Vehicle air conditioning system

Abstract

To provide a vehicle air conditioning system capable of inhibiting power consumption while maintaining the comfort of occupants.SOLUTION: A vehicle air conditioning system 10 comprises: an air conditioner 20 that blows temperature-adjusted air from a plurality of air outlets 30 in a vehicle compartment 11; and a direct heating device 50 that directly heats occupants. When heating an occupant, the direct heating device 50 suppresses heating output of the air conditioner 20, and increases a heat quantity of the air blown from the air outlets 30 that are far from body portions of the occupants that are directly heated by the direct heating device 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioning system having an air conditioning device that blows air adjusted in temperature from a plurality of air outlets in the vehicle interior and a direct heating device that directly warms the occupants.

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle air conditioning device blows air adjusted in temperature from a plurality of air outlets in the vehicle interior. Each air outlet is provided at a defroster, the upper part of the instrument panel, the feet of the driver's seat and the passenger seat, etc. On the other hand, with the electrification of vehicles, a direct heating device for directly warming the occupants is adopted. The direct heating device includes a seat heater, a steering heater, a radiant heater, etc. (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The above-described direct heating device warms the body of the occupant partially. In other words, with the direct heating device, the entire body of the occupant cannot be warmed, so the comfort of the occupant may be impaired. At this time, if the amount of heat (blowing temperature or air volume) of the air conditioning device is decreased, body parts far from the body parts warmed by the direct heating device cannot be warmed. On the other hand, if the amount of heat of the air conditioning device is increased, extra power will be consumed.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioning system that can suppress power consumption while maintaining the comfort of the occupants.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle air conditioning system according to the present invention comprises an air conditioning device that blows temperature-controlled air from a plurality of outlets in the vehicle cabin, and a direct heating device that directly warms the occupants, characterized in that when the occupants are warmed by the direct heating device, the heating output of the air conditioning device is suppressed and the amount of heat in the air blown from an outlet far from the body part of the occupants that is directly warmed by the direct heating device is increased. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the vehicle air conditioning system of the present invention, power consumption can be suppressed while maintaining the comfort of the occupants. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle air conditioning system, which is an example of an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of air vents inside the vehicle. [Figure 3] This is a flow chart showing the flow of outlet control. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. In the following description, specific shapes, materials, directions, numerical values, etc., are examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and can be appropriately modified according to the application, purpose, specifications, etc.

[0010] [Vehicle air conditioning system] An example of an embodiment, a vehicle air conditioning system 10, will be described using Figures 1 and 2.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle air conditioning system 10 includes an air conditioning unit 20 that blows temperature-controlled air from multiple air outlets 30 in the passenger compartment 11 (see Figure 2), a direct heating device 50 that directly warms the occupants, and an air conditioning ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 60 that controls each component of the air conditioning unit 20 and the direct heating device 50. As will be described in detail later, the vehicle air conditioning system 10 can suppress power consumption while maintaining occupant comfort.

[0012] The vehicle of this embodiment is a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) that runs by driving a motor (not shown) solely with the power of a battery for driving. However, the vehicle of the present invention may also be a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), etc., as long as the heat source for the vehicle's air conditioning system is secured by electricity.

[0013] The air conditioning unit 20 cools or heats the air and blows it into the passenger compartment 11 from a plurality of air outlets 30. The air conditioning unit 20 has a first air passage 21 that draws in outside air from the vehicle and blows it out from a defroster air outlet 31 and an instrument panel air outlet 32 ​​(described later), and a second air passage 22 that draws in air from the passenger compartment 11 and blows it out from a footwell air outlet 33 and a rear seat air outlet 34 (described later).

[0014] The intake port of the first air passage 21 is provided with a first opening / closing door 45 for adjusting the amount of suction. The intake port of the second air passage 22 is provided with a second opening / closing door 46 for adjusting the amount of suction.

[0015] The first air passage 21 and the second air passage 22 are provided with a blower 23 that generates an airflow from upstream to downstream, an evaporator 24 connected to a refrigeration cycle (not shown) that cools the air passing through the first air passage 21 and the second air passage 22, and a heater core 25 connected to a heating circuit (not shown) that heats a portion of the air passing through the first air passage 21 and the second air passage 22. The heater core 25 is positioned to block a portion of each of the first air passage 21 and the second air passage 22.

