Vehicle air conditioner
This vehicle air conditioner includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a heater core, a distributing unit which distributes the coolant, fed from a heat generating component of a vehicle, to a plurality of cooling path, and a junction unit which causes the coolant guided from a plurality of cooling paths to join, and feeds the coolant to the heat generating component. The first water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a first cooling path, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a second cooling path. The second water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a third cooling path, and feeds the coolant to the heater core. The heater core inputs the coolant fed by the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a fourth cooling path.
1. A vehicle air conditioner comprising:
a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant and a coolant for heat transportation, and vaporizes the refrigerant;
a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger which performs a heat exchange between a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant and the coolant, and condenses the refrigerant;
a heater core which heats an interior of a vehicle by using heat of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by a compressor;
a distributing unit which distributes the coolant, fed from a heat generating component of the vehicle, to a plurality of cooling paths; and
a junction unit which joins the coolant guided from the plurality of cooling paths, and feeds the coolant to the heat generating component;
an evaporator which performs a heat exchange between the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant and suction air fed to the interior of the vehicle;
a condenser which releases heat from the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to outside air and condenses the refrigerant; and
a switch,
wherein
the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a first cooling path of the plurality of cooling paths, feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a second cooling path of the plurality of cooling paths, and feeds the refrigerant to the compressor,
the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger inputs the coolant distributed by the distributing unit, through a third cooling path of the plurality of cooling paths, feeds the coolant to the heater core, and inputs the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor,
the heater core inputs the coolant fed by the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and feeds the coolant to be guided to the junction unit, to a fourth cooling path of the plurality of cooling paths, and
the switch can switch between a first state and a second state,
in the first state, the refrigerant flows along the compressor, the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger in this order, and
in the second state, the refrigerant flows along the compressor, the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the condenser, and the evaporator in this order.
2. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein a pipe diameter of the first cooling path and a pipe diameter of the third cooling path are different.
3. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 , further comprising a three-way valve disposed on the third cooling path, wherein the three-way valve feeds the refrigerant distributed by the distributing unit to one of an inlet of the coolant of the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger and a path of the coolant fed by the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
4. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein an ON-OFF unit which adjusts a flow rate of the coolant is disposed on at least one of the first cooling path and the third cooling path.
5. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 ,
wherein the switch includes:
a first switch which can switch between a state where the refrigerant fed from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is fed to an evaporator which cools an air blast to the interior of the vehicle by using the refrigerant, and a state where the refrigerant is not fed to the evaporator; and
a second switch which can switch between a state where the refrigerant fed from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger is fed to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a state where the refrigerant is not fed to the first water refrigerant exchanger.
6. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 5 ,
wherein the first switch and the second switch can switch at least between a state of a cooling mode where the refrigerant flows to a circulation route including the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the condenser, the evaporator, and the compressor in this order, and yet the refrigerant does not flow to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a state of a heat pump heating mode where the refrigerant flows to a circulation route including the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the compressor in this order.
7. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 5 , further comprising a check valve disposed on a path in which the refrigerant flows from the evaporator to the compressor.
8. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a first expander which expands the refrigerant fed from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger and feeds the expanded refrigerant to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger; and
a second expander which expands the refrigerant condensed by the condenser to the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, and discharges the expanded refrigerant to the evaporator.
9. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an evaporator which performs a heat exchange between the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant and suction air fed to the interior of the vehicle;
a condenser which releases heat from the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to outside air and condenses the refrigerant; and
a third switch which can switch between a state where the refrigerant flows to a refrigerant circuit including the compressor, the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a state where the refrigerant flows to a refrigerant circuit including the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator,
wherein a refrigerant path from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger is different from a refrigerant path from the condenser to the evaporator.
10. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 9 , wherein:
in a heat pump heating mode, the third switch switches to a state where the refrigerant flows to the refrigerant circuit including the compressor, the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and
in a cooling mode, the third switch switches to a state where the refrigerant flows to the refrigerant circuit including the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator.
11. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 9 , further comprising a check valve disposed on a path in which the refrigerant flows from the evaporator to the compressor.
12. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a third expander which expands the refrigerant fed from the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger and feeds the expanded refrigerant to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger; and
a second expander which expands the refrigerant condensed by the condenser to the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, and discharges the expanded refrigerant to the evaporator.