阅读说明：本技术 热管理装置 (Thermal management device ) 是由 长谷川吉男 田代广规 池上真 于 2021-03-31 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种热管理装置,其搭载于车辆,包括热回路、换热器、蓄电池和散热器,所述热回路具有换热器路径、散热器路径和绕过散热器路径与换热器路径相连通的蓄电池路径,所述换热器通过热交换将换热器路径内的热介质冷却,利用蓄电池路径将所述蓄电池冷却,所述散热器使散热器路径内的热介质与外部气体热交换,控制装置可以执行加热动作和循环动作,所述加热动作使热回路内的热介质在换热器路径与蓄电池路径之间循环,从而利用蓄电池将蓄电池路径的热介质加热,所述循环动作使利用加热动作加热后的热介质在换热器路径与散热器路径之间循环,利用散热器将散热器路径内的热介质冷却。由此,能够高效地取得用于加热散热器的热能的技术。(The invention provides a heat management device, which is mounted on a vehicle and comprises a heat circuit, a heat exchanger, a storage battery and a radiator, the thermal circuit having a heat exchanger path, a radiator path, and a battery path in communication with the heat exchanger path bypassing the radiator path, the heat exchanger cools the thermal medium in the heat exchanger path through heat exchange, the storage battery path is used for cooling the storage battery, the radiator makes the heat medium in the radiator path exchange heat with the external air, the control device can execute heating action and circulating action, the heating operation circulates the heat medium in the heat circuit between the heat exchanger path and the battery path, the heat medium in the battery path is heated by the battery, and the circulation operation circulates the heat medium heated by the heating operation between the heat exchanger path and the radiator path, and cools the heat medium in the radiator path by the radiator. This enables to efficiently obtain thermal energy for heating the radiator.)

1. A thermal management device mounted on a vehicle,

the heat management device comprises a heat loop, a heat exchanger, a storage battery, a radiator, a control valve, a pump and a control device,

the thermal loop circulates a heating medium, has a heat exchanger path, a radiator path communicating with the heat exchanger path, and a battery path communicating with the heat exchanger path bypassing the radiator path,

the heat exchanger cools the thermal medium within the heat exchanger path by heat exchange,

cooling the battery using the battery path,

the radiator makes the heat medium in the radiator path exchange heat with the external air,

the control valve changes a flow path of the heat medium in the thermal circuit,

the pump is capable of sending out the heat medium in the heat circuit from the heat exchanger path to the battery path, and capable of sending out the heat medium in the heat circuit from the heat exchanger path to the radiator path,

the control means performs a heating action and a cyclic action,

the heating operation controls the control valve and the pump to circulate the heat medium in the heat circuit between the heat exchanger path and the battery path, thereby heating the heat medium in the battery path by the battery,

the circulating operation controls the control valve and the pump to circulate the heat medium heated by the heating operation between the heat exchanger path and the radiator path, and cools the heat medium in the radiator path by the radiator.

2. The thermal management apparatus of claim 1,

the control device prohibits the heating operation when the temperature of the battery is out of a predetermined range of 0 degrees or more.

3. The thermal management apparatus of claim 2,

the control device prohibits the heating operation when the temperature of the battery is lower than 15 degrees.

4. The thermal management device of any of claims 1-3,

the control device prohibits the circulation operation when the temperature of the heat medium in the heat circuit is lower than 0 ℃.

5. The thermal management device of any of claims 1-4,

the control device controls the control valve so that the heat medium in the heat circuit flows from the heat exchanger path to both the battery path and the radiator path, thereby causing the heating operation and the circulating operation to be performed in parallel.

6. The thermal management device of any of claims 1-4,

the control device controls the control valve to alternately perform the heating operation and the circulating operation.

Technical Field

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a thermal management device.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a heat management device mounted on a vehicle. The heat management apparatus has a plurality of heat circuits (heater circuit, engine circuit, and the like) through which a heat supply medium circulates. For example, the thermal management device heats the vehicle interior by using a heat medium in a heater circuit as a heat source. In addition, the thermal management device utilizes a thermal medium within the engine circuit to cool the engine. The heat medium in the engine circuit is cooled by a radiator.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2017-150352

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

For example, when the outside air is low, or when the temperature of the heat medium in the radiator is low, frost may adhere to the radiator. When frost adheres to the radiator, the frost may hinder heat exchange of the heat medium in the radiator. In order to remove frost adhering to the heat sink, the heat sink is heated to melt the frost. In the present specification, a technique capable of efficiently obtaining thermal energy for heating a radiator is proposed.

Means for solving the problems

The heat management device disclosed in the present specification is mounted on a vehicle. The heat management apparatus includes a heat circuit in which a heat medium circulates, a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger path, a radiator path communicating with the heat exchanger path, and a storage battery path communicating with the heat exchanger path while bypassing the radiator path, the heat exchanger cooling the heat medium in the heat exchanger path by heat exchange, the storage battery cooling by the storage battery path, the radiator exchanging the heat medium in the radiator path with outside air, a control valve changing a flow path of the heat medium in the heat circuit, and a pump capable of sending the heat medium in the heat circuit from the heat exchanger path to the storage battery path and sending the heat medium in the heat circuit from the heat exchanger path to the radiator path, the control device executes a heating operation of controlling the control valve and the pump so that the heat medium in the heat circuit circulates between the heat exchanger path and the battery path, thereby heating the heat medium in the battery path by the battery, and a circulating operation of controlling the control valve and the pump so that the heat medium heated by the heating operation circulates between the heat exchanger path and the radiator path, thereby cooling the heat medium in the radiator path by the radiator.

