Vehicular temperature regulating system

Abstract

Provided is a vehicular temperature regulating system (100) comprising a first refrigeration cycle (10), a second refrigeration cycle (20), a vehicle-mounted heat exchanger (31) to which a first cooling medium (CM1) that has been subjected to heat exchange with a first refrigerant in a first low-pressure-side heat exchanger (14) is supplied when the vehicular temperature regulating system (100) is performing a space cooling operation, a vehicle-mounted heat exchanger (32) to which a second cooling medium (CM2) that has been subjected to heat exchange with a second refrigerant in a second low-pressure-side heat exchanger (24) is supplied when the vehicular temperature regulating system (100) is performing the space cooling operation, and a blower (34) that guides air that has passed through the vehicle-mounted heat exchanger (31) into a vehicle interior, wherein the vehicle-mounted heat exchanger (32) is disposed on the upstream side of the vehicle-mounted heat exchanger (31) in a flow direction (AD) of the air guided by the blower (34).

Description

Vehicle temperature control system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle temperature control system.

[0002] There is an example of a cooling system with two refrigeration cycles for performing air conditioning for the vehicle cabin and temperature management for the battery (Patent Document 1). The cooling system described in Patent Document 1 includes a first refrigerant circuit including an electric compressor, an air-cooled condenser, a vehicle cabin evaporator, and an auxiliary chiller for the battery, and a second refrigerant circuit including an engine-driven compressor, an air-cooled condenser, and a main chiller for the battery. The main chiller of the second refrigerant circuit cools the coolant supplied to the battery while the engine is running.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 10,639,957

[0004] Even if a system has two refrigeration cycles, one for air conditioning and one for a battery, there are cases where only the air conditioning refrigeration cycle is operated, for example, under conditions where temperature management of the battery is not required. In the system described in Patent Document 1, an air-cooled condenser is used for each of the two refrigeration cycles. When the battery refrigeration cycle is stopped, the condenser of the battery refrigeration cycle does not exchange heat between the refrigerant and the outside air, resulting in a reduced heat transfer area with respect to the air. As a result, it is difficult to improve the coefficient of performance (COP) of the air conditioning refrigeration cycle when the battery refrigeration cycle is stopped.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to improve the COP in a vehicle temperature control system equipped with multiple refrigeration cycles.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the vehicle temperature control system of the present disclosure employs the following means: The vehicle temperature control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first refrigeration cycle having a first compressor, a first high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a first refrigerant compressed by the first compressor is supplied, a first expansion valve to expand the first refrigerant supplied from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a first low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the first refrigerant expanded by the first expansion valve is supplied and which guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor; a second refrigeration cycle having a second low-pressure side heat exchanger that is connected to the first compressor and that guides the second refrigerant to the second compressor; a first interior heat exchanger to which a first cooling medium that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant in the first low-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation; a second interior heat exchanger to which a second cooling medium that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant in the second low-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation; and a blower that guides air that has passed through the first interior heat exchanger into the vehicle compartment, wherein the second interior heat exchanger is arranged upstream of the first interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of the air guided by the blower.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the COP in a vehicle temperature control system equipped with multiple refrigeration cycles.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle temperature control system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a state in which the vehicle temperature control system is operating in cooling mode; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle temperature control system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a state in which the vehicle temperature control system is operating in heating mode; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle temperature control system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a state in which the vehicle temperature control system is operating in cooling mode; and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle temperature control system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a state in which the vehicle temperature control system is operating in heating mode.

[0009] First Embodiment A vehicle temperature control system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment is installed in a vehicle (not shown), such as an electric vehicle that does not have an engine and obtains driving force for running the vehicle from an electric motor, or a so-called hybrid vehicle that obtains driving force for running the vehicle from an engine and an electric motor.

[0010] The vehicle temperature control system 100 is responsible for air conditioning such as heating and cooling, dehumidification, and ventilation of the passenger compartment, as well as thermal management and exhaust heat recovery of on-board devices such as the battery 4, traction motor 5, and heat-generating electronic devices installed in the vehicle. Conditioning the air to an appropriate temperature and humidity and maintaining the on-board devices at an appropriate temperature are collectively referred to as "thermal management." Power stored in the on-board battery 4 is supplied to the vehicle temperature control system 100 and the electrically powered devices and electronic devices installed in the on-board devices.

[0011] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle temperature control system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating a state in which the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle temperature control system 100 includes a first refrigeration cycle 10, a second refrigeration cycle 20, an HVAC unit 30, a battery heat exchanger 40, a motor heat exchanger 50, an exterior heat exchange unit 60, pumps 71, 72, 73, and 74, switching valves 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, and 87, and a control unit 90.

[0012] The first refrigeration cycle 10 includes a first compressor 11, a first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, a first expansion valve 13, a first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14, and a refrigerant flow path 15. The first refrigeration cycle 10 is connected by the refrigerant flow path 15, and circulates a first refrigerant R1 between the first compressor 11, the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, the first expansion valve 13, and the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14.

[0013] The first compressor 11 compresses the first refrigerant R1 guided from the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14 and discharges it to the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12. The first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 is supplied with the first refrigerant R1 compressed by the first compressor 11 and exchanges heat between the high-temperature, high-pressure first refrigerant R1 and a heat exchange medium circulating in the exterior heat exchange unit 60.

[0014] The first expansion valve 13 expands the first refrigerant R1 supplied from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 and supplies the expanded refrigerant to the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14. The first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14 receives the first refrigerant R1 expanded by the first expansion valve 13, exchanges heat between the decompressed first refrigerant R1 and a first cooling medium circulating through the in-vehicle heat exchanger 31 of the HVAC unit 30, and guides the decompressed first refrigerant R1 to the first compressor 11.

[0015] The second refrigeration cycle 20 has a second compressor 21, a second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22, a second expansion valve 23, a second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, and a refrigerant flow path 25. The second refrigeration cycle 20 is connected by the refrigerant flow path 25, and circulates a second refrigerant R2 between the second compressor 21, the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22, the second expansion valve 23, and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24.

[0016] The second compressor 21 compresses the second refrigerant R2 guided from the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 and discharges it to the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22. The second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22 is supplied with the second refrigerant R2 compressed by the second compressor 21 and exchanges heat between the high-temperature, high-pressure second refrigerant R2 and the heat exchange medium circulating in the exterior heat exchange unit 60.

[0017] The second expansion valve 23 expands the second refrigerant R2 supplied from the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22 and supplies the expanded refrigerant to the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24. The second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 is supplied with the second refrigerant R2 expanded by the second expansion valve 23, and performs heat exchange between the decompressed second refrigerant R2 and the second cooling medium circulating through the in-vehicle heat exchanger 32 of the HVAC unit 30, and guides the second refrigerant R2 to the second compressor 21.

[0018] The HVAC unit 30 includes an interior heat exchanger (first interior heat exchanger) 31, an interior heat exchanger (second interior heat exchanger) 32, an interior heat exchanger 33, a blower 34, and a temperature sensor 35. The interior heat exchanger 32 is disposed upstream of the interior heat exchanger 31 in the flow direction AD of the air guided by the blower 34. The interior heat exchanger 33 is disposed downstream of the interior heat exchanger 31 in the flow direction AD of the air guided by the blower 34.

