U.S. patent application number 13/675676 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-16 for air conditioning apparatus for vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hyundai Motor Company. The applicant listed for this patent is HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. Invention is credited to Man Ju Oh, Jae Woo Park.
Application Number | 20140013773 13/675676 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49781445 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140013773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh; Man Ju ; et al. |
January 16, 2014 |
AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle may include a
Peltier module and a cooling core installed in an HVAC (heating
ventilating and air conditioning) unit, the HVAC unit being
provided with a blower, a nitrogen tank storing liquid nitrogen
therein, a nitrogen line passing through the cooling core, wherein
a first end of the nitrogen line may be connected to the nitrogen
tank, and a second end of the nitrogen line fluid-communicates with
an outside, a nitrogen evaporator provided on the nitrogen line,
the nitrogen evaporator evaporating the liquid nitrogen into
nitrogen gas, and a main cooling water line circulating water
through the nitrogen evaporator, the Peltier module and a water
pump in sequence.
Inventors: |
Oh; Man Ju; (Ulsan-si,
KR) ; Park; Jae Woo; (Ansan-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
49781445 |
Appl. No.: |
13/675676 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 25/00 20130101;
F25B 21/02 20130101; F25B 19/00 20130101; B60H 1/3202 20130101;
B60H 1/00478 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.2 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 11, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0075474 |
Claims
1. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a
Peltier module and a cooling core installed in an HVAC (heating
ventilating and air conditioning) unit, the HVAC unit being
provided with a blower; a nitrogen tank storing liquid nitrogen
therein; a nitrogen line passing through the cooling core, wherein
a first end of the nitrogen line is connected to the nitrogen tank,
and a second end of the nitrogen line fluid-communicates with an
outside; a nitrogen evaporator provided on the nitrogen line, the
nitrogen evaporator evaporating the liquid nitrogen into nitrogen
gas; and a main cooling water line circulating water through the
nitrogen evaporator, the Peltier module and a water pump in
sequence.
2. The air conditioning apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the liquid nitrogen passes though the nitrogen evaporator and then
through the cooling core in sequence.
3. The air conditioning apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further
including a nitrogen valve provided on the nitrogen line between
the nitrogen tank and the nitrogen evaporator, the nitrogen valve
controlling a flow rate of liquid nitrogen supplied to the nitrogen
evaporator.
4. The air conditioning apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further
including: an auxiliary cooling water line connected to a portion
of the main cooling water line positioned between the water pump
and the nitrogen evaporator, the auxiliary cooling water line
forming a closed circulation line; an external cooler or a battery
cooling line connected to the auxiliary cooling water line; and a
cooling water valve provided on the auxiliary cooling water line,
the cooling water valve controlling circulation of cooling water
along the auxiliary cooling water line.
5. The air conditioning apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein
the external cooler and the battery cooling line are connected to
the auxiliary cooling water line in parallel.
6. The air conditioning apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further
including a controller controlling operation of the nitrogen valve,
the cooling water valve and the Peltier module.
7. The air conditioning apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the HVAC unit includes an inlet port into which an outside air is
drawn, and an outlet port through which air is discharged into a
passenger compartment of the vehicle, the blower is installed
adjacent to the inlet port, and the Peltier module and the cooling
core are installed adjacent to the outlet port.
8. The air conditioning apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein
the cooling core is disposed between the blower and the Peltier
module.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2012-0075474, filed on Jul. 11, 2012, the entire
contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to air conditioning
apparatuses for vehicles and, more particularly, to an air
conditioning apparatus for a vehicle which can embody cooling and
heating systems of the vehicle without using a refrigerant.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] General air conditioning apparatuses for vehicles are
apparatuses which appropriately control air conditions, such as the
temperature and humidity, of a passenger compartment depending on
variations in the ambient environment to meet the demands of a
user, thus providing the user with pleasant conditions. As shown in
FIG. 1, such a conventional air conditioning apparatus includes a
compressor 1, a condenser 2, an expansion valve 3 and an evaporator
4.
[0006] The conventional air conditioning apparatus uses a
refrigerant to cool air in the passenger compartment and uses a PTC
(positive temperature coefficient) heater to heat air in the
passenger compartment. A compressor 1 or the like is therefore
required by the air conditioning apparatus in order to generate
mechanical power and convert electricity into mechanical energy and
carry out the cooling and heating of the air. This engenders such
disadvantages as mechanical loss or deterioration in quality, which
may be caused by problems with the mechanical parts or result from
leakage of the refrigerant.
