fig. 11 is a control block diagram of the heat pump controller 32, which calculates the target speed (target compressor speed) TGNCh of the compressor 2 based on the radiator pressure Pci. An F / F control amount calculation section 78 (feed forward) of the heat pump controller 32 calculates an F / F control amount TGNChff of the target compressor speed based on the outside air temperature Tam obtained from the outside air temperature sensor 33, the blower voltage BLV of the indoor blower 27, the air flow ratio SW through the air mix door 28 obtained by SW=(TAO-Te) / (Thp-Te), a target subcooling degree TGSC which is a target value of the subcooling degree SC of the refrigerant at the outlet of the radiator 4, the above-mentioned target heater temperature TCO which is a target value of the heater temperature Thp, and the target radiator pressure PCO which is a target value of the pressure of the radiator 4.

[0137] Incidentally, the heating temperature Thp is an air temperature (estimated value) on the leeward side of the radiator 4 and is calculated (estimated) from the radiator pressure Pci detected by the radiator pressure sensor 47 and the refrigerant outlet temperature Tci of the radiator 4 detected by the radiator outlet temperature sensor 44. Furthermore, the subcooling degree SC is calculated from the refrigerant inlet temperature Tcxin and the refrigerant outlet temperature Tci of the radiator 4, which are detected by the radiator inlet temperature sensor 43 and the radiator outlet temperature sensor 44.

[0138] The target radiator pressure PCO is calculated by the target value calculation section 79 based on the above-described target subcooling degree TGSC and the target heater temperature TCO. Furthermore, an F / B (feedback) control amount calculation section 81 calculates an F / B control amount TGNChfb of the target compressor speed by PID calculation or PI calculation based on the target radiator pressure PCO and the radiator pressure Pci. Then, the F / F control amount TGNChff calculated by the F / F control amount calculation section 78 and the F / B control amount TGNChfb calculated by the F / B control amount calculation section 81 are added by an adder 82 to be input as TGNCh00 to a limit value setting section 83.

[0139] In the limit value setting section 83, the limit values ​​of a lower limit speed ECNpdLimLo of the control and an upper limit speed ECNpdLimHi of the control are added to TGNCh00 and set as TGNCh0, and then set as the target compressor speed TGNCh by a compressor OFF control section 84. In normal operation, the heat pump controller 32 controls the operation of the compressor 2 by the target compressor speed TGNCh calculated based on the radiator pressure Pci.

[0140] Incidentally, when the state in which the target compressor speed TGNCh becomes the above-described lower limit speed ECNpdLimLo and the radiator pressure Pci rises to a predetermined upper limit value PUL of the predetermined upper limit value PUL and a predetermined lower limit value PLL which are above and below the target radiator pressure PCO continues for a predetermined time th1, the compressor-OFF control section 84 stops the compressor 2 to enter an ON-OFF mode of the ON-OFF control of the compressor 2.

[0141] In the ON-OFF mode of compressor 2, when the radiator pressure Pci drops to the lower limit value PLL, compressor 2 starts operating with the target compressor speed TGNCh as the lower limit speed ECNpdLimLo. When the radiator pressure Pci rises to the upper limit value PUL in this state, compressor 2 stops again. That is, the operation (ON) and stop (OFF) of compressor 2 at the lower limit speed ECNpdLimLo are repeated. Then, when the state in which the radiator pressure Pci does not exceed the lower limit value PUL after the radiator pressure Pci is lowered to the lower limit value PUL and the compressor 2 is started continues for a predetermined time th2, the ON-OFF mode of compressor 2 is terminated to return the operation mode to the normal mode. 0139] (11-2) Calculation of the target compressor speed TGNCc based on the heat absorber temperature Te

[0142] Next, the control of the compressor 2 is carried out based on the heat absorber temperature Te with reference to Fig. 12 described in detail. Fig. 12 is a control block diagram of the heat pump controller 32, which calculates the target rotational speed (target compressor speed) TGNCc of the compressor 2 based on the heat absorber temperature Te. An F / F control amount calculation section 86 of the heat pump controller 32 calculates an F / F control amount TGNCcff of the target compressor speed based on the outside air temperature Tam, the air volume Ga (may be the blower voltage BLV of the interior blower 27) of the air circulating in the air flow duct 3, the target radiator pressure PCO, the battery temperature Tcell detected by the battery temperature sensor 77 (transmitted from the battery controller 73), the power Mpower (transmitted from the vehicle controller 72) of the running engine, and the target heat absorber temperature TEO, which is the target value of the heat absorber temperature Te.

[0143] Further, an F / B control amount calculating section 87 calculates an F / B control amount TGNCcfb of the target compressor speed by PID calculation or PI calculation based on the target heat absorber temperature TEO and the heat absorber temperature Te. Then, the F / F control amount TGNCcff calculated by the F / F control amount calculating section 86 and the F / B control amount TGNCcfb calculated by the F / B control amount calculating section 87 are added by an adder 88 to be input as TGNCc00 to a limit value setting section 89.

