Method for controlling a low-energy vehicle cabin air conditioning system

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle passenger compartment air conditioning system, the air conditioning system comprising a proximity comfort means (41, 42), a controllable ventilation means (2) for injecting air from outside the vehicle (1) into the passenger compartment of said vehicle (1) at a given flow rate, the method comprising an activation step of the proximity comfort means (41, 42), a minimum outside air intake step in which the ventilation means (2) injects outside air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle with a minimum outside air flow rate corresponding to a passenger compartment air renewal of no more than six times per hour by controlling said ventilation means injecting outside air into the passenger compartment. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method for controlling an air conditioning device for a vehicle interior with low energy consumption

[0001] The invention relates to a method for controlling an air conditioning device in a vehicle passenger compartment that consumes little energy, as well as a vehicle implementing such a method.

[0002] Vehicles conventionally comprise an air conditioning device comprising a ventilation means for introducing outside air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle at a given flow rate, for example using a turbine and controlled flaps. This air can be heated or cooled depending on the thermal comfort desired by a passenger of the vehicle, using a temperature exchanger. It is also known to use proximity comfort means, such as a heated seat or a radiant panel, in order to provide calories to the passenger, and therefore to heat it, by radiation and / or contact, in order to reduce the use of convection heating, that is to say by heating the air introduced into the passenger compartment.For example, document FR3124985 describes a vehicle comprising a vehicle air conditioning device comprising a means of ventilating the passenger compartment, heated seats and radiant panels operating in concert to provide thermal comfort to the vehicle passenger, and a control method allowing better consideration of the occupants' feelings, and which adapts to the needs and specificities of each person.

[0003] The disadvantage of such a solution is that it does not allow for a significant reduction in the energy consumption of the air conditioning device, particularly when there is a need to provide heating to the passenger, while .

[0004] The objective of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks. In particular, one of the aims of the invention is to propose a method for controlling an air conditioning device in a vehicle passenger compartment making it possible to reduce energy consumption while ensuring passenger comfort.

[0005] This aim is achieved according to the invention, thanks to a method for controlling an air conditioning device for a vehicle passenger compartment, the air conditioning device comprising a proximity comfort means, a controllable ventilation means making it possible to inject air coming from outside the vehicle into the passenger compartment of said vehicle at a given flow rate, the method comprising the following steps:

[0006] - a step of activating the proximity comfort means,

[0007] - a step of minimal admission of outside air in which the means of vent tilation injects outside air into the vehicle's passenger compartment with a minimum outside air flow rate corresponding to a passenger compartment air renewal of at most six times per hour by controlling said ventilation means injecting outside air into the passenger compartment, preferably corresponding to a renewal of air in the passenger compartment at most five times per hour.

[0008] Thus advantageously, the implementation of this method for controlling the air conditioning device makes it possible to avoid having a feeling of suffocation due to a total absence of air renewal and to reduce the quantity of energy thanks to the low flow of outside air introduced and by the use of the nearby air conditioning means, in particular when there is a need to provide heat to the passenger. The low flow of outside air introduced into the passenger compartment makes it possible to do without heating this admitted air, or to reduce its heating, without causing discomfort thanks to the low flow even when the temperature outside the vehicle requires heating to be provided to the passengers. Indeed, by choosing a low flow of outside air introduced, this air flow will not be perceived by the passenger, for example the passenger will not feel a flow of fresh air, and will avoid creating discomfort for said passenger. The minimum flow depends on the volume of air in the passenger compartment.The renewal of the passenger compartment air a certain number of times per hour is calculated based on the volume of air in the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in a context in which the vehicle comprises a device for extracting air from the passenger compartment which can be controlled between an open position and a closed position, the method further comprises a step of opening the extraction device so that the extraction device allows the passenger compartment air to exit the vehicle at least in part during the step of minimal intake of outside air.

[0010] Thus, even with a low minimum outside air intake flow rate, a minimum of air can exit the passenger compartment thanks to the opening of the controllable extraction device. Indeed, when the outside air flow rate injected into the passenger compartment is very low, the pressure generated in the passenger compartment risks being insufficient to allow the opening of a so-called passive air extraction device, such as for example a simply articulated flap without an active device allowing it to be moved between an open position and a closed position, and therefore with the risk that the outside air cannot be injected into the passenger compartment by the ventilation device. Controlling the controlled extraction device thus ensures the intake of outside air with the desired minimum flow rate.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, the air extraction device comprises a flap that can be controlled between an open position and a closed position, the position of which is modified during the step of opening the extraction device. Alternatively, the air extraction device comprises an active ventilation unit capable of setting the air in motion, possibly associated with a controllable flap. For example, the active ventilation unit comprises a turbine or a fan propeller.

