JP2000161794A - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner for vehicle, capable of miniaturizing a driving unit for a compressor compared with a conventional water-cooled or air-cooled unit and favorable in cost. SOLUTION: An air conditioner 1 for vehicle is provided with a compressor 3, driven by an electric motor, and a driving unit 4 for the compressor 3, which regulates at least the voltage of a power supply 2 for vehicle and supplies an electric power to the electric motor, while a refrigerating cycle 16 is formed of the compressor 3, a condenser 10, an expander 13 and an evaporator, which are connected sequentially by a refrigerant pipeline 15. In such an air conditioner 1 for vehicle, the driving unit 4 is arranged between the evaporator and the compressor 10 in the refrigerating cycle 16. The driving unit 4 is provided with a refrigerant pipeline 15a, connecting the evaporator to the compressor 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example of a conventional product. The vehicle air conditioner A stores a compressor a integrated with an electric motor, a condenser b for cooling and liquefying the refrigerant discharged from the compressor a, and stores the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser b. A reservoir c;
An expander d for adiabatically expanding the refrigerant stored in the liquid reservoir c and an evaporator e for cooling the air blown into the vehicle cabin with the refrigerant cooled by the adiabatic expansion in the expander d are connected to the refrigerant pipe f. They are connected in order to form a refrigeration cycle g.

[0003] The air conditioner A adjusts the voltage of the DC power supply h of the vehicle and converts the direct current into a three-phase alternating current.
A drive unit i for the compressor a that adjusts the frequency of the phase alternating current and supplies power to the compressor a is provided.
In this drive unit i, its cooling plate j is cooled by cooling water. This cooling water is circulated by the pump k and radiates heat to the outside air by the radiator m.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral n indicates a cooling fan for the radiator m, reference numeral p indicates a cooling fan for the condenser b, and reference numeral q indicates a blower for blowing air into the vehicle compartment. I have.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example of a conventional product. However, regarding the air conditioner B, the same components as those of the air conditioner A shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 4, and the description of the components will be omitted.

The air conditioner B and the air conditioner A shown in FIG. 4 are such that the drive unit i of the air conditioner A is water-cooled, whereas the drive unit i of the air conditioner B is
In that it is air cooled. Therefore, the air conditioner B shown in FIG. 5 includes a drive unit i for the compressor a.
Is provided with a cooling fan t for air cooling, and a radiation fin u is attached to a cooling plate of the drive unit i.

[0007]

In the air conditioner A shown in FIG. 4, since the drive unit i is water-cooled, a pump k and a radiator m for cooling water and a cooling fan n for the radiator m are provided. Is required, and the air conditioner A
However, the size is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

In the air conditioner B shown in FIG. 5, since the drive unit i is air-cooled, the cooling fan t for the air cooling is used.
And radiating fins u are required, and the air conditioner B
However, the size is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

Moreover, the air conditioner A and the air conditioner B
In any case, the drive unit i cannot be cooled below the outside air temperature. Therefore, the specification temperature of the semiconductor parts and the like for the drive unit i must be determined with reference to the midsummer day or the like where the outside air temperature is high. As a result, expensive parts having a high specification temperature must be used for the drive unit i. And the drive unit i is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner for a vehicle, which can be reduced in size as compared with a conventional product and can obtain an advantage in cost.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compressor driven by an electric motor, and a compressor drive unit for adjusting at least a voltage of a vehicle power supply and supplying power to the electric motor. In an air conditioner for a vehicle in which the compressor, the condenser, the expander, and the evaporator are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigeration cycle, the drive unit is disposed between the evaporator and the compressor in the refrigeration cycle. The drive unit is characterized in that a refrigerant pipe for connecting the evaporator and the compressor is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner for a vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein a refrigerant discharged from a compressor is used between a condenser and an expander in the refrigeration cycle. A heating heat exchanger for heating the air blown into the room is provided, and a bypass pipe that guides the discharged refrigerant to the heating heat exchanger by bypassing the condenser in a refrigerant pipe that connects the heating heat exchanger and the condenser. Is connected, on the discharge side of the compressor, switches the flow path of the discharge refrigerant, and guides the discharge refrigerant to the condenser during the cooling operation,
A switching means for guiding the discharged refrigerant to the bypass passage during the heating operation is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle air conditioner according to the first or second aspect, the vehicle power supply is a DC power supply, the electric motor is an AC motor, and the drive unit is A converter for increasing or decreasing the voltage of the vehicle power supply and an inverter for converting DC to AC and adjusting the frequency of the AC are provided, and the inverter and the converter are provided separately.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the refrigerant cooled by the adiabatic expansion in the expander of the refrigeration cycle passes through the evaporator and cools the drive unit through the refrigerant pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor. Thereafter, the drive unit returns to the compressor, so that the drive unit can be cooled by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a pump and a radiator for cooling water for cooling the drive unit with water and a cooling fan for the radiator can be dispensed with. Compared with the conventional product shown in FIG. 4, the size of the air conditioner can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner can be reduced.