[0144] In the limit value setting section 89, the TGNCc00 is added to the limit values ​​of a lower limit speed TGNCcLimLo of the control and an upper limit speed TGNCcLimHi of the control and set as TGNCc0, and then determined as the target compressor speed TGNCc by a compressor OFF control section 91. In normal operation, the heat pump controller 32 controls the operation of the compressor 2 by the target compressor speed TGNCc calculated based on this heat absorber temperature Te.

[0145] Incidentally, when the state in which the target compressor speed TGNCc reaches the above-described lower limit speed TGNCcLimLo and the heat absorber temperature Te is lowered to the lower limit value TeLL of the upper limit value TeUL and the lower limit value TeLL is above and below the target heat absorber temperature TEO continues for a predetermined time tc1, the compressor OFF control section 91 stops the compressor 2 to enter an ON-OFF mode of the ON-OFF control of the compressor 2.

[0146] In this case, in the ON-OFF mode of compressor 2, when the heat absorber temperature Te rises to the upper limit TeUL, compressor 2 is started with the target compressor speed TGNCc as the lower limit speed TGNCcLimLo. In this state, when the heat absorber temperature Te drops to the lower limit TeLL, compressor 2 is stopped again. That is, the operation (ON) and stop (OFF) of compressor 2 at the lower limit speed TGNCcLimLo are repeated. Then, if the state in which the heat absorber temperature Te does not become lower than the upper limit TeUL after the heat absorber temperature Te rises to the upper limit TeUL and compressor 2 is started continues for a predetermined time tc2, the ON-OFF mode of compressor 2 is ended to return the operation mode to the normal mode. (11-3) Calculation of the target compressor speed TGNCcb based on the heat carrier temperature Tw

[0147] The control of compressor 2 based on the heat carrier temperature Tw is described below with reference to Fig. 13 described in detail. Fig. 13 is a control block diagram of the heat pump controller 32, which calculates the target rotational speed (target compressor speed) TGNCcb of the compressor 2 based on the heat medium temperature Tw. An F / F control amount calculation section 92 of the heat pump controller 32 calculates an F / F control amount TGNCcbff of the target compressor speed based on the outside air temperature Tam, the target radiator pressure PCO, the target heat absorber temperature TEO, an air amount Gw (calculated from the power of the circulating pump 62) of the heat medium in the device temperature adjusting device 61, the battery temperature Tcell, the power Mpower of the running engine (transmitted from the vehicle controller 72), and the target heat medium temperature TWO, which is the target value of the heat medium temperature Tw.

[0148] Further, an F / B control amount calculating section 93 calculates an F / B control amount TGNCcbfb of the target compressor speed by PID calculation or PI calculation based on the target heat medium temperature TWO and the heat medium temperature Tw. Then, the F / F control amount TGNCcbff calculated by the F / F control amount calculating section 92 and the F / B control amount TGNCcbfb calculated by the F / B control amount calculating section 93 are added by an adder 94 to be inputted as TGNCcb00 to a limit value setting section 96.

[0149] In the limit value setting section 96, TGNCcb00 is added to the limit values ​​of a lower limit speed TGNCcbLimLo for control and an upper limit speed TGNCcbLimHi for control and set to TGNCcb0, and then determined as the target compressor speed TGNCcb by a compressor OFF control section 97. During normal operation, the heat pump controller 32 controls the operation of the compressor 2 with the target compressor speed TGNCcb calculated based on this heat medium temperature Tw.

[0150] Incidentally, when the state in which the target compressor speed TGNCcb reaches the above-described lower limit speed TGNCcbLimLo and the heat medium temperature Tw is lowered to the lower limit value TLL of the upper limit value TUL and the lower limit value TLL is above and below the target heat medium temperature TWO continues for a predetermined time tcb1, the compressor OFF control section 97 stops the compressor 2 to enter an ON-OFF mode of the ON-OFF control of the compressor 2.

[0151] In this case, during the ON-OFF operation of compressor 2, when the heat medium temperature Tw rises to the upper limit value TUL, compressor 2 is started with the target compressor speed TGNCcb as the lower limit speed TGNCcbLimLo. When the heat medium temperature Tw drops to the lower limit value TLL in this state, compressor 2 is stopped again. That is, the operation (ON) and stop (OFF) of compressor 2 at the lower limit speed TGNCcbLimLo are repeated. Then, if the state in which the heat medium temperature Tw does not fall below the upper limit value TUL after the heat medium temperature Tw rises to the upper limit value TUL and compressor 2 is started continues for a predetermined time tcb2, the ON-OFF operation of compressor 2 is stopped to return the operation mode to the normal mode. (12) Start and stop of battery cooling (temperature control object) 55 (Part 1)

[0152] Next, with reference to the Fig. 14 to 16, an embodiment is described in the case where the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode or the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode is called from the aforementioned cooling mode, or the aforementioned battery cooling mode (simple) is started to start cooling the battery 55, and then the cooling of the battery 55 is stopped.

