Vehicle air conditioning device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle air conditioning device capable of promoting the drying of an evaporator without causing high-humidity air to flow into the cabin.SOLUTION: A vehicle air conditioning device 1 is configured to perform a drying operation that promotes the drying of an evaporator 30 after an operation of a refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped. In the drying operation, an inside air inlet 23 and air outlets (a defroster outlet 25, a face outlet 26, and a foot outlet 27) of an air conditioning case 21 are placed in a closed state. An outside air introduced into the air conditioning case 21 from an outside air inlet 22 passes through on a first passage P1 side in order of the evaporator 30 → a bypass passage B and / or a heater core 31. Thereafter, the outside air is reversed before an outlet switching door 28 inside the air conditioning case 21, passes through on a second passage P2 side in order of the bypass passage B and / or the heater core 31 → the evaporator 30 (that is, reversely flows), and is discharged from an exhaust port 33 of the air conditioning case 21 to an outside of a cabin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner that conditions the interior of a vehicle compartment. [Background technology]

[0002] Many of the conventional vehicle air conditioners have an evaporator that constitutes a refrigeration cycle, and the air that is blown toward the inside of the vehicle compartment is cooled by the evaporator (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-38971 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of vehicle air conditioner, when the surface temperature of the evaporator becomes low, moisture contained in the air condenses and water droplets may adhere to the surface of the evaporator. If water droplets remain on the surface of the evaporator after the air conditioning operation is terminated, bacteria and mold may grow and generate an unpleasant odor. This odor may flow into the vehicle cabin and cause discomfort to the occupants. For this reason, it is possible to dry the evaporator by blowing air onto it after the air conditioning operation is terminated, but it is not desirable to allow humid air to flow into the vehicle cabin.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner for a vehicle that can promote drying of an evaporator without allowing highly humid air to flow into a vehicle interior. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle air conditioner is provided, the vehicle air conditioner including an air conditioner case having an outside air inlet for introducing outside air, which is air outside the vehicle cabin, and an inside air inlet for introducing inside air, which is air inside the vehicle cabin, at one end and an outlet for blowing air into the vehicle cabin at the other end, a blower arranged in the air conditioner case and generating an air flow from the one end to the other end in the air conditioner case, an evaporator of a refrigeration cycle arranged on the outlet side of the blower in the air conditioner case and cooling the air flowing in the air conditioner case, a first passage formed in the air conditioner case and guiding air from the outside air inlet to the evaporator, and a second passage formed in the air conditioner case and guiding air from the inside air inlet to the evaporator. The air conditioner case further has an exhaust port between the blower and the evaporator for discharging the air inside the vehicle cabin. The vehicle air conditioner is configured to perform a drying operation for promoting drying of the evaporator after the refrigeration cycle is stopped. In the drying operation, the inside air inlet and the air outlet are closed, and outside air introduced into the air conditioning case from the outside air inlet passes through the evaporator, turns around in the air conditioning case, and is discharged to the outside of the vehicle compartment from the exhaust port. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle air conditioner that can dry an evaporator without allowing highly humid air to flow into a vehicle compartment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a vehicle air conditioning device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram showing an air flow during a drying operation performed in the vehicle air conditioner according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] 11 is a diagram showing an air flow during a drying operation performed in a vehicle air conditioner according to a second embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] [First embodiment] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show the configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0011] The vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and configured to air-condition the vehicle interior by blowing conditioned air into the vehicle interior. The vehicle air conditioner 1 includes an air conditioning unit 2 (FIG. 1) and an air conditioning control device 5 (FIG. 2).

[0012] The air conditioning unit 2 is disposed in the front part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle (not shown). The air conditioning unit 2 includes an air conditioning case 21. The air conditioning case may also be referred to as an air conditioning duct.

[0013] The air conditioning case 21 has an outside air inlet 22 and an inside air inlet 23 at one end (the left side in FIG. 1). These inlets are suction ports for introducing (taking in) air into the air conditioning case 21. Specifically, the outside air inlet 22 is an suction port for introducing outside air, which is air outside the vehicle cabin, into the air conditioning case 21, and the inside air inlet 23 is an suction port for introducing inside air, which is air inside the vehicle cabin, into the air conditioning case 21.