Further, a cooling fan and a radiating fin for air cooling when the drive unit is air-cooled can be dispensed with. Therefore, the air conditioner can be used as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG. The size can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner can be reduced.

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the drive unit can be cooled by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle, the drive unit can be cooled below the outside temperature even when the outside temperature is high. Compared to a conventional product in which the drive unit is water-cooled or air-cooled, inexpensive parts having a lower specification temperature can be used for the drive unit, and the manufacturing cost of the drive unit can be reduced.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is:
At the time of heating operation, it passes through the bypass passage, bypasses the condenser, is led to the heat exchanger for heating, heats the air blown into the vehicle interior by the heat exchanger for heating, passes through the expander and the evaporator, and passes through the compressor. Cooling the drive unit, absorbing heat from the drive unit and returning to the compressor,
The waste heat of the drive unit can be used effectively for heating,
Therefore, it is possible to improve heating performance and save energy of the vehicle power supply.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the drive unit further includes a converter for increasing or decreasing the voltage of the vehicle power supply, Since the inverter and the converter are separately provided, the degree of freedom in designing the drive unit in a narrow vehicle space can be increased.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. Air conditioner 1 shown in FIG.
Is a vehicle power source 2 for an electric vehicle, which is a DC power source for driving the vehicle, a compressor 3 integrated with an AC motor, and a compressor for supplying electric power from the vehicle power source 2 to the compressor 3. Drive unit 4 for 3
And

The drive unit 4 includes a converter for stepping up or stepping down the voltage of the vehicle power supply 2, and converts a DC whose voltage is stepped up or stepped down by the converter into a three-phase alternating current and adjusts the frequency of the three-phase alternating current. The inverter and the inverter are housed integrally. A cooling plate 5 that absorbs heat generated by the converter and the inverter and radiates heat to the outside is attached to the bottom of the drive unit 4.

The air conditioner 1 includes a compressor 3
10 that cools and liquefies the refrigerant discharged from
And a cooling fan 11 for cooling the condenser 10 and a liquid tank 1 for storing the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser 10
2 and an expander 1 such as an expansion valve or a capillary tube for adiabatically expanding the refrigerant stored in the liquid tank 12.
3 and an evaporator 14 for cooling the air blown into the vehicle cabin with the refrigerant cooled by the adiabatic expansion in the expander 13.

The evaporator 14 is disposed in a ventilation duct 21 of an indoor unit 20 disposed in the vehicle interior. The indoor unit 20 includes a blower 22 for blowing air that is disposed upstream of the evaporator 14 in blowing air.
The air blown from the blower 22 is cooled by the evaporator 14 and becomes cooling air, which is distributed to the vehicle interior.

The compressor 3, the condenser 10, the expander 13, and the evaporator 14 are connected in this order to the refrigerant pipe 15
To form a refrigeration cycle 16. The liquid tank 12 is provided between the condenser 10 and the expander 13 in the refrigeration cycle 16. Evaporator 14 and compressor 3 in refrigeration cycle 16
The drive unit 4 is disposed between the
Inside the cooling plate 5, a refrigerant pipe 15a connecting the evaporator 14 and the compressor 3 is arranged.

For this reason, the expander 13 of the refrigeration cycle 16
The refrigerant cooled by the adiabatic expansion in the cooling unit cools the air blown into the vehicle interior while passing through the evaporator 14, and
After cooling the cooling plate 5 of the drive unit 4 through the refrigerant pipe 15 a connecting the compressor 4 and the compressor 3, the cooling unit 5 returns to the compressor 3.

Therefore, in the air conditioner 1, the drive unit 4 can be cooled by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle 16. On the other hand, in the air conditioner A shown in FIG. 4, since the drive unit i is water-cooled, a pump k and a radiator m for cooling water and a cooling fan n for the radiator m are required.

