JP7647693B2 - Temperature Control Device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a temperature control device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that includes a heat exchanger between engine coolant and battery coolant, a flow path and a switching valve that supply coolant to the heat exchanger, and supplies exhaust heat from the engine to the battery to warm it up.

JP 2001-037009 A

However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 leaves room for consideration of a simple mechanism for warming the battery using exhaust heat from the engine.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a temperature control device that can warm a battery using exhaust heat from an engine with a simple mechanism.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the temperature control device according to the present invention is a temperature control device that uses exhaust heat from an engine to control the heating of a battery, and includes a first coolant circuit in which the first coolant circulates and which is provided with a first heater core for exchanging heat with a first coolant that has recovered exhaust heat from the engine to heat conditioned air, a second heater core for exchanging heat with a second coolant that has recovered heat from a heat source device to heat the conditioned air, a first radiator for exchanging heat with the second coolant, and a first switching valve for switching the flow rate of the second coolant to the first radiator, and a second coolant circuit in which the second coolant circulates and which is provided with a first heater core for exchanging heat with a second coolant that has recovered heat from a heat source device to heat the conditioned air, a second radiator that exchanges heat with a third cooling water that recovers heat from the engine, and a second switching valve that switches the flow rate of the third cooling water to the second radiator; and a third cooling water circuit in which the third cooling water circulates, the first heater core and the second heater core are arranged in close proximity to each other, the first radiator and the second radiator are arranged in close proximity to each other, and the first switching valve and the second switching valve are controlled so that heat is transferred in the following order: engine, first heater core, second heater core, first switching valve, first radiator, second radiator, second switching valve, and battery.

The temperature control device according to the present invention has the effect of being able to heat the battery using exhaust heat from the engine with a simple mechanism.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first coolant circuit, a second coolant circuit, a third coolant circuit, and a refrigeration cycle used for battery heating control by a temperature control device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an indoor air conditioning unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of heat when the battery warming control is being performed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of battery heating control performed by the temperature control device. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the battery heating control performed by the temperature control device.

The following describes an embodiment of the temperature control device according to the present invention. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The temperature control device according to the present invention is applied to, for example, a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) that runs using both an engine and an electric motor as a driving power source.

Figure 1 shows the schematic configuration of the first coolant circuit 1, the second coolant circuit 2, the third coolant circuit 3, and the refrigeration cycle 4 used by the temperature control device 100 according to the embodiment for battery heating control.

The first coolant circuit 1 includes coolant passages 10a and 10b, an engine 11, and a first heater core 12. The first heater core 12 is a heater core for heating using exhaust heat from the engine, and is disposed in a casing 54 of the interior air conditioning unit 5 described below. It exchanges heat with the first coolant that recovers the exhaust heat from the engine 11, and heats the conditioned air (blow air) in the casing 54.

In the first coolant circuit 1, the engine 11 and the first heater core 12 are connected by coolant passages 10a and 10b so that the first coolant that cools the engine 11 can be circulated using an electric water pump (not shown).

The second coolant circuit 2 includes coolant passages 20a-20f, a heat source device 21, a second heater core 22, a first heat exchanger 23, a first switching valve 24, and a first radiator 25. The heat source device 21 may be, for example, a heat pump system or an electric heater. The second heater core 22 is a heater core for heating during EV driving, and is disposed in a casing 54 of the interior air conditioning unit 5 described later. It is disposed to exchange heat with the second coolant that has recovered heat from the heat source device 21 to heat the conditioned air in the casing 54. The second heater core 22 is disposed close to the first heater core 12, and heat transfer is possible between the first heater core 12 and the second heater core 22.

The cooling water passage 20a connects the heat source device 21 and the second heater core 22. The cooling water passage 20b connects the second heater core 22 and the first heat exchanger 23. The cooling water passage 20c connects the first heat exchanger 23 and the first switching valve 24. The cooling water passage 20d connects the first switching valve 24 and the heat source device 21. The cooling water passage 20e connects the first switching valve and the first radiator 25. The cooling water passage 20f connects the first radiator 25 and the first heat exchanger 23.