With this configuration, the heat energy generated in the battery can be used for heating the radiator. Thereby, no thermal energy is generated in the vehicle for heating the radiator.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a thermal management device.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a heating operation.

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a cooling operation.

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a battery cooling operation.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an electric device cooling operation.

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a radiator heating process.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart of the radiator heating determination process.

Detailed Description

The technical elements of the thermal management device disclosed in the present specification are listed below. The following technical elements are useful independently of each other.

In the heat management device according to the example disclosed in the present specification, the control device may prohibit the heating operation when the temperature of the battery is out of a predetermined range of 0 degrees or more.

Depending on the temperature of the battery, it may be inappropriate to perform the heating operation using the heat of the battery. For example, when the temperature of the battery is low, the heat medium cannot be sufficiently heated in the heating operation. In such a case, the heating action can be avoided from being performed.

In the heat management device according to the example disclosed in the present specification, the control device may prohibit the heating operation when the temperature of the battery is lower than 15 degrees. In a battery for a vehicle, when the temperature of the battery is lower than 15 degrees, the performance of the battery sometimes decreases. Therefore, when the temperature of the battery is lower than 15 degrees, the heating operation is prohibited, and thus, it is possible to avoid the performance deterioration of the battery from being hindered from recovery.

In the heat management device according to the example disclosed in the present specification, the control device may prohibit the circulation operation when the temperature of the heat medium in the heat circuit is lower than 0 ℃. When the temperature of the heat medium is lower than 0 ℃, frost adhering to the heat sink cannot be melted even if the circulation operation is performed. Therefore, when the temperature of the heat medium is lower than 0 degrees, the heat management device can be prevented from unnecessarily operating by prohibiting the circulation operation.

The control device may control the control valve such that the heat medium in the heat circuit flows from the heat exchanger path to both the battery path and the radiator path, thereby causing the heating operation and the circulating operation to be performed in parallel. With this structure, heating and cooling of the heat medium can be performed in parallel.

The control device may control the control valve to alternately perform the heating operation and the circulation operation. With this configuration, the heating operation and the circulation operation can be switched appropriately according to the temperature of the heat medium or the like by separating the heating operation and the circulation operation.

Embodiment 1

The thermal management device 100 of the embodiment shown in fig. 1 has a 1 st thermal circuit 10, a 2 nd thermal circuit 20, and a 3 rd thermal circuit 30. The heat medium flows through the 1 st heat circuit 10, the 2 nd heat circuit 20, and the 3 rd heat circuit 30. The flow paths of the heat medium are independent among the 1 st heat circuit 10, the 2 nd heat circuit 20, and the 3 rd heat circuit 30. The materials of the heat medium in the 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd heat circuits 10, 20, and 30 may be the same or different. For example, hydrofluorocarbons can be used as the heat medium. The thermal management device 100 is mounted on a vehicle. The thermal management device 100 can perform a cooling operation for cooling the air in the vehicle cabin using the evaporator 63. The thermal management device 100 can perform a heating operation for heating air in the vehicle cabin by using a heater core (heater core) 74. In addition, thermal management device 100 can cool battery 51, transaxle 43, PCU (power control unit) 47, and SPU (intelligent power unit) 46.

The 1 st thermal circuit 10 has a low-temperature radiator path 11, a bypass path 12, an electrical equipment path 13, a battery path 14, a chiller (chiller) path 15, a connection path 16, and a connection path 17.

The low temperature radiator path 11 is provided with a low temperature radiator 41. The low temperature radiator 41 exchanges heat between the heat medium in the low temperature radiator path 11 and outside air (i.e., air outside the vehicle). When the temperature of the outside air is lower than the temperature of the heat medium in the low temperature radiator path 11, the heat medium in the low temperature radiator path 11 is cooled by the low temperature radiator 41. When the temperature of the outside air is higher than the temperature of the heat medium in the low temperature radiator path 11, the heat medium in the low temperature radiator path 11 is heated by the low temperature radiator 41.

The downstream end of the electrical equipment path 13 is connected to the upstream end of the bypass path 12 and the upstream end of the low-temperature radiator path 11 via a three-way valve 42. The upstream end of the electrical equipment path 13 is connected to the downstream end of the bypass path 12 and the downstream end of the low-temperature radiator path 11. A pump 48 is provided in the electrical equipment path 13. The pump 48 sends the heat medium in the electrical equipment path 13 downstream. The three-way valve 42 switches the flow path between a state in which the heat medium flows from the electrical equipment path 13 to the low-temperature radiator path 11 and a state in which the heat medium flows from the electrical equipment path 13 to the bypass path 12. When the pump 48 is operated in a state where the three-way valve 42 is controlled so as to cause the heat medium to flow from the electrical equipment path 13 to the low-temperature radiator path 11, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path formed by the electrical equipment path 13 and the low-temperature radiator path 11. When the pump 48 is operated in a state where the three-way valve 42 is controlled so as to cause the heat medium to flow from the electrical equipment path 13 to the bypass path 12, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path formed by the electrical equipment path 13 and the bypass path 12.