[0153] In the embodiment, the heat pump controller 32 judges that cooling of the battery 55 is required based on a gradient of a change in the heat medium temperature Tw detected by the heat medium temperature sensor 76 and a rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw when the rise rate ΔTw is a predetermined value A1 or more, to then open the solenoid valve 69 of the device temperature setting device 61, thereby switching the cooling mode to the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode or the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode, or to start the battery cooling (simple) mode to start cooling of the battery 55 (battery cooling ON in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15). Therefore, if the rate of increase ΔTw is less than the specified value A1, as indicated by ΔTw <A1 in Fig. 14, the cooling of the battery 55 is not started.

[0154] However, in this embodiment, the outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 33 is subject to the condition that it is greater than or equal to a predetermined value Tam1 (e.g., 5°C or the like). Expressed by an equation, the cooling start condition for the battery 55 in this embodiment is as follows: Rate of increase ΔTw≥predetermined value A1, and Outside air temperature Tam≥predetermined value Tam1

[0155] Incidentally, in the embodiment, the heat medium temperature Tw detected by the heat medium temperature sensor 76 is used as an index indicating the temperature of the battery (temperature control object) 55. Accordingly, the rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object (battery 55) becomes the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw in the present invention.

[0156] Therefore, when the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw is greater than or equal to the predetermined value A1, the heat pump controller 32 starts cooling the battery 55 through the device temperature setting device 61, thereby early judging from the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw whether the battery 55 needs cooling or not, thereby making it possible to start cooling the battery 55. Furthermore, in an environment with a low outside air temperature Tam, even if the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw is high, there is a low probability that the temperature of the battery 55 will become abnormally high.Therefore, by having the device temperature setting device 61 start the cooling of the battery 55 under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is greater than or equal to the predetermined value Tam1, as in the embodiment, it is possible to accurately judge the necessity of cooling the battery 55 in consideration of the influence of the outside air temperature Tam, which cannot be distinguished only by the rising rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw.

[0157] By cooling the battery 55 in this way, the temperature rise in the battery 55 slows down or the temperature of the battery 55 starts to decrease, the cooling capacity Wcool output from the device temperature setting device 61 falls below a predetermined value Wcooloff, and the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw falls below a predetermined value A2 (a value smaller than the predetermined value A1), the heat pump controller 32 judges that the battery 55 no longer needs to be cooled, and thereby switches to the cooling mode in the case of the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode and the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode, and stops the operation to stop the cooling of the battery 55 in the case of the battery cooling (simple) mode (battery cooling OFF in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15).

[0158] However, in this embodiment, the outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 33 is dependent on being lower than a predetermined value Tam2 (e.g., 3°C or so). Expressed by an equation, the cooling stop condition for the battery 55 in this embodiment is as follows: Wcool <vorbestimmter Wert Wcooloff, und Rate of increase ΔTw <vorbestimmter Wert A2, und Tam <Tam2

[0159] However, the cooling capacity Wcool output by the device temperature setting device 61 is calculated from the capacity of the compressor 2, the number of its revolutions, and the like.

[0160] Therefore, when the cooling capacity Wcool output by the device temperature setting device 61 is lower than the predetermined value Wcooloff and the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw is lower than the predetermined value A2, the heat pump controller 32 stops the cooling of the battery 55 by the device temperature setting device 61, thereby accurately judging that the battery 55 does not need to be cooled to stop the cooling by the device temperature setting device 61, thereby making it possible to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. Furthermore, in an environment where the outside air temperature Tam is high, the temperature of the battery 55 is likely to be high even if the cooling capacity Wcool output by the device temperature setting device 61 and the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw are low.Therefore, as in the embodiment, the cooling of the battery 55 by the device temperature setting device 61 is stopped under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is lower than the predetermined value Tam2, whereby it is possible to accurately judge that the cooling of the battery 55 is no longer required by taking into account the influence of the outside air temperature Tam, which can be distinguished not only by the cooling power Wcool output from the device temperature setting device 61 and the rising rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw.

[0161] Incidentally, in the embodiment, when the battery 55 is charged, that is, in the case of the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode or the battery cooling (simple) mode, the heat pump controller 32 changes in a descending direction the predetermined value A1 and / or the predetermined value Tam1 for the above-described cooling start condition, any one of the values ​​of the predetermined value Wcooloff, the predetermined value A2 or the predetermined value Tam2 for the cooling stop condition, or a combination of them, or all of them in the above-described control (the predetermined values ​​A1 and A2 are in Fig. 16).