[0019] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation, the first cooling medium CM1 that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant R1 in the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger 31. The interior heat exchanger 31 exchanges heat between the air blown by the blower 34 and the first cooling medium CM1 to cool the air.

[0020] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation, the interior heat exchanger 32 is supplied with the second cooling medium CM2 that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant R2 in the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24. The interior heat exchanger 32 exchanges heat between the air blown by the blower 34 and the second cooling medium CM2 to cool the air.

[0021] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in heating operation, the first heating medium HM1 that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant R1 in the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger 33. The interior heat exchanger 33 exchanges heat between the air blown by the blower 34 and the first heating medium HM1 to heat the air.

[0022] The blower 34 is a device that blows air along the flow direction AD and guides it into the vehicle interior. The blower 34 blows the air through the interior heat exchangers 31, 32, and 33, and guides the air that has passed through the interior heat exchangers 31, 32, and 33 into the vehicle interior.

[0023] The temperature sensor 35 is a device that detects the temperature of the air that is guided from the blower 34 to the interior heat exchangers 31 , 32 , and 33 .

[0024] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is operating in air conditioning mode and the battery 4 needs to be cooled, the battery heat exchanger 40 is supplied with the second cooling medium CM2 and exchanges heat with the battery 4, which stores the electric power used in the vehicle. When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is operating in air conditioning mode, the battery 4 is cooled by heat exchange with the second cooling medium CM2.

[0025] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation or heating operation and cooling of the traction motor 5 or waste heat recovery is required, the motor heat exchanger 50 is supplied with heat exchange medium M3 and exchanges heat with the traction motor 5. When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation or heating operation, the traction motor 5 is cooled by heat exchange with the heat exchange medium M3.

[0026] The exterior heat exchange unit 60 is a unit that exchanges heat between air (outside air) and a heat exchange medium M3 outside the vehicle, and includes an exterior heat exchanger 61 and a fan 62. The fan 62 blows air toward the exterior heat exchanger 61. The exterior heat exchanger 61 exchanges heat between the heat exchange medium M3 and the air (outside air).

[0027] The control unit 90 is a device that controls the vehicle temperature control system 100. The control unit 90 controls each part of the vehicle temperature control system 100, including the first refrigeration cycle 10, the second refrigeration cycle 20, the pumps 71, 72, 73, and 74, and the switching valves 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, and 87.

[0028] <Cooling Operation> Here, referring to Fig. 1, the operation of the vehicle temperature control system 100 during cooling operation will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, when the vehicle temperature control system 100 performs cooling operation, the control unit 90 controls the first refrigeration cycle 10 so that the first refrigerant R1 circulates through the refrigerant flow path 15. The control unit 90 also controls the pump 72, the switching valve 82, and the switching valve 85 so that the first cooling medium CM1 circulates through the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14, the pump 72, the switching valve 82, the interior heat exchanger 31, and the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14 in this order.

[0029] Furthermore, when the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation, the control unit 90 controls the second refrigeration cycle 20 so that the second refrigerant R2 circulates through the refrigerant flow path 25. Furthermore, the control unit 90 controls the pump 73, the switching valve 83, the switching valve 86, and the switching valve 87 so that the second cooling medium CM2 circulates through the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, the switching valve 87, the pump 73, the switching valve 83, the interior heat exchanger 32, the switching valve 86, and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 in this order.

[0030] In addition, when the vehicle temperature control system 100 is operating in cooling mode, the control unit 90 controls the pump 71, pump 74, switching valve 81, switching valve 84, and switching valve 85 so as to form a circulation flow path (first circulation flow path) C11 in which the heat exchange medium M3 circulates through the exterior heat exchanger 61, pump 74, switching valve 85, first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, pump 71, switching valve 81, switching valve 84, and exterior heat exchanger 61 in that order.

[0031] In addition, when the vehicle temperature control system 100 is operating in cooling mode, the control unit 90 controls the pump 74, the pump 73, the switching valve 86, the switching valve 87, and the switching valve 84 so that the heat exchange medium M3 forms a circulation flow path (second circulation flow path) C21 in which it circulates through the exterior heat exchanger 61, the pump 74, the switching valve 86, the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22, the switching valve 87, the switching valve 84, and the exterior heat exchanger 61 in that order.

[0032] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation, the control unit 90 controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant R2 passing through the second expansion valve 23 so that it is higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant R1 passing through the first expansion valve 13. The control unit 90 also controls the temperature of the second cooling medium CM2 passing through the interior heat exchanger 32 so that it is higher than the temperature of the first cooling medium CM1 passing through the interior heat exchanger 31. In this way, the temperature of the air blown from the blower 34 can be gradually reduced as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction AD.

[0033] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is operating in air conditioning mode and it is necessary to cool the battery 4, the second cooling medium CM2 that has passed through the interior heat exchanger 32 is supplied to the battery heat exchanger 40. The battery heat exchanger 40 cools the battery 4 by exchanging heat between the second cooling medium CM2 and the battery 4.

[0034] When the temperature of the air drawn into the in-vehicle heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is equal to or higher than a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 30°C), the control unit 90 operates the first refrigeration cycle 10 to circulate the first refrigerant R1 through the refrigerant flow path 15, and operates the second refrigeration cycle 20 to circulate the second refrigerant R2 through the refrigerant flow path 25.

[0035] On the other hand, when the temperature of the air drawn into the interior heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is lower than a first predetermined temperature, the control unit 90 operates the first refrigeration cycle 10 while stopping the second refrigeration cycle 20. When stopping the second refrigeration cycle 20, the control unit 90 controls the second refrigeration cycle 20 so that the second refrigerant R2 does not circulate through the refrigerant flow path 25.

[0036] In addition, the control unit 90 may operate the first refrigeration cycle 10 to circulate the first refrigerant R1 through the refrigerant flow path 15 and the second refrigeration cycle 20 to circulate the second refrigerant R2 through the refrigerant flow path 25 when the temperature of the air drawn into the interior heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is less than a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 30°C) and is equal to or greater than a second predetermined temperature (e.g., 25°C), and the temperature of the battery 4 detected by the temperature sensor 4a is equal to or greater than a third predetermined temperature (e.g., 35°C).

[0037] <Heating Operation> Next, the operation of the vehicle temperature control system 100 during heating operation will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the vehicle temperature control system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows the vehicle temperature control system 100 in heating operation.

[0038] 2 , when the vehicle temperature control system 100 performs heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the first refrigeration cycle 10 so that the first refrigerant R1 circulates through the refrigerant flow path 15. The control unit 90 also controls the pump 71, the switching valve 81, and the switching valve 85 so that the first heating medium HM1 circulates through the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, the pump 71, the switching valve 81, the interior heat exchanger 33, and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 in this order.

[0039] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in heating operation, the first heating medium HM1 that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant R1 in the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger (first interior heat exchanger) 33. When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in heating operation, the second heating medium HM2 that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant R2 in the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger (second interior heat exchanger) 32. The interior heat exchanger 32 is disposed upstream of the interior heat exchanger 33 in the flow direction AD of the air guided by the blower 34.