Therefore, in the air conditioner 1, the pump k and the radiator m for the cooling water and the cooling fan n for the radiator m required for the air conditioner A shown in FIG. As a result, the size of the air conditioner 1 itself can be reduced and the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner 1 can be reduced as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG.

Similarly, in the air conditioner B shown in FIG.
Since the drive unit i is air-cooled, the cooling fan t and the radiation fin u for air cooling are required, whereas the air-conditioning apparatus 1 requires the cooling fan t and the radiation fin for air cooling required in the air-conditioning apparatus B. u can be made unnecessary. Therefore, the size of the air conditioner 1 itself can be reduced and the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner 1 can be reduced as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG.

Further, in the air conditioner 1, since the drive unit 4 can be cooled by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle 16, the drive unit 4 can be cooled to a temperature lower than the outside temperature even when the outside temperature is high. Therefore, compared to a conventional product in which the drive unit 4 is water-cooled or air-cooled, inexpensive parts having a lower specification temperature can be used for the drive unit 4, and the manufacturing cost of the drive unit 4 can be reduced.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment.
It is a schematic diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment which is an example of embodiment which implemented both described invention. In the following description of the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description overlapping with the description of the first embodiment will be omitted.

In the air conditioner 1 shown in FIG. 1, the drive unit 4 for the compressor 3 includes a converter for increasing or decreasing the voltage of the vehicle power supply 2 and a DC for converting a three-phase AC to a three-phase AC and changing the frequency of the three-phase AC. An inverter to be adjusted is provided integrally.

On the other hand, the air conditioner 10 shown in FIG.
At 0, the drive unit 104 for the compressor 3 includes a converter 110 for stepping down the voltage of the vehicle power supply 2, a DC whose voltage has been stepped up or down by the converter 110 is converted into a three-phase AC, and the frequency of the three-phase AC is changed. The inverter 120 for adjustment is provided separately.

At the bottom of the converter 110, a cooling plate 111 that absorbs heat generated by the converter 110 and radiates heat to the outside is attached. A cooling plate 121 that absorbs heat generated by the inverter 120 and radiates heat to the outside is attached to the bottom of the inverter 120.

Evaporator 1 in refrigeration cycle 16
The converter 110 and the inverter 120 of the drive unit 104 are arranged between the compressor 4 and the compressor 3. The refrigerant pipe 1 connecting the evaporator 14 and the compressor 3 is provided inside the cooling plate 111 of the converter 110 and inside the cooling plate 121 of the inverter 120.
5a is provided.

For this reason, the expander 13 of the refrigeration cycle 16
The refrigerant cooled by the adiabatic expansion in the cooling unit cools the air blown into the vehicle interior while passing through the evaporator 14, and
Cooling plate 111 of converter 110 and inverter 120 through refrigerant pipe 15a connecting compressor 4 and compressor 3.
After the cooling plate 121 is cooled, it returns to the compressor 3.

Accordingly, in the air conditioner 100, the drive unit 104 is driven by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle 16.
Converter 110 and inverter 120 can be cooled. Moreover, the converter 110 and the inverter 1
Since the drive unit 104 and the drive unit 104 are provided separately, the degree of freedom in designing the drive unit 104 in a narrow vehicle space can be increased.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic diagram which shows 3rd Embodiment which is an example of embodiment which implemented both described invention. In the following description of the third embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description that is the same as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

An air conditioner 200 shown in FIG. 3 is for an electric vehicle, and includes a vehicle power supply (not shown) that is a DC power supply for driving the vehicle, a compressor 3 integrated with an AC motor, and a vehicle power supply. And a drive unit 4 for the compressor 3 for supplying the electric power from the compressor 3 to the compressor 3.

The drive unit 4 integrally houses a converter and an inverter. Drive unit 4
A cooling plate that absorbs heat generated by the converter and the inverter and radiates heat to the outside is attached to a bottom portion of the cooling device.

The drive unit 4 is disposed between the evaporator 14 and the compressor 3 in the refrigeration cycle 16. A refrigerant pipe 15 connecting the evaporator 14 and the compressor 3 is provided inside the cooling plate of the drive unit 4.
a is provided.