[0014] An outside air door 22A is provided at the outside air inlet 22. The outside air inlet 22 can be opened and closed by the outside air door 22A. An inside air door 23A is provided at the inside air inlet 23. The inside air inlet 23 can be opened and closed by the inside air door 23A. As described later, in this embodiment, a first passage P1, a second passage P2, and a communication passage P12 connecting the ends of the first and second passages P1 and P2 on the one end side are formed in the air conditioning case 21, and an inside / outside air door 24 is provided in the communication passage P12.

[0015] The outside air door 22A, the inside air door 23A, and the inside / outside air door 24 are respectively driven to rotate by electric actuators 61, 62, and 63 that operate based on a control signal from the air conditioning control device 5 (see FIG. 2). The outside air door 22A, the inside air door 23A, and the inside / outside air door 24 can switch the air inlet mode of the vehicle air conditioner 1 to an inside air mode, an outside air mode, or an inside / outside air mode depending on a combination of their respective rotation positions. For example, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, when the outside air door 22A is in a position that opens the outside air inlet 22, the inside air door 23A is in a position that opens the inside air inlet 23, and the inside / outside air door 24 is in a position that blocks the communication passage P12, the air inlet mode of the vehicle air conditioner 1 becomes an inside / outside air mode in which the outside air and the inside air are introduced into the air conditioning case 21.

[0016] The air conditioning case 21 has a defroster outlet 25, a face outlet 26, and a foot outlet 27 on the other end side (the right side in FIG. 1). These outlets are outlets for blowing air in the air conditioning case 21 into the vehicle cabin. Specifically, the defroster outlet 25 is an outlet for blowing air in the air conditioning case 21 toward a vehicle window glass (not shown). The face outlet 26 is an outlet for blowing air in the air conditioning case 21 toward the upper body of an occupant in the vehicle cabin. The foot outlet 27 is an outlet for blowing air in the air conditioning case 21 toward the feet of an occupant in the vehicle cabin.

[0017] The face outlet 26 is provided with a face door 26A, and the foot outlet 27 is provided with a foot door 27A. An outlet switching door 28 is provided in the space between the defroster outlet 25 and the foot outlet 27. The defroster outlet 25 can be opened and closed by the outlet switching door 28. The face outlet 26 can be opened and closed by the face door 26A. The foot outlet 27 can be opened and closed by the foot door 27A.

[0018] The face door 26A, the foot door 27A, and the outlet switching door 28 are each driven to rotate by electric actuators 64, 65, and 66 that operate based on a control signal from the air conditioning control device 5 (see FIG. 2). The face door 26A, the foot door 27A, and the outlet switching door 28 can switch the air outlet mode of the vehicle air conditioner 1 to a defroster mode, a face mode, a foot mode, a face-foot mode, a defroster-foot mode, or a closed mode according to a combination of the respective rotation positions. For example, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, when the face door 26A is in a position where the face outlet 26 is closed, the foot door 27A is in a position where the foot outlet 27 is opened, and the outlet switching door 28 is in a neutral position away from both the defroster outlet 25 and the foot outlet 27 and opens the defroster outlet 25, the air outlet mode of the vehicle air conditioner 1 becomes the defroster-foot mode.

[0019] A blower fan 29 is disposed at the one end side in the air conditioning case 21. The blower fan 29 is an electric blower having an electric motor. The blower fan 29 operates based on a control signal from the air conditioning control device 5 (see FIG. 2) and is configured to generate an air flow from the one end side (the left side in FIG. 1) to the other end side (the right side in FIG. 1) in the air conditioning case 21. In other words, the blower fan 29 is configured to blow the outside air introduced from the outside air inlet 22 and / or the inside air introduced from the inside air inlet 23 toward the inside of the vehicle cabin via the air outlet (the defroster outlet 25, the face outlet 26, or the foot outlet 27).

[0020] An evaporator 30 is disposed downstream of the blower fan 29 in the air conditioning case 21, that is, closer to the outlets (defroster outlet 25, face outlet 26, and foot outlet 27) than the blower fan 29 in the air conditioning case 21. The evaporator 30 is disposed in a refrigerant circulation path 45 in which a refrigerant circulates together with a compressor 41, a condenser 42, a liquid separator 43, an expansion valve 44, and the like, to constitute a refrigeration cycle 40. That is, the evaporator 30 is the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle 40. The evaporator 30 is configured to cool the air flowing in the air conditioning case 21 by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the air flowing in the air conditioning case 21 in accordance with the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40, more specifically, with the operation of the compressor 41. The operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 (the operation of the compressor 41) is controlled by the air conditioning control device 5 (see FIG. 2).