[0040] Furthermore, when the vehicle temperature control system 100 performs heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the second refrigeration cycle 20 so that the second refrigerant R2 circulates through the refrigerant flow path 25. The control unit 90 controls the pump 73, the switching valve 83, the switching valve 86, and the switching valve 87 so that the second heating medium HM2 circulates through the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22, the switching valve 87, the pump 73, the switching valve 83, the interior heat exchanger 32, the switching valve 86, and the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22 in this order.

[0041] In addition, when the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the pump 72, the pump 74, the switching valve 82, the switching valve 84, and the switching valve 85 so as to form a circulation flow path (first circulation flow path) C12 in which the heat exchange medium M3 circulates through the exterior heat exchanger 61, the pump 74, the switching valve 85, the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14, the pump 72, the switching valve 82, the switching valve 84, and the exterior heat exchanger 61 in that order.

[0042] In addition, when the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the pump 74, pump 73, switching valve 86, switching valve 87, switching valve 83, and switching valve 84 so that the heat exchange medium M3 forms a circulation flow path (second circulation flow path) C22 in which it circulates through the exterior heat exchanger 61, pump 74, switching valve 86, second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, switching valve 87, switching valve 84, and exterior heat exchanger 61 in that order.

[0043] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 performs heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant R2 that has passed through the second compressor 21 so that it is lower than the first pressure of the first refrigerant R1 that has passed through the first compressor 11. The control unit 90 also controls the temperature of the second heating medium HM2 that has passed through the interior heat exchanger 32 so that it is lower than the temperature of the first heating medium HM1 that has passed through the interior heat exchanger 33. In this way, the temperature of the air blown from the blower 34 can be increased stepwise as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction AD.

[0044] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in heating operation and it is necessary to heat the battery 4, the second heating medium HM2 that has passed through the interior heat exchanger 32 is supplied to the battery heat exchanger 40. The battery heat exchanger 40 heats the battery 4 by exchanging heat between the second heating medium HM2 and the battery 4.

[0045] When the temperature of the air drawn into the in-vehicle heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is below a fourth predetermined temperature (e.g., 10°C), the control unit 90 operates the first refrigeration cycle 10 to circulate the first refrigerant R1 through the refrigerant flow path 15, and operates the second refrigeration cycle 20 to circulate the second refrigerant R2 through the refrigerant flow path 25.

[0046] On the other hand, when the temperature of the air drawn into the interior heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is higher than a fourth predetermined temperature, the control unit 90 operates the first refrigeration cycle 10 while stopping the second refrigeration cycle 20. When stopping the second refrigeration cycle 20, the control unit 90 controls the second refrigeration cycle 20 so that the second refrigerant R2 does not circulate through the refrigerant flow path 25.

[0047] In addition, the control unit 90 may operate the first refrigeration cycle 10 to circulate the first refrigerant R1 through the refrigerant flow path 15 and operate the second refrigeration cycle 20 to circulate the second refrigerant R2 through the refrigerant flow path 25 when the temperature of the air drawn into the interior heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is higher than a fourth predetermined temperature (e.g., 10°C) and is equal to or lower than a fifth predetermined temperature (e.g., 15°C), and the temperature of the battery 4 detected by the temperature sensor 4a is equal to or lower than a sixth predetermined temperature (e.g., -10°C).

[0048] The operation and effects of the vehicle temperature control system 100 of the present embodiment described above will now be described.

[0049] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, during cooling operation, the first cooling medium CM1 that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant R1 in the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger 31, and the second cooling medium CM2 that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant R2 in the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger 32. In the flow direction of air guided by the blower 34, the interior heat exchanger 32 is disposed upstream of the interior heat exchanger 31. The air blown by the blower 34 is cooled by heat exchange with the second cooling medium CM2 as it passes through the interior heat exchanger 32, and then cooled by heat exchange with the first cooling medium CM1 as it passes through the interior heat exchanger 31. The air guided into the vehicle compartment is cooled in two stages by the first cooling medium CM1 and the second cooling medium CM2.

[0050] Since two-stage cooling is performed using both the power of the first compressor 11 of the first refrigeration cycle 10 and the power of the second compressor 21 of the second refrigeration cycle 20, the compressor power required to achieve the desired cooling capacity is reduced compared to when one-stage cooling is performed using the power of a single compressor of a single refrigeration cycle, and the COP of a vehicle temperature control system equipped with multiple refrigeration cycles can be improved. Furthermore, when cooling of the battery 4 is required, the power of the first compressor 11 can be reduced by using the second refrigeration cycle 20, which has a lower pressure than the first refrigeration cycle 10.

[0051] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, when operating in cooling mode, the second pressure of the second refrigerant R2 that has passed through the second expansion valve 23 is made higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant R1 that has passed through the first expansion valve 13, so that the temperature of the air blown from the blower 34 can be gradually reduced as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction AD.

[0052] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, when operating in cooling mode, the temperature of the second cooling medium CM2 passing through the in-vehicle heat exchanger 32 is made higher than the temperature of the first cooling medium CM1 passing through the in-vehicle heat exchanger 31, so that the temperature of the air blown from the blower 34 can be gradually reduced as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction AD.

[0053] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, when operating in air conditioning mode, the second cooling medium CM2 is supplied to the battery heat exchanger 40, so that the second refrigeration cycle 20 can be used to simultaneously cool the air being led into the vehicle cabin and the battery 4.

[0054] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, by circulating the heat exchange medium M3 in both the circulation flow path C11 and the circulation flow path C21, the heat recovered by the heat exchange medium M3 in both the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 and the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22 can be appropriately dissipated in the external heat exchanger 61.

[0055] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, during heating operation, the first heating medium HM1 that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant R1 in the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger 33, and the second heating medium HM2 that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant R2 in the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger 32. In the flow direction AD of air guided by the blower 34, the interior heat exchanger 32 is disposed upstream of the interior heat exchanger 33. The air blown by the blower 34 is heated by heat exchange with the second heating medium HM2 as it passes through the interior heat exchanger 32, and then heated by heat exchange with the first heating medium HM1 as it passes through the interior heat exchanger 33. The air guided into the vehicle compartment is heated in two stages by the first heating medium HM1 and the second heating medium HM2.

[0056] Since two-stage heating is performed using both the power of the first compressor 11 of the first refrigeration cycle 10 and the power of the second compressor 21 of the second refrigeration cycle 20, the compressor power required to achieve the desired heating capacity is reduced compared to when one-stage heating is performed using the power of a single compressor of a single refrigeration cycle, and the COP can be improved in a vehicle temperature control system equipped with multiple refrigeration cycles.

[0057] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, during heating operation, the second pressure of the second refrigerant R2 that has passed through the second compressor 21 is made lower than the first pressure of the first refrigerant R1 that has passed through the first compressor 11, so that the temperature of the air blown from the blower 34 can be gradually increased as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction AD.

[0058] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, when heating operation is performed, the temperature of the second heating medium HM2 passing through the in-vehicle heat exchanger 32 is made lower than the temperature of the first heating medium HM1 passing through the in-vehicle heat exchanger 33, so that the temperature of the air blown from the blower 34 can be gradually increased as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction AD.

[0059] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, when it is necessary to heat the battery during heating operation, the second heating medium HM2 is supplied to the battery heat exchanger 40, and the second refrigeration cycle 20 can be used to simultaneously heat both the air being led into the vehicle cabin and the battery 4.