[0012] Thus advantageously, the controlled shutter allows rapid and efficient opening or closing of the air extraction. Alternatively, the use of an active ventilation unit advantageously makes it possible to control the quantity of air evacuated by the extraction device by controlling its operation, for example by choosing a rotation speed of a turbine, so as to obtain a given extracted air flow rate.

[0013] In another embodiment of the invention, the air introduced into the passenger compartment during the minimum outside air intake step is introduced without modification of its temperature by the ventilation device.

[0014] Thus advantageously, the operation of the air conditioning device uses very little energy, only for the operation of the close comfort means, without degrading the comfort of the passenger. Indeed, the low flow of outside air admitted limits the risk of generating discomfort when this air is sent into the passenger compartment even if it is not heated.

[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, the method comprises a step of measuring and comparing the temperature of the air outside the vehicle with a limit temperature, the air introduced at low flow rate during the minimum outside air intake step being introduced without modification of its temperature by the ventilation device if the temperature of the outside air is greater than or equal to the limit temperature, preferably the limit temperature is equal to 2°C, or greater than or equal to 12°C.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air introduced at a low flow rate during the minimum outside air intake step is heated during an air heating step by the ventilation device if the outside air temperature is lower than the limit temperature, preferably the air is heated to a temperature chosen between 10°C and 17°C.

[0017] Thus, advantageously, the energy consumption of the air conditioning device in order to ensure the comfort of the passenger is low, because the air admitted into the passenger compartment is only heated when the temperature of the outside air is too low and would risk causing discomfort to the passenger. In addition, since the flow rate is low, the amount of energy to heat this air admitted into the passenger compartment is low.

[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, the steps of said method are implemented if the outside air temperature is higher than a minimum threshold temperature and lower than a maximum threshold temperature, preferably the minimum threshold temperature is 2°C and the maximum threshold temperature is 20°C, and / or if the risk of fogging occurring given by a fog sensor is low or zero.

[0019] The invention also relates to a method for managing the thermal comfort of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an air conditioning device comprising a proximity comfort means, for example a radiant panel and / or a heated seat, a controllable ventilation means for injecting air from outside the vehicle into the passenger compartment of said vehicle at a given flow rate and for heating said injected air, the thermal comfort management method comprising an economic mode implementing the method for controlling the air conditioning device as described above, and a normal mode comprising a step of deactivating the proximity comfort means or activating said proximity comfort means at a reduced power, a step of admitting outside air at a flow rate greater than the minimum outside flow rate, and a step of heating the admitted outside air by the ventilation device.

[0020] Thus advantageously, when a need to save energy is necessary, the vehicle passenger can choose to reduce energy consumption to obtain thermal comfort by switching to the economy mode, modifying the way in which thermal comfort is achieved, without degrading his comfort.

[0021] In another embodiment of the thermal comfort management method, the vehicle comprising a controllable air extraction device and a means for recycling the passenger compartment air allowing a controllable recycling rate, said method further comprises a step of actuating the extraction device in which the opening of the extraction device is controlled as a function of the flow rate of the air admitted from outside by the ventilation device and the recycling rate.

[0022] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising an air conditioning device comprising a proximity comfort means, a controllable ventilation means making it possible to inject air from outside the vehicle into the passenger compartment of said vehicle at a given flow rate and capable of heating the air injected into the passenger compartment, a controllable air extraction device, possibly a means for recycling the passenger compartment air capable of recycling the passenger compartment air according to a controllable recycling rate, a control box implementing the method for controlling the air conditioning device as described above or the method for managing thermal comfort as described above.

[0023] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0024] [Fig. 1] represents a vehicle according to a first aspect of the invention.

[0025] [Fig.2] represents a graph of the control process of an air conditioning device of the vehicle of [Fig.l]

[0026] The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale. The same references correspond to the same components from one figure to another.

