air conditioning system for electric vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric vehicle (1) comprising a battery pack (2) powering an electric motor and an air conditioning system (3) for cooling the air in the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle (1), the battery pack (2) resting on a lower wall (7) of a structure of the electric vehicle (1), the air conditioning system (3) comprising an air conditioner (4), a collection tray (5) for the condensation water (6) generated by the air conditioner (4), and a drainage channel (8) connecting the air conditioner (4) to the collection tray (5) for draining the condensation water (6) from the air conditioner (4) to the collection tray (5), the collection tray (5) being positioned opposite the lower wall (7) of the structure of the electric vehicle (1) so as to allow the evaporation of the condensation water (6) contained in the collection tray (5). (Fig. 1 single)

Description

Title of the invention: Air conditioning system for electric vehicles Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of air conditioning systems enabling the regulation of thermal comfort in the passenger compartment of an electric vehicle.

[0002] Motor vehicles with electric traction or propulsion include one or more battery modules to power an electric motor (traction or propulsion).

[0003] The battery modules are grouped in a casing and thus form a battery block, also often referred to by the English expression "battery pack". Prior art

[0004] Most electric vehicles are equipped with an air conditioning system to ensure thermal comfort in the passenger compartment by circulating air at a regulated temperature inside the passenger compartment.

[0005] The air conditioning system includes at least one air intake flap at the front of the vehicle to bring outside air into the passenger compartment and an air conditioner, also known as an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) unit, to generate air in the passenger compartment at a desired temperature and thus provide thermal comfort. The air conditioning system also includes air extractors, positioned at various locations in the vehicle's passenger compartment, to expel stale air.

[0006] The air conditioner comprises an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and a circuit connecting these elements together.

[0007] The main drawback of air conditioners concerns the condensation that forms at the bottom of the unit. This condensation results from the temperature difference between the condenser, which is cold when in use, and the warmer air outside the vehicle. The water vapor in the air condenses on the condenser and forms liquid water.

[0008] Condensation causes water to run off the vehicle. This is particularly problematic when the vehicle is parked because it creates a puddle on the ground which can be dangerous for a pedestrian or the driver getting out of the vehicle, who may slip on the puddle.

[0009] In addition, water runs down the battery pack and can lead to a risk of water seeping into the battery pack, causing a short circuit.

[0010] Document EP2275294 describes a recovery tray located below a cooling unit of a motor vehicle. This tray receives condensate dripping from the cooling unit and directs this condensate to an external portion of the vehicle's air conditioning system. The recovery tray includes a water receiving area and a discharge port. This port is connected to a water drainage channel.

[0011] However, this solution does not solve the problem of water flowing onto the ground under the electric vehicle. Description of the invention

[0012] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing in particular an electric vehicle comprising an air conditioning system configured to eliminate the runoff of condensation water from the air conditioner onto the ground.

[0013] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, an electric vehicle is proposed comprising a battery pack powering an electric motor and resting on a lower wall of the vehicle's structure. The electric vehicle includes an air conditioning system for cooling the air in the vehicle's passenger compartment. The air conditioning system includes an air conditioner and a collection tray for the condensation generated by the air conditioner.

[0014] According to the invention, the air conditioning system includes a drainage channel connecting the air conditioner to the recovery tank to drain the condensate water from the air conditioner to the recovery tank. The recovery tank is positioned opposite the lower wall of the electric vehicle structure so as to allow the evaporation of the condensate water contained in the recovery tank.

[0015] The invention thus provides an electric vehicle comprising an air conditioning system configured to eliminate the runoff of condensation water from the air conditioner onto the ground in a simple and economical way.

[0016] The safety of pedestrians and the driver exiting the vehicle is improved because the invention prevents them from slipping on a puddle generated by condensation water running under the vehicle.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the recovery tank includes a top opening for the evaporation of condensation water.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the drainage channel is inclined between the air conditioner and the collection tray. This inclination allows the condensation water to flow off by gravity, without a pump.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the collection tray is fixed to the lower wall of the electric vehicle structure. This provides a simple, without additional parts.

