A device equipped with a function to clean the cooler and an air conditioning system.

Abstract

This air conditioning apparatus has the function of cleaning a cooler (27, 35) that cools air conditioning air (Ar). The air conditioning apparatus comprises a heating device (18, 40, 55, 62) that heats the cooler and a spraying device (30) that sprays the cooler with a cleaning fluid (WH) for cleaning the cooler. The air conditioning apparatus also comprises a control unit (50). While cooling of the air conditioning air by the cooler is stopped, the control unit causes the spraying device to spray the cooler with the cleaning fluid and causes the heating device to heat the cooler.

Description

air conditioner CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-23780, filed on February 20, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to air conditioning devices.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an air conditioner equipped with a sterilization mechanism for an evaporator. The sterilization mechanism of this air conditioner supplies a sterilizing cleaning solution, which is an aqueous solution containing a substance that generates OH radicals, to the surface of the evaporator and irradiates the sterilizing cleaning solution with deep ultraviolet light, thereby generating OH radicals in the sterilizing cleaning solution. The sterilization mechanism then sterilizes the evaporator by the action of the OH radicals in the sterilizing cleaning solution.

[0004] International Publication No. 2017 / 104369

[0005] The air conditioning system of Patent Document 1 uses a sterilizing cleaning fluid containing OH radicals. However, cleaning fluids such as sterilizing cleaning fluids are generally highly temperature-dependent, and if the ambient temperature around the cleaning fluid is low, the cleaning effect of the cleaning fluid is not fully realized. Furthermore, since the evaporator, which is the object to be cleaned, functions as a cooler that cools the air used for air conditioning, it is possible that the temperature of the evaporator will be extremely low, for example, if not much time has passed since the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner was stopped. Such a low temperature state of the object to be cleaned can cause the cleaning effect of the cleaning fluid to be impaired. The inventors' detailed investigations led to the above findings. In view of the above, the present disclosure aims to provide an air conditioning system that can fully utilize the cleaning effect of the cleaning fluid when cleaning the cooler.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioning device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an air conditioning device having a function of cleaning a cooler that cools air for air conditioning, and includes: a heating device that heats the cooler; a spraying device that sprays a cleaning fluid onto the cooler to clean the cooler; and a control unit that causes the spraying device to spray the cleaning fluid onto the cooler and causes the heating device to heat the cooler when the cooling of air for air conditioning by the cooler is stopped.

[0007] In this way, the cleaning fluid that is sprayed and adheres to the cooler becomes active as the cooler becomes hotter, so that the cleaning effect of the cleaning fluid can be fully exerted when cleaning the cooler, compared to when the cooler is not heated, for example.

[0008] In addition, in each section of the application documents, each element may be assigned a reference number in parentheses. In this case, the reference number merely indicates an example of the correspondence between the element and the specific configuration described in the embodiment described below. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited in any way by the description of the reference number.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner in a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an input / output system of a control unit provided in the air conditioner in the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control process of the control unit in the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner in a comparative example compared to the first embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner in a second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner in a third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner in a fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 1; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner in a fifth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 1; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner in a sixth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 1; and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control process of the control unit in the sixth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 3.

[0010] Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0011] 1, an air conditioner 10 according to this embodiment is an air conditioner for a vehicle, i.e., an automobile, and provides air conditioning for the interior of the vehicle. The air conditioner 10 includes a compressor 12, a circuit switching device 14, an exterior heat exchanger 20, an expansion valve 22, an interior unit 24, a control unit 50 shown in FIG. 2, and a liquid tank (not shown).

[0012] The indoor unit 24 is disposed inside the vehicle cabin. For example, the indoor unit 24 is provided inside the instrument panel located at the front of the vehicle cabin. The indoor unit 24 includes an air conditioning case 26, a cooler 27, a spray device 30, the air blower 28 shown in FIG. 2, and an air conditioning heater (not shown).

[0013] The air conditioning case 26 forms the outer shell of the indoor unit 24 and is formed, for example, by integrating a plurality of resin parts. The air conditioning case 26 houses a cooler 27, a spray device 30, a fan of the air blower 28, and an air conditioning heater. The air conditioning case 26 also supports the cooler 27, the spray device 30, the air blower 28, and the air conditioning heater.

[0014] An internal case passage 26a through which air for air conditioning Ar, i.e., conditioned air Ar, flows is formed within the air conditioning case 26. For example, in the internal case passage 26a, a fan of the blower 28, a cooler 27, and an air conditioning heater are arranged in this order from the upstream side of the air flow: the fan of the blower 28, the cooler 27, and the air conditioning heater.

[0015] During air conditioning operation by the air conditioner 10, conditioned air Ar is blown into the case interior passage 26a by the fan of the blower 28, and is cooled by the cooler 27 and heated appropriately by the air conditioning heater, thereby adjusting the temperature. The temperature-adjusted conditioned air Ar is then blown out from the case interior passage 26a into the vehicle cabin through any one of the multiple air outlets that is open.

[0016] The blower 28 is an electric blower and includes an electric motor and a fan (i.e., an impeller) rotated by the electric motor. The blower 28 is switched between operating and non-operating states and the amount of air blown by the blower 28 is adjusted in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 50.

[0017] The air conditioning heater is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between engine coolant heated by, for example, a driving engine and the conditioned air Ar, and heats the conditioned air Ar through the heat exchange between the engine coolant and the conditioned air Ar.

[0018] The cooler 27 is a heat exchanger that cools the conditioned air Ar flowing through the case internal passage 26a during air conditioning operation. The cooler 27, the compressor 12, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the expansion valve 22 constitute a refrigeration cycle circuit 11 in which the refrigerant circulates while undergoing a phase change. In the refrigeration cycle circuit 11, the refrigerant, which is a heat medium, circulates, thereby executing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.

[0019] For example, the cooler 27 is configured as a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes through which a refrigerant flows and a plurality of heat exchange fins, and the tubes and heat exchange fins are alternately stacked in the cooler 27. When the cooler 27 cools the conditioned air Ar, the cooler 27 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the tubes of the cooler 27 and the conditioned air Ar flowing between the tubes while in contact with the heat exchange fins, thereby evaporating the refrigerant and cooling the conditioned air Ar. That is, the cooler 27 functions as an evaporator in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11.

[0020] The cooler 27 also has a first connection port 27a, which is a refrigerant inlet through which the refrigerant flows in from outside the cooler 27, and a second connection port 27b, which is a refrigerant outlet through which the refrigerant flows out to outside the cooler 27. The refrigerant that flows into the first connection port 27a from outside the cooler 27 is distributed from the first connection port 27a to each of the multiple tubes, and the refrigerants that have passed through each of the multiple tubes are collected and flow out to outside the cooler 27 from the second connection port 27b.