[0027] [Fig.l] illustrates a vehicle comprising a device for air conditioning a vehicle passenger compartment. The air conditioning device comprises a comfort means of proximity 41, 42, a controllable ventilation means 2 for injecting air from outside the vehicle 1 into the passenger compartment of said vehicle 1 at a given flow rate. The flow rate of the outside air injected into the passenger compartment of the vehicle by the ventilation device 2 can be modified, and said ventilation means is capable of heating the air introduced into the passenger compartment, for example before it enters the passenger compartment via a heat exchanger. The proximity comfort means 41, 42 comprises, for example, a heated seat 41 or a radiant panel 42 in a door panel. For example, each seat in the vehicle is a heated seat 41, and / or each seat comprises nearby, for example in a door panel or on the roof, a radiant panel 42. The radiant panel 41 makes it possible to heat a passenger seated on the seat by radiation, and a heated seat to heat a passenger seated on the seat by conduction.

[0028] The ventilation device 2 conventionally comprises an external air inlet, making it possible to suck in air located outside the vehicle, ventilation ducts introducing the air into the passenger compartment, and a blower making it possible to set the air in motion and blow it at a given flow rate into the passenger compartment of the vehicle through the ventilation ducts, the flow rate being able to be modified. In order to be able to heat the air introduced into the passenger compartment, the ventilation device 2 comprises for example an electrical resistor or a temperature exchanger through which the air passes. The arrow F1 in [Fig.l] illustrates the flow of air introduced into the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 by the ventilation means 2.In a variant, the ventilation means 2 is associated with an air recycling device comprising an interior air inlet, sucking in air located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and pipes arranged so as to reinject this air into the passenger compartment, possibly mixed with outside air. For example, this recycling device is integrated into the ventilation device 2.

[0029] The vehicle 1 further comprises a control box, connected to the air conditioning device, implementing a method for controlling the air conditioning device 2. The method comprises the following steps, as illustrated in [Fig.2]: - a step 101 of activating the proximity comfort means 41, 42, - a step 102 of minimum intake of outside air during which the ventilation means 2 injects outside air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle with a minimum outside air flow rate. The minimum outside air flow rate corresponding to a renewal of air in the passenger compartment of at most six times per hour by controlling said ventilation means injecting outside air into the passenger compartment.That is to say that during the step 102 of minimum intake of outside air, the ventilation device 2 is controlled so as to bring only a small quantity of outside air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, allowing the air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle to be renewed at most six times per hour. Alternatively, the ventilation device 2 is controlled so as to have a recycling of the air in the passenger compartment of at most . five times per hour. For example, for a city vehicle with an interior volume of approximately 4m3, such as the vehicle model with the trade name 208 of the Peugeot brand marketed in 2023, a renewal of the passenger compartment air five times per hour corresponds to an air flow rate from outside of 20m3 per hour, this flow rate corresponding to less than 5% of the maximum flow rate of outside air that can be achieved by the ventilation means, this maximum flow rate corresponds to a situation in which the ventilation device is operated so as to bring outside air into the passenger compartment with a maximum possible flow rate.

[0030] The advantage of having a low minimum outside air flow rate is to eliminate the feeling of suffocation that would appear if no outside air were admitted with activation of the nearby comfort means, and while avoiding generating a feeling of coolness and discomfort caused by too high an outside air flow rate, for example when the outside air is at a temperature lower than the temperature of the air in the passenger compartment or lower than the temperature at which the passenger of the vehicle 1 wishes to have in the vehicle 1.

[0031] Step 101 of activating the proximity comfort means is activated before step 102 of minimum air admission, or at the same time or after, so that for a given duration, these two steps 101 and 102 are implemented, that is to say that at the same time and during this given duration, the proximity comfort means 41, 42 is activated and outside air is admitted into the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 by the ventilation device 2 with the given minimum outside air flow rate.

[0032] In [Fig.l], the vehicle 1 comprises a device 3 for extracting air from the passenger compartment that can be controlled between an open position and a closed position. For example, the extraction device 3 comprises one or more controllable flaps, i.e. flaps whose position can be modified on command. For example, an actuator of the motor or electromagnet type is connected to the flap so as to modify its position between an open position and a closed position. Such an extraction device is for example described in the document US10173493. The arrow F2 in [Fig.l] illustrates the air flow exiting through the extraction device 3.

[0033] Alternatively, the extraction device 3 comprises an active ventilation unit, for example a turbine or a propeller which, by rotating when activated in a so-called open position, allows the air to be set in motion to extract it from the passenger compartment of the vehicle and which, when not activated, is placed in a so-called closed position which blocks the air outlet. A controllable flap is for example associated with the active ventilation unit in order to block the passage of air when the active ventilation unit is not activated.