[0060] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100 of this embodiment, by circulating the heat exchange medium M3 in both the circulation flow path C12 and the circulation flow path C22, the heat absorbed by the heat exchange medium M3 in the external heat exchanger 61 can be appropriately transferred to both the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14 and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24.

[0061] Second Embodiment Next, a vehicle temperature control system 100A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The vehicle temperature control system 100A according to this embodiment differs from the vehicle temperature control system 100 of the first embodiment in that the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 of the first refrigeration cycle 10 and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 of the second refrigeration cycle 20 are integrated.

[0062] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle temperature control system 100A according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating a state in which the vehicle temperature control system 100A is operating in cooling mode. As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle temperature control system 100 includes a first refrigeration cycle 10, a second refrigeration cycle 20, an HVAC unit 30, a battery heat exchanger 40, a motor heat exchanger 50, an exterior heat exchange unit 60, pumps 71, 72, 73, and 74, switching valves 81, 82, 83, 84, and 85, and a control unit 90.

[0063] The first refrigeration cycle 10 has a first compressor 11, a first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, a first expansion valve 13, a first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14, and a refrigerant flow path 15. The first refrigeration cycle 10 is connected by the refrigerant flow path 15, and circulates a first refrigerant R1 between the first compressor 11, the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, the first expansion valve 13, and the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14. The configuration of each part of the first refrigeration cycle 10 is the same as in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted below.

[0064] The second refrigeration cycle 20 has a second compressor 21, a second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22, a second expansion valve 23, a second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, and a refrigerant flow path 25. The second refrigeration cycle 20 is connected by the refrigerant flow path 25, and circulates a second refrigerant R2 between the second compressor 21, the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22, the second expansion valve 23, and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24. The configuration of each part of the second refrigeration cycle 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted below.

[0065] In the vehicle temperature control system 100A of this embodiment, the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 is integrated with the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12. The second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 are configured, for example, as a plate-type heat exchanger in which a plurality of plates are stacked and the first refrigerant R1, the second refrigerant R2, and the second cooling medium CM2 alternately circulate between adjacent plates.

[0066] The HVAC unit 30 includes an interior heat exchanger (first interior heat exchanger) 31, an interior heat exchanger (second interior heat exchanger) 32, an interior heat exchanger 33, a blower 34, and a temperature sensor 35. The interior heat exchanger 32 is disposed upstream of the interior heat exchanger 31 in the flow direction AD of air guided by the blower 34. The interior heat exchanger 33 is disposed downstream of the interior heat exchanger 31 in the flow direction AD of air guided by the blower 34. The configuration of each part of the HVAC unit 30 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted below.

[0067] When the vehicle temperature control system 100A is operating in air conditioning mode and the battery needs to be cooled, the battery heat exchanger 40 is supplied with the second cooling medium CM2 and exchanges heat with the battery 4 that stores the electric power used in the vehicle. When the vehicle temperature control system 100A is operating in air conditioning mode, the battery 4 is cooled by heat exchange with the second cooling medium CM2.

[0068] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation or heating operation and it is necessary to cool the motor or recover waste heat, the motor heat exchanger 50 is supplied with heat exchange medium M3 and exchanges heat with the driving motor 5. When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in cooling operation or heating operation, the driving motor 5 is cooled by heat exchange with the heat exchange medium M3.

[0069] The exterior heat exchange unit 60 is a unit that exchanges heat between air (outside air) and a heat exchange medium M3 outside the vehicle, and includes an exterior heat exchanger 61 and a fan 62. The fan 62 blows air toward the exterior heat exchanger 61. The exterior heat exchanger 61 exchanges heat between the heat exchange medium M3 and the air (outside air).

[0070] The control unit 90 is a device that controls the vehicle temperature control system 100. The control unit 90 controls each part of the vehicle temperature control system 100A, including the first refrigeration cycle 10, the second refrigeration cycle 20, the pumps 71, 72, 73, and 74, and the switching valves 81, 82, 83, 84, and 85.

[0071] <Cooling Operation> Here, the operation of the vehicle temperature control system 100A during cooling operation will be described with reference to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, when the vehicle temperature control system 100A performs cooling operation, the control unit 90 controls the first refrigeration cycle 10 so that the first refrigerant R1 circulates through the refrigerant flow path 15. The control unit 90 also controls the pump 72, the switching valve 82, and the switching valve 85 so that the first cooling medium CM1 circulates through the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14, the pump 72, the interior heat exchanger 31, the switching valve 82, and the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14 in this order.

[0072] Furthermore, when the vehicle temperature control system 100A is in cooling operation, the control unit 90 controls the second refrigeration cycle 20 so that the second refrigerant R2 circulates through the refrigerant flow path 25. The control unit 90 also controls the pump 73 and the switching valve 83 so that the second cooling medium CM2 circulates through the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, the switching valve 83, the interior heat exchanger 32, the pump 73, and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 in that order. The second cooling medium CM2 is guided from the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 to the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, and from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 to the interior heat exchanger 32.

[0073] In addition, when the vehicle temperature control system 100A is operating in cooling mode, the control unit 90 controls the pump 71, pump 74, switching valve 81, switching valve 84, and switching valve 85 so as to form a circulation flow path C13 in which the heat exchange medium M3 circulates through the exterior heat exchanger 61, pump 74, switching valve 85, second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22, pump 71, switching valve 81, switching valve 84, and exterior heat exchanger 61 in that order.

[0074] When the vehicle temperature control system 100A is in cooling operation, the control unit 90 controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant R2 passing through the second expansion valve 23 so that it is higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant R1 passing through the first expansion valve 13. The control unit 90 also controls the temperature of the second cooling medium CM2 passing through the interior heat exchanger 32 so that it is higher than the temperature of the first cooling medium CM1 passing through the interior heat exchanger 31. In this way, the temperature of the air blown from the blower 34 can be gradually reduced as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction AD.

[0075] When the vehicle temperature control system 100A is in air-conditioning operation and it is necessary to cool the battery 4, the battery heat exchanger 40 is supplied with the second cooling medium CM2 that has passed through the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24. The battery heat exchanger 40 cools the battery 4 by exchanging heat between the second cooling medium CM2 and the battery 4.

[0076] When the temperature of the air drawn into the in-vehicle heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is equal to or higher than a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 30°C), the control unit 90 operates the first refrigeration cycle 10 to circulate the first refrigerant R1 through the refrigerant flow path 15, and operates the second refrigeration cycle 20 to circulate the second refrigerant R2 through the refrigerant flow path 25.

[0077] On the other hand, when the temperature of the air drawn into the interior heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is lower than a first predetermined temperature, the control unit 90 stops the first refrigeration cycle 10 while operating the second refrigeration cycle 20. When stopping the second refrigeration cycle 20, the control unit 90 controls the second refrigeration cycle 20 so that the second refrigerant R2 does not circulate through the refrigerant flow path 25.

[0078] In addition, the control unit 90 may operate the first refrigeration cycle 10 to circulate the first refrigerant R1 through the refrigerant flow path 15 and the second refrigeration cycle 20 to circulate the second refrigerant R2 through the refrigerant flow path 25 when the temperature of the air drawn into the interior heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is less than a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 30°C) and is equal to or greater than a second predetermined temperature (e.g., 25°C), and the temperature of the battery 4 detected by the temperature sensor 4a is equal to or greater than a third predetermined temperature (e.g., 35°C).