The electrical equipment path 13 is provided with the SPU46, the PCU47, and the oil cooler 45. The SPU46 and PCU47 are disposed upstream of the pump 48, and the oil cooler 45 is disposed downstream of the pump 48. SPU46 and PCU47 are cooled by heat exchange with the thermal medium in electrical equipment path 13. The oil cooler 45 is a heat exchanger. The oil circulation passage 18 is connected to an oil cooler 45. The oil cooler 45 cools the oil in the oil circulation passage 18 by heat exchange between the heat medium in the electrical equipment passage 13 and the oil in the oil circulation passage 18. The oil circulation passage 18 is disposed to pass through the inside of the transaxle 43. The transaxle 43 incorporates a motor. The motor built in the transaxle 43 is a traveling motor that rotates the drive wheels of the vehicle. A part of the oil circulation passage 18 is constituted by a sliding portion (i.e., a bearing portion) of the motor. That is, the oil in the oil circulation passage 18 is the lubricating oil inside the motor. An oil pump 44 is provided in the oil circulation passage 18. The oil pump 44 circulates the oil in the oil circulation passage 18. When the oil cooled by the oil cooler 45 circulates through the oil circulation passage 18, the motor incorporated in the transaxle 43 is cooled. SPU46 controls the charging and discharging of battery 51. PCU47 converts dc power supplied from battery 51 into ac power, and supplies the ac power to a motor incorporated in transaxle 43.

The downstream end of the chiller path 15 is connected to the upstream end of the battery path 14 and the upstream end of the connection path 16 via a three-way valve 49. The upstream end of the cooler path 15 is connected to the downstream end of the battery path 14 and the downstream end of the connection path 17. That is, battery path 14 communicates with cold machine path 15 bypassing low-temperature radiator path 11. An upstream end of the connection path 17 is connected to a downstream end of the connection path 16 via the low-temperature radiator path 11. A pump 53 is provided in the chiller path 15. The pump 53 sends the heat medium in the chiller path 15 downstream. The three-way valve 49 switches the flow path between three states, i.e., a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling medium path 15 to the storage battery path 14, a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling medium path 15 to the connection path 16, and a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling medium path 15 to both the storage battery path 14 and the connection path 16. When the pump 53 is operated in a state in which the three-way valve 49 is controlled so as to cause the heat medium to flow from the chiller path 15 to the battery path 14, the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path formed by the chiller path 15 and the battery path 14. When the pump 53 is operated in a state where the three-way valve 49 is controlled so as to cause the heat medium to flow from the cooler path 15 to the connection path 16, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path constituted by the cooler path 15, the connection path 16, the low-temperature radiator path 11, and the connection path 17. When the pump 53 is operated in a state in which the three-way valve 49 is controlled so as to cause the heat medium to flow from the refrigerator path 15 to both the battery path 14 and the connection path 16, the heat medium circulates in both the circulation flow path formed by the refrigerator path 15 and the battery path 14 and the circulation flow path formed by the refrigerator path 15, the connection path 16, the low-temperature radiator path 11, and the connection path 17.

A chiller 52 is provided in the chiller path 15. The cooler 52 is disposed downstream of the pump 53. The chiller 52 cools the heat medium in the chiller path 15 by heat exchange between the heat medium in the chiller path 15 and the heat medium in the 2 nd thermal circuit 20 (more specifically, in the chiller path 22 described later).

The battery path 14 is provided with a heater 50 and a battery 51. The battery 51 supplies dc power to the PCU 47. That is, the battery 51 supplies electric power to the motor built in the transaxle 43 via the PCU 47. The battery 51 is cooled by heat exchange with the heat medium in the battery path 14. The heater 50 is disposed upstream of the battery 51. The heater 50 is an electric heater, and heats the heat medium in the battery path 14.

The 2 nd hot loop 20 has a chiller path 22, an evaporator path 24, and a condenser path 26. The downstream end of the condenser path 26 is connected to the upstream end of the chiller path 22 and the upstream end of the evaporator path 24 by a three-way valve 65. The upstream end of the condenser path 26 is connected to the downstream end of the chiller path 22 and the downstream end of the evaporator path 24. A compressor 66 is provided in the condenser path 26. The compressor 66 pressurizes and delivers downstream the thermal medium within the condenser path 26. The three-way valve 65 switches the flow path between a state in which the heat medium flows from the condenser path 26 to the chiller path 22 and a state in which the heat medium flows from the condenser path 26 to the evaporator path 24. When the compressor 66 is operated in a state where the three-way valve 65 is controlled so that the heat medium flows from the condenser path 26 to the chiller path 22, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path formed by the condenser path 26 and the chiller path 22. When the compressor 66 is operated in a state where the three-way valve 65 is controlled so that the heat medium flows from the condenser path 26 to the evaporator path 24, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path formed by the condenser path 26 and the evaporator path 24.