[0021] The spraying device 30 is a device capable of spraying the cleaning fluid WH onto the cooler 27. For example, the spraying device 30 has a nozzle 301 that opens toward the cooler 27, and sprays the cleaning fluid WH onto the cooler 27 from the nozzle 301. For example, the cleaning fluid WH is sprayed onto the cooler 27 in the form of a mist or fine droplets. In this embodiment, the cleaning fluid WH sprayed by the spraying device 30 functions as a cleaning agent for cleaning the cooler 27, and is, for example, a liquid containing radicals such as OH radicals, i.e., a radical aqueous solution. The higher the temperature of the cleaning fluid WH, the more activated the cleaning fluid WH becomes. Therefore, the higher the temperature of the cleaning fluid WH, the higher the cleaning power of the cleaning fluid WH becomes.

[0022] For example, water or an aqueous solution serving as the stock solution that is the base of the cleaning fluid WH is stored in a liquid tank provided outside the indoor unit 24. When the sprayer 30 sprays the cleaning fluid WH, the stock solution is supplied from the liquid tank to the sprayer 30 by an electric pump 31 shown in Fig. 2. The sprayer 30 then generates OH radicals by generating discharge in the supplied stock solution using a discharge electrode provided in the sprayer 30, and sprays an aqueous radical solution containing the OH radicals to the cooler 27 as the cleaning fluid WH.

[0023] The compressor 12 has a first connection port 12a which is a refrigerant intake port and a second connection port 12b which is a refrigerant discharge port. The compressor 12 compresses the refrigerant drawn into the compressor 12 through the first connection port 12a and discharges the compressed refrigerant from the second connection port 12b to the outside of the compressor 12. For example, the compressor 12 is driven to rotate by an electric motor or a vehicle engine as a power source.

[0024] The exterior heat exchanger 20 is a radiator that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the outside air outside the vehicle cabin and radiates heat from the refrigerant to the outside air, and is installed outside the vehicle cabin, for example, in the engine compartment. The exterior heat exchanger 20 has a configuration including a plurality of tubes and a plurality of heat exchange fins, similar to the cooler 27 described above.

[0025] When the cooler 27 cools the conditioned air Ar, the refrigerant flows through the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the outdoor heat exchanger 20 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the tubes of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 and the outside air flowing between the tubes while in contact with the heat exchange fins. As a result, the outdoor heat exchanger 20 dissipates heat from the refrigerant to the outside air, condensing the refrigerant. In other words, the outdoor heat exchanger 20 functions as a condenser in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11.

[0026] The outdoor heat exchanger 20 also has a first connection port 20a, which is a refrigerant inlet through which refrigerant flows in from outside the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and a second connection port 20b, which is a refrigerant outlet through which refrigerant flows out to the outside of the outdoor heat exchanger 20. The refrigerant that flows into the first connection port 20a from outside the outdoor heat exchanger 20 is distributed from the first connection port 20a to each of the multiple tubes, and the refrigerants that have passed through each of the multiple tubes are collected together and flow out to the outside of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 from the second connection port 20b.

[0027] The expansion valve 22 has a first connection port 22a which is a refrigerant inlet through which refrigerant flows in from outside the expansion valve 22, and a second connection port 22b which is a refrigerant outlet through which the refrigerant flows out to outside the expansion valve 22. In other words, the expansion valve 22 is a pressure reducing device which reduces the pressure of the refrigerant that flows into the expansion valve 22 from the first connection port 22a and causes the reduced pressure refrigerant to flow out of the expansion valve 22 from the second connection port 22b.

[0028] The circuit switching device 14 has a switching unit 15 and a pressure reducing unit 16. For example, the switching unit 15 and the pressure reducing unit 16 are integrally configured with a common housing. The switching unit 15 is configured as an electric three-way valve that switches the refrigerant flow path, and has an inlet port 15a, a first outlet port 15b, and a second outlet port 15c.

[0029] The pressure reducing unit 16 has a refrigerant inlet 16a connected to the second outlet port 15c of the switching unit 15 and through which the refrigerant flows in from the second outlet port 15c, and a refrigerant outlet 16b through which the refrigerant flows out of the pressure reducing unit 16. The pressure reducing unit 16 is configured as an expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant and expands it. That is, the pressure reducing unit 16 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant that flows into the pressure reducing unit 16 from the refrigerant inlet 16a, and causes the decompressed refrigerant to flow out of the pressure reducing unit 16 from the refrigerant outlet 16b.

[0030] 1 , the connections of the components through which the refrigerant flows are as follows: first, the first connection port 12a of the compressor 12 is connected to the second connection port 27b of the cooler 27, and the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 is connected to the inlet port 15a of the switching unit 15. Furthermore, the first connection port 20a of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 is connected to the first outlet port 15b of the switching unit 15, and the second connection port 20b of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 is connected to the first connection port 22a of the expansion valve 22. Furthermore, the first connection port 27a of the cooler 27 is connected to the second connection port 22b of the expansion valve 22 and the refrigerant outlet 16b of the pressure reducing unit 16, respectively.

[0031] The switching unit 15 of the circuit switching device 14 is selectively switched between a first switching state and a second switching state. In the first switching state, the switching unit 15 connects the inlet port 15a and the first outlet port 15b, while blocking communication between the inlet port 15a and the first outlet port 15b and the second outlet port 15c. This allows refrigerant to flow between the inlet port 15a and the first outlet port 15b, while the second outlet port 15c is closed, preventing refrigerant from flowing through the second outlet port 15c.

[0032] That is, when the switching unit 15 is set to the first switching state, the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 is connected to the first connection port 20a of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 via the switching unit 15, and is blocked from the refrigerant inlet 16a of the pressure reducing unit 16. As a result, the compressor 12, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, the expansion valve 22, and the cooler 27 are connected in a ring shape to form the refrigeration cycle circuit 11, in which the refrigerant circulates while undergoing a phase change.

[0033] In contrast, in the second switching state, the switching unit 15 connects the inlet port 15a and the second outlet port 15c, while blocking communication between the inlet port 15a and the second outlet port 15c and the first outlet port 15b. This allows the refrigerant to flow between the inlet port 15a and the second outlet port 15c, while the first outlet port 15b is closed, preventing the refrigerant from flowing through the first outlet port 15b.