[0021] A heater core 31 is provided downstream of the evaporator 30 in the air conditioning case 21, i.e., closer to the air outlet than the evaporator 30 in the air conditioning case 21. A bypass passage B (dotted line in FIG. 1) is formed around the heater core 31 (behind the heater core 31 in FIG. 1). The bypass passage B is a passage that allows air flowing inside the air conditioning case 21 to bypass the heater core 31.

[0022] In this embodiment, the heater core 31 is arranged in a heat medium circulation path 53 in which a heat medium such as water is circulated by an electric pump 52 together with a heat medium heating device 50 incorporating an electric heater 51. The heater core 31 is configured to heat the air flowing in the air conditioning case 21 (excluding the bypass passage B) by exchanging heat between the heat medium heated by the electric heater 51 of the heat medium heating device 50 and the air flowing in the air conditioning case 21 (excluding the bypass passage B) in accordance with the operation of the electric heater 51 and the electric pump 52 of the heat medium heating device 50. In other words, the heater core 31 is configured to heat the air flowing in the air conditioning case 21 (excluding the bypass passage B) by the heated heat medium flowing through the heater core 31. The operation of the heat medium heating device 50 (electric heater 51) and the electric pump 52, i.e., the supply of the heated heat medium to the heater core 31, is controlled by the air conditioning control device 5 (see FIG. 2). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the heater core 31 may be supplied with another heat medium (for example, a compressed refrigerant compressed by the compressor 41 or high-temperature cooling water that has cooled the engine of the vehicle).

[0023] An air mix door 31A is provided upstream of the heater core 31 in the air conditioning case 21, specifically, between the evaporator 30 and the heater core 31 in the air conditioning case 21. The air mix door 31A is rotated by an electric actuator 67 that operates based on a control signal from the air conditioning control device 5 (see FIG. 2). The air mix door 31A is configured to adjust the ratio between the flow rate of air passing through the heater core 31 and the flow rate of air bypassing the heater core 31 (passing through bypass passage B) according to its rotation position.

[0024] In the air conditioning case 21, a first passage P1, a second passage P2, and a communication passage P12 are formed by the inner surface of the air conditioning case 21 and the partition plates 32a, 32b, and 32c. The first passage P1 is a passage that guides air from the outside air inlet 22 to the evaporator 30. In this embodiment, the first passage P1 is located on the upper side in the air conditioning case 21 in FIG. 1, and substantially extends to the heater core 31. The second passage P2 is a passage that guides air from the inside air inlet 23 to the evaporator 30. In this embodiment, the second passage P2 is located on the lower side in the air conditioning case 21 in FIG. 1, and substantially extends to the heater core 31, similar to the first passage P1. The end of the one end side (upstream side) of the first passage P1 and the end of the one end side (upstream side) of the second passage P2 are connected to each other by the communication passage P12. Although not shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the air passage in the evaporator 30 and the air passage in the heater core 31 are formed separately so that the air flowing through the first passage P1 and the air flowing through the second passage P2 do not mix.

[0025] In this embodiment, the air conditioning case 21 further has an exhaust port 33 for discharging the air inside (i.e., inside the air conditioning case 21) to the outside of the vehicle cabin. The exhaust port 33 is formed at a position between the blower fan 29 and the evaporator 30 on the side surface of the air conditioning case 21 on the second passage P2 side. That is, in this embodiment, the air in the second passage P2 can be discharged to the outside of the vehicle cabin through the exhaust port 33. The exhaust port 33 is provided with an exhaust door 33A. The exhaust port 33 can be opened and closed by the exhaust door 33A. The exhaust door 33A is rotationally driven by an electric actuator 68 that operates based on a control signal from the air conditioning control device 5 (see FIG. 2).

[0026] The air conditioning control device 5 (Fig. 2) is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU, memories such as ROM and RAM, and I / O ports, etc. The air conditioning control device 5 is configured to perform various calculations and the like based on the programs stored in the ROM, input detection signals from various sensors, and input operation signals from various switches, and to output control signals to various devices electrically connected to the air conditioning control device 5 to control the various devices.