The condenser path 26 is provided with a condenser 67 and a regulator 68. A condenser 67 is provided downstream of the compressor 66, and a regulator 68 is provided downstream of the condenser 67. The heat medium sent by the compressor 66 is a high-temperature gas. Therefore, the heat medium, which is a high-temperature gas, flows into the condenser 67. The condenser 67 cools the heat medium in the condenser path 26 by heat exchange between the heat medium in the condenser path 26 and the heat medium in the 3 rd heat circuit 30 (more specifically, in the condenser path 32 described later). The heat medium in the condenser path 26 is cooled in the condenser 67 to be condensed. Therefore, the heat medium passing through the condenser 67 is a low-temperature liquid. Thus, the heat medium, which is a low-temperature liquid, flows into the regulator 68. The regulator 68 removes bubbles from the heat medium as a liquid.

The chiller path 22 is provided with an expansion valve 61 and a chiller 52. A chiller 52 is provided downstream of the expansion valve 61. The heat medium (i.e., the heat medium that is a low-temperature liquid) having passed through the regulator 68 flows into the expansion valve 61. The heat medium is decompressed while passing through the expansion valve 61. Therefore, the heat medium of the low-pressure low-temperature liquid flows into the chiller 52. The chiller 52 heats the heat medium in the chiller path 22 and cools the heat medium in the chiller path 15 by heat exchange between the heat medium in the chiller path 22 and the heat medium in the chiller path 15. In the chiller 52, the thermal medium in the chiller path 22 is evaporated by heating. Therefore, the heat medium in the chiller path 22 efficiently absorbs heat from the heat medium in the chiller path 15. This efficiently cools the heat medium in the chiller path 15. The heat medium (i.e., the heat medium that is a high-temperature gas) in the chiller path 22 that has passed through the chiller 52 is pressurized by the compressor 66 and sent to the condenser 67.

An expansion valve 64, an evaporator 63, and an EPR (evaporator pressure regulator) 62 are provided in the evaporator path 24. An evaporator 63 is provided downstream of the expansion valve 64, and EPR62 is provided downstream of the evaporator 63. The heat medium (i.e., the heat medium that is a low-temperature liquid) having passed through the regulator 68 flows into the expansion valve 64. The heat medium is decompressed while passing through the expansion valve 64. Thus, the heat medium of the low-pressure low-temperature liquid flows into the evaporator 63. The evaporator 63 heats the heat medium in the evaporator path 24 and cools the air in the vehicle cabin by heat exchange between the heat medium and the air in the vehicle cabin. That is, the evaporator 63 performs cooling in the vehicle cabin. In the evaporator 63, the heat medium is heated by heat exchange, and the heat medium is evaporated. Therefore, the heat medium efficiently absorbs heat from the air in the vehicle cabin. This efficiently cools the air in the vehicle cabin. The EPR62 controls the flow rate of the thermal medium within the evaporator path 24, thereby controlling the pressure within the evaporator 63 to be substantially constant. The heat medium having passed through the EPR62 (i.e., the heat medium that is a high-temperature gas) is pressurized by the compressor 66 and sent to the condenser 67.

The 3 rd heat circuit 30 has a condenser path 32, a heater core path 34, and a high temperature radiator path 36. The downstream end of the condenser path 32 is connected to the upstream end of the heater core path 34 and the upstream end of the high-temperature radiator path 36 via a three-way valve 73. An upstream end of the condenser path 32 is connected to a downstream end of the heater core path 34 and a downstream end of the high-temperature radiator path 36. A pump 72 is provided in the condenser path 32. The pump 72 sends the heat medium in the condenser path 32 downstream. The three-way valve 73 switches the flow path between a state in which the heat medium flows from the condenser path 32 to the heater core path 34 and a state in which the heat medium flows from the condenser path 32 to the high-temperature radiator path 36. When the pump 72 is operated in a state where the three-way valve 73 is controlled so that the heat medium flows from the condenser path 32 to the heater core path 34, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path constituted by the condenser path 32 and the heater core path 34. When the pump 72 is operated in a state where the three-way valve 73 is controlled so as to cause the heat medium to flow from the condenser path 32 to the high-temperature radiator path 36, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path formed by the condenser path 32 and the high-temperature radiator path 36.

The condenser path 32 is provided with a condenser 67 and a heater 71. A condenser 67 is provided downstream of the pump 72, and a heater 71 is provided downstream of the condenser 67. The condenser 67 heats the heat medium in the condenser path 32 and cools the heat medium in the condenser path 26 by heat exchange between the heat medium in the condenser path 32 and the heat medium in the condenser path 26. The heater 71 is an electric heater, and heats the heat medium in the condenser path 32.

A heater core 74 is provided in the heater core path 34. The heater core 74 heats the air in the vehicle cabin by heat exchange between the heat medium in the heater core path 34 and the air in the vehicle cabin. That is, the heater core 74 performs heating in the vehicle cabin.

The high-temperature radiator path 36 is provided with a high-temperature radiator 75. The high-temperature radiator 75 cools the heat medium in the high-temperature radiator path 36 by heat exchange between the heat medium in the high-temperature radiator path 36 and outside air.