[0034] That is, when the switching unit 15 is set to the second switching state, the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 is connected to the refrigerant inlet 16a of the pressure reducing unit 16 via the switching unit 15, and is cut off from the first connection port 20a of the outdoor heat exchanger 20. This establishes a hot gas cycle circuit 17 in which the compressor 12, the pressure reducing unit 16, and the cooler 27 are connected in a ring shape, and the refrigerant circulates while undergoing a phase change. In this hot gas cycle circuit 17, a hot gas cycle is executed in which the refrigerant circulates, and heat equivalent to the work done by the compressor 12 is dissipated by the cooler 27.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 2, the control unit 50 is an electronic control device configured as an on-board microcomputer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, non-volatile rewritable memory, etc. (not shown). That is, the control unit 50 reads and executes a computer program stored in the ROM or non-volatile rewritable memory, which are non-transient physical recording media. Execution of this computer program results in the execution of a method corresponding to the computer program. That is, the control unit 50 executes various control processes, such as the control process shown in Fig. 3 (described later), in accordance with the computer program.

[0036] The control unit 50 is electrically connected to a plurality of sensors 51 mounted on the vehicle, the compressor 12, the circuit switching device 14, the blower 28, the sprayer 30, and the electric pump 31. For example, detection signals indicating physical quantities detected by the plurality of sensors 51 are sequentially input to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 also outputs control signals from the control unit 50 to control the operation of the compressor 12, the switching unit 15 of the circuit switching device 14, the blower 28, the sprayer 30, and the electric pump 31.

[0037] When performing air conditioning operation to condition the air inside the vehicle cabin, the control unit 50 sets the switching unit 15 of the circuit switching device 14 to the first switching state and activates the compressor 12. This establishes the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 in which heat is absorbed from the conditioned air Ar by the cooler 27 and released to the outside air by the exterior heat exchanger 20, thereby cooling the conditioned air Ar.

[0038] When performing air conditioning operation, the control unit 50 activates the blower 28 to blow conditioned air Ar. During this air conditioning operation, the control unit 50 stops the sprayer 30 and the electric pump 31.

[0039] During air conditioning operation, refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 as shown by arrows A1, A2, A3, and A4 in Fig. 1. That is, the refrigerant discharged from the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 flows from the second connection port 12b through the switching unit 15 of the circuit switching device 14, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, the expansion valve 22, and the cooler 27 in this order, before being drawn into the first connection port 12a of the compressor 12.

[0040] Furthermore, in a cleaning mode (described later), the cooler 27 may be heated under the control of the control unit 50. In this case, the control unit 50 sets the switching unit 15 of the circuit switching device 14 to the second switching state. As a result, the control unit 50 establishes the hot gas cycle circuit 17 in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 12 dissipates heat in the cooler 27 and returns to the compressor 12 without passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 20. The control unit 50 then operates the compressor 12 to circulate the refrigerant through the hot gas cycle circuit 17, thereby heating the cooler 27.

[0041] That is, the compressor 12 and the circuit switching device 14, which are components of the hot gas cycle circuit 17 excluding the cooler 27, function as a heating device 18 that heats the cooler 27. The heating device 18, which includes the compressor 12 and the circuit switching device 14, establishes the hot gas cycle circuit 17 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 50 and heats the cooler 27 by circulating the refrigerant in the hot gas cycle circuit 17. In short, the heating device 18 heats the cooler 27 by increasing the temperature of the refrigerant to a higher temperature than the cooler 27 due to the compression operation of the compressor 12 and circulating the refrigerant through the cooler 27.

[0042] In the hot gas cycle circuit 17, the refrigerant circulates as indicated by arrows B1 and B2 in Fig. 1. That is, the refrigerant discharged from the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 flows from the second connection port 12b through the switching unit 15 of the circuit switching device 14, the pressure reducing unit 16, and the cooler 27 in this order, and is then drawn into the first connection port 12a of the compressor 12.

[0043] Here, since the air conditioning device 10 of this embodiment has a function of cleaning the cooler 27 using the spray device 30, it may be operated in a cleaning mode to clean the cooler 27. For this purpose, the control unit 50 executes the control process shown in Fig. 3. This control process shown in Fig. 3 is executed periodically and repeatedly. Note that cleaning the cooler 27 means, for example, removing dirt from the cooler 27 and sterilizing and deodorizing the cooler 27.

[0044] 3, first, in step S01, the control unit 50 determines whether or not there has been a request to operate the air conditioner 10 in the cleaning mode. For example, if the cleaning mode is manually selected by an occupant operating a switch, the control unit 50 determines that there has been a request to operate the cleaning mode.

[0045] If it is determined in step S01 that a request for the cleaning mode has been made, the process proceeds to step S02. On the other hand, if it is determined that a request for the cleaning mode has not yet been made, the determination in step S01 is made again.

[0046] In step S02, the control unit 50 determines whether or not air conditioning operation is being performed. For example, the control unit 50 determines that air conditioning operation is being performed if the blower 28 is operating, and determines that air conditioning operation is not being performed if the blower 28 is stopped. When air conditioning operation is not being performed, that is, when air conditioning operation is stopped, cooling of the conditioned air Ar by the cooler 27 in the indoor unit 24 is stopped.

[0047] If it is determined in step S02 that the air conditioning operation is being performed, the process proceeds to step S03. On the other hand, if it is determined that the air conditioning operation is not being performed, the process proceeds to step S04.

[0048] In step S03, control unit 50 stops the air conditioning operation. Specifically, control unit 50 stops blower 28 and compressor 12. After step S03, the process proceeds to step S04.

[0049] In step S04, the control unit 50 causes the heating device 18 to start heating the cooler 27. Specifically, the control unit 50 switches the switching unit 15 of the circuit switching device 14 to the second switching state, thereby establishing the hot gas cycle circuit 17. Then, after the hot gas cycle circuit 17 is established, the control unit 50 starts operating the compressor 12. As a result, the refrigerant circulates in the hot gas cycle circuit 17 as indicated by arrows B1 and B2 in FIG. 1 , and heating of the cooler 27 begins.

[0050] In the heating control of the cooler 27 started in step S04, the cooler 27 is heated to a temperature higher than the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, for example, to about 80 to 100° C. The heating of the cooler 27 continues until it is terminated in step S09, which will be described later. After step S04, the process proceeds to step S05.

[0051] In step S05, the control unit 50 determines whether a predetermined holding time Td has elapsed since the start of heating of the cooler 27. The holding time Td is experimentally set in advance to be as short as possible so that the cooler 27 can be heated to a temperature at which the cleaning fluid WH sprayed by the spraying device 30 is activated to a certain extent. The holding time Td may be a constant value or a variable value. For example, if the holding time Td is a variable value, it is assumed that the lower the temperature of the cooler 27 when heating of the cooler 27 starts, the longer the holding time Td is set.