[0016] A sliding door 48, which can slide in the width direction of the first air passage 21, is provided on the upstream side of the heater core 25 in the first air passage 21. The amount of air passing through the heater core 25 is adjusted by adjusting the amount that the sliding door 48 blocks the upstream side of the heater core 25. For example, by increasing the amount of air passing through the heater core 25 with the sliding door 48, the outlet temperature of the air blown from the defroster outlet 31 and the instrument panel outlet 32 ​​can be increased.

[0017] A sliding door 49, which can slide in the width direction of the second air passage 22, is provided on the upstream side of the heater core 25 in the second air passage 22. The amount of air passing through the heater core 25 is adjusted by adjusting the amount by which the sliding door 49 blocks the upstream side of the heater core 25. For example, by increasing the amount of air passing through the heater core 25 with the sliding door 49, the outlet temperature of the air blown from the footwell vent 33 and the rear seat vent 34 can be increased.

[0018] Furthermore, on the downstream side of the heater core 25 of the first air passage 21 and the second air passage 22, an opening / closing door 47 is provided to open and close the communication between the first air passage 21 and the second air passage 22.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the multiple air outlets 30 include a defroster air outlet 31, an instrument panel air outlet 32, a footwell air outlet 33, and a rear seat air outlet 34, which will be described later.

[0020] The defroster air outlet 31 is arranged below the inner surface side of the windshield (not shown). A plurality (for example, four) of defroster air outlets 31 are formed and branched from the first air passage 21. The air volume of the defroster air outlet 31 is adjusted by an opening and closing door 41 provided at the branch portion with the first air passage 21. One of the defroster air outlets 31 is provided with a blown air temperature sensor 71 for detecting the temperature of the air blown out from the defroster air outlet 31, and the blown air temperature of the air for blowing may be controlled using the blown air temperature sensor 71.

[0021] The instrument panel air outlet 32 is arranged at the upper part of the instrument panel 15. A plurality (for example, four) of instrument panel air outlets 32 are formed and branched from the first air passage 21. The air volume of the instrument panel air outlet 32 is adjusted by an opening and closing door 42 provided on the downstream side of each instrument panel air outlet 32. Further, the air volume of the instrument panel air outlet 32 is also adjusted by an opening and closing door 39 provided at the branch portion with the first air passage 21. One of the instrument panel air outlets 32 is provided with a blown air temperature sensor 72 for detecting the temperature of the air blown out from the instrument panel air outlet 32, and the blown air temperature of the air for blowing may be controlled using the blown air temperature sensor 72.

[0022] The footwell air outlets 33 are respectively arranged at the footwell on the driver's seat side and the footwell on the passenger seat side. The footwell air outlets 33 are branched from the second air passage 22. The air volume of the footwell air outlets 33 is adjusted by an opening and closing door 43 provided at the branch portion with the second air passage 22. One of the footwell air outlets 33 is provided with a blown air temperature sensor 73 for detecting the temperature of the air blown out from the footwell air outlet 33, and the blown air temperature of the air for blowing may be controlled using the blown air temperature sensor 73.

[0023] The rear seat air vents 34 are located below the driver's seat and below the passenger seat, respectively. The rear seat air vents 34 branch off from the second air passage 22. The airflow from the rear seat air vents 34 is adjusted by an opening / closing door 44 located in the middle of the passage. One of the rear seat air vents 34 is equipped with an outlet temperature sensor 74 that detects the temperature of the air blown out from the rear seat air vent 34, and the outlet temperature of the air being blown may be controlled using the outlet temperature sensor 74.

[0024] Again, as shown in Figure 1, the direct heating device 50 directly warms the occupants with heaters. The direct heating device 50 includes a seat heater 51, a steering wheel heater 52, and a radiant heater 53, which will be described later. The direct heating device 50 may also include an armrest heater, a door trim heater, and a carpet heater.