[0162] Since self-heating increases during charging of the battery 55, the temperature of the battery 55 is likely to rise compared to the case of the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode in which the vehicle is running. Therefore, the heat pump controller 32 changes the above-described predetermined value A1 and the predetermined value Tam1 in a downward direction at the time of charging the battery 55. That is, the cooling of the battery 55 by the device temperature setting device 61 is started at an earlier stage, and an abnormal temperature rise in the battery during charging is avoided in advance. Furthermore, the heat pump controller 32 changes the above-described predetermined value Wcooloff, the predetermined value A2, and the predetermined value Tam2 in a downward direction when the battery 55 is being charged.That is, the device temperature adjusting device 61 cools the battery 55 for a longer time, cools the battery 55 to a safer state, and then stops its cooling. (13) Start and stop of battery cooling (temperature control object) 55 (Part 2)

[0163] Next, with reference to Fig. 17 describes another embodiment of conditions in which, while the battery 55 is being charged by the rapid charger (external power source), the above-mentioned battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode is called, or the battery cooling (single) mode is started to start cooling the battery 55, and then the cooling of the battery 55 is stopped. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode is also executed as described in (Part 1) above. In this embodiment, too, the basic starting condition for cooling the battery 55 is similar to the above-described equation (II), but in this embodiment, the heat pump controller 32 calculates the above-mentioned predetermined value A1 from the following equation (IV): A1=(TUL−Tam) / charging time, or A1=(TUL−T0) / charging time where TUL is the above-described upper limit value of the heat carrier temperature Tw, Tam is the outside air temperature, T0 is the value of the heat carrier temperature Tw at the start of the charging process, and the charging time is the time from the start time of the charging process of the battery 55 to the completion of its charging process (which is transmitted from the battery controller 73).

[0164] The value T0 of the heat carrier temperature Tw at the beginning of the charging process is equal to or close to the outside air temperature Tam. Therefore, assuming that the time to complete the charging is the same, as shown in Fig. As shown in FIG. 17, the predetermined value A1 calculated from the equation (IV) becomes smaller as the outside air temperature Tam becomes higher, and becomes larger as the outside air temperature Tam becomes lower, even in the case where an arbitrary relational equation is used. Furthermore, in any case, when the rising rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw is greater than or equal to the calculated predetermined value A1, it is decided that the battery 55 needs to be cooled so that the heat medium temperature Tw is no longer higher than the upper limit value TUL until the charging is completed.

[0165] That is, when the predetermined value A1 is calculated as in this embodiment, it is possible to surely prevent the temperature of the heat carrier Tw from rising to the upper limit value TUL from the start of charging to the completion of charging by the cooling by the device temperature adjusting device 61, while changing the predetermined value A1 depending on the outside air temperature Tam and the value T0 of the temperature of the heat carrier Tw at the start of charging.

[0166] Also in this embodiment, the basic cooling stop condition for the battery 55 is similar to the above-mentioned equation (III), but in this embodiment, the above-mentioned predetermined value A2 is calculated from the following equation (V): A2=(TUL−Tp) / Remaining charging time where TUL is the upper limit of the heat medium temperature Tw, Tp is the value of the heat medium temperature Tw at the current time, and the remaining charging time is the time from the current time until the completion of charging of the battery 55 (which is transmitted from the battery controller 73).

[0167] Incidentally, in the above-described embodiment, the heat medium temperature Tw detected by the heat medium temperature sensor 76 is used as an index indicating the temperature of the battery (temperature control object) 55. Therefore, in the present invention, the value Tp of the index indicating the temperature of the battery at the current time becomes the heat medium temperature Tw at the current time (hereinafter, the same).

[0168] When the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw is lower than the calculated predetermined value A2, the heat medium temperature Tw does not become higher than the upper limit value TUL during the remaining charging time until the completion of charging, so that it can be judged that cooling of the battery 55 is unnecessary. That is, it can be safely prevented from the temperature of the heat medium Tw rising to the upper limit value TUL until the completion of charging by changing the predetermined value A2 according to the value Tp of the temperature of the heat medium Tw at that time and accordingly stopping the cooling of the battery 55 by the device temperature setting device 61. (14) Start of battery cooling (temperature control object) 55 (Part 3)

[0169] Next, with reference to Fig. 18 describes another embodiment of a state in which, while the battery 55 is being charged by the rapid charger (external power supply), the above-described battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode is called or the battery cooling (simple) mode is started to start cooling the battery 55. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode is also executed as in the above-described (part 1). In this embodiment, too, the cooling stop condition for the battery 55 is similar to the above-described equation (III) or equation (V), but in this embodiment, the heat pump controller 32 predicts a temperature rise in the battery 55 at the time of its charging (e.g.,The amount of heat generated in the battery 55 during charging or the rise rate ΔTw of the heat carrier temperature Tw at the time of charging) is calculated based on the outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 33 and the remaining charge of the battery 55 (input from the battery controller 73). When cooling is required based on a prediction result, the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode or the battery cooling (single) mode is initiated from the start time of charging on an F / F (feed forward) basis to begin cooling the battery 55.

[0170] Fig. Figure 18 shows the cooling start condition for the battery 55 in this case. The horizontal axis in this figure is the outside air temperature Tam, the vertical axis is the remaining charge of the battery 55, and the section marked by hatching indicates a range where the battery 55 is judged to need cooling from the start of charging. When the remaining charge of the battery 55 is small, the temperature rise in the battery 55 becomes large during charging, and even when the outside air temperature Tam is high, the temperature rise in the battery 55 becomes large.