[0052] If it is determined in step S05 that the holding time Td has elapsed since the start of heating of the cooler 27, the process proceeds to step S06. On the other hand, if it is determined that the holding time Td has not yet elapsed since the start of heating of the cooler 27, the determination in step S05 is made again. In short, the process in Fig. 3 remains in step S05 until the holding time Td has elapsed since the start of heating of the cooler 27, and if the holding time Td has elapsed since the start of heating of the cooler 27, the process proceeds from step S05 to step S06.

[0053] In step S06, the control unit 50 causes the spraying device 30 to start spraying the cleaning fluid WH to the cooler 27. This spraying of the cleaning fluid WH continues until it is ended in step S08, which will be described later. After step S06, the process proceeds to step S07.

[0054] In step S07, the control unit 50 determines whether a predetermined spraying time Tw has elapsed since the start of spraying of the cleaning fluid WH. The spraying time Tw is experimentally set in advance to be as short as possible so as to properly clean the cooler 27. The spraying time Tw may be a constant value or a variable value.

[0055] If it is determined in step S07 that the spraying time Tw has elapsed since the start of spraying of the cleaning fluid WH, the process proceeds to step S08. On the other hand, if it is determined that the spraying time Tw has not yet elapsed since the start of spraying of the cleaning fluid WH, the determination in step S07 is made again. In short, the process in Fig. 3 remains in step S07 until the spraying time Tw has elapsed since the start of spraying of the cleaning fluid WH, and if the spraying time Tw has elapsed since the start of spraying of the cleaning fluid WH, the process proceeds from step S07 to step S08.

[0056] In step S08, control unit 50 causes spraying device 30 to end the spraying of cleaning fluid WH to cooler 27. After step S08, the process proceeds to step S09.

[0057] In step S09, control unit 50 causes heating device 18 to stop heating cooler 27. Specifically, control unit 50 stops compressor 12. When step S09 ends, operation of air conditioner 10 in the cleaning mode ends.

[0058] In this way, when cleaning the cooler 27, the control unit 50 causes the spraying device 30 to spray cleaning fluid WH onto the cooler 27 while the cooling of the conditioned air Ar by the cooler 27 is stopped, and causes the heating device 18 to heat the cooler 27.

[0059] Furthermore, as can be seen from the presence of step S05 in the flowchart of Figure 3, when the control unit 50 sprays cleaning fluid WH onto the cooler 27 and heats the cooler 27, it starts heating the cooler 27 before starting the spraying of cleaning fluid WH.

[0060] The processes in the steps of FIG. 3 described above constitute functional units that realize the respective functions, and the control unit 50 is equipped with these functional units.

[0061] For comparison with this embodiment, an air conditioning system 80 of a comparative example shown in Fig. 4 will be considered. This air conditioning system 80 of the comparative example differs from this embodiment in that it does not include the circuit switching device 14 of Fig. 1, but is otherwise similar to this embodiment. Therefore, in the air conditioning system 80 of the comparative example, the hot gas cycle circuit 17 cannot be established, and therefore the cooler 27 cannot be heated.

[0062] Therefore, in the comparative example air conditioning device 80, if the cooler 27 is cold, for example, the cleaning fluid WH sprayed by the spraying device 30 will not be activated and the cleaning effect of the cleaning fluid WH will not be fully exerted.

[0063] In contrast to this, according to the present embodiment, in the cleaning mode of the air conditioning device 10, when the cooling of the conditioned air Ar by the cooler 27 is stopped, the control unit 50 causes the spraying device 30 to spray the cleaning fluid WH onto the cooler 27. At the same time, the control unit 50 causes the heating device 18 to heat the cooler 27.

[0064] As a result, the cleaning fluid WH that has been sprayed and adhered to the cooler 27 becomes activated as the temperature of the cooler 27 increases. Therefore, compared to, for example, the air conditioning device 80 of the comparative example, it is possible to fully exert the cleaning effect of the cleaning fluid WH when cleaning the cooler 27.

[0065] (1) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the control unit 50 sprays the cleaning fluid WH onto the cooler 27 and heats the cooler 27, it starts heating the cooler 27 before starting the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH.

[0066] As a result, the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH starts after the cooler 27 has been warmed to a certain extent. Therefore, compared to, for example, a case in which the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH and the heating of the cooler 27 start simultaneously, it is possible to shorten the duration of spraying of the cleaning fluid WH without reducing the cleaning effect of the cleaning fluid WH.

[0067] Moreover, radicals generally have a short life span. Therefore, by pre-warming the cooler 27 to be cleaned as in the present embodiment, many radicals contained in the cleaning fluid WH can be utilized to clean the cooler 27.

[0068] Furthermore, since the cooler 27 cools the conditioned air Ar during air conditioning operation, it is assumed that, at the start of the cleaning mode of the air conditioning device 10, condensed water generated during air conditioning operation will be attached to the cooler 27. Even in such a case, the cooler 27 is pre-warmed before the start of spraying the cleaning fluid WH, which promotes evaporation of the condensed water from the cooler 27 and makes it possible to prevent the cleaning fluid WH attached to the cooler 27 from being diluted by the condensed water.

[0069] (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the heating device 18 heats the cooler 27 by raising the temperature of a refrigerant serving as a heat medium and circulating the refrigerant through the cooler 27. The refrigerant that is subjected to heat exchange with the conditioned air Ar in the cooler 27 during air conditioning operation is used as a heat medium for heating the cooler 27 when heating the cooler 27. Therefore, the heating device 18 heats the cooler 27 by utilizing the refrigerant piping used for air conditioning operation, and therefore it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts resulting from the addition of a function to heat the cooler 27.

[0070] (3) According to this embodiment, the heating device 18 operates as follows in the cleaning mode of the air conditioner 10. That is, the heating device 18 establishes the hot gas cycle circuit 17 in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 12 dissipates heat in the cooler 27 and returns to the compressor 12 without passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and heats the cooler 27 by circulating the refrigerant in the hot gas cycle circuit 17. Therefore, the compressor 12 used for air conditioning operation can be used to heat the cooler 27. This makes it possible to add the function of heating the cooler 27 without increasing the number of heat sources.

[0071] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. Furthermore, parts that are the same as or equivalent to the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified. This also applies to the following embodiments.