In the second coolant circuit 2, the second coolant is circulated so that it flows from the heat source device 21 to the second heater core 22, from the second heater core 22 to the first heat exchanger 23, from the first heat exchanger 23 to the first switching valve 24, from the first switching valve 24 to the heat source device 21, from the first switching valve 24 to the first radiator 25, and from the first radiator 25 to the first heat exchanger 23, using an electric water pump (not shown). The first switching valve 24 is a valve that can be switched between a closed state and an open state under the control of the temperature control device 100, and switches the flow rate of the second coolant flowing into each of the heat source device 21 and the first radiator 25. For example, the first switching valve 24 switches the target into which the second coolant flows from the first switching valve 24 between the heat source device 21 and the first radiator 25 by closing one of the coolant passages 20d and 20e and opening the other.

The third coolant circuit 3 includes coolant passages 30a-30g, a battery 31, a second heat exchanger 32, a second switching valve 33, a second radiator 34, and a heating element 35. Examples of the heating element 35 include a drive motor that is a drive source for running the vehicle, and an inverter that converts power between the drive motor and the battery 31. The second radiator 34 is disposed close to the first radiator 25, allowing heat to be transferred between the first radiator 25 and the second radiator 34.

The cooling water passage 30a connects the battery 31 and the second heat exchanger 32. The cooling water passage 30b connects the second heat exchanger 32 and the second switching valve 33. The cooling water passage 30c connects the second switching valve 33 and the battery 31. The cooling water passage 30d connects the second switching valve 33 and the second radiator 34. The cooling water passage 30e connects the second radiator 34 and the second heat exchanger 32. The cooling water passage 30f connects the second radiator 34 and the heating element 35. The cooling water passage 30g connects the heating element 35 and the second switching valve 33.

In the third coolant circuit 3, the third coolant is circulated using an electric water pump (not shown) or the like so that it flows from the battery 31 to the second heat exchanger 32, from the second heat exchanger 32 to the second switching valve 33, from the second switching valve 33 to the battery 31 or the second radiator 34, from the second radiator 34 to the second heat exchanger 32 and the heating element 35, and from the heating element 35 to the second switching valve 33.

The second switching valve 33 is a valve that can be switched between a closed state and an open state under the control of the temperature control device 100, and switches the flow rate of the third cooling water flowing to the battery 31 and the second radiator 34. For example, the second switching valve 33 switches the target into which the third cooling water flows from the second switching valve 33 between the battery 31 and the second radiator 34 by closing either the cooling water passage 30c or the cooling water passage 30d and opening the other.

In the refrigeration cycle 4, the second heat exchanger 32 and the compressor 41 are connected by a refrigerant passage 40a, the compressor 41 and the first heat exchanger 23 are connected by a refrigerant passage 40b, and the first heat exchanger 23 and the second heat exchanger 32 are connected by a refrigerant passage 40c.

In refrigeration cycle 4, the refrigerant is circulated so that it flows from the compressor 41 to the first heat exchanger 23, from the first heat exchanger 23 to the second heat exchanger 32, and from the second heat exchanger 32 to the compressor 41.

In the first heat exchanger 23, heat exchange occurs between the second coolant circulating in the second coolant circuit 2 and the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle 4. In the second heat exchanger 32, heat exchange occurs between the third coolant circulating in the third coolant circuit 3 and the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle 4.

As a result, in the third coolant circuit 3, the heat of the third coolant received from the battery 31 is transferred to the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle 4 by the second heat exchanger 32, and is transferred to the second coolant circulating in the second coolant circuit 2 by the first heat exchanger 23. The second coolant flows from the first heat exchanger 23 to the first radiator 25 by the first switching valve 24, and the heat of the second coolant is released from the first radiator 25 to the outside air. In addition, in the third coolant circuit 3, an inflow path can also be formed in which the third coolant flows from the battery 31 to the second radiator 34 via the second heat exchanger 32 and the second switching valve 33.