[0171] Thus, under the condition of Fig. 18, when the outside air temperature Tam is, for example, 30°C or higher, it is judged that it is necessary to start the cooling of the battery 55 from the start of charging at any remaining charge, regardless of the remaining charge of the battery 55. For example, when the outside air temperature Tam is between +5°C and +30°C, it is judged that the cooling of the battery 55 needs to start small from the start of charging from a remaining charge of the battery 55 when the outside air temperature Tam becomes lower, for example, by a range of 50% to 100%.

[0172] Therefore, when the heat pump controller 32 predicts the temperature rise in the battery 55 at the time of charging based on the outside air temperature Tam and the remaining charge of the battery 55, and cooling is required based on the prediction result, the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode is activated from the start of charging, or the battery cooling (single) mode is started to start cooling the battery 55 through the device temperature setting device 61. Consequently, it is possible to more safely avoid the inconvenience of the battery 55 failing at a high temperature by cooling the battery 55 from the start of charging. (15) Battery heating start and stop (temperature control object) 55 (Part 1)

[0173] Next, with reference to the Fig. 19 to 21, an embodiment is described for conditions in which the above-described battery heating mode is started to start heating of the battery 55, and then heating of the battery 55 is stopped.

[0174] The heat pump controller 32 judges, based on a gradient of a change in the heat medium temperature Tw detected by the heat medium temperature sensor 76, in the embodiment, a rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw, heating of the battery 55 is required when the rise rate ΔTw is equal to or less than a predetermined value B1, to start the battery heating mode and close the solenoid valve 69 of the device temperature setting device 61 to allow the heat medium heater 63 to generate heat, thereby starting the heating of the battery 55 (battery heater ON in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20). Therefore, if the rate of increase ΔTw is greater than the specified value B1, as indicated by ΔTw>B1 in Fig. 19, the heating of the battery 55 is not started by the battery heating mode.

[0175] However, in this embodiment, the outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 33 is contingent upon being less than or equal to a predetermined value Tam3 ​​(e.g., 5°C or so). Expressed by an equation, the heating start condition for the battery 55 in this embodiment is as follows: Rate of increase ΔTw≤predetermined value B1, and Outside air temperature Tam≤predetermined value Tam3

[0176] Incidentally, in this case, in the embodiment, the heat medium temperature Tw detected by the heat medium temperature sensor 76 is used as an index indicating the temperature of the battery (temperature control object) 55. Therefore, the rise rate ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object (battery 55) also becomes the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw in this case.

[0177] Therefore, when the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw is less than or equal to the predetermined value B1, the heat pump controller 32 starts heating the battery 55 through the device temperature setting device 61, thereby judging early from the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw whether the battery 55 needs to be heated or not, thereby enabling the start of heating of the battery 55.

[0178] Furthermore, in an environment where the outside air temperature Tam is high, even if the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw is low, there is a low probability that the temperature of the battery 55 will become abnormally low. Therefore, by having the device temperature setting device 61 start heating the battery 55 under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is less than or equal to the predetermined value Tam3, as in the embodiment, it is possible to accurately judge the necessity of heating the battery 55 by taking into account the influence of the outside air temperature Tam, which cannot be distinguished only by the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw.

[0179] Due to such heating of the battery 55, the temperature rise in the battery 55 is accelerated, or the temperature of the battery 55 starts to rise, a heating power Wheat output from the device temperature setting device 61 becomes lower than a predetermined value Wheatoff, and the rising rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw becomes higher than a predetermined value B2 (a value greater than the predetermined value B1), whereupon the heat pump controller 32 judges that the battery 55 no longer needs to be heated, and thereby terminates the battery heating mode to stop the heating of the battery 55 (battery heating OFF in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20).

[0180] However, in this embodiment, the outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 33 is dependent upon being higher than a predetermined value Tam4 (e.g., 7°C or the like). Expressed by an equation, the heating stop condition for the battery 55 in this embodiment is as follows: Wheat <vorbestimmter Wert Wheatoff, und Rate of increase ΔTw>predetermined value B2, and Tam>Tam4

[0181] However, the heating power Wheat output from the device temperature setting device 61 is calculated from the power of the heat transfer heater 63, etc.

[0182] Therefore, when the heating power Wheat output from the device temperature setting device 61 is lower than the predetermined value Wheatoff and the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw becomes higher than the predetermined value B2, the heat pump controller 32 stops the heating of the battery 55 by the heat medium heater 63 of the device temperature setting device 61, thereby accurately judging that the battery 55 does not need to be heated to stop the heating by the device temperature setting device 61, thereby making it possible to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. Furthermore, in an environment where the outside air temperature Tam is low, the temperature of the battery 55 is likely to be low even if the heating power Wheat output from the device temperature setting device 61 and the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw are high.Therefore, as in the embodiment, the heating of the battery 55 by the device temperature setting device 61 is stopped under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is higher than the predetermined value Tam4, whereby it is possible to accurately judge that the heating of the battery 55 is no longer required, taking into account the influence of the outside air temperature Tam, which can be distinguished not only by the heating power Wheat output from the device temperature setting device 61 and the rising rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw.