[0072] 5, the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment does not include a circuit switching device 14, and therefore does not form a hot gas cycle circuit 17. The refrigeration cycle circuit 11 of the air conditioner 10 is configured to be able to circulate the refrigerant in either direction. That is, the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 is configured to allow the refrigerant to circulate in either the direction indicated by arrows A1 to A4 or the direction indicated by arrows B4 to B7.

[0073] For example, when performing air conditioning operation, the control unit 50 operates the compressor 12 so that the compressor 12 draws refrigerant into the compressor 12 through the first connection port 12a, compresses the drawn refrigerant, and discharges it from the second connection port 12b. In this case, the first connection port 12a of the compressor 12 functions as a refrigerant suction port, and the second connection port 12b functions as a refrigerant discharge port.

[0074] As a result, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 as indicated by arrows A1, A2, A3, and A4, as in the first embodiment. That is, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 12 condenses and releases heat to the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger 20, is decompressed in the expansion valve 22, absorbs heat from the conditioned air Ar in the cooler 27, and evaporates, and then returns from the cooler 27 to the compressor 12.

[0075] On the other hand, when the control unit 50 heats the cooler 27, the control unit 50 operates the compressor 12 so that the compressor 12 draws refrigerant into the compressor 12 through the second connection port 12b, compresses the drawn refrigerant, and discharges it from the first connection port 12a. In step S04 of Fig. 3, the compressor 12 is operated in this manner. In this case, the first connection port 12a of the compressor 12 functions as a refrigerant discharge port, and the second connection port 12b functions as a refrigerant suction port.

[0076] As a result, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 as indicated by arrows B4, B5, B6, and B7 in the opposite direction to that during air-conditioning operation. That is, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 12 radiates heat and condenses in the cooler 27, is decompressed in the expansion valve 22, absorbs heat from the outside air and evaporates in the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and returns from the outdoor heat exchanger 20 to the compressor 12. In this refrigeration cycle, the cooler 27 functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 20 functions as an evaporator.

[0077] As a result of this operation, when the cooler 27 is heated, the components of the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 excluding the cooler 27, namely the compressor 12, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the expansion valve 22, function as a heating device 18 that heats the cooler 27. The heating device 18 heats the cooler 27 by increasing the temperature of the refrigerant due to the compression operation of the compressor 12 and circulating the refrigerant inside the cooler 27.

[0078] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0079] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the second embodiment.

[0080] As shown in Fig. 6, the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment includes a liquid circuit 34 in which a liquid heat medium circulates without changing its phase, in addition to the refrigeration cycle circuit 11. A cooler 35 included in the liquid circuit 34 is provided in the case passage 26a in the indoor unit 24, instead of the cooler 27 of Fig. 5. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 of this embodiment does not include the cooler 27 of Fig. 5.

[0081] In addition to the cooler 35, the liquid circuit 34 has a liquid pump 36 and a chiller 37. The liquid pump 36, chiller 37, and cooler 35 are connected to form a circular circulation path so that the heat medium circulates in the liquid circuit 34.

[0082] Liquid pump 36 is an electric pump and has heat medium inlet 36a and heat medium outlet 36b. Heat medium inlet 36a of liquid pump 36 is connected to heat medium outlet 35b of cooler 35, and heat medium outlet 36b of liquid pump 36 is connected to third connection port 37c of chiller 37. Liquid pump 36 operates in accordance with a control signal from control unit 50, and discharges the heat medium drawn into liquid pump 36 from heat medium inlet 36a to chiller 37 from heat medium outlet 36b.

[0083] By operating the liquid pump 36 in this manner, the heat medium circulates in the liquid circuit 34 as indicated by arrows E1, E2, and E3. That is, the heat medium discharged from the heat medium discharge port 36b of the liquid pump 36 flows through the chiller 37 and the cooler 35 in this order, and the heat medium flowing out of the cooler 35 is sucked into the heat medium suction port 36a of the liquid pump 36.

[0084] The cooler 35 of this embodiment is disposed in the case internal passage 26a in the same manner as the cooler 27 of the second embodiment. Therefore, like the cooler 27 of the second embodiment, the cooler 35 of this embodiment is also a heat exchanger that cools the conditioned air Ar flowing through the case internal passage 26a during air conditioning operation.

[0085] For example, the cooler 35 is configured as a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes through which a heat medium flows and a plurality of heat exchange fins, and the tubes and heat exchange fins are alternately stacked in the cooler 35. The cooler 35 functions as a cooler core when cooling the conditioned air Ar, and exchanges heat between the heat medium flowing inside the tubes of the cooler 35 and the conditioned air Ar flowing between the tubes while in contact with the heat exchange fins, thereby cooling the conditioned air Ar.

[0086] The cooler 35 also has a heat medium inlet 35a through which the heat medium flows in from outside the cooler 35, and a heat medium outlet 35b through which the heat medium flows out to outside the cooler 35. The heat medium inlet 35a of the cooler 35 is connected to a fourth connection port 37d of the chiller 37. The heat medium that flows into the heat medium inlet 35a from the chiller 37 is distributed from the heat medium inlet 35a to each of the multiple tubes, and the heat medium that has passed through each of the multiple tubes is collected and flows out from the heat medium outlet 35b to the liquid pump 36.

[0087] The chiller 37 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium circulating in the liquid circuit 34 and the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11. Therefore, the chiller 37 is provided across the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 and the liquid circuit 34. In other words, the chiller 37 belongs to both the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 and the liquid circuit 34.

[0088] The chiller 37 has a first connection port 37a connected to the second connection port 22b of the expansion valve 22 and a second connection port 37b connected to the first connection port 12a of the compressor 12. The chiller 37 also has a third connection port 37c through which the heat medium flows in from the heat medium discharge port 36b of the liquid pump 36, and a fourth connection port 37d through which the heat medium flows out to the heat medium inlet 35a of the cooler 35. Inside the chiller 37, heat exchange occurs between the heat medium flowing from the third connection port 37c to the fourth connection port 37d and the refrigerant flowing between the first connection port 37a and the second connection port 37b.

[0089] For example, when air conditioning operation is performed, the control unit 50 of this embodiment operates the compressor 12 in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Therefore, in this case, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 also in this embodiment circulates as indicated by arrows A1, A2, A3, and A4, as in the second embodiment. At the same time, the control unit 50 operates the liquid pump 36, which causes the heat medium to circulate in the liquid circuit 34 as indicated by arrows E1, E2, and E3.

[0090] At this time, the chiller 37 functions as an evaporator, evaporating the refrigerant and cooling the heat medium within the chiller 37. The heat medium cooled by the chiller 37 flows through the liquid circuit 34 to the cooler 35, where the conditioned air Ar circulated through the case interior passage 26a by the blower 28 is cooled by the heat medium.