Figure 2 shows the schematic configuration of the indoor air conditioning unit 5 according to the embodiment.

The interior air conditioning unit 5 is provided to blow temperature-adjusted conditioned air into the vehicle cabin. The interior air conditioning unit 5 is composed of a blower 51, an evaporator 52, an air mix damper 53, a first heater core 12, a second heater core 22, and a casing 54 that houses these. The interior air conditioning unit 5 is provided with the first heater core 12, which constitutes an engine exhaust heat heating means that starts the engine 11 and uses engine exhaust heat, and the second heater core 22, which constitutes an EV driving heating means that uses heat from the heat source device 21 during EV driving (when the engine 11 is stopped), as heating means.

The casing 54 forms a passage for the conditioned air generated by the blower 51. The casing 54 has an outside air inlet 55 formed at the upstream end in the flow direction of the conditioned air. The outside air inlet 55 is provided to introduce outside air (air outside the vehicle cabin) into the inside of the casing 54. The blower 51 is provided near the outside air inlet 55.

An evaporator 52 is disposed downstream of the blower 51 in the direction of the air flow. An air mix damper 53 and a partition wall 56 are provided downstream of the evaporator 52 within the casing 54. The partition wall 56 forms a heating passage 54a and a bypass passage 54b within the casing 54.

The first heater core 12 and the second heater core 22 are arranged in the heating passage 54a. Therefore, the conditioned air passing through the heating passage 54a is heated when the temperature of the cooling water in the first heater core 12 and the second heater core 22 is higher than the temperature of the conditioned air. The bypass passage 54b is provided so that the conditioned air can bypass the first heater core 12 and the second heater core 22. The air mix damper 53 is configured to adjust the temperature of the conditioned air supplied to the vehicle cabin by adjusting the ratio of the air volume passing through the heating passage 54a and the bypass passage 54b. In addition, the casing 54 has an outlet 57 formed at the downstream end in the flow direction of the conditioned air for blowing the conditioned air into the vehicle cabin.

In the indoor air conditioning unit 5, if the temperature of the second heater core 22 is higher than a predetermined temperature (at least the temperature of the first heater core 12), the first heater core 12 receives heat from the second heater core 22. For example, the first heater core 12 and the second heater core 22 are arranged close to each other with a gap between them, and the first heater core 12 receives heat from the second heater core 22 using air as a medium. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the first heater core 12 and the second heater core 22 are physically connected. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the first heater core 12 and the second heater core 22 are connected via a thermally conductive material.

The temperature control device 100 according to the embodiment controls the flow of the second coolant in the second coolant circuit 2 by switching between the open and closed states of the first switching valve 24, and controls the flow of the third coolant in the third coolant circuit 3 by switching between the open and closed states of the second switching valve 33. As the temperature control device 100 according to the embodiment, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU) mounted on a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) can be used.

Figure 3 shows the heat flow when battery heating control is being performed.

The temperature control device 100 according to the embodiment can perform battery heating control that controls each electric water pump, the first switching valve 24, the second switching valve 33, etc., to realize a heat flow in the following order: engine 11, first heater core 12, second heater core 22, first heat exchanger 23, first switching valve 24, first radiator 25, second radiator 34, second heat exchanger 32, second switching valve 33, battery 31, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 3.