[0027] The various sensors include an outside air temperature sensor 71 that detects the temperature of outside air, an inside air temperature sensor 72 that detects the temperature of inside air, an evaporator temperature sensor 73 that detects the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30, an outside air humidity sensor 74 that detects the relative humidity of the outside air, and an inside air humidity sensor 75 that detects the relative humidity of the inside air.

[0028] The various switches are provided, for example, on an operation panel 76 installed at the front of the vehicle interior so that they can be operated by a passenger. The various switches include an ON / OFF switch for turning the vehicle air conditioner 1 ON / OFF, a temperature setting switch for setting the temperature inside the vehicle interior, an intake mode switch for switching the intake mode, an outlet mode switch for switching the outlet mode, and an air volume setting switch for setting the air volume of the blower fan 29.

[0029] The various devices include the blower fan 29, the refrigeration cycle 40 (compressor 41), the heat medium heating device 50 (electric heater 51), the electric pump 52, and the electric actuators 61 to 68. When the refrigeration cycle 40 is operated (the compressor 21 is operated), the evaporator 30 functions as a cooler that cools the air flowing in the air-conditioning case 21, and when the heat medium heating device 50 (electric heater 51) and the electric pump 52 are operated, the heater core 31 functions as a heater that heats the air flowing in the air-conditioning case 21.

[0030] Next, an example of the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0031] The vehicle air conditioner 1 is configured to be capable of performing a heating operation for heating the interior of the vehicle cabin, a cooling operation for cooling the interior of the vehicle cabin, a dehumidification operation for dehumidifying the interior of the vehicle cabin, and the like.

[0032] Here, the surface temperature of the evaporator 30 is lowered by performing the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation (operating the refrigeration cycle 40). When the surface temperature of the evaporator 30 is lowered, moisture contained in the air (inside air and / or outside air) passing through the evaporator 30 may condense and water droplets may adhere to the surface of the evaporator 30. If the state in which water droplets adhere to the surface of the evaporator 30 continues after the end of the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation, bacteria or mold may grow and generate an unpleasant odor, and this unpleasant odor may flow into the vehicle interior and cause discomfort to the occupants. In response to this, it is possible to promote the drying of the evaporator 30 by blowing air or the like after the end of the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation. However, it is not preferable that the result is that highly humid air flows into the vehicle interior. Therefore, the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment performs a drying operation as described below to efficiently dry the evaporator 30 while preventing highly humid air from flowing into the vehicle interior.

[0033] The vehicle air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment performs a drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator 30 after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped, in other words, after the compressor 41 is stopped. Here, the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment has a thermo OFF function. Therefore, in the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment, the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 (the operation of the compressor 41) can be stopped when (1) the temperature in the vehicle cabin becomes equal to or lower than the thermo OFF temperature (for example, the set (target) temperature in the vehicle cabin) (in the case of thermo OFF), (2) the vehicle air conditioner 1 is turned off (in the case of switch OFF), and (3) the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off (in the case of ignition switch OFF). In other words, in the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment, the drying operation can be performed regardless of whether the ignition switch is in the ON state or the OFF state, and further, regardless of whether there is a passenger in the vehicle cabin. Each case will be described below in order.

[0034] (1) When the thermostat is OFF As described above, the vehicle air conditioner 1 has a thermo OFF function. Therefore, in the vehicle air conditioner 1, the air conditioning control device 5 stops the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 (stops the compressor 41) when the temperature in the vehicle cabin, that is, the temperature of the inside air detected by the inside air temperature sensor 72, becomes equal to or lower than the thermo OFF temperature. In addition, the air conditioning control device 5 resumes the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 (operates the compressor 41) when the temperature in the vehicle cabin (the temperature of the inside air) becomes equal to or higher than the thermo ON temperature higher than the thermo OFF temperature. When the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped by such a thermo OFF function, the vehicle air conditioner 1 performs the drying operation when the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 becomes equal to or higher than the dew point temperature of the outside air. This is to maintain the state in which cooled air is blown into the vehicle cabin as much as possible even after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 (compressor 41) is stopped, and to dry the evaporator while preventing high humidity air from flowing into the vehicle cabin. That is, the vehicle air conditioner 1 performs the drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator 30 after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped by the thermo-OFF function and the temperature of the evaporator 30 is equal to or higher than the dew point temperature of the outside air.