The thermal management device 100 has a control device 80. The control device 80 controls various portions of the thermal management device 100.

Next, operations that can be executed by the control device 80 will be described. The control device 80 can perform a heating operation, a cooling operation, a battery cooling operation, an electrical equipment cooling operation, and a radiator heating operation.

Heating action

In the heating operation, the control device 80 controls each part of the thermal management device 100 as shown in fig. 2. In the 3 rd heat circuit 30, the three-way valve 73 is controlled so that the heat medium flows from the condenser path 32 to the heater core path 34, and the pump 72 operates. Therefore, the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 102 formed by the condenser path 32 and the heater core path 34. In the 2 nd heat circuit 20, the three-way valve 65 is controlled so that the heat medium flows from the condenser path 26 to the cooler path 22, and the compressor 66 operates. Therefore, the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 104 formed by the condenser path 26 and the chiller path 22. In the 1 st heat circuit 10, the three-way valve 49 is controlled to cause the heat medium to flow from the cooling unit path 15 to the connection path 16, and the pump 53 is operated. The pump 48 is stopped. Therefore, the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 106 constituted by the cooler path 15, the connection path 16, the low-temperature radiator path 11, and the connection path 17.

In the circulation flow path 106 of fig. 2, the low-temperature heat medium cooled by the chiller 52 flows into the low-temperature radiator 41. Therefore, the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the low temperature radiator 41 is lower than the temperature of the outside air. Therefore, the heat medium is heated in the low-temperature radiator 41. As a result, the high-temperature heat medium heated by the low-temperature radiator 41 flows into the cooler 52. In the chiller 52, the heat medium in the chiller path 15 (i.e., the circulation flow path 106) is cooled, and the heat medium in the chiller path 22 (i.e., the circulation flow path 104) is heated. Therefore, the high-temperature heat medium heated by the chiller 52 flows into the condenser 67 in the circulation flow path 104. In the condenser 67, the heat medium in the condenser path 26 (i.e., the circulation flow path 104) is cooled, and the heat medium in the condenser path 32 (i.e., the circulation flow path 102) is heated. Therefore, the high-temperature heat medium heated by the condenser 67 flows into the heater core 74 in the circulation flow path 102. The heater core 74 heats the air in the vehicle cabin by heat exchange between the heat medium in the circulation flow path 102 and the air in the vehicle cabin. The air heated by the heater core 74 is blown by a fan not shown. The heating in the vehicle cabin is performed as described above. As is clear from the above description, heat is supplied to the heater core 74 via the heat medium in the circulation flow path 104 (i.e., the heat medium in the 2 nd heat circuit 20). That is, in the heating operation, the heater core 74 heats the heat medium in the 2 nd heat circuit 20 as a heat source.

Refrigeration action

In the cooling operation, the control device 80 controls each part of the thermal management device 100 as shown in fig. 3. In the 3 rd heat circuit 30, the three-way valve 73 is controlled to cause the heat medium to flow from the condenser path 32 to the high-temperature radiator path 36, and the pump 72 is operated. Therefore, the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 108 formed by the condenser path 32 and the high-temperature radiator path 36. In the 2 nd heat circuit 20, the three-way valve 65 is controlled to flow the heat medium from the condenser path 26 to the evaporator path 24, and the compressor 66 is operated. Therefore, the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 110 formed by the condenser path 26 and the evaporator path 24. The 1 st thermal loop 10 does not participate in the cooling action.

In the circulation flow path 108 of fig. 3, the high-temperature heat medium heated by the condenser 67 flows into the high-temperature radiator 75. Therefore, the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the high-temperature radiator 75 is higher than the temperature of the outside air. Therefore, the heat medium is cooled in the high-temperature radiator 75. As a result, the low-temperature heat medium cooled by the high-temperature radiator 75 flows into the condenser 67. In the condenser 67, the heat medium in the condenser path 32 (i.e., the circulation flow path 108) is heated, and the heat medium in the condenser path 26 (i.e., the circulation flow path 110) is cooled. Therefore, the low-temperature heat medium cooled by the condenser 67 flows into the evaporator 63 in the circulation flow path 110. The evaporator 63 cools the air in the vehicle cabin by heat exchange between the heat medium in the circulation flow path 110 and the air in the vehicle cabin. The air cooled by the evaporator 63 is blown by a fan not shown. The cooling of the vehicle interior is performed as described above.

Cooling action of storage battery

When the temperature of the battery 51 rises to a temperature equal to or higher than the reference value, the battery cooling operation is executed. In the battery cooling operation, the control device 80 controls the respective units of the thermal management device 100 as shown in fig. 4. In the 3 rd heat circuit 30, the three-way valve 73 and the pump 72 are controlled so that the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 108 formed by the condenser path 32 and the high-temperature radiator path 36. In the 2 nd heat circuit 20, the three-way valve 65 and the compressor 66 are controlled so that the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 104 formed by the condenser path 26 and the chiller path 22. In the 1 st heat circuit 10, the three-way valve 49 is controlled to allow the heat medium to flow from the cooling unit path 15 to the battery path 14, and the pump 53 is operated. Therefore, the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 112 formed by the chiller path 15 and the battery path 14.