By performing battery heating control with the temperature control device 100 according to the embodiment, exhaust heat from the engine 11 can be supplied to the battery 31, and the exhaust heat from the engine 11 can be used to heat the battery 31. This can reduce a lack of output from the battery 31 (reduced vehicle driving performance) and an increase in resistance of the battery 31 (worsened power consumption) that can occur when the battery 31 is at a low temperature. In addition, the temperature control device 100 according to the embodiment can heat the battery 31 using the exhaust heat from the engine 11 with a simple mechanism, without providing additional heat exchangers, radiators, switching valves, etc. dedicated to battery heating control to each existing coolant circuit.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of battery heating control performed by the temperature control device 100. The conditions for performing battery heating control are that the engine is operating and the battery temperature is equal to or lower than a preset threshold. The battery temperature can be, for example, the result of detection by a temperature sensor provided in the battery 31.

First, the temperature control device 100 determines whether the engine is operating (step S1). If the temperature control device 100 determines that the engine is not operating (No in step S1), the temperature control device 100 ends the series of controls. On the other hand, if the temperature control device 100 determines that the engine is operating (Yes in step S1), the temperature control device 100 determines whether the relationship of battery temperature < threshold is satisfied (step S2). If the temperature control device 100 determines that the relationship of battery temperature < threshold is not satisfied (No in step S2), the temperature control device 100 ends the series of controls. On the other hand, if the temperature control device 100 determines that the relationship of battery temperature < threshold is satisfied (Yes in step S2), the temperature control device 100 performs battery heating control (step S3). Then, the temperature control device 100 ends the example control.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing another example of battery heating control performed by the temperature control device 100. The conditions for performing battery heating control are that the engine is running, the battery temperature is equal to or lower than a preset threshold, and the air mix damper is operating.

First, the temperature control device 100 judges whether the engine is operating (step S11). When the temperature control device 100 judges that the engine is not operating (No in step S11), the series of controls is terminated. On the other hand, when the temperature control device 100 judges that the engine is operating (Yes in step S11), it judges whether the relationship of battery temperature < threshold is satisfied (step S12). When the temperature control device 100 judges that the relationship of battery temperature < threshold is not satisfied (No in step S12), it terminates the series of controls. On the other hand, when the temperature control device 100 judges that the relationship of battery temperature < threshold is satisfied (Yes in step S12), it judges whether the air mix damper is operating (step S13). When the temperature control device 100 judges that the air mix damper is not operating (No in step S13), it terminates the series of controls. On the other hand, when the temperature control device 100 judges that the air mix damper is operating (Yes in step S13), it performs battery heating control (step S14). Then, the temperature control device 100 terminates the example of control.

As a result, while the air mix damper is operating, the engine heater core is supplied with a sufficient amount of heat required for interior air conditioning, and the battery can be heated under conditions that allow it to be heated without reducing the heating performance of the vehicle interior.

1 First cooling water circuit, 2 Second cooling water circuit, 3 Third cooling water circuit, 11 Engine, 12 First heater core, 21 Heat source device, 22 Second heater core, 24 First switching valve, 25 First radiator, 31 Battery, 33 Second switching valve, 34 Second radiator, 100 Temperature control device.

Claims (1)

A temperature control device that performs battery heating control using exhaust heat from an engine,
a first coolant circuit in which the first coolant circulates and which is provided with a first heater core for exchanging heat with the first coolant that recovers exhaust heat from the engine to heat air conditioning air;
a second coolant circuit in which the second coolant circulates, the second coolant circuit including a second heater core for heating the air conditioning air by performing heat exchange with the second coolant that has recovered heat from a heat source device, a first radiator for performing heat exchange with the second coolant, and a first switching valve for switching a flow rate of the second coolant to the first radiator;
a third coolant circuit in which the third coolant circulates, the third coolant circuit including a second radiator that performs heat exchange with the third coolant that has recovered heat from the battery and a second switching valve that switches a flow rate of the third coolant to the second radiator;
In
The first heater core and the second heater core are disposed adjacent to each other,
The first radiator and the second radiator are disposed adjacent to each other,
A temperature control device characterized by controlling the first switching valve and the second switching valve so that heat is transferred in the following order: engine, first heater core, second heater core, first switching valve, first radiator, second radiator, second switching valve, and battery.

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