[0091] On the other hand, when heating the cooler 35, the control unit 50 also operates the compressor 12 in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Therefore, in this case, in the same manner as in the second embodiment, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 circulates in the directions of arrows B4, B5, B6, and B7, opposite to that during air-conditioning operation. At the same time, the control unit 50 operates the liquid pump 36, which causes the heat medium to circulate in the liquid circuit 34 as shown by arrows E1, E2, and E3. Therefore, in step S04 of FIG. 3 , the control unit 50 operates the compressor 12 and the liquid pump 36 in this manner.

[0092] At this time, the chiller 37 functions as a condenser, condensing the refrigerant and heating the heat medium within the chiller 37. The heat medium heated by the chiller 37 flows through the liquid circuit 34 to the cooler 35, and the heat medium heats the cooler 35. In step S09 of FIG. 3 , the control unit 50 stops the compressor 12 and the liquid pump 36.

[0093] As a result of this operation, when the cooler 35 is heated, the components of the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 and the liquid circuit 34 excluding the cooler 35 function as a heating device 18 that heats the cooler 35. Specifically, the components of the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 and the liquid circuit 34 excluding the cooler 35 are the compressor 12, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, the expansion valve 22, the liquid pump 36, and the chiller 37. The heating device 18 heats the heat medium by heat exchange with the refrigerant in the chiller 37 and circulates the heat medium through the cooler 35, thereby heating the cooler 35.

[0094] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the second embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the second embodiment.

[0095] Although this embodiment is a modification based on the second embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with the first embodiment described above.

[0096] Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0097] As shown in Fig. 7, in this embodiment, the air conditioner 10 includes a heating device 40 and a heat transfer member 41 that are provided separately from the refrigeration cycle circuit 11. Therefore, the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment does not include the circuit switching device 14 of Fig. 1, and the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 is connected to the first connection port 20a of the outdoor heat exchanger 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, the compressor 12 does not operate to heat the cooler 27.

[0098] Specifically, the heating device 40 of this embodiment is an electric heater that generates heat when electricity is applied. For example, the heating device 40 has an electric heating wire, and generates heat when electricity is applied to the electric heating wire.

[0099] The heat transfer member 41 serves to transfer heat from the heating device 40 to the cooler 27. For example, the heat transfer member 41 is made of a metal such as copper that has high thermal conductivity. Therefore, the heat generated by the heating device 40 is transferred to the cooler 27 via this heat transfer member 41. In other words, when heating the cooler 27, the heating device 40 supplies heat to the cooler 27 via a heat transfer path separate from the refrigeration cycle circuit 11, which is the refrigerant flow path, specifically, via a heat transfer path formed by the heat transfer member 41, and the cooler 27 is heated by this heat supply.

[0100] The heating device 40 of this embodiment replaces the heating device 18 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so the heating device 40 of this embodiment also heats the cooler 27 when the air conditioning system 10 operates in the cleaning mode.

[0101] 3, the control unit 50 of this embodiment energizes the heating device 40, causing the heating device 40 to start heating the cooler 27. Then, in step S09 of this embodiment, the control unit 50 cuts off the power to the heating device 40, thereby stopping the heating of the cooler 27 by the heating device 40.

[0102] (1) As described above, according to this embodiment, the heating device 40 heats the cooler 27 by supplying heat to the cooler 27 via a heat transfer path separate from the refrigeration cycle circuit 11, which is the refrigerant flow path. Therefore, it is possible to add the function of heating the cooler 27 by adding the heating device 40 to the air conditioning system 10 without modifying the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 to add the function of heating the cooler 27.

[0103] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0104] Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0105] 8, the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment does not include the circuit switching device 14 of FIG. 1, and the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 is connected to the first connection port 20a of the outdoor heat exchanger 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, the compressor 12 does not operate to heat the cooler 27.

[0106] Instead, the air conditioning device 10 of this embodiment includes a flow path switching valve 55 provided in a liquid medium circuit 54 through which the heating liquid medium, which is engine coolant, circulates. When heating the cooler 27, this flow path switching valve 55 functions as a heating device that heats the cooler 27 by supplying heat from an engine 56, which is an existing heat source of the vehicle, to the cooler 27 through the liquid medium circuit 54. At this time, the liquid medium circuit 54 forms a heat transfer path for the cooler 27 that is separate from the refrigeration cycle circuit 11, which is the refrigerant circulation path.

[0107] Specifically, the fluid circuit 54 is connected to an engine 56 which is a driving force source for running the vehicle, and in addition to the flow path switching valve 55 , the fluid circuit 54 has a fluid pump 57 and a heater core 58 .

[0108] The liquid medium pump 57 is an electric pump and has a pump suction port 57 a and a pump discharge port 57 b. The pump suction port 57 a of the liquid medium pump 57 is connected to a liquid medium outlet 56 b of the engine 56, and the pump discharge port 57 b of the liquid medium pump 57 is connected to a liquid medium inlet 58 a of the heater core 58.

[0109] In the engine 56, the heating liquid medium that flows into the engine 56 from a liquid medium inlet 56a is heated by the engine 56, and the heated heating liquid medium flows out from a liquid medium outlet 56b to the liquid medium pump 57. The liquid medium pump 57 operates in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 50, sucks the heating liquid medium that flows out from the liquid medium outlet 56b of the engine 56 into the liquid medium pump 57 from a pump suction port 57a, and discharges the sucked heating liquid medium from a pump discharge port 57b to a heater core 58.

[0110] The heater core 58 corresponds to the air conditioning heater described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the heater core 58 is disposed downstream of the cooler 27 in the air flow direction in the case internal passage 26a.

[0111] The heater core 58 has a liquid medium inlet 58a and a liquid medium outlet 58b. The liquid medium outlet 58b of the heater core 58 is connected to the inlet port 55a of the flow path switching valve 55. The heater core 58 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the conditioned air Ar passing through the heater core 58 and the heating liquid medium. That is, the heater core 58 heats the conditioned air Ar by exchanging heat between the conditioned air Ar and the heating liquid medium that has flowed in from the liquid medium inlet 58a, and causes the heating liquid medium after this heat exchange to flow out from the liquid medium outlet 58b to the inlet port 55a of the flow path switching valve 55.

[0112] An electrically operated door 59 is provided in the case interior passage 26a. The proportion of the volume of conditioned air Ar blown out from the cooler 27 that is heated by the heater core 58 is adjusted in accordance with the operation of this door 59, thereby adjusting the temperature of the conditioned air Ar blown out from the indoor unit 24 into the vehicle cabin. Note that an arrow M in Figure 8 indicates the direction in which the door 59 operates.