The condenser 10 in the refrigeration cycle 16
A heating heat exchanger 202 that heats the air blown into the vehicle cabin by using the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 is provided between the heat exchanger 202 and the expander 13 that is an expansion valve. The liquid tank 12 includes a heat exchanger 202 for heating and an expander 13.
And is provided between them.

The refrigerant pipe 15b connecting the heating heat exchanger 202 and the condenser 10 has a bypass passage 203 for guiding the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 to the heating heat exchanger 202 by bypassing the condenser 10. Are linked. The bypass passage 203 connects the refrigerant pipe 15c connecting the compressor 3 and the condenser 10 to the refrigerant pipe 15b. An electromagnetic on-off valve 204 is attached to the bypass passage 203. An electromagnetic on-off valve 205 is also provided between the condenser 10 and the junction of the refrigerant pipe 15c with the bypass passage 203.

The on-off valve 204 and the on-off valve 205 cooperate to guide the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 to the condenser 10 during the cooling operation and to the bypass passage 203 during the heating operation. Therefore, the opening / closing valve 204 and the opening / closing valve 205 constitute switching means for switching the flow path of the discharged refrigerant to guide the discharged refrigerant to the condenser 10 during the cooling operation and direct the discharged refrigerant to the bypass passage 203 during the heating operation. .

The refrigerant pipe 15b and the vicinity of the outlet of the condenser 10 and the refrigerant pipe 15a and the vicinity of the compressor 3 are connected by a refrigerant return passage 210 for returning so-called stagnant refrigerant retained in the condenser 10 to the compressor 3. The refrigerant return passage 210 has an electromagnetic on-off valve 21
1 and a check valve 212 are attached.

The refrigerant return passage 21 in the refrigerant pipe 15a
0 and the evaporator 14 are provided with a check valve 2
06 is attached. A check valve 207 is provided between the condenser 10 and the junction of the refrigerant pipe 15b with the bypass passage 203.

Evaporator 14 and heating heat exchanger 202
Is disposed in the air duct 21 of the indoor unit 20 disposed in the vehicle interior. The indoor unit 20 includes a blower 22 for blowing air, and a switching door 2 that switches an inflow between outside air outside the vehicle and inside air inside the vehicle compartment at an inlet to the blower 22.
3 is provided rotatably.

The evaporator 14 includes a heat exchanger 20 for heating.
It is located on the upstream side of the air blow from 2. In the air duct 21 between the evaporator 14 and the heat exchanger 202 for heating, a heat exchanger 202 for heating the cool air that has passed through the evaporator 14 is provided.
An air mix door 24 that adjusts the amount of air distribution to the door is rotatably provided.

In the air duct 21 downstream of the heating heat exchanger 202, the warm air passing through the heating heat exchanger 202 and the cool air bypassing the heating heat exchanger 202 are mixed to form an air-conditioned air. Is formed.
The air mix chamber has a defroster outlet, a vent outlet and a foot outlet. Opening and closing doors (not shown) for opening and closing the respective outlets are provided at the defroster outlet, vent outlet, and foot outlet, respectively.

In the air conditioner 200 described above, during the cooling operation, the refrigerant flows through the path indicated by the dashed arrow. That is, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 first passes through the condenser 10 and the heating heat exchanger 202, is cooled by the condenser 10 and the heating heat exchanger 202, and is stored in the liquid tank 12. Then, when passing through the heating heat exchanger 202, the air blown into the vehicle interior is heated. However, since the refrigerant is already cooled by the condenser 10 before passing through the heating heat exchanger 202, the effect of the blast heating by the heating heat exchanger 202 is reduced.

The refrigerant flowing out of the liquid tank 12 and passing through the expander 13 is cooled by the adiabatic expansion in the expander 13 and cools the air blown into the vehicle cabin while passing through the evaporator 14. After that, the drive unit 4 passes through the refrigerant pipe 15a.
Is cooled and returned to the compressor 3.

During the heating operation, the refrigerant flows through the route indicated by the solid arrow. That is, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 bypasses the condenser 10 through the bypass passage 203, is cooled by the heating heat exchanger 202, and is stored in the liquid tank 12. Then, when passing through the heating heat exchanger 202, the air blown into the vehicle interior is heated. Since the refrigerant at this time is bypassing the condenser 10, the blowing and heating effect of the heating heat exchanger 202 is much larger than in the cooling operation.