[0079] <Heating Operation> Next, the operation of the vehicle temperature control system 100A during heating operation will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the vehicle temperature control system 100A according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows the vehicle temperature control system 100A in heating operation.

[0080] 4 , when the vehicle temperature control system 100A performs heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the first refrigeration cycle 10 so that the first refrigerant R1 circulates through the refrigerant flow path 15. The control unit 90 also controls the pump 73 and the switching valve 83 so that the first heating medium HM1 circulates through the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, the switching valve 83, the interior heat exchanger (first interior heat exchanger) 32, the pump 73, the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 in this order. The first heating medium HM1 is guided from the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 to the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, and then from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 to the interior heat exchanger 32.

[0081] When the vehicle temperature control system 100A is in heating operation, the first heating medium HM1 that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant R1 in the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger (first interior heat exchanger) 32. When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in heating operation, the second heating medium HM2 that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant R2 in the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22 is supplied to the interior heat exchanger (second interior heat exchanger) 33. The interior heat exchanger 32 is disposed upstream of the interior heat exchanger 33 in the flow direction AD of the air guided by the blower 34.

[0082] Furthermore, when the vehicle temperature control system 100A performs heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the second refrigeration cycle 20 so that the second refrigerant R2 circulates through the refrigerant flow path 25. The control unit 90 controls the pump 71, the switching valve 81, and the switching valve 85 so that the second heating medium HM2 circulates through the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22, the pump 71, the switching valve 81, the interior heat exchanger 33, and the second high-pressure side heat exchanger 22 in this order.

[0083] In addition, when the vehicle temperature control system 100A is in heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the pump 74, the switching valve 82, the switching valve 84, and the switching valve 85 so as to form a circulation flow path C14 in which the heat exchange medium M3 circulates through the exterior heat exchanger 61, the pump 74, the switching valve 85, the first low-pressure side heat exchanger 14, the switching valve 82, the switching valve 84, and the exterior heat exchanger 61 in that order.

[0084] When the vehicle temperature control system 100A performs heating operation, the control unit 90 controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant R2 that has passed through the second compressor 21 so that it is higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant R1 that has passed through the first compressor 11. The control unit 90 also controls the temperature of the first heating medium HM1 that has passed through the interior heat exchanger 32 so that it is lower than the temperature of the second heating medium HM2 that has passed through the interior heat exchanger 33. In this manner, the temperature of the air blown from the blower 34 can be increased stepwise as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction AD.

[0085] When the vehicle temperature control system 100 is in heating operation and it is necessary to heat the battery 4, the first heating medium HM1 that has passed through the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 is supplied to the battery heat exchanger 40. The battery heat exchanger 40 heats the battery 4 by exchanging heat between the first heating medium HM1 and the battery 4.

[0086] When the temperature of the air drawn into the in-vehicle heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is below a fourth predetermined temperature (e.g., 10°C), the control unit 90 operates the first refrigeration cycle 10 to circulate the first refrigerant R1 through the refrigerant flow path 15, and operates the second refrigeration cycle 20 to circulate the second refrigerant R2 through the refrigerant flow path 25.

[0087] On the other hand, when the temperature of the air drawn into the interior heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is higher than a fourth predetermined temperature, the control unit 90 operates the first refrigeration cycle 10 while stopping the second refrigeration cycle 20. When stopping the second refrigeration cycle 20, the control unit 90 controls the second refrigeration cycle 20 so that the second refrigerant R2 does not circulate through the refrigerant flow path 25.

[0088] In addition, the control unit 90 may operate the first refrigeration cycle 10 to circulate the first refrigerant R1 through the refrigerant flow path 15 and operate the second refrigeration cycle 20 to circulate the second refrigerant R2 through the refrigerant flow path 25 when the temperature of the air drawn into the interior heat exchanger 32 detected by the temperature sensor 35 is higher than a fourth predetermined temperature (e.g., 10°C) and is equal to or lower than a fifth predetermined temperature (e.g., 15°C), and the temperature of the battery 4 detected by the temperature sensor 4a is equal to or lower than a sixth predetermined temperature (e.g., -10°C).

[0089] According to the vehicle temperature control system 100A of this embodiment, by integrating the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, manufacturing costs and installation area can be reduced compared to when the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 are independent heat exchangers.

[0090] In the present embodiment, when the vehicle temperature control system 100A is in cooling operation, the second cooling medium CM2 is guided from the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 to the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, and then from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 to the interior heat exchanger 32. However, other configurations are also possible. For example, the second cooling medium CM2 may be guided from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 to the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, and then from the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 to the interior heat exchanger 32.

[0091] In addition, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle temperature control system 100A performs heating operation, the first heating medium HM1 is guided from the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 to the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12, and then from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 to the interior heat exchanger 32. However, other configurations are also possible. For example, the first heating medium HM1 may be guided from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger 12 to the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24, and then from the second low-pressure side heat exchanger 24 to the interior heat exchanger 32.

[0092] The vehicle temperature control system according to each of the above-described embodiments can be understood as follows, for example. The vehicle temperature control system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a first refrigeration cycle (10) having a first compressor (11), a first high-pressure side heat exchanger (12) to which a first refrigerant (R1) compressed by the first compressor is supplied, a first expansion valve (13) that expands the first refrigerant supplied from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a first low-pressure side heat exchanger (14) that is supplied with the first refrigerant expanded by the first expansion valve and guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor, a second compressor (21), a second high-pressure side heat exchanger (22) to which a second refrigerant (R2) compressed by the second compressor is supplied, a second expansion valve (23) that expands the second refrigerant supplied from the second high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a second low-pressure side heat exchanger (14) that guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor. a second refrigeration cycle (20) having a second low-pressure side heat exchanger (24) to which the second refrigerant is supplied and which guides the second refrigerant to the second compressor; a first interior heat exchanger (31) to which a first cooling medium that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant in the first low-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation; a second interior heat exchanger (32) to which a second cooling medium that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant in the second low-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation; and a blower (34) to guide air that has passed through the first interior heat exchanger into the vehicle compartment, wherein the second interior heat exchanger is arranged upstream of the first interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of the air guided by the blower.

[0093] According to the vehicle temperature control system of the first aspect of the present disclosure, during cooling operation, a first cooling medium that has exchanged heat with a first refrigerant in a first low-pressure heat exchanger is supplied to a first interior heat exchanger, and a second cooling medium that has exchanged heat with a second refrigerant in a second low-pressure heat exchanger is supplied to a second interior heat exchanger. The second interior heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the first interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of air guided by the blower. The air blown by the blower is cooled by heat exchange with the second cooling medium as it passes through the second interior heat exchanger, and then cooled by heat exchange with the first cooling medium as it passes through the first interior heat exchanger. The air guided into the vehicle cabin is cooled in two stages by the first and second cooling mediums.