[0034] In this variant in which the vehicle 1 comprises the controllable air extraction device 3, the method further comprises a step 103 of opening the device extraction device 3 so that the extraction device 3 lets the passenger compartment air out of the vehicle 1 at least in part during the step 102 of minimum intake of outside air. In other words, the extraction device 3 is placed in the open position during the step 103 of opening the extraction device. For example, when the step 102 of minimum air intake is implemented, the extraction device 3 is placed in the open position at the same time and for the entire duration of the step 102 of minimum air intake. Alternatively, the extraction device 3 is placed in the open position before and at least in part during the step 102 of minimum air intake.

[0035] Placing the controllable extraction device 3 in the open position ensures that air leaves the passenger compartment despite the very low flow rate of outside air injected into said passenger compartment when the minimum air intake step 102 is implemented. Indeed, since the minimum flow rate of outside air is low, it cannot create sufficient pressure in the passenger compartment of the vehicle to move a passive flap forming an extraction device, i.e. a flap that passes between a closed position and an open position of its own accord under the effect of the air pressure in the passenger compartment, as conventionally used: the weight of the flap and the friction in a mechanism allowing its movement are greater than the resulting force of the air pressure on such a flap.The use of an active extraction device 3 thus makes it possible to ensure that said extraction device 3 is in the open position at least partially during the step 102 of minimum air admission.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the air introduced during step 102 of minimum intake of outside air is introduced without modification of its temperature by the ventilation device 2. That is to say that no means for heating this air is put into action.

[0037] In another variant, the method comprises a step 104 of measuring and comparing the temperature of the air outside the vehicle 1 with a limit temperature, and the air introduced at a low flow rate during the step 102 of minimum intake of outside air is introduced without modification of its temperature by the ventilation device 2 if the temperature of the outside air is greater than or equal to the limit temperature. For example, the limit temperature is greater than or equal to 2°C, or greater than or equal to 12°.

[0038] In another variant, the air introduced at a low flow rate during the minimum outside air intake step 102 is heated during an air heating step 105 by the ventilation device 2 if the outside air temperature is lower than the limit temperature. The air thus admitted is for example heated to a temperature chosen between 10°C and 17°C. Alternatively, the temperature to which the outside air admitted during the minimum outside air intake step 102 is heated depends on the outside air temperature and / or the temperature of the air already present in the vehicle 1. The ventilation device 2 comprises for this purpose, for example, an electrical resistor arranged so as to heat the air admitted during the minimum air admission step 102. The air admitted may, as another example, be heated by a heat exchanger of a heat pump device used at a low speed in order to reduce the energy consumption of said pump, or any other means known to those skilled in the art.

[0039] The implementation of this method for controlling the air conditioning device is carried out under certain conditions, for example when the outside air temperature is higher than a minimum threshold temperature and lower than a maximum threshold temperature. For example, the minimum threshold temperature is chosen to be equal to 2°C and the maximum threshold temperature to 20°C. Alternatively, the minimum threshold temperature is chosen to be 10°C and the maximum threshold temperature to be 16°C. Alternatively, the implementation of said method depends on a detection of the risk of fogging appearing on the windshield given by a fog sensor: the method is implemented provided that the risk of fogging appearing is low or zero. The detection of the risk of fogging appearing on the windshield is carried out for example by a device as described by the document FR3120366.

[0040] This method of controlling the air conditioning device is part of a method of managing thermal comfort which includes an economic mode and a normal mode, the method being implemented by the control box. The normal mode and the economic mode are chosen either manually by the user, or automatically by the control box, depending for example on the driving situations or depending on the state of charge of a propulsion battery in the case of an electric vehicle. When the economic mode is chosen, the method of controlling the air conditioning device is implemented, that is to say that the steps of the method of controlling the air conditioning device are carried out, in order to reduce the energy consumption of the air conditioning device while providing sufficient thermal comfort to the passengers.When the normal mode is chosen, the method for controlling the air conditioning device is not implemented, and the method for managing thermal comfort implements the following steps: - a step of deactivating the proximity comfort means or activating said proximity comfort means at a reduced power, for example at a power lower than 25% of its maximum power, - a step of admitting outside air at a flow rate higher than the minimum outside flow rate, - and a step of heating the admitted outside air by the ventilation device 2.

[0041] That is to say that the air flow rate coming from the outside air is greater in normal mode than in economy mode, and therefore greater than the minimum outside air flow rate. The quantity of outside air admitted being greater in normal mode, the quantity of energy to heat this air is therefore greater than in economy mode.