[0020] According to another embodiment, the drainage channel is connected to a first side wall of the recovery tank. The first side wall is the wall of the recovery tank closest to the air conditioner. This allows for the use of the shortest possible drainage channel.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the collection bin includes a tab extending from the first side wall of the collection bin. The tab is fixed to the lower wall of the electric vehicle structure. This provides a simple solution for securely attaching the collection bin.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the upper opening is formed on a second side wall of the collection tray, opposite the first side wall. The second side wall has a shorter height than the first side wall. This provides a simple solution for allowing condensing water vapor to escape from the drainage tray.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the recovery tray is positioned at the location of the front half of the battery pack closest to the air conditioner. This allows the use of the shortest possible drainage channel.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method for removing condensation generated by an air conditioner from the air conditioning system of an electric vehicle as defined above. The method comprises a step of collecting and transferring the condensation generated by the air conditioner to a collection tank, and a step of heating the condensation collected by the battery pack to evaporate the condensation.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the evaporation step of the condensation water is carried out during a driving phase and / or a charging phase of the electric vehicle. brief description of the figures

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the single attached figure, which illustrates:

[0027] [Fig-1]: A schematic view of a vehicle including a collection bin condensation water positioned under a battery pack.

[0028] The terms "lower", "upper", "high" and "low" shall be understood according to their usual definition, in which the terms "lower" and "low" indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than respectively the terms "higher" and "high".

[0029] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. DETAILED description of a method of implementation

[0030] Fig. 1 illustrates an electric vehicle 1 comprising a battery pack 2 powering an electric motor and an air conditioning system 3 intended to cool air in a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle 1.

[0031] Motor vehicles with electric or hybrid traction or propulsion include one or more battery modules 17 connected to a power network to supply an electric motor (traction or propulsion).

[0032] The battery modules 17 are grouped in a casing 16 and thus form a battery block, also often referred to by the English expression "battery pack", this casing 17 generally containing a mounting interface and connection terminals.

[0033] Therefore, throughout this document, battery pack 2 will be understood to mean an assembly comprising at least one battery module 17 containing at least one electrochemical cell generating current by chemical reaction, for example of the lithium-ion (or Li-ion), Ni-Mh, Ni-Cd or lead type.

[0034] The battery pack 2 is positioned on a lower wall 7 of a structure of the electric vehicle 1.

[0035] The air conditioning system is known and comprises an air conditioner 4 with a compressor that compresses a heat transfer fluid. The compressed fluid, which is hot, passes through a radiator (called a "condenser"). The condenser may be equipped with a fan that forces an airflow from outside or inside the electric vehicle 1 to cool the fluid, thus increasing the efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0036] The compressed fluid is filtered by a dehydrator. It passes through an expansion valve which is connected to the evaporator. The fluid then vaporizes, absorbing heat from the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle 1.

[0037] The air conditioning system further includes at least one air intake flap at the front of the vehicle to bring outside air into the passenger compartment, air extractors positioned at various locations in the passenger compartment of the vehicle to remove stale air, and pipes connecting the air conditioner 4 to the intake flap and the air extractors.

[0038] The air conditioner 4 is positioned at the front of the electric vehicle 1.

[0039] According to the invention, the air conditioning system 3 includes a recovery tank 5 for the condensation water 6 generated by the air conditioner 4 and a drainage channel 8 connecting the air conditioner 4 to the recovery tank 5 to drain the condensation water 6 from the air conditioner 4 to the recovery tank 5.

[0040] The air conditioner 4 includes a drainage compartment 11, positioned at a lower part 12 of the air conditioner 4, allowing the recovery of the water condensed by the condenser which flows by gravity towards the lower part 12 of the air conditioner 4.

[0041] The drainage channel 8 is in fluidic communication with the compartment of drainage 11 and the collection tray 5. The drainage channel 8 drains the condensation water 6 from the drainage compartment 11 to the collection tray 5. The drainage channel 8 includes a first end 13 connected to the drainage compartment 11 and a second end 14 connected to a first side wall 15 of the collection tray 5. The first side wall 15 is the wall of the collection tray 5 that is closest to the air conditioner 4.

[0042] The recovery bin 5 is advantageously positioned opposite the lower wall 7 of the structure of the electric vehicle 1, i.e. under the battery pack 2, between the lower wall 7 and the ground.

[0043] The recovery bin 5 is positioned lower than the air conditioner 4. In other words, the recovery bin 5 is closer to the ground than the air conditioner 4 when the electric vehicle 1 is positioned substantially horizontally on the ground.

[0044] Advantageously, the drainage channel 8 is inclined between the air conditioner 4 and the recovery tray 5, allowing the condensed water that flows by gravity into the drainage channel 8 to be recovered.

[0045] The drainage channel 8 can be formed from a single pipe or from several pipes connected together. The drainage channel 8 is advantageously straight but may have curves.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the recovery bin 5 is fixed to the lower wall 7 of the structure of the electric vehicle 1 by means of fixing such as screws or rivets.