[0094] Since two stages of cooling are performed using both the power of the first compressor of the first refrigeration cycle and the power of the second compressor of the second refrigeration cycle, the compressor power required to achieve the desired cooling capacity is reduced compared to when one stage of cooling is performed using the power of a single compressor of a single refrigeration cycle, and the COP can be improved in vehicle temperature control systems equipped with multiple refrigeration cycles.

[0095] A vehicle temperature control system according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the first aspect, further comprising the following configuration: a control unit (90) that controls the vehicle temperature control system, and when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation, the control unit controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant that has passed through the second expansion valve to be higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant that has passed through the first expansion valve.

[0096] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the second aspect of the present disclosure, when operating in cooling mode, the second pressure of the second refrigerant that has passed through the second expansion valve is made higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant that has passed through the first expansion valve, so that the temperature of the air blown from the blower can be gradually reduced as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction.

[0097] The vehicle temperature control system according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is the second aspect, and further includes the following configuration: That is, when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation, the control unit controls the temperature of the second cooling medium passing through the second interior heat exchanger to be higher than the temperature of the first cooling medium passing through the first interior heat exchanger.

[0098] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the third aspect of the present disclosure, when operating in cooling mode, the temperature of the second cooling medium passing through the second interior heat exchanger is made higher than the temperature of the first cooling medium passing through the first interior heat exchanger, so that the temperature of the air blown from the blower can be gradually reduced as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction.

[0099] A vehicle temperature control system according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the first or second aspect, further comprising the following configuration: a battery heat exchanger (40) to which the second cooling medium is supplied and which performs heat exchange with a battery (4) that stores electric power used in the vehicle when the vehicle temperature control system is operating in cooling mode. When cooling of the battery is required, by using a second refrigeration cycle with a lower pressure than the first refrigeration cycle, it is possible to reduce the power required by the compressor compared to when cooling is performed at the low pressure of a single air conditioning refrigeration cycle.

[0100] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, when air conditioning is performed, a second cooling medium is supplied to the battery heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle can be used to simultaneously cool the air being led into the vehicle cabin and the battery.

[0101] The vehicle temperature control system according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the first or second aspect, and further includes the following configuration: an exterior heat exchanger (61) that exchanges heat between a heat exchange medium and outside air, a first circulation flow path (C11) that circulates the heat exchange medium between the exterior heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a second circulation flow path (C21) that circulates the heat exchange medium between the exterior heat exchanger and the second high-pressure side heat exchanger.

[0102] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, by circulating the heat exchange medium in both the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path, the heat recovered by the heat exchange medium in both the first high-pressure side heat exchanger and the second high-pressure side heat exchanger can be appropriately dissipated in the external heat exchanger.

[0103] The vehicle temperature control system according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the first or second aspect, further including the following configuration: the second cooling medium having passed through the second low-pressure side heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger is guided to the second interior heat exchanger.

[0104] According to the vehicle temperature control system of the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the high-pressure side pressure of the first refrigeration cycle can be set lower than the high-pressure side pressure of the second refrigeration cycle, so the compressor power required to achieve the desired cooling capacity is reduced compared to when one stage of cooling is performed using the power of a single compressor in a single refrigeration cycle, and the COP can be improved in a vehicle temperature control system equipped with multiple refrigeration cycles.

[0105] A vehicle temperature control system according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is the sixth aspect, further including the following configuration: the second low-pressure side heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger are integrated together.

[0106] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, by integrating the first high-pressure side heat exchanger and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger, manufacturing costs and installation area can be reduced compared to when the first high-pressure side heat exchanger and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger are independent heat exchangers.

[0107] The vehicle temperature control system according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is the fourth aspect, further including the following configuration: when the temperature of the air guided by the blower to the second interior heat exchanger is equal to or higher than a first predetermined temperature, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first cooling medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second cooling medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

[0108] A vehicle temperature control system according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is the eighth aspect, further including the following configuration: when the temperature of the air guided by the blower to the second interior heat exchanger is equal to or higher than a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature and the temperature of the battery is equal to or higher than a third predetermined temperature, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first cooling medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second cooling medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

[0109] A vehicle temperature control system according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure is the eighth aspect, further including the following configuration: the vehicle temperature control system includes an inside air inlet that introduces air from inside the vehicle compartment into the first interior heat exchanger and the second interior heat exchanger, and an outside air inlet that introduces air from outside the vehicle compartment into the first interior heat exchanger and the second interior heat exchanger, and when a temperature of the air guided to the second interior heat exchanger by the blower is equal to or higher than the first predetermined temperature and a state is switched from introducing air from inside the vehicle compartment through the inside air inlet to introducing air from outside the vehicle compartment through the outside air inlet, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first cooling medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second cooling medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

[0110] A vehicle temperature control system according to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure includes a first refrigeration cycle having a first compressor, a first high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a first refrigerant compressed by the first compressor is supplied, a first expansion valve to expand the first refrigerant supplied from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a first low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the first refrigerant expanded by the first expansion valve is supplied and which guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor; a second compressor, a second high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a second refrigerant compressed by the second compressor is supplied, a second expansion valve to expand the second refrigerant supplied from the second high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a second low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the second refrigerant expanded by the second expansion valve is supplied and which guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor; a second refrigeration cycle having a second low-pressure side heat exchanger that guides a second refrigerant to the second compressor; a first interior heat exchanger (33) to which a first heating medium (HM1) that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant in the first high-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation; a second interior heat exchanger (32) to which a second heating medium (HM2) that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant in the second high-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation; and a blower that guides air that has passed through the first interior heat exchanger into the vehicle compartment, wherein the second interior heat exchanger is arranged upstream of the first interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of the air guided by the blower.

[0111] According to the vehicle temperature control system of the eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, during heating operation, a first heating medium that has exchanged heat with a first refrigerant in a first high-pressure heat exchanger is supplied to a first interior heat exchanger, and a second heating medium that has exchanged heat with a second refrigerant in a second high-pressure heat exchanger is supplied to a second interior heat exchanger. The second interior heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the first interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of air guided by the blower. The air blown by the blower is heated by heat exchange with the second heating medium as it passes through the second interior heat exchanger, and then heated by heat exchange with the first heating medium as it passes through the first interior heat exchanger. The air guided into the vehicle cabin is heated in two stages by the first and second heating mediums.

[0112] Since two-stage heating is performed using both the power of the first compressor of the first refrigeration cycle and the power of the second compressor of the second refrigeration cycle, the compressor power required to achieve the desired heating capacity is reduced compared to when one-stage heating is performed using the power of a single compressor of a single refrigeration cycle, and the COP can be improved in a vehicle temperature control system equipped with multiple refrigeration cycles.

[0113] A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure relates to the eleventh aspect of the vehicle temperature control system, and further includes the following configuration: a control unit (90) that controls the vehicle temperature control system, and when the vehicle temperature control system performs a heating operation, the control unit controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant that has passed through the second compressor to be lower than the first pressure of the first refrigerant that has passed through the first compressor.

[0114] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, during heating operation, the second pressure of the second refrigerant that has passed through the second compressor is made lower than the first pressure of the first refrigerant that has passed through the first compressor, so that the temperature of the air blown from the blower can be gradually increased as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction.

[0115] A vehicle temperature control system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure is the twelfth aspect, further including the following configuration: That is, when the vehicle temperature control system performs heating operation, the control unit controls the temperature of the second heating medium passing through the second interior heat exchanger to be lower than the temperature of the first heating medium passing through the first interior heat exchanger.