The circulation flow path 108 in fig. 4 operates in the same manner as in fig. 3 (i.e., the cooling operation). Therefore, the heat medium in the condenser path 26 (i.e., the circulation flow path 104) is cooled by the condenser 67. Therefore, the low-temperature heat medium cooled by the condenser 67 flows into the chiller 52 in the circulation flow path 104. In the chiller 52, the heat medium in the chiller path 22 (i.e., the circulation flow path 104) is heated, and the heat medium in the chiller path 15 (i.e., the circulation flow path 112) is cooled. Therefore, the low-temperature heat medium cooled by the cooler 52 flows into the battery path 14 in the circulation flow path 112, and cools the battery 51. Cooling of battery 51 is performed as described above.

In the battery cooling operation, the heat medium may be caused to flow through the heater core path 34 instead of the high-temperature radiator path 36. In this case, the heat medium in the 3 rd heat circuit 30 is cooled by the heater core 74, and the air in the vehicle cabin is heated. In this operation, the battery 51 is cooled, and the heater core 74 heats the battery 51 by using the exhaust heat of the battery 51.

Cooling action of electrical equipment

During the operation of the motors built in SPU46, PCU47, and transaxle 43, an electric equipment cooling operation is performed. Further, the electric equipment cooling operation may be executed when the temperature of any one of the SPU46, PCU47, and the motor exceeds a reference value. In the electric equipment cooling operation, the control device 80 controls each part of the thermal management device 100 as shown in fig. 5. The 3 rd thermal loop 30 and the 2 nd thermal loop 20 do not participate in the electrical equipment cooling action. In the 1 st heat circuit 10, the three-way valve 42 is controlled so that the heat medium flows from the electric equipment path 13 to the low-temperature radiator path 11, and the pump 48 is operated. Therefore, the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 114 formed by the electrical equipment path 13 and the low-temperature radiator path 11. In the electrical equipment cooling operation, the oil pump 44 is operated, and the oil in the oil circulation passage 18 circulates.

In the circulation flow path 114, the high-temperature heat medium heated by the SPU46, the PCU47, and the oil cooler 45 flows into the low-temperature radiator 41. Therefore, the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the low temperature radiator 41 is higher than the temperature of the outside air. Therefore, the heat medium in the low-temperature radiator path 11 (i.e., the circulation flow path 114) is cooled by the low-temperature radiator 41. Therefore, in circulation flow path 114, the low-temperature heat medium cooled by low-temperature radiator 41 flows into electric equipment path 13 to cool SPU46 and PCU 47. The oil cooler 45 cools the oil in the oil circulation passage 18 by a low-temperature heat medium. As a result, the cooled oil is supplied to the motor built in the transaxle 43 to cool the motor. As described above, the electric equipment cooling operation for cooling the electric equipment (i.e., the SPU46, the PCU47, and the motor) is performed.

As described above, the circulation flow path 112 formed in the 1 st heat circuit 10 during the battery cooling operation does not include the low-temperature radiator path 11. That is, the circulation flow path 112 bypasses the low-temperature radiator path 11. In the electrical equipment cooling operation, the circulation flow path 114 formed in the 1 st thermal circuit 10 does not include the chiller path 15. That is, the circulation flow path 114 bypasses the chiller path 15. Therefore, the circulation flow path 112 and the circulation flow path 114 do not interfere with each other, and the battery cooling operation and the electric equipment cooling operation can be independently performed. For example, the battery cooling operation can be performed without performing the electrical equipment cooling operation, the electrical equipment cooling operation can be performed without performing the battery cooling operation, and the battery cooling operation and the electrical equipment cooling operation can be performed simultaneously. Further, since the circulation flow path 112 bypasses the electrical equipment path 13 and the circulation flow path 114 bypasses the battery path 14, the circulation flow path 112 and the circulation flow path 114 can be completely separated.

The circulation flow path 106 formed in the 1 st heat circuit 10 during the heating operation does not include the battery path 14 and the electrical equipment path 13. That is, the circulation flow path 106 bypasses the battery path 14 and the electrical equipment path 13. Therefore, a temperature drop due to heat exchange between the heat medium in the circulation flow path 106 and the equipment not participating in the heating operation is suppressed during the heating operation. This enables the heating operation to be performed more efficiently.

Heat sink heat treatment

When the condition is satisfied by the radiator heating determination process described later, the radiator heating process is executed. Thereby, frost on the low temperature radiator 41 is removed.

In the heat sink heating process, the control device 80 controls the respective parts of the thermal management device 100 as shown in fig. 6. The 2 nd and 3 rd thermal circuits 20 and 30 do not participate in the radiator heating process. In the 1 st heat circuit 10, the three-way valve 49 is controlled so as to allow the heat medium to flow from the cooling unit path 15 to both the battery path 14 and the connection path 16, and the pump 53 is operated. Therefore, both the state in which the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path 112 formed by the cooler path 15 and the battery path 14 and the state in which the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path 106 formed by the cooler path 15, the connection path 16, the low-temperature radiator path 11, and the connection path 17 are executed in parallel.