[0035] Specifically, when the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 stops, the air conditioning control device 5 obtains the dew point temperature of the outside air based on the temperature of the outside air detected by the outside air temperature sensor 71 and the relative humidity of the outside air detected by the outside air humidity sensor 74. Next, the air conditioning control device 5 compares the obtained dew point temperature of the outside air with the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 detected by the evaporator temperature sensor 73. Then, when the detected temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 is equal to or higher than the obtained dew point temperature, the air conditioning control device 5 performs the drying operation, for example, as follows.

[0036] First, when the air conditioning control device 5 detects that the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 has reached or exceeded the determined dew point temperature, it outputs a control signal (stop signal) to the blower fan 29 to stop the blower fan 29.

[0037] Next, the air conditioning control device 5 outputs control signals to the electric actuators 61, 62, and 63 to drive or maintain the outside air door 22A, the inside air door 23A, and the inside / outside air door 24 to the positions shown by solid lines in Fig. 3. As a result, the outside air inlet 22 is opened, the inside air inlet 23 is closed, and the communication passage P12 is closed.

[0038] Next, the air conditioning control device 5 outputs control signals to the electric actuators 64, 65, and 66 to drive or maintain the face door 26A, the foot door 27A, and the outlet switching door 28 to the positions shown by solid lines in Fig. 3. As a result, the defroster outlet 25, the face outlet 26, and the foot outlet 27 (i.e., the air outlets) are closed.

[0039] Next, the air conditioning control device 5 outputs a control signal to the electric actuator 68 to drive the exhaust door 33A to the position shown by the solid line in Fig. 3. This causes the exhaust port 33 to be in an open state.

[0040] That is, the outside air inlet 22 and the exhaust outlet 33 are opened, and the inside air inlet 23 and the air outlets (the defroster outlet 25, the face outlet 26, and the foot outlet 27) are closed. Then, the air conditioning control device 5 outputs a control signal (operation signal) to operate the blower fan 29. Note that the order in which the doors are driven does not necessarily have to be as described above.

[0041] 3, outside air is introduced into the air-conditioning case 21 from the outside air inlet 22. The introduced outside air passes through the first passage P1 side in the order of the evaporator 30, bypass passage B and / or heater core 31, turns around just before the outlet switching door 28, passes through the second passage P2 side in the order of the bypass passage B and / or heater core 31, and then the evaporator 30 (i.e., flows backwards), and is discharged to the outside of the vehicle compartment from the exhaust port 33. In other words, the outside air introduced into the air-conditioning case 21 from the outside air inlet 22 passes through the evaporator 30, turns around just before the air outlet in the air-conditioning case 21, and is discharged to the outside of the vehicle compartment from the exhaust port 33.

[0042] Therefore, drying of the evaporator 30 can be promoted, and high humidity air can be prevented from flowing into the vehicle interior.

[0043] Here, when performing the drying operation, the air conditioning control device 5 may operate the heat medium heating device 50 (electric heater 51) and the electric pump 52, and may output a control signal to the electric actuator 67 to drive the air mix door 31A so that the flow rate of air passing through the heater core 31 is maximized. In this way, in the drying operation, the heated heat medium flows through the heater core 31, and the air heated by the heater core 31 passes through the evaporator 30 and is then discharged outside the vehicle compartment from the exhaust port 33. Therefore, the drying of the evaporator 30 can be further promoted.

[0044] Thereafter, when the temperature inside the vehicle cabin becomes equal to or higher than the thermo-ON temperature, the air conditioning control device 5 ends the drying operation, and returns the outside air door 22A, the inside / outside air door 23A, the inside / outside air door 24, the face door 26A, the foot door 27A, the exit switching door 28, and the exhaust door 33A to the states they were in before the drying operation, and resumes the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation (operation of the refrigeration cycle 40). Alternatively, when the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 becomes substantially the same as the temperature of the outside air, there is no longer any risk of water droplets adhering to the evaporator 30, so the air conditioning control device 5 ends the drying operation.

[0045] Here, when the temperature inside the vehicle cabin (the temperature of the inside air) falls below the thermo-OFF temperature and the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped and then the drying operation is started, the air conditioning control device 5 may execute a temperature change process to increase the thermo-ON temperature in order to delay the resumption of the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 and secure a long time for the drying operation.