[0042] In a variant, the vehicle 1 comprises a controllable air extraction device 3 and a means for recycling the passenger compartment air allowing a controllable recycling rate. The thermal comfort management method further comprises a step of controlling the extraction device in which the opening of the extraction device 3 is controlled as a function of the flow rate of the outside air injected into the passenger compartment by the ventilation device and / or the recycling rate, in economy mode as in normal mode.The recycling rate corresponds to the ratio between the air flow coming from the passenger compartment of the vehicle and reinjected into the passenger compartment compared to the total air flow injected into the passenger compartment: a recycling rate of 100% thus corresponds to a situation in which all the air injected into the passenger compartment comes from the recycled air drawn from said passenger compartment, and a rate of 0% a situation in which all the air introduced into the passenger compartment by the device comes from outside the vehicle.

[0043] In another variant, the control of the opening of the extraction device 3 also takes into account the driving conditions of the vehicle 1, for example its speed, or the situation of use of the vehicle, for example a situation of closing a door.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for controlling an air conditioning device for a vehicle passenger compartment, the air conditioning device comprising a proximity comfort means (41, 42), a controllable ventilation means (2) for injecting air from outside the vehicle (1) into the passenger compartment of said vehicle (1) at a given flow rate, the method comprising the following steps: - a step (101) of activating the proximity comfort means (41, 42), - a step (102) of minimal intake of outside air in which the ventilation means (2) injects outside air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle with a minimum outside air flow rate corresponding to a renewal of the air in the passenger compartment of at most six times per hour by controlling said ventilation means injecting outside air into the passenger compartment, preferably corresponding to a renewal of the air in the passenger compartment at most five times per hour.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, the vehicle (1) comprising an air extraction device (3) from the passenger compartment which can be controlled between an open position and a closed position, the method further comprises a step (103) of opening the extraction device (3) so that the extraction device (3) allows the passenger compartment air to exit the vehicle (1) at least in part during the step (102) of minimal intake of outside air.

3. Method according to the preceding claim, in which the air extraction device (3) comprises a flap which can be controlled between an open position and a closed position.

4. Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, in which the air extraction device (3) comprises an active ventilation group capable of setting the air in motion, possibly associated with a controllable shutter.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the air introduced into the passenger compartment during the step (102) of minimum intake of outside air is introduced without modification of its temperature by the ventilation device (2).

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a step (104) of measuring and comparing the temperature of the air outside the vehicle with a limit temperature, the air introduced at a low flow rate during the step (102) of minimum intake of outside air being introduced without modification of its temperature by the ventilation device (2) if the temperature of the outside air is greater than or equal to the limit temperature, preferably the limit temperature is equal to 2°C, or greater than or equal to 12°C

7. Method according to the preceding claim, in which the air introduced at low flow rate during the step (102) of minimum admission of outside air is heated during an air heating step (105) by the ventilation device (2) if the temperature of the outside air is lower than the limit temperature, preferably the air is heated to a temperature chosen between 10°C and 17°C.

8. Method for managing the thermal comfort of a vehicle (1), the vehicle comprising an air conditioning device comprising a proximity comfort means (41, 42), a controllable ventilation means (2) making it possible to inject air from outside the vehicle into the passenger compartment of said vehicle at a given flow rate and to heat said injected air, the method for managing thermal comfort comprising an economic mode implementing the method for controlling the air conditioning device according to one of claims 1 to 7, and a normal mode comprising a step of deactivating the proximity comfort means (41, 42) or activating said proximity comfort means (41, 42) at a reduced power, a step of admitting outside air at a flow rate greater than the minimum outside flow rate, and a step of heating the admitted outside air by the ventilation device (2).

9. Management method according to the preceding claim, the vehicle (1) comprising a controllable air extraction device (3) and a means for recycling the passenger compartment air according to a controllable recycling rate, said management method further comprises a step of actuating the extraction device (3) in which the opening of the extraction device (3) is controlled as a function of the flow rate of the air admitted from outside the vehicle (A) by the ventilation device and the recycling rate.

10. Vehicle (1) comprising an air conditioning device comprising a proximity comfort means (41, 42), a controllable ventilation means (2) for injecting air from outside the vehicle (1) into the passenger compartment of said vehicle (1) at a given flow rate and capable of heating the air injected into the passenger compartment, a controllable air extraction device (3), possibly a passenger compartment air recycling means capable of recycling the passenger compartment air according to a controllable recycling rate, a control box implementing the method for controlling the air conditioning device according to one of claims 1 to 7 or the method for managing thermal comfort according to one of claims 8 or 9.

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