In the radiator heating process, a heating operation for heating the heat medium flowing through the battery path 14 by the battery 51 is performed in the circulation flow path 112, while the battery 51 is cooled. After the heating operation, the heat medium heated by the battery 51 flows into the connection path 16 through the three-way valve 49. In the circulation flow path 106, a circulation operation is performed in which the heat medium heated by the battery 51 flows into the low-temperature radiator 41. Thereby, the low-temperature radiator 41 is heated by the heat medium, and the heat medium is cooled. As a result, frost adhering to the low-temperature radiator 41 is melted. Defrosting of the low temperature radiator 41 is performed as described above.

Heat radiator heating judgment process

Next, the radiator heating determination process executed by the control device 80 will be described with reference to fig. 7. When the defrosting condition is established, the radiator heating process is performed. When the heating operation is performed for a predetermined period or longer, the defrosting condition is satisfied. During the heating operation, the electric power of the battery 51 is used. As a result, the battery 51 generates heat, and the heat is stored in the battery 51. On the other hand, in the heating operation, the heat medium cooled by the chiller 52 flows through the circulation flow path 106 and flows into the low temperature radiator 41. As a result, frost may adhere to the low-temperature radiator 41. In addition, it may be: the defrosting condition is satisfied when the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 0 degrees) in addition to the above-described condition; alternatively, in place of the above conditions, the defrosting condition is satisfied when the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 0 degrees).

When the defrosting condition is satisfied, the controller 80 first determines in S12 whether or not the temperature of the battery 51 is within a predetermined range. The performance and durability of the battery 51 may be reduced by the temperature during use. Therefore, when the temperature of the battery 51 is not within the specific temperature range, the input/output of the electric power of the battery 51 is restricted. The predetermined range is a specific temperature range, and is, for example, 15 degrees or more and 47 degrees or less. With this configuration, the battery 51 is cooled in a situation where the restriction is imposed on the battery 51, and it is possible to avoid the hindrance of recovery from the situation where the restriction is imposed on the battery 51.

In the modification, the predetermined range is not limited to the above range. For example, the lower limit of the predetermined range may be set or not. When the lower limit value is set, the lower limit value may be 0 degrees or more, or may be any one of 1 degree, 2 degrees, 3 degrees, 4 degrees, 5 degrees, 6 degrees, 7 degrees, 8 degrees, 9 degrees, 10 degrees, 11 degrees, 12 degrees, 13 degrees, 14 degrees, and 15 degrees. The upper limit of the predetermined range may be set or not. When the upper limit value is set, the upper limit value may be any temperature higher than the lower limit value, and may be, for example, any temperature of 40 degrees to 60 degrees, or any temperature of 45 degrees, 46 degrees, 47 degrees, 48 degrees, 49 degrees, 50 degrees, 51 degrees, 52 degrees, 53 degrees, 54 degrees, 55 degrees, 56 degrees, 57 degrees, 58 degrees, 59 degrees, and 60 degrees.

When the temperature of the battery 51 is outside the predetermined range (no at S12), the radiator heating determination process is ended. Thus, when the temperature of the battery 51 is not within the predetermined range, the processing after S14 is prohibited. Thereby, the battery heating process is prohibited. On the other hand, when the temperature of the battery 51 is within the predetermined range (yes at S12), the controller 80 determines whether or not the temperature of the heat medium is 0 degree or higher at S14. When the temperature of the heat medium is lower than 0 degrees (no at S14), the radiator heating determination process ends. Thus, when the temperature of the heat medium is lower than 0 degrees, the processing after S16 is prohibited. When the temperature of the heat medium is lower than 0 ℃, frost adhering to the low-temperature radiator 41 cannot be melted even if the heat medium flows into the low-temperature radiator 41. In the radiator heating determination process, in the case where the temperature of the heat medium is lower than 0 degrees, the radiator heating process is not performed. With this configuration, the radiator heating process is not performed in a state where frost adhering to the low-temperature radiator 41 is not easily melted. In the modification, before executing S14, the controller 80 may control the three-way valve 49 so that the heat medium flows from the cooling unit path 15 to the storage battery path 14, and the heat medium may be circulated in the circulation flow path 112 for a predetermined period of time. In this way, the process of S14 may be executed after the heat medium is heated by the battery 51. That is, when the temperature of the heat medium is lower than 0 degrees, the circulation flow path 112 may be configured to perform a heating operation of heating the heat medium flowing through the battery path 14 by the battery 51 and prohibit a circulation operation of flowing the heat medium heated by the battery 51 into the low temperature radiator 41.

When the temperature of the heat medium is 0 degrees or higher (yes at S14), the controller 80 executes the radiator heating process at S16. Next, in S18, the control device 80 determines whether or not the timing to end the radiator heating process has come. For example, when a predetermined period has elapsed since the radiator heating process was started in S16, the end timing comes. The predetermined period may be a fixed period or a variable period that varies depending on the outside air temperature, the temperature of the heat medium, and the like. In the latter case, data indicating a relationship between the temperature of the external air and the temperature of the heat medium, etc., which is predetermined by experiments or simulations, may be stored in the control device 80 for a predetermined period.

If the end timing has not yet come (no at S18), the process returns to S12. On the other hand, when the completion time has come (yes at S18), the controller 80 ends the radiator heating process and ends the radiator heating determination process at S20.