[0047] The collection bin 5 includes a tab 21 fixed to the lower wall 7 of the structure of the electric vehicle 1 by means of the fixing means. The tab 21 extends perpendicularly from the first side wall 15 of the collection bin 5, outwards from the collection bin 5.

[0048] Alternatively, the tab 21 can be fixed to the lower wall 7 of the structure of the electric vehicle 1 by welding.

[0049] According to a possible condensation water removal process 6, the process includes a step of collecting and transferring the condensation water 6 generated by the air conditioner 4 to the recovery tank 5 which is followed by a step of heating the collected condensation water 6, by the battery pack 2 in order to evaporate the condensation water 6.

[0050] Advantageously, the evaporation step of the condensation water 6 is carried out during a driving phase and / or a charging phase of the electric vehicle 1. It is during these phases that the battery pack 2 produces the most heat. The heat from the battery pack 2 is thus recovered to evaporate the condensation water 6.

[0051] The collection tray 5 includes a top opening 9 to allow evaporation of the condensation water 6 by the heat supplied by the battery pack 2.

[0052] The upper opening 9 is positioned at the level of an upper part 18 of the recovery bin 5 which is opposite the lower wall 7 of the structure of the electric vehicle 1 and opposite a bottom 19 of the recovery bin 5.

[0053] The upper opening 9 can be formed on a second side wall 22 of the collection tray 5, opposite the first side wall 15. The second side wall 22 has a lower height than the first side wall 15.

[0054] The collection tray 5 has a parallelepiped shape. The upper opening 9 can extend to other walls of the collection tray 5 such as the third and fourth side walls connected to the first side wall 15 and the second side wall 22.

[0055] Alternatively, the upper opening 9 can be formed by a circular orifice, for example. Alternatively, the orifice can be connected to a drain pipe.

[0056] After the heating step, the recovery tray 5 is empty.

[0057] The collection tray 5 can be made of plastic, for example, and is resistant to the heat generated by the battery pack 2.

[0058] Preferably, the recovery tray 5 is positioned at the location of a first forward half 10 of the battery pack 2, which is the half closest to the air conditioner 4, following a direction of advancement A of the electric vehicle 1.

[0059] Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Electric vehicle (1) comprising a battery pack (2) powering an electric motor and an air conditioning system (3) for cooling air in a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle (1), the battery pack (2) resting on a lower wall (7) of a structure of the electric vehicle (1), the air conditioning system (3) comprising an air conditioner (4) and a collection tray (5) for the condensation water (6) generated by the air conditioner (4), characterized in that the air conditioning system (3) comprises a drainage channel (8) connecting the air conditioner (4) to the collection tray (5) to drain the condensation water (6) from the air conditioner (4) to the collection tray (5), the collection tray (5) being positioned opposite the lower wall (7) of the structure of the electric vehicle (1) so as to permit the evaporation of the condensation water (6) contained in the collection tray (5).

2. Electric vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the recovery tray (5) includes a top opening (9) for the evaporation of condensation water (6).

3. Electric vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the drainage channel (8) is inclined between the air conditioner (4) and the recovery tray (5).

4. Electric vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the recovery bin (5) is fixed to the lower wall (7) of the structure of the electric vehicle (1).

5. Electric vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drainage channel (8) is connected to a first side wall (15) of the recovery tray (5), the first side wall (15) being the wall of the recovery tray (5) closest to the air conditioner (4).

6. Electric vehicle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the recovery bin (5) includes a tab (21) extending from the first side wall (15) of the recovery bin (5), the tab (21) being fixed to the lower wall (7) of the structure of the electric vehicle (1).

7. Electric vehicle (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper opening (9) is formed on a second side wall (22) of the recovery bin (5), opposite the first side wall (15), the second side wall (22) having a lower height than that of the first side wall (15).

8. Electric vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the recovery tray (5) is positioned at the location of a first front half (10) of the battery pack (2) closest to the air conditioner (4).

9. A method for removing condensation water (6) generated by an air conditioner (4) of an air conditioning system of an electric vehicle (1) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and comprising a battery pack (2) powering an electric motor, characterized in that it comprises: - a step of collecting and transferring the condensation water (6) generated by the air conditioner (4) to a recovery tank (5), and - a step of heating the condensation water (6) collected by the battery pack (2) to evaporate the condensation water (6).

10. Method for removing condensation water (6) according to claim 9, characterized in that the evaporation step of the condensation water (6) is carried out during a driving phase and / or a charging phase of the electric vehicle (1).

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