[0113] The flow path switching valve 55 is configured as an electric three-way valve that switches the flow path of the heating liquid medium in the liquid medium circuit 54, and has an inlet port 55a, a first outlet port 55b, and a second outlet port 55c. The first outlet port 55b is connected to the liquid medium inlet 56a of the engine 56 without passing through the cooler 27, and the second outlet port 55c is connected to the liquid medium inlet 56a of the engine 56 via the cooler 27. In the cooler 27, the flow path of the heating liquid medium is separated from the flow path of the refrigerant, so that the heating liquid medium and the refrigerant do not mix.

[0114] Specifically, the flow path switching valve 55 is selectively switched between a first switching state and a second switching state. In the first switching state, the flow path switching valve 55 connects the inlet port 55a and the first outlet port 55b, while blocking communication between the inlet port 55a and the first outlet port 55b and the second outlet port 55c. This allows the heating liquid medium to flow between the inlet port 55a and the first outlet port 55b, while the second outlet port 55c is closed, preventing the heating liquid medium from flowing through the second outlet port 55c.

[0115] Therefore, when air conditioning operation is performed, the control unit 50 sets the flow path switching valve 55 to the first switching state. As a result, when the liquid medium pump 57 is activated, the heating liquid medium in the liquid medium circuit 54 does not flow to the cooler 27, but circulates through a flow path as indicated by arrows G1 and G2, flowing from the liquid medium pump 57 to the heater core 58, the flow path switching valve 55, and the engine 56 in that order, before returning to the liquid medium pump 57. In other words, the cooler 27 is no longer heated by the heating liquid medium.

[0116] In contrast, in the second switching state, the flow path switching valve 55 connects the inlet port 55a and the second outlet port 55c, while blocking communication between the inlet port 55a and the second outlet port 55c and the first outlet port 55b. This allows the heating liquid medium to flow between the inlet port 55a and the second outlet port 55c, while the first outlet port 55b is closed, preventing the heating liquid medium from flowing through the first outlet port 55b.

[0117] 3 , the control unit 50 of this embodiment switches the flow path switching valve 55 to the second switching state and operates the liquid medium pump 57. As a result, in the liquid medium circuit 54, the heating liquid medium circulates through a flow path indicated by arrows H1, H2, and H3, flowing from the liquid medium pump 57 to the heater core 58, the flow path switching valve 55, the cooler 27, and the engine 56 in that order, before returning to the liquid medium pump 57. In other words, the heating liquid medium heated by the engine 56 also flows through the cooler 27. As a result, the cooler 27 is heated by the heating liquid medium. Note that the liquid medium pump 57 may be constantly operating without being stopped while the engine 56 is operating.

[0118] 3, the control unit 50 of this embodiment switches the flow path switching valve 55 from the second switching state to the first switching state, whereby the heating liquid medium in the liquid medium circuit 54 no longer flows through the cooler 27, and heating of the cooler 27 ends.

[0119] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0120] Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0121] 9, the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment does not include the circuit switching device 14 of FIG. 1, and the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 is connected to the first connection port 20a of the outdoor heat exchanger 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, the compressor 12 does not operate to heat the cooler 27.

[0122] Instead, the air conditioning system 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a heating device 62. This heating device 62 is, for example, an electric heater, and operates in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 50. The heating device 62 is configured integrally with the spraying device 30 and heats the cleaning fluid WH sprayed by the spraying device 30. Specifically, the heating device 62 heats the cleaning fluid WH to a temperature higher than that of the cooler 27. That is, in this embodiment, the heating device 62 heats the cooler 27 by heating the cleaning fluid WH sprayed onto the cooler 27 to a temperature higher than that of the cooler 27. In short, in this embodiment, the cleaning fluid WH is sprayed onto the cooler 27 as hot air or hot water.

[0123] In the control process of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, step S041 is provided instead of steps S04, S05, and S06 in Fig. 3. In step S041, the heating device 62 starts heating the cleaning fluid WH, and the spraying device 30 starts spraying the heated cleaning fluid WH to the cooler 27.

[0124] 10, the control process of this embodiment includes step S081 instead of steps S08 and S09 in FIG. 3. In step S081, the heating of the cleaning fluid WH is terminated, and the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH is also terminated. When step S081 is completed, the operation of the air conditioner 10 in the cleaning mode is terminated.

[0125] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0126] Although this embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to fifth embodiments described above. Also, the heating device 62 of this embodiment can be used in combination with the heating device 18 of the first embodiment.

[0127] (Other Embodiments) (1) In the above-described embodiments, for example, the determination of whether or not a request for activation of the cleaning mode has been made in step S01 of Fig. 3 is made based on a switch operation by an occupant. However, this is just one example. For example, if a predetermined interval has elapsed since the air conditioning device 10 last operated in the cleaning mode, the control unit 50 may automatically determine in step S01 of Fig. 3 that a request for activation of the cleaning mode has been made.

[0128] (2) In each of the above-described embodiments, the cleaning fluid WH sprayed by the spraying device 30 shown in FIG. 1 is a liquid containing radicals such as OH radicals, but this is merely an example. The cleaning fluid WH may be ionized water containing ions capable of cleaning the cooler 27, hydrogen peroxide, a cleaning liquid such as a surfactant, hypochlorous acid water, or water. The cleaning fluid WH may also be a gas, such as a gas containing radicals or ions capable of cleaning the cooler 27, or ozone.

[0129] (3) In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressure reducing section 16 in the hot gas cycle circuit 17 is disposed in the refrigerant flow path from the second connection port 12b of the compressor 12 to the first connection port 27a of the cooler 27. However, this is merely an example.

[0130] For example, in the hot gas cycle circuit 17, the pressure reduction unit 16 may be disposed in the refrigerant flow path from the second connection port 27b of the cooler 27 to the first connection port 12a of the compressor 12. In the case where the pressure reduction unit 16 is disposed in this manner, when the refrigeration cycle circuit 11 is established in place of the hot gas cycle circuit 17, the pressure reduction unit 16 operates so as not to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle circuit 11.

[0131] (4) In the first embodiment described above, in step S03 of Fig. 3, the control unit 50 stops the compressor 12. However, the compressor 12 may continue to operate without stopping the compressor 12. This is because, in the first embodiment, unlike, for example, the second embodiment, the operation of the compressor 12 in step S04 is the same as during air-conditioning operation.