[0046] (2) When the switch is OFF When the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped by switching OFF, the vehicle air conditioner 1 performs the drying operation immediately after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped, that is, without checking whether the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 is equal to or higher than the dew point temperature of the outside air. In other words, the vehicle air conditioner 1 performs the drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator 30 immediately after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped. The drying operation is performed in the same manner as when the thermostat is OFF. However, when the switch is OFF, the blower fan 29 is stopped, so the process of stopping the blower fan 29 is omitted. In addition, the air conditioning control device 5 may operate the heat medium heating device 50 (electric heater 51) and the electric pump 52 and drive the air mix door 31A so that the flow rate of air passing through the heater core 31 is maximized.

[0047] Thereafter, when the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 becomes substantially the same as the temperature of the outside air, the air conditioning control device 5 ends the drying operation.

[0048] (3) When the ignition is OFF When the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped by turning off the ignition, the vehicle air conditioner 1 immediately performs the drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator 30 after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped, as in the case of the switch being turned off. The drying operation is performed in the same manner as when the thermostat is turned off. However, when the ignition is turned off, the blower fan 29 is stopped, so the process of stopping the blower fan 29 is omitted. The air conditioning control device 5 may also operate the heat medium heating device 50 (electric heater 51) and the electric pump 52, and drive the air mix door 31A so that the flow rate of air passing through the heater core 31 is maximized.

[0049] Here, when the ignition is OFF, the air volume (rotation speed) of the blower fan 29 during the drying operation may be reduced compared to when the thermostat is OFF or the switch is OFF. This is because when the ignition is OFF, the operating sound of the blower fan 29 may be more noticeable (occupants and people around may find it noisy) compared to when the thermostat is OFF or the switch is OFF.

[0050] Thereafter, when the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 becomes substantially the same as the temperature of the outside air, the air conditioning control device 5 ends the drying operation.

[0051] [Second embodiment] Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment.

[0052] Like the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment, the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment is also mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and configured to air-condition the vehicle interior by blowing conditioned air into the vehicle interior. Note that in Figures 4 and 5, the same reference numerals are used for elements having the same functions as those in the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment. Below, the configuration of the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment that differs from the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0053] In the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment, an interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35 is disposed between the blower fan 29 and the evaporator 30 in the first passage P1, and a partition plate 32d and a partition plate 32e are provided instead of the partition plate 32b in the first embodiment. The partition plate 32d separates the first passage P1 from the second passage P2 between the blower fan 29 and the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35, and the partition plate 32e separates the first passage P1 from the second passage P2 between the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35 and the evaporator 30. In other words, the surface of the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35 disposed in the first passage P1 on the second passage P2 side is exposed in the second passage P2. In addition, a flow rate adjustment damper 36 is disposed in the second passage P2 so as to correspond to the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35 disposed in the first passage P1.

[0054] In the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment, the exhaust port 33 is formed on a side surface of the air conditioning case 21 on the first passage P1 side so as to face the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35.

[0055] The interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35 may be a total heat exchanger or a sensible heat exchanger. At least a part of the exterior air flowing through the first passage P1 and the interior air flowing through the second passage P2 is introduced into the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35, and the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35 is capable of exchanging total heat or sensible heat between the introduced exterior air and the interior air. The interior air that has exchanged heat with the exterior air in the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35 is discharged from the exhaust port 33, and the exterior air that has exchanged heat with the interior air in the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35 is introduced into the evaporator 30.

[0056] The flow rate adjustment damper 36 is rotated by an electric actuator 69 which operates based on a control signal from the air conditioning control device 5 (see FIG. 5). The flow rate adjustment damper 36 is configured to adjust the ratio between the flow rate of the inside air introduced into the inside / outside air heat exchanger 35 and the flow rate of the inside air introduced into the evaporator 30, among the inside air flowing through the second passage P2, according to its rotation position. For example, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, when the flow rate adjustment damper 36 is located at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the flow direction of the air in the second passage P2, the ratio between the flow rate of the inside air introduced into the inside / outside air heat exchanger 35 and the flow rate of the inside air introduced into the evaporator 30 is approximately 1:1.