The controller 80 may perform operations other than the above-described operation and the radiator heating process. For example, the controller 80 can perform an operation of heating the battery 51 by circulating the heat medium in the circulation flow path 112 and heating the heat medium by the heater 50. This operation is executed when the temperature of the battery 51 becomes too low in a cold district or the like. Further, the control device 80 can perform an operation of heating the low temperature radiator 41 to defrost by circulating the heat medium in the circulation flow path 112 and heating the heat medium by the heater 50. In the case where the radiator heating process is not performed (i.e., in the case of no at S12 or no at S14), this action is performed. Further, the control device 80 can perform heating by the heater core 74 by circulating the heat medium in the circulation flow path 102 and heating the heat medium by the heater 71. When the heating operation cannot be performed, the operation is performed. Further, the controller 80 can perform an operation of suppressing a temperature rise of the SPU46, PCU47, and the motor by circulating the heat medium in the circulation flow path constituted by the electric equipment path 13 and the bypass path 12.

With the thermal management device 100, the low-temperature radiator 41 can be heated by the heat energy generated when the battery 51 is used by the radiator heating process. This eliminates the need to generate thermal energy for defrosting the low-temperature radiator 41. The battery 51 for supplying electric power to the motor for running of the vehicle has a larger heat capacity than other devices mounted on the vehicle (e.g., PCU 47). Therefore, the temperature of the battery 51 is not likely to decrease when it increases. Therefore, for example, after the temperature of the battery 51 rises after the battery 51 is charged, or after the vehicle runs under a high load, the battery 51 can store thermal energy sufficient for defrosting. In the thermal management device 100, since the thermal energy stored in the battery 51 is used, it is possible to suppress a situation in which defrosting by the radiator heating process cannot be performed due to insufficient thermal energy.

Embodiment 2

Differences from embodiment 1 will be described. In the thermal management device 100 according to the present embodiment, the three-way valve 49 is alternately switched between a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling medium passage 15 to the battery passage 14 and a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling medium passage 15 to the connection passage 16 during the radiator heating operation. Thus, in the radiator heating process, the state in which the heat medium is circulated in the circulation flow path 112 and the state in which the heat medium is circulated in the circulation flow path 106 are alternately switched. Thus, a heating operation of heating the heat medium in the battery 51 by circulating the heat medium in the circulation flow path 112 and a circulation operation of cooling the heat medium by the heat medium flowing into the low-temperature radiator 41 by circulating the heat medium in the circulation flow path 106 to melt frost of the low-temperature radiator 41 are performed. In the present embodiment, the three-way valve 49 may switch the flow path between a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling machine path 15 to the storage battery path 14 and a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling machine path 15 to the connection path 16, or may not switch the flow path to a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling machine path 15 to both the storage battery path 14 and the connection path 16.

Corresponding relation

The 1 st heat circuit 10 is an example of a "heat circuit". The chiller 52 is an example of a "heat exchanger", the three-way valve 49 is an example of a "control valve", the pump 53 is an example of a "pump", and the low-temperature radiator 41 is an example of a "radiator".

The embodiments have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the scope of the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

In each of the above embodiments, the three-way valve 49 is disposed in the 1 st heat circuit 10. However, in the 1 st heat circuit 10, a valve may be provided that can switch between at least a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling device path 15 to the storage battery path 14 and a state in which the heat medium flows from the cooling device path 15 to the connection path 16. For example, instead of the three-way valve 49, an on-off valve that switches the battery path 14 and the connection path 16 between a communication state and a closed state may be provided. In this case, the on-off valve is an example of the "control valve". The controller 80 may switch the flow path between the state in which the heat medium is caused to flow from the cooling device path 15 to the storage battery path 14 and the state in which the heat medium is caused to flow from the cooling device path 15 to the connection path 16 using two opening/closing valves, or may switch the flow path between three states, i.e., the state in which the heat medium is caused to flow from the cooling device path 15 to the storage battery path 14, the state in which the heat medium is caused to flow from the cooling device path 15 to the connection path 16, and the state in which the heat medium is caused to flow from the cooling device path 15 to both the storage battery path 14 and the connection path 16.

In each of the above embodiments, the pump 53 is disposed in the 1 st heat circuit 10, and the heat medium is circulated by operating the pump 53 in the radiator heating process. However, a plurality of pumps may be provided in the 1 st heat circuit 10. For example, a pump for circulating the heat medium in the circulation flow path 112 and a pump for circulating the heat medium in the circulation flow path 106 may be separately provided.

The technical elements described in the specification and drawings exhibit technical usefulness by themselves or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the techniques exemplified in the present specification or the drawings achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and achieving one of the objects has technical usefulness itself.

Description of the reference numerals

10. 1 st heat loop; 11. a low temperature heat sink path; 12. a bypass path; 13. an electrical equipment path; 14. a battery path; 15. a cold machine path; 16. a connection path; 17. a connection path; 20. a 2 nd thermal loop; 30. a 3 rd heat loop; 41. a low temperature heat sink; 49. a three-way valve; 50. a heater; 51. a storage battery; 52. a refrigerator; 53. a pump; 100. a thermal management device.