[0025] The seat heater 51 is installed in the driver's seat or the passenger seat. The seat heater 51 warms the driver's seat or the passenger seat, for example, by an electric heater, and directly warms the occupant seated in the driver's seat or the passenger seat.

[0026] The steering heater 52 is installed on the steering wheel 14. The steering heater 52 warms the steering wheel 14, for example, by an electric heater, and directly warms the hands of the occupant who is gripping the steering wheel 14.

[0027] The radiant heater 53 is installed on the surface of the instrument panel 15 in the passenger compartment 11. The radiant heater 53 directly warms the occupant's knees, for example, by using an electric heater as the heat source for radiant heat.

[0028] The air conditioning ECU 60 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which is the calculation processing unit, and memory units such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). It performs signal processing according to a program pre-stored in ROM while utilizing the temporary storage function of RAM.

[0029] The air conditioning ECU 60 is connected to the aforementioned outlet temperature sensors 71, 72, 73, and 74, as well as an outside air temperature sensor 75 that detects the outside air temperature of the vehicle and an inside air temperature sensor 76 that detects the temperature inside the vehicle cabin 11. The air conditioning ECU 60 is also connected to the aforementioned seat heater 51, steering wheel heater 52, and radiant heater 53.

[0030] Furthermore, the air conditioning ECU 60 is connected to an operating unit 65 that allows the occupant to set the desired temperature. The air conditioning ECU 60 also sets a target discharge temperature based on the temperature inside the vehicle 11, the outside temperature, etc., so that the inside of the vehicle 11 reaches the set temperature, and adjusts the opening of the refrigeration cycle equipment, heater circuit equipment, each door, and each shutter so that the discharge temperature reaches the target discharge temperature.

[0031] Furthermore, the air conditioning ECU 60 includes a first air outlet control unit 61, a second air outlet control unit 62, and a third air outlet control unit 63, which will be described in detail later. The first air outlet control unit 61, the second air outlet control unit 62, and the third air outlet control unit 63 are realized by the CPU executing a program stored in ROM or RAM.

[0032] When only the seat heater 51 is operating, the first air outlet control unit 61 controls the air conditioning unit 20 at a set temperature that is a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 1°C) lower than the set temperature set by the operation unit 65. In other words, it suppresses the heating output of the air conditioning unit 20 for occupants who have been sufficiently warmed by the seat heater 51. This makes it possible to suppress power consumption while maintaining occupant comfort. In the following, the difference from the set temperature will be assumed to be larger in the order of the first predetermined temperature, second predetermined temperature, and third predetermined temperature.

[0033] When only the seat heater 51 and steering heater 52 are operating, the second air outlet control unit 62 controls the air conditioning system 20 at a set temperature lower than the set temperature set by the operating unit 65 by a second predetermined temperature (e.g., 2°C). At the same time, it increases the amount of heat in the air blown from the footwell air outlet 33. Specifically, the sliding door 49 may be adjusted to increase the amount of air passing through the heater core 25 in the second air passage 22 to increase the target outlet temperature of the footwell air outlet 33, or the airflow from the footwell air outlet 33 may be increased.

[0034] Furthermore, if the sliding door 49 is adjusted to increase the amount of air passing through the heater core 25 in the second air passage 22, the opening and closing door 44 will be used to adjust the amount of heat in the air blown from the rear seat vent 34 so as not to increase more than necessary.

[0035] This allows the heating output of the air conditioning system 20 to be suppressed for occupants who have been sufficiently warmed by the seat heater 51 and steering wheel heater 52, while still warming the occupants' feet, which are far from their upper bodies that have been warmed by the seat heater 51 and steering wheel heater 52. As a result, power consumption can be reduced while maintaining occupant comfort.

[0036] The third air outlet control unit 63 controls the air conditioning system 20 at a third predetermined temperature (e.g., 3°C) lower than the set temperature set by the operating unit 65 when only the seat heater 51, steering heater 52, and radiant heater 53 are operating. At the same time, it increases the amount of heat in the air blown from the footwell air outlet 33 and the instrument panel air outlet 32. Specifically, the sliding doors 48 and 49 may be adjusted to increase the amount of air passing through the heater core 25 in the first air passage 21 and the second air passage 22, thereby increasing the target outlet temperature of the air blown from the footwell air outlet 33 and the instrument panel air outlet 32, or the airflow from the footwell air outlet 33 and the instrument panel air outlet 32 ​​may be increased.