[0183] Incidentally, in the embodiment, when the battery 55 is charged, the heat pump controller 32 changes the predetermined value B1 and / or the predetermined value Tam3 ​​for the heating start condition described above in a descending direction (shown in Fig. 21). When the battery 55 is charged, the heat pump controller 32 also performs a change in the predetermined value Wheatoff for the heating stop condition in an ascending direction, a change in the predetermined value B2 in a descending direction, or a change in the predetermined value Tam4 in a descending direction, or a combination thereof, or all of them.

[0184] Since self-heating increases during charging of the battery 55, the temperature of the battery 55 is likely to rise compared to when the vehicle is running, etc. Therefore, the heat pump controller 32 changes the above-described predetermined value B1 and the predetermined value Tam3 ​​in a downward direction at the time of charging the battery 55. That is, the occurrence of inconveniences in which the heating start condition for the battery 55 is severed by the device temperature setting device 61 to thereby unnecessarily heat the battery 55 during charging is prevented in advance. Further, when charging the battery 55, the heat pump controller 32 changes the above-described predetermined value Wheatoff in an upward direction, changes the predetermined value B2 in a downward direction, and changes the predetermined value Tam4 in a downward direction, etc.That is, at the time of charging, the heating of the battery 55 is stopped earlier by the device temperature setting device 61 to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. (16) Battery heating start and stop (temperature control object) 55 (Part 2)

[0185] Next, with reference to Fig. 22 describes another embodiment for conditions under which, while the battery 55 is being charged by the rapid charger (external power source), the above-mentioned battery heating mode is started to start heating the battery 55, and then the heating of the battery 55 is stopped. Incidentally, in this embodiment, too, the basic heating start condition for the battery 55 is similar to that of the above-mentioned equation (VI), but in this embodiment, the heat pump controller 32 calculates the above-mentioned predetermined value B1 from the following equation (VIII): B1=(TLL−Tam) / charging time, or B1=(TLL−T0) / charging time where TLL is the above-described lower limit value of the heat carrier temperature Tw, Tam is the outside air temperature, T0 is the value of the heat carrier temperature Tw at the start of the charging process, and charging time is the time from the start time of the charging process of the battery 55 to the completion of its charging process (which is transmitted from the battery controller 73).

[0186] The value T0 of the heat carrier temperature Tw at the start of charging is equal to or close to the outside air temperature Tam. Therefore, assuming that the charging time is the same, the predetermined value B1 calculated from equation (VIII) becomes smaller as the outside air temperature Tam becomes higher and larger as the outside air temperature Tam becomes lower, as shown in Fig. 22, even in the case where an arbitrary relational equation is used. Then, in any case, heating of the battery 55 is judged to be necessary when the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw is less than or equal to the calculated predetermined value B1, thereby making it possible to raise the heat medium temperature Tw to the lower limit value TLL until the charging process is completed.

[0187] That is, the preset value B1 is changed depending on the outside air temperature Tam and the value T0 of the heat carrier temperature Tw at the beginning of charging, and thus the heat carrier temperature Tw can be reliably raised to the lower limit TLL from the beginning of charging until its completion.

[0188] Also in this embodiment, the basic heating stop condition for the battery 55 is similar to the above-mentioned equation (VII), but in this embodiment, the above-mentioned predetermined value B2 is calculated from the following equation (IX): B2=(TLL−Tp) / Remaining charging time where TLL is the lower limit value of the heat medium temperature Tw, Tp is the value of the heat medium temperature Tw at the current time, and the remaining charging time is the time from the current time until the completion of charging of the battery 55 (which is transmitted from the battery controller 73).

[0189] When the rise rate ΔTw of the heat medium temperature Tw becomes greater than the calculated predetermined value B2, the heat medium temperature Tw rises to the lower limit value TLL during the remaining charging time until the completion of the charging, so that it can be judged that heating of the battery 55 is unnecessary. That is, the predetermined value B2 is changed according to the value Tp of the heat medium temperature Tw at this time, and the heating by the device temperature adjusting device 61 is stopped accordingly, whereby it is possible to safely raise the heat medium temperature Tw to the lower limit value TLL until the completion of the charging. (17) Battery heating start (temperature control object) 55 (Part 3)

[0190] Next, with reference to Fig. 23, another embodiment is described for a condition in which, while the battery 55 is being charged by the rapid charger (external power supply), the above-described battery heating mode is started to start heating the battery 55. Incidentally, in this embodiment as well, the heating stop condition for the battery 55 is similar to the above-described equation (VII) or equation (IX), but in this embodiment, the heat pump controller 32 predicts a temperature rise in the battery 55 at the time of charging (e.g., the amount of heat generated in the battery 55 during charging or the rise rate ΔTw of the temperature of the heat medium Tw at the time of charging) based on the outside air temperature Tam detected by the outside air temperature sensor 33 and the remaining charge of the battery 55 (which is communicated from the battery controller 73).When heating is required based on a prediction result, the battery heating mode is started on a F / F (feed forward) basis from the start time of charging to start heating the battery 55.