[0057] In the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment, when the vehicle interior is ventilated (introducing outside air and discharging inside air) during air conditioning operation, heat exchange can be performed between the outside air flowing in the first passage P1 and at least a part of the inside air flowing in the second passage P2 in the inside / outside air heat exchanger 35. Then, the inside air that has been heat exchanged in the inside / outside air heat exchanger 35 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle interior from the exhaust port 33, and the outside air that has been heat exchanged in the inside / outside air heat exchanger 35 can be introduced into the evaporator 30 together with the remaining inside air flowing in the second passage P2. Therefore, heat loss due to the introduction of outside air and the discharge of inside air when the vehicle interior is ventilated can be reduced, and power consumption during air conditioning operation can be suppressed.

[0058] Like the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment, the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment also performs a drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator 30 after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped, in other words, after the compressor 41 is stopped. That is, when the thermostat is OFF, the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment also performs the drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator 30 after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped and when the temperature of the evaporator 30 is equal to or higher than the dew point temperature of the outside air, and when the switch is OFF or the ignition is OFF, the vehicle air conditioner 10 performs the drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator 30 immediately after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 is stopped.

[0059] Here, when performing the drying operation, the air conditioning control device 5 of the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment outputs a control signal to the electric actuator 68 to drive the exhaust door 33A and open the exhaust port 33. In contrast, the air conditioning control device 5 of the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment outputs a control signal to the electric actuator 69 to drive the flow rate adjustment damper 36 to the position shown by the solid line in Fig. 6, that is, to a position inclined at approximately 45° with respect to the air flow direction in the second passage P2.

[0060] 6, outside air is introduced into the air conditioning case 21 from the outside air inlet 22. The introduced outside air passes through the first passage P1 side through the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35, the evaporator 30, the bypass passage B and / or the heater core 31 in this order, turns around just before the outlet switching door 28, passes through the second passage P2 side through the bypass passage B and / or the heater core 31, the evaporator 30, and the flow rate adjustment damper 36 in this order (i.e., reverses), and is then discharged to the outside of the vehicle cabin through the exhaust port 33 via the interior / exterior air heat exchanger 35. That is, the outside air introduced into the air conditioning case 21 from the outside air inlet 22 passes through the evaporator 30, turns around just before the air outlet in the air conditioning case 21, and is discharged to the outside of the vehicle cabin through the exhaust port 33.

[0061] Therefore, in the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment, as in the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment, drying of the evaporator 30 can be promoted and high humidity air can be prevented from flowing into the vehicle cabin. Here, in the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the second embodiment, during the drying operation, the outside air introduced from the outside air inlet 22 and the air that has passed through the heater core 31 can exchange heat in the inside / outside air heat exchanger 35. Therefore, when the air conditioning control device 5 performs the drying operation, the air conditioning control device 5 operates the heat medium heating device 50 (electric heater 51) and the electric pump 52 and drives the air mix door 31A so that the flow rate of air passing through the heater core 31 is maximized, thereby significantly promoting drying of the evaporator 30.

[0062] As described above, the vehicle air conditioners 1 and 10 according to the embodiment are configured to perform a drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator 30 after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 (compressor 41) is stopped. In the drying operation, the inside air inlet 23 for introducing inside air, which is the air inside the vehicle cabin, and the outlets (defroster outlet 25, face outlet 26, and foot outlet 27) for blowing air into the vehicle cabin are closed, and the outside air introduced into the air conditioning case 21 from the outside air inlet 22 passes through the evaporator 30, turns around just before the outlets in the air conditioning case 21, and is discharged from the exhaust port 33 to the outside of the vehicle cabin.

[0063] The outside air passes through the evaporator 30, which promotes drying of the evaporator 30. Furthermore, by closing the inside air inlet 23 and the air outlet, the inside of the vehicle cabin is prevented from becoming negative pressure, and communication between the inside of the air conditioning case 21 and the inside of the vehicle cabin is blocked, effectively preventing the air in the air conditioning case 21 from flowing into the vehicle cabin. Therefore, the highly humid air that has absorbed moisture while passing through the evaporator 30 does not flow into the vehicle cabin, but can be discharged to the outside of the vehicle cabin through the exhaust port 33. Therefore, according to the vehicle air conditioners 1 and 10 according to the embodiment, it is possible to promote drying of the evaporator without allowing highly humid air to flow into the vehicle cabin.