[0116] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, when heating operation is performed, the temperature of the second heating medium passing through the second interior heat exchanger is made lower than the temperature of the first heating medium passing through the first interior heat exchanger, so that the temperature of the air blown from the blower can be gradually increased as it is blown from the upstream side to the downstream side along the flow direction.

[0117] A vehicle temperature control system according to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure is the eleventh or twelfth aspect, further including the following configuration: a battery heat exchanger (40) to which the second heating medium is supplied and which performs heat exchange with a battery (4) that stores electric power used in the vehicle when the vehicle temperature control system performs heating operation.

[0118] According to the vehicle temperature control system of the fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, by supplying a second heating medium to the battery heat exchanger during heating operation, it is possible to simultaneously heat the air introduced into the vehicle cabin and the battery using the second refrigeration cycle. When heating of the battery is required, using the second refrigeration cycle, which has a lower pressure than the first refrigeration cycle, allows for a reduction in compressor power compared to when cooling is performed at a low pressure using a single air conditioning refrigeration cycle.

[0119] A vehicle temperature control system according to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure is the eleventh or twelfth aspect, further comprising the following configuration: an exterior heat exchanger (61) that exchanges heat between a heat exchange medium and outside air, a first circulation flow path (C12) that circulates the heat exchange medium between the exterior heat exchanger and the first low-pressure side heat exchanger, and a second circulation flow path (C22) that circulates the heat exchange medium between the exterior heat exchanger and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger.

[0120] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the 15th aspect of the present disclosure, by circulating the heat exchange medium in both the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path, the heat absorbed by the heat exchange medium in the exterior heat exchanger can be appropriately transferred to both the first low-pressure side heat exchanger and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger.

[0121] A vehicle temperature control system according to a sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure is the eleventh or twelfth aspect, further including the following configuration: the first heating medium is guided from the second low-pressure side heat exchanger to the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and the first heating medium is guided from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger to the second interior heat exchanger.

[0122] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the 16th aspect of the present disclosure, the low-pressure side pressure of the second refrigeration cycle can be set higher than the low-pressure side pressure of the first refrigeration cycle, so the compressor power required to achieve the desired heating capacity is reduced compared to when one stage of cooling is performed using the power of a single compressor in a single refrigeration cycle, and the COP can be improved in a vehicle temperature control system equipped with multiple refrigeration cycles.

[0123] A vehicle temperature control system according to a seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure is the sixteenth aspect, further including the following configuration: the second low-pressure side heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger are integrated together.

[0124] According to the vehicle temperature control system relating to the 17th aspect of the present disclosure, by integrating the first high-pressure side heat exchanger and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger, manufacturing costs and installation area can be reduced compared to when the first high-pressure side heat exchanger and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger are independent heat exchangers.

[0125] The vehicle temperature control system according to an eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure is the fourteenth aspect, further including the following configuration: when the temperature of the air guided by the blower to the second interior heat exchanger is equal to or lower than a fourth predetermined temperature, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first heating medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second heating medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

[0126] A vehicle temperature control system according to a nineteenth aspect of the present disclosure is the eighteenth aspect, further including the following configuration: when the temperature of the air guided by the blower to the second interior heat exchanger is equal to or lower than a fifth predetermined temperature that is lower than the fourth predetermined temperature and the temperature of the battery is equal to or lower than a sixth predetermined temperature, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first heating medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second heating medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

[0127] A vehicular temperature control system according to a twentieth aspect of the present disclosure is an eighteenth aspect, further including the following configuration: the system includes an inside air inlet that introduces air from within the vehicle compartment into the first interior heat exchanger and the second interior heat exchanger, and an outside air inlet that introduces air from outside the vehicle compartment into the first interior heat exchanger and the second interior heat exchanger, and when a temperature of the air guided to the second interior heat exchanger by the blower is equal to or lower than the fourth predetermined temperature and a state is switched from introducing air from within the vehicle compartment through the inside air inlet to introducing air from outside the vehicle compartment through the outside air inlet, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first heating medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second heating medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

[0128] A vehicle temperature control system according to a twenty-first aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle temperature control system including a first refrigeration cycle having a first compressor, a first high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a first refrigerant compressed by the first compressor is supplied, a first expansion valve to expand the first refrigerant supplied from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a first low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the first refrigerant expanded by the first expansion valve is supplied and which guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor; a second compressor, a second high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a second refrigerant compressed by the second compressor is supplied, a second expansion valve to expand the second refrigerant supplied from the second high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a second low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the second refrigerant expanded by the second expansion valve is supplied; a second refrigeration cycle having a second low-pressure side heat exchanger that guides the second refrigerant to the second compressor; a first interior heat exchanger (32) to which a first heating medium (HM1) that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant in the first high-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation; a second interior heat exchanger (33) to which a second heating medium (HM2) that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant in the second high-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation; and a blower that guides air that has passed through the first interior heat exchanger into the vehicle compartment, wherein the first interior heat exchanger is arranged upstream of the second interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of the air guided by the blower.

[0129] A vehicle temperature control system according to a twenty-second aspect of the present disclosure is the twenty-first aspect, further comprising the following configuration: a controller that controls the vehicle temperature control system, and when the vehicle temperature control system performs a heating operation, the controller controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant that has passed through the second compressor to be higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant that has passed through the first compressor.

[0130] 4 Battery 4a Temperature sensor 5 Travel motor 10 First refrigeration cycle 11 First compressor 12 First high-pressure side heat exchanger 13 First expansion valve 14 First low-pressure side heat exchanger 15 Refrigerant flow path 20 Second refrigeration cycle 21 Second compressor 22 Second high-pressure side heat exchanger 23 Second expansion valve 24 Second low-pressure side heat exchanger 25 Refrigerant flow path 30 HVAC unit 31 In-vehicle heat exchanger 32 In-vehicle heat exchanger 33 In-vehicle heat exchanger 34 Blower 35 Temperature sensor 40 Battery heat exchanger 50 Motor heat exchanger 60 Exterior heat exchange unit 61 Exterior heat exchanger 62 Fan 71, 72, 73, 74 Pump 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 Switching valve 90 Control unit 100, 100A Vehicle temperature control system AD Air flow direction C11, C12, C13, C14, C21, C22 Circulation flow path CM1 First cooling medium CM2 Second cooling medium HM1 First heating medium HM2 Second heating medium M3 Heat exchange medium

Claims

1. A vehicle temperature control system comprising: a first refrigeration cycle having a first compressor, a first high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a first refrigerant compressed by the first compressor is supplied, a first expansion valve for expanding the first refrigerant supplied from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a first low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the first refrigerant expanded by the first expansion valve is supplied and which guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor; a second refrigeration cycle having a second compressor, a second high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a second refrigerant compressed by the second compressor is supplied, a second expansion valve for expanding the second refrigerant supplied from the second high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a second low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the second refrigerant expanded by the second expansion valve is supplied and which guides the second refrigerant to the second compressor; and a first interior heat exchanger to which a first cooling medium that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant in the first low-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation; a second interior heat exchanger to which a second cooling medium that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant in the second low-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation; and a blower that guides air that has passed through the first interior heat exchanger into a vehicle cabin, wherein the second interior heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the first interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of the air guided by the blower.