[0037] Furthermore, if the sliding door 48 is adjusted to increase the amount of air passing through the heater core 25 in the first air passage 21, the opening and closing door 41 adjusts to prevent the amount of heat in the air blown from the defroster outlet 31 from increasing more than necessary. Also, if the sliding door 49 is adjusted to increase the amount of air passing through the heater core 25 in the second air passage 22, the opening and closing door 44 adjusts to prevent the amount of heat in the air blown from the rear seat outlet 34 from increasing more than necessary.

[0038] This reduces the heating output of the air conditioning system 20 for occupants who have been sufficiently warmed by the seat heater 51, steering heater 52, and radiant heater 53, while warming the occupants' feet and upper body, which have been warmed by the seat heater 51, steering heater 52, and radiant heater 53. As a result, power consumption can be reduced while maintaining occupant comfort.

[0039] [Vehicle air conditioning system] The flow of outlet control will be explained using Figure 3.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, the air outlet control sets the target air outlet temperature for each air outlet 30 based on the functions of the air conditioning ECU 60 described above, following the procedure below. In step S11, it is checked whether only the seat heater 51 is operating. If only the seat heater 51 is operating, the process proceeds to step S12. If not only the seat heater 51 is operating, the process proceeds to step S13.

[0041] In step S12, the air conditioning unit 20 is controlled at a set temperature that is lower by a first predetermined temperature than the set temperature set by the operating unit 65.

[0042] In step S13, check whether only the seat heater 51 and steering wheel heater 52 are operating. If only the seat heater 51 and steering wheel heater 52 are operating, proceed to step S14. If anything other than the seat heater 51 and steering wheel heater 52 are operating, proceed to step S15.

[0043] In step S14, the air conditioning unit 20 is controlled at a set temperature that is lower by a second predetermined temperature than the set temperature set by the operating unit 65. At the same time, the amount of heat in the air blown from the foot outlet 33 is increased.

[0044] In step S15, it is checked whether only the seat heater 51, steering heater 52, and radiant heater 53 are operating. If only the seat heater 51, steering heater 52, and radiant heater 53 are operating, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0045] In step S16, the air conditioning unit 20 is controlled to a set temperature that is lower by a third predetermined temperature than the set temperature set by the operating unit 65. At the same time, the amount of heat in the air blown from the footwell outlet 33 and the instrument panel outlet 32 ​​is increased.

[0046] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and their modifications described above, and various changes and improvements are possible within the scope of the claims of this application. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 10 Vehicle air conditioning system, 11 Interior, 14 Steering wheel, 15 Instrument panel, 20 Air conditioning unit, 21 First air passage, 22 Second air passage, 23 Blower, 24 Evaporator, 25 Heater core, 30 Air outlet, 31 Defroster outlet, 32 Instrument panel outlet, 33 Footwell outlet, 34 Rear seat outlet, 39 Opening / closing door, 41 Opening / closing door, 42 Opening / closing door, 43 Opening / closing door, 47 Opening / closing door, 48 Sliding door, 49 Sliding door, 50 Direct heating device, 51 Seat heater, 52 Steering wheel heater, 53 Radiant heater, 60 Air conditioning ECU, 61 First outlet control unit, 62 Second outlet control unit, 63 Third outlet control unit, 65 Operating unit, 71 Outlet temperature sensor, 71 Outlet temperature sensor, 72 73 Air outlet temperature sensor, 74 Air outlet temperature sensor, 75 Outside air temperature sensor, 76 Interior temperature sensor

Claims

[Claim 1] A vehicle air conditioning system comprising an air conditioning unit that blows temperature-controlled air from multiple vents in the vehicle interior, and a direct heating device that directly warms the occupants, When the occupant is heated by the direct heating device, the heating output of the air conditioning system is suppressed, and the amount of heat in the air blown from the outlet, which is far from the body parts of the occupant that are directly heated by the direct heating device, is increased. Vehicle air conditioning system.

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