[0132] (5) In the cleaning mode of the air conditioning device 10 in the first embodiment, the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH starts after the heating of the cooler 27 starts. However, this is merely an example. For example, it is also possible that the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH starts before the heating of the cooler 27 starts, or that the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH and the heating of the cooler 27 start simultaneously. The following are possible reasons for adopting the control in which the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH starts before the heating of the cooler 27 starts, as described above. For example, one possible reason is that the spraying of the cleaning fluid WH does not cause the cooler 27 to cool rapidly, thereby avoiding damage caused by rapid cooling of the cooler 27. Another possible reason is that the control logic of the air conditioning device 10 unavoidably requires this start order.

[0133] (6) The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various modified forms. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are not unrelated to each other and can be combined as appropriate, except in cases where the combination is clearly impossible.

[0134] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, it goes without saying that the elements constituting the embodiments are not necessarily essential unless they are particularly explicitly stated as essential or are clearly considered essential in principle. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when the numbers, values, amounts, ranges, etc. of the components of the embodiments are mentioned, they are not limited to the specific numbers unless they are particularly explicitly stated as essential or are clearly limited to a specific number in principle. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when the materials, shapes, positional relationships, etc. of the components are mentioned, they are not limited to the materials, shapes, positional relationships, etc. unless they are particularly explicitly stated or are clearly limited to a specific material, shape, positional relationship, etc. in principle.

[0135] The control unit 50 and the method described herein may be implemented by a special-purpose computer configured by configuring a processor and memory programmed to perform one or more functions embodied in a computer program. Alternatively, the control unit 50 and the method described herein may be implemented by a special-purpose computer configured by configuring a processor with one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits. Alternatively, the control unit 50 and the method described herein may be implemented by one or more special-purpose computers configured by combining a processor and memory programmed to perform one or more functions with a processor configured with one or more hardware logic circuits. Furthermore, the computer program may be stored as instructions executed by a computer on a computer-readable non-transitory tangible storage medium.

[0136] (Aspects of the Present Disclosure) The above-described present disclosure can be understood from the following aspects, for example. [First Aspect] An air conditioning apparatus having a function of cleaning a cooler (27, 35) that cools air for air conditioning (Ar), the air conditioning apparatus comprising: a heating device (18, 40, 55, 62) that heats the cooler; a spraying device (30) that sprays a cleaning fluid (WH) onto the cooler for cleaning the cooler; and a control unit (50) that causes the spraying device to spray the cleaning fluid onto the cooler and the heating device to heat the cooler when cooling of the air for air conditioning by the cooler is stopped. [Second Aspect] The air conditioning apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein, when spraying the cleaning fluid onto the cooler and heating the cooler with the cleaning fluid, the control unit starts heating the cooler before starting spraying the cleaning fluid. [Third Aspect] The air conditioning system according to the first or second aspect, wherein, when cooling the air for air conditioning, the cooler cools the air for air conditioning by exchanging heat between a heat medium circulating within the cooler and the air for air conditioning, and the heating device (18) heats the cooler by increasing the temperature of the heat medium and circulating it within the cooler. [Fourth Aspect] The air conditioning system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the cooler (27) is an evaporator included in a refrigeration cycle circuit (11) through which a refrigerant circulates, and when cooling the air for air conditioning, the cooler cools the air for air conditioning by exchanging heat between the refrigerant circulating in the cooler and the air for air conditioning; the refrigeration cycle circuit is configured by connecting a compressor (12), a radiator (20), a pressure reducing device (22), and the cooler in a ring shape; and the heating device (18) establishes a hot gas cycle circuit (17) in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor radiates heat in the cooler and returns to the compressor without passing through the radiator, and heats the cooler by circulating the refrigerant in the hot gas cycle circuit.[Fifth Aspect] The air conditioning apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein, when cooling the air for air conditioning, the cooler cools the air for air conditioning by exchanging heat between a heat medium circulating within the cooler and the air for air conditioning, and the heating device (40, 55) heats the cooler by supplying heat to the cooler through a heat transfer path separate from the heat medium circulation path (11). [Sixth Aspect] The air conditioning apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the heating device (62) heats the cooler by heating the cleaning fluid sprayed on the cooler to a temperature higher than that of the cooler. [Seventh Aspect] The air conditioning apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the cleaning fluid is a liquid or a gas.

Claims

1. A device equipped with a function for cleaning coolers (27, 35) that cool air (Ar) for air conditioning, A spraying device (30) for spraying a cleaning fluid (WH) for cleaning the cooler onto the cooler, The system includes a control unit (50) which causes the spraying device to spray the cleaning fluid onto the cooler and the heating device (18, 40, 55) to heat the cooler when the cooling of the air conditioning air by the cooler is stopped, The control unit, when causing the cooling unit to be sprayed with the cleaning fluid and the cooling unit to be heated, starts heating the cooling unit first, and then starts spraying the cleaning fluid.

2. When the cooler cools the air for air conditioning, it cools the air for air conditioning by exchanging heat between the heat transfer medium circulating within the cooler and the air for air conditioning. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating device (18) heats the cooler by raising the temperature of the heat transfer medium and circulating it through the cooler.

3. The cooler (27) is an evaporator included in the refrigeration cycle circuit (11) through which the refrigerant circulates, and when cooling the air for air conditioning, it cools the air for air conditioning by exchanging heat between the refrigerant circulating in the cooler and the air for air conditioning. The refrigeration cycle circuit is configured by connecting a compressor (12), a heat sink (20), a pressure reducing device (22), and the cooler in a ring shape. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating device (18) establishes a hot gas cycle circuit (17) in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor dissipates heat in the cooler and returns to the compressor without passing through the heat exchanger, and heats the cooler by circulating the refrigerant in the hot gas cycle circuit.

4. When the cooler cools the air for air conditioning, it cools the air for air conditioning by exchanging heat between the heat transfer medium circulating within the cooler and the air for air conditioning. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating device (40, 55) heats the cooler by supplying heat to the cooler through a heat transfer path separate from the heat transfer medium flow path (11).

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning fluid is a liquid or a gas.

6. An air conditioning system having a function for cleaning coolers (27, 35) that cool air (Ar) for air conditioning, A heating device (18, 40, 55) for heating the aforementioned cooler, A spraying device (30) for spraying a cleaning fluid (WH) for cleaning the cooler onto the cooler, The system includes a control unit (50) which, when the cooling of the air conditioning air by the cooler is stopped, causes the spraying device to spray the cleaning fluid onto the cooler and causes the heating device to heat the cooler. The control unit, when performing the spraying of the cleaning fluid onto the cooler and the heating of the cooler, starts heating the cooler first, and then starts spraying the cleaning fluid, in this air conditioning system.