[0191] Fig. Figure 23 shows the heating start condition for the battery 55 in this case. The horizontal axis in this figure is the outside air temperature Tam, the vertical axis is the remaining charge of the battery 55, and the section marked by hatching indicates a range where the battery 55 is determined to be heated from the start of charging. When the remaining charge of the battery 55 is large, the temperature rise at the time of charging is small, and even when the outside air temperature Tam is low, the temperature rise is small.

[0192] Thus, under the condition of Fig.23, when the outside air temperature Tam is, for example, -5°C or less, it is judged that it is necessary to start heating the battery 55 from the start time of charging from a residual charge, regardless of the level of residual charge of the battery 55. For example, when the outside air temperature Tam is between -5°C and +5°C, it is judged that heating the battery 55 must start small from the start time of charging from a residual charge of the battery 55 when the outside air temperature Tam becomes higher in the range of, for example, 50% to 100%.

[0193] Therefore, when the heat pump controller 32 predicts the temperature rise in the battery 55 at the time of charging based on the outside air temperature Tam and the remaining charge of the battery 55, and heating is required based on the prediction result, the battery heating mode is started from the charging start time to start heating the battery by the device temperature setting device 61. Consequently, it is possible to more safely avoid the inconvenience of the battery 55 failing at a low temperature, and the battery 55 is heated from the charging start time. (18) Notification process regarding the temperature control of the battery 55 (temperature control object)

[0194] When the temperature control of the battery 55 is performed by the device temperature adjustment device 61 in the above-described air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode, battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode, battery cooling (single) mode, or battery heating mode, the heat pump controller 32 sends corresponding information to the climate controller 45. When the climate controller 45 receives such information from the heat pump controller 32, the climate controller 45 displays (outputs) on the display 53A of the air conditioning operation part 53 that the temperature of the battery 55 is being adjusted. Incidentally, the output is not limited to the display but can also be output through voice or vibration.

[0195] In this way, when it is notified in advance that the temperature of the battery 55 is being adjusted by the device temperature adjusting device 61, it can be avoided that a user is unnecessarily given the feeling that an error may have occurred, etc., especially when the battery cooling mode (simple) or the battery heating mode is executed in which the air conditioning in the vehicle interior is not performed but the vehicle air conditioning device 1 is operated to control the temperature of the battery 55.

[0196] Incidentally, although the temperature of the heat carrier Tw is assumed as an index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object in the above-mentioned embodiment, the battery temperature Tcell may be adopted. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the heat carrier is circulated to regulate the temperature of the battery 55, but the present invention is not limited to this. The refrigerant and the battery 55 (temperature control object) may be in direct heat exchange.

[0197] Although the embodiment has been described that the vehicle air conditioning device 1 is capable of cooling the battery 55 while cooling the vehicle interior in the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode and the battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode to simultaneously perform cooling of the vehicle interior and cooling of the battery 55, the cooling of the battery 55 is not limited to one cooling operation, but other air conditioning operations, such as the above-described dehumidification and heating operation and cooling of the battery 55, may also be performed simultaneously. In this case, the solenoid valve 69 is opened, and a portion of the refrigerant flowing to the heat absorber 9 via the refrigerant line 13F is caused to flow into the branch line 67 and then into the refrigerant-heat-medium heat exchanger 64.

[0198] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the configuration and the numerical values ​​of the refrigerant cycle R described in the embodiments are not limited to them and can be changed within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, in the embodiment, the present invention has been described using the vehicle air conditioning device 1 having each operation mode such as the heating mode, the dehumidifying and heating mode, the dehumidifying and cooling mode, the cooling mode, and the air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also effective for a vehicle air conditioning device capable of executing, for example, a cooling mode, an air conditioning (priority) + battery cooling mode, and a battery cooling (priority) + air conditioning mode. Description of reference symbols 1 vehicle air conditioning device 2 compressor 3 Air flow channel 4 Radiator (interior heat exchanger) 6 Outdoor expansion valve 7 outdoor heat exchangers 8 Internal expansion valve 9 Heat absorber (internal heat exchanger) 11 Control device 32 Heat pump controller (forms a component of the control device) 35, 69 Solenoid valve 45 Climate controller (forms a component of the control device), climate control controller, climate control device, climate control 55 Battery (temperature control object) 61 Device temperature adjustment device 63 Heat transfer heater (heating device) 64 refrigerant-heat transfer medium heat exchangers 68 Auxiliary expansion valve 73 Battery controller, battery regulator, battery control device, battery control 76 Heat transfer fluid temperature sensor R Refrigerant circuit.