The refrigerant that has flowed out of the liquid tank 12 and passed through the expander 13 is cooled by adiabatic expansion in the expander 13, and cools the air blown into the passenger compartment while passing through the evaporator 14. After that, the drive unit 4 passes through the refrigerant pipe 15a.
Is cooled and returned to the compressor 3.

Therefore, in the air-conditioning apparatus 200, the drive unit 4 can be cooled by the refrigerant in both the cooling operation and the heating operation.

In addition, during the heating operation, the compressor 3
After passing through the evaporator 14, the discharged refrigerant discharged from
Since the heat is absorbed from the drive unit 4 before returning to the compressor 3, the waste heat from the drive unit 4 can be effectively used for heating, so that the heating performance can be improved and the power source of the vehicle can be saved. .

The air conditioners 1 and 10 described above
At 0,200, inside the cooling plate 5 of the drive unit 4,
A refrigerant pipe 15a connecting the evaporator 14 and the compressor 3 is provided. However, this refrigerant pipe 15
It is needless to say that a may be disposed in contact with the outside of the cooling plate 5 of the drive unit 4.

The air conditioners 1, 100, and 200 are used for electric vehicles.
Reference numerals 0 and 200 are not limited to those for electric vehicles, and may be, for example, those for engine-driven vehicles or electric trains.

This is because, for example, the air conditioners 1, 1
When 00 and 200 are for an engine-driven automobile, the compressor 3 may be driven by the vehicle-mounted battery via the drive unit 4.

In each of the air conditioners 1, 100, and 200, the compressor 3 has an AC motor. However, the compressor 3 may have a DC motor. And
The compressor 3 may be integral with the electric motor, or may be separate.

Further, in the air conditioners 1, 100, and 200, the drive unit 4 for the compressor 3 includes a converter and an inverter. However, for example, when the compressor 3 includes a DC motor or the like, the drive unit 4 may include only a converter that increases or decreases the voltage of the vehicle power supply 2.

In the air conditioner 200, the switching means for switching the flow path of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 is constituted by the on-off valve 204 and the on-off valve 205. However, the switching means is not limited to the combination of the open / close valves, and may be, for example, a three-way valve or a four-way valve.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example of a conventional product.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example of a conventional product.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,100,200 Air conditioner 2 Vehicle power supply 3 Compressor 4,104 Drive unit 10 Capacitor 13 Expander 14 Evaporator 15,15a, 15b, 15c Refrigerant pipe 16 Refrigeration cycle 110 Converter 120 Inverter 202 Superheat heat exchanger 203 Bypass passage 204, 205 opening / closing valve (switching means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhito Ogawara 5-24-15 Minamidai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Calsonic Corporation (72) Inventor Masato Ohno 5-24-15 Minamidai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Calsonic Inside the corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] A compressor (3) driven by an electric motor and a drive unit (4, 104) for a compressor (3) for adjusting at least the voltage of a vehicle power supply (2) and supplying power to the electric motor. The compressor (3), the condenser (10), the expander (13), and the evaporator (14) are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe (15) to form a refrigeration cycle (16) for a vehicle. In the air conditioner, the evaporator (1) in the refrigeration cycle (16) is provided.
The drive unit (4, 104) is disposed between the drive unit (4, 1) and the compressor (3).
04), evaporator (14) and compressor (3)
An air conditioner for a vehicle, characterized by being provided with a refrigerant pipe (15a) connecting the air conditioner and the refrigerant. 2. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the condenser (10) in the refrigeration cycle (16).
A heating heat exchanger (202) is provided between the heat exchanger and the expander (13) to heat the air blown into the passenger compartment by using the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (3). A bypass passage (203) for leading the discharged refrigerant to the heating heat exchanger (202) by bypassing the condenser (10) is connected to a refrigerant pipe (15b) connecting the heat exchanger (202) and the condenser (3). A switching means (20) for switching the flow path of the discharged refrigerant to the discharge side of the compressor (3) to guide the discharged refrigerant to the condenser (10) during the cooling operation and guiding the discharged refrigerant to the bypass passage (203) during the heating operation.
4,205) is provided. 3. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle power supply (2) is a DC power supply, the electric motor is an AC motor, and the drive unit (104) is ,
A converter (110) for increasing or decreasing the voltage of the vehicle power supply (2), and an inverter (120) for converting DC to AC and adjusting the frequency of the AC, the inverter (120) and the converter (110). And an air conditioner for a vehicle, which is provided separately.