2. A vehicle temperature control system as described in claim 1, further comprising a control unit for controlling the vehicle temperature control system, wherein when the vehicle temperature control system is in cooling operation, the control unit controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant that has passed through the second expansion valve to be higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant that has passed through the first expansion valve.

3. A vehicle temperature control system as described in claim 2, wherein when the vehicle temperature control system is operating in cooling mode, the control unit controls the temperature of the second cooling medium passing through the second interior heat exchanger to be higher than the temperature of the first cooling medium passing through the first interior heat exchanger.

4. A vehicle temperature control system as described in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a battery heat exchanger to which the second cooling medium is supplied and which performs heat exchange with a battery that stores electricity used in the vehicle when the vehicle temperature control system is operating in cooling mode.

5. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 1 or claim 2, comprising: an exterior heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a heat exchange medium and outside air; a first circulation flow path that circulates the heat exchange medium between the exterior heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger; and a second circulation flow path that circulates the heat exchange medium between the exterior heat exchanger and the second high-pressure side heat exchanger.

6. A temperature control system for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second cooling medium having passed through the second low-pressure side heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger is guided to the second interior heat exchanger.

7. The vehicle temperature control system according to claim 6, wherein the second low-pressure side heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger are integrated together.

8. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 4, wherein when the temperature of the air guided by the blower to the second interior heat exchanger is equal to or higher than a first predetermined temperature, the first refrigeration cycle is operated so that the first cooling medium is supplied to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated so that the second cooling medium is supplied to the second interior heat exchanger.

9. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 8, wherein when the temperature of the air guided by the blower to the second interior heat exchanger is equal to or higher than a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature and the temperature of the battery is equal to or higher than a third predetermined temperature, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first cooling medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second cooling medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

10. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 8, comprising an inside air inlet for introducing air from within the vehicle cabin into the first interior heat exchanger and the second interior heat exchanger, and an outside air inlet for introducing air from outside the vehicle cabin into the first interior heat exchanger and the second interior heat exchanger, wherein when the temperature of the air guided to the second interior heat exchanger by the blower is equal to or higher than the first predetermined temperature and a state is switched from introducing air from within the vehicle cabin through the inside air inlet to introducing air from outside the vehicle cabin through the outside air inlet, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first cooling medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second cooling medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

11. A vehicle temperature control system comprising: a first refrigeration cycle having a first compressor, a first high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a first refrigerant compressed by the first compressor is supplied, a first expansion valve for expanding the first refrigerant supplied from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a first low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the first refrigerant expanded by the first expansion valve is supplied and which guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor; a second refrigeration cycle having a second compressor, a second high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a second refrigerant compressed by the second compressor is supplied, a second expansion valve for expanding the second refrigerant supplied from the second high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a second low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the second refrigerant expanded by the second expansion valve is supplied and which guides the second refrigerant to the second compressor; and a first interior heat exchanger to which a first heating medium that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant in the first high-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in a heating operation; A vehicle temperature control system comprising: a second interior heat exchanger to which a second heating medium that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant in the second high-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation; and a blower that guides air that has passed through the first interior heat exchanger into a vehicle cabin, wherein the second interior heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the first interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of the air guided by the blower.

12. A vehicle temperature control system as described in claim 11, further comprising a control unit that controls the vehicle temperature control system, wherein when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation, the control unit controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant that has passed through the second compressor to be lower than the first pressure of the first refrigerant that has passed through the first compressor.

13. A vehicle temperature control system as described in claim 12, wherein when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation, the control unit controls the temperature of the second heating medium passing through the second interior heat exchanger to be lower than the temperature of the first heating medium passing through the first interior heat exchanger.

14. A vehicle temperature control system as described in claim 11 or claim 12, comprising: a battery for storing electricity used in the vehicle; and a battery heat exchanger to which the second heating medium is supplied and which exchanges heat with the battery when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation.

15. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 11 or claim 12, comprising: an exterior heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a heat exchange medium and outside air; a first circulation flow path that circulates the heat exchange medium between the exterior heat exchanger and the first low-pressure side heat exchanger; and a second circulation flow path that circulates the heat exchange medium between the exterior heat exchanger and the second low-pressure side heat exchanger.

16. A temperature control system for a vehicle according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the first heating medium having passed through the second low-pressure side heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger is guided to the second interior heat exchanger.

17. The vehicle temperature control system according to claim 16, wherein the second low-pressure side heat exchanger and the first high-pressure side heat exchanger are integrated together.

18. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 14, wherein when the temperature of the air guided by the blower to the second interior heat exchanger is equal to or lower than a fourth predetermined temperature, the first refrigeration cycle is operated so that the first heating medium is supplied to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated so that the second heating medium is supplied to the second interior heat exchanger.

19. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 18, wherein when the temperature of the air guided by the blower to the second interior heat exchanger is equal to or lower than a fifth predetermined temperature which is lower than the fourth predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the battery is equal to or lower than a sixth predetermined temperature, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first heating medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second heating medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

20. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 18, comprising an inside air inlet for introducing air within the vehicle cabin into the first interior heat exchanger and the second interior heat exchanger, and an outside air inlet for introducing air outside the vehicle cabin into the first interior heat exchanger and the second interior heat exchanger, wherein when the temperature of the air guided to the second interior heat exchanger by the blower is below the fourth predetermined temperature and a state is switched from introducing air within the vehicle cabin from the inside air inlet to introducing air outside the vehicle cabin from the outside air inlet, the first refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the first heating medium to the first interior heat exchanger, and the second refrigeration cycle is operated to supply the second heating medium to the second interior heat exchanger.

21. A vehicle temperature control system comprising: a first refrigeration cycle having a first compressor, a first high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a first refrigerant compressed by the first compressor is supplied, a first expansion valve for expanding the first refrigerant supplied from the first high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a first low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the first refrigerant expanded by the first expansion valve is supplied and which guides the first refrigerant to the first compressor; a second refrigeration cycle having a second compressor, a second high-pressure side heat exchanger to which a second refrigerant compressed by the second compressor is supplied, a second expansion valve for expanding the second refrigerant supplied from the second high-pressure side heat exchanger, and a second low-pressure side heat exchanger to which the second refrigerant expanded by the second expansion valve is supplied and which guides the second refrigerant to the second compressor; and a first interior heat exchanger to which a first heating medium that has exchanged heat with the first refrigerant in the first high-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in a heating operation; A vehicle temperature control system comprising: a second interior heat exchanger to which a second heating medium that has exchanged heat with the second refrigerant in the second high-pressure side heat exchanger is supplied when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation; and a blower that guides air that has passed through the first interior heat exchanger into a vehicle cabin, wherein the first interior heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the second interior heat exchanger in the flow direction of the air guided by the blower.

22. A temperature control system for a vehicle as described in claim 21, further comprising a control unit for controlling the vehicle temperature control system, wherein when the vehicle temperature control system is in heating operation, the control unit controls the second pressure of the second refrigerant that has passed through the second compressor to be higher than the first pressure of the first refrigerant that has passed through the first compressor.

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