Claims

[1] A vehicle air conditioning device (1) which conditions the air of a vehicle interior, comprising: a compressor (2) for compressing a refrigerant; an interior heat exchanger (4, 9) for carrying out a heat exchange between the air supplied to the vehicle interior and the refrigerant; an external heat exchanger (7) arranged outside the vehicle interior; and a control device (11), wherein the vehicle air conditioning device (1) comprises a device temperature setting device (61) for setting a temperature of a temperature control object (55) mounted in a vehicle, and wherein the control device (11) is configured to control the device temperature setting device (61) based on a gradient of a change in an index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object (55), wherein the device temperature adjusting device (61) is capable of cooling the temperature control object (55) using the refrigerant, and wherein the control device (11) is configured to start the cooling of the temperature control object (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) when a rate of increase ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object (55) is greater than or equal to a predetermined value A1, wherein the temperature control object (55) is an externally rechargeable battery (55), and wherein the control device (11) is configured to change the predetermined value A1 in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery (55). [2] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control device (11) is configured to start cooling of the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) under the condition that an outside air temperature Tam is greater than or equal to a predetermined value Tam1. [3] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the control device (11) is configured to change the predetermined value Tam1 in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery (55). [4] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device (11) is configured to set the predetermined value A1 at the time of charging the battery (55) as follows: A1=(TUL−Tam) / charging time, or A1=(TUL−T0) / charging time, where TUL is an upper limit value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery (55), Tam is an outside air temperature, T0 is a value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery (55) at the start of charging, and the charging time is a time from the start time of charging the battery (55) to the completion of charging the battery (55). [5] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device (11) is configured to predict a temperature rise in the battery (55) during charging based on the outside air temperature Tam and a remaining charge of the battery (55), and when cooling is required based on a prediction result, the control device (11) is configured to start cooling of the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) from the charging start time. [6] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device (11) is configured to stop the cooling of the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) when a cooling power Wcool output from the device temperature setting device (61) falls below a predetermined value Wcooloff and the rate of increase ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the battery (55) falls below a predetermined value A2. [7] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the control device (11) is configured to stop the cooling of the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is less than a predetermined value Tam2. [8] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control device (11) is configured to change any one of the predetermined value Wcooloff, the predetermined value A2 or the predetermined value Tam2 or a combination of them or all of them in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery (55). [9] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control device (11) is configured to set the predetermined value A2 at the time of charging the battery (55) as follows: A2=(TUL−Tp) / remaining charging time, where TUL is an upper limit value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery (55), Tp is a value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery (55) at the present time, and the remaining charge time is a time from the present time until completion of charging of the battery (55). [10] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the device temperature setting device (61) has a heating device (63) and is capable of heating the battery (55), and wherein the control device (11) is configured to start heating the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) when the rate of increase ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the battery (55) is less than or equal to a predetermined value B1. [11] A vehicle air conditioning device (1) which conditions the air of a vehicle interior, comprising: a compressor (2) for compressing a refrigerant; an interior heat exchanger (4, 9) for carrying out a heat exchange between the air supplied to the vehicle interior and the refrigerant; an external heat exchanger (7) arranged outside the vehicle interior; and a control device (11), wherein the vehicle air conditioning device (1) comprises a device temperature setting device (61) for setting a temperature of a temperature control object (55) mounted in a vehicle, and wherein the control device (11) is configured to control the device temperature setting device (61) based on a gradient of a change in an index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object (55), wherein the device temperature adjusting device (61) has a heating device (63) and is capable of heating the temperature control object (55), and wherein the control device (11) is configured to start heating of the temperature control object (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) when the rate of increase ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the temperature control object (55) is less than or equal to a predetermined value B1 wherein the temperature control object (55) is an externally rechargeable battery (55), and wherein the control device (11) is configured to change the predetermined value B1 in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery (55). [12] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the control device (11) is configured to start heating of the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is less than or equal to a predetermined value Tam3. [13] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the control device (11) is configured to change the predetermined value Tam3 ​​in a descending direction at the time of charging the battery (55). [14] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the control device (11) is configured to predict a temperature rise in the battery (55) during charging based on the outside air temperature Tam and a remaining charge of the battery (55), and when heating is required based on a prediction result, the control device (11) is configured to start heating the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) from the charging start time. [15] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the control device (11) is configured to stop heating of the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) when a heating power Wheat output from the device temperature setting device (61) falls below a predetermined value Wheatoff and the rate of increase ΔT of the index indicating the temperature of the battery (55) becomes higher than a predetermined value B2. [16] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 15, wherein the control device (11) is configured to stop heating of the battery (55) by the device temperature setting device (61) under the condition that the outside air temperature Tam is higher than a predetermined value Tam4. [17] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein, at the time of charging the battery (55), the control device (11) is configured to perform a change of the predetermined value Wheatoff in an ascending direction, a change of the predetermined value B2 in a descending direction, or a change of the predetermined value Tam4 in a descending direction, or a combination thereof or all thereof. [18] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the control device (11) is configured to set the predetermined value B2 at the time of charging the battery (55) as follows: B2=(TLL−Tp) / Remaining landing time, where TLL is a lower limit value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery (55), Tp is a value of an index indicating a temperature of the battery (55) at the present time, and the remaining charge time is a time from the present time until the completion of charging of the battery (55). [19] The vehicle air conditioning device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the control device (11) is configured to perform a predetermined operation to notify that the temperature of the battery (55) is adjusted by the device temperature adjusting device (61).

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