[0064] Moreover, the vehicle air conditioners 1, 10 according to the embodiment are configured to perform the drying operation after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 (compressor 41) is stopped by the thermo-OFF function and the temperature (surface temperature) of the evaporator 30 is equal to or higher than the dew point temperature of the outside air. Therefore, even after the operation of the refrigeration cycle 40 (compressor 41) is stopped, it is possible to maintain the state in which cooled air is blown into the vehicle cabin as much as possible and promote drying of the evaporator while preventing high humidity air from flowing into the vehicle cabin.

[0065] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and modifications and changes can be made based on the technical concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] Reference Signs List 1...vehicle air conditioner, 2...air conditioning unit, 5...air conditioning control device, 10...vehicle air conditioner, 21...air conditioning case, 22...outside air inlet, 22A...outside air door, 23...inside air inlet, 23A...inside air door, 25...defroster outlet (outlet), 26...face outlet (outlet), 26A...face door, 27...foot outlet (outlet), 27A...foot door, 28...outlet switching door, 29...blower fan (air blower), 30...evaporator, 31...heater core , 32a...partition plate, 32b...partition plate, 32c...partition plate, 33...exhaust port, 33A...exhaust door, 35...indoor / outdoor heat exchanger, 36...flow rate control damper, 40...refrigeration cycle, 41...compressor, 50...heat medium heating device, 51...electric heater, 52...electric pump, 71...outdoor air temperature sensor, 72...indoor air temperature sensor, 73...evaporator temperature sensor, 74...outdoor air humidity sensor, 75...indoor air humidity sensor, 76...operation panel, P1...first passage, P2...second passage

Claims

1. an air conditioning case having an outside air inlet for introducing outside air that is air outside the vehicle cabin and an inside air inlet for introducing inside air that is air inside the vehicle cabin at one end thereof, and having an air outlet at the other end thereof for blowing air into the vehicle cabin; a blower disposed in the air conditioning case and configured to generate an air flow from the one end side to the other end side within the air conditioning case; an evaporator of a refrigeration cycle that is disposed on the air outlet side of the blower in the air conditioning case and cools air flowing in the air conditioning case; a first passage formed in the air conditioning case and configured to guide air from the outside air inlet to the evaporator; a second passage formed in the air conditioning case and configured to guide air from the inside air inlet to the evaporator; Including, the air conditioning case further has an exhaust port located between the blower and the evaporator for discharging the internal air to the outside of the vehicle compartment, The vehicle air conditioning system is configured to perform a drying operation to promote drying of the evaporator after the operation of the refrigeration cycle is stopped, and during the drying operation, the inside air inlet and the outlet are closed, and outside air introduced into the air conditioning case from the outside air inlet passes through the evaporator, then is inverted within the air conditioning case and discharged outside the vehicle compartment from the exhaust outlet.

2. an outside air temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the outside air, an outside air humidity sensor that detects the humidity of the outside air, an evaporator temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the evaporator, and an inside air temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the inside air, a thermo OFF function that stops the operation of the refrigeration cycle when the temperature of the inside air becomes equal to or lower than a thermo OFF temperature, and resumes the operation of the refrigeration cycle when the temperature of the inside air becomes equal to or higher than a thermo ON temperature; 2. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the drying operation is performed after the operation of the refrigeration cycle is stopped by the thermo-off function and when the temperature of the evaporator is equal to or higher than a dew point temperature of outside air.

3. an inside air temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the inside air; a thermo OFF function that stops the operation of the refrigeration cycle when the temperature of the inside air becomes equal to or lower than a thermo OFF temperature, and resumes the operation of the refrigeration cycle when the temperature of the inside air becomes equal to or higher than a thermo ON temperature; 2. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein when the drying operation is started after the operation of the refrigeration cycle is stopped by the thermo-OFF function, a temperature change process is performed to increase the thermo-ON temperature.

4. a heater core disposed on the air outlet side of the evaporator in the air conditioning case and configured to heat air flowing through the air conditioning case by a heat medium flowing through the heater core; 4. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein, during the drying operation, the heat medium is caused to flow through the heater core, and outside air introduced into the air conditioning case from the outside air inlet passes through the evaporator and the heater core, then turns around within the air conditioning case, and is discharged outside the vehicle compartment from the exhaust port.

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