[0007] The information disclosed in this Background of the
Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the
general background of the invention and should not be taken as an
acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information
forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0008] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
providing an air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle which can
embody the cooling and heating systems of a vehicle without using a
refrigerant, thus mitigating the problems of deteriorating quality
and the environmental pollution that are associated with the use of
the refrigerant, and which can minimize the power loss when cooling
or heating, thereby improving the gas mileage of the vehicle.
[0009] In an aspect of the present invention, an air conditioning
apparatus for a vehicle, may include a Peltier module and a cooling
core installed in an HVAC (heating ventilating and air
conditioning) unit, the HVAC unit being provided with a blower, a
nitrogen tank storing liquid nitrogen therein, a nitrogen line
passing through the cooling core, wherein a first end of the
nitrogen line is connected to the nitrogen tank, and a second end
of the nitrogen line fluid-communicates with an outside, a nitrogen
evaporator provided on the nitrogen line, the nitrogen evaporator
evaporating the liquid nitrogen into nitrogen gas, and a main
cooling water line circulating water through the nitrogen
evaporator, the Peltier module and a water pump in sequence.
[0010] The liquid nitrogen passes though the nitrogen evaporator
and then through the cooling core in sequence.
[0011] The air conditioning apparatus may further include a
nitrogen valve provided on the nitrogen line between the nitrogen
tank and the nitrogen evaporator, the nitrogen valve controlling a
flow rate of liquid nitrogen supplied to the nitrogen
evaporator.
[0012] The air conditioning apparatus may further include an
auxiliary cooling water line connected to a portion of the main
cooling water line positioned between the water pump and the
nitrogen evaporator, the auxiliary cooling water line forming a
closed circulation line, an external cooler or a battery cooling
line connected to the auxiliary cooling water line, and a cooling
water valve provided on the auxiliary cooling water line, the
cooling water valve controlling circulation of cooling water along
the auxiliary cooling water line.
[0013] The external cooler and the battery cooling line are
connected to the auxiliary cooling water line in parallel.
[0014] The air conditioning apparatus may further include a
controller controlling operation of the nitrogen valve, the cooling
water valve and the Peltier module.
[0015] The HVAC unit may include an inlet port into which an
outside air is drawn, and an outlet port through which air is
discharged into a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the blower
is installed adjacent to the inlet port, and the Peltier module and
the cooling core are installed adjacent to the outlet port.
[0016] The cooling core is disposed between the blower and the
Peltier module.
[0017] An air conditioning apparatus according to the present
invention is configured such that a refrigerant is not required,
thus mitigating the problems of a deterioration in quality and the
environmental pollution that are associated with the use of a
refrigerant. Further, power consumption and power loss when cooling
or heating can be minimized, thereby improving the gas mileage of
the vehicle.
[0018] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have
other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are
set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which
together serve to explain certain principles of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional air conditioning
apparatus for a vehicle.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the cooling mode of an air
conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIGS. 3 and 4 are views respectively illustrating heating
mode and dehumidification mode of the air conditioning apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of the invention. The specific design features of the
present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example,
specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be
determined in part by the particular intended application and use
environment.
[0023] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is
not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary
embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to
cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various
alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
[0025] Hereinafter, an air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioning apparatus according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a
Peltier module 13, a cooling core 14, a nitrogen tank 15, a
nitrogen line 16, a nitrogen evaporator 17 and a main cooling water
line 19. The Peltier module 13 and the cooling core 14 are
installed in an HVAC unit (12, a heating ventilating and air
conditioning unit), which has a blower 11. Liquid nitrogen is
stored in the nitrogen tank 15. The nitrogen line 16 is configured
such that a first end thereof is connected to the nitrogen tank 15,
and a second end thereof communicates with the outside after
passing through the cooling core 14. The nitrogen evaporator 17 is
provided on the nitrogen line 16 and evaporates the liquid nitrogen
into nitrogen gas. The main cooling water line 19 circulates
through the nitrogen evaporator 17, the Peltier module 13 and the
water pump 18.
[0027] The Peltier module 13 is a thermoelement in which upon
electricity being supplied thereto, one end thereof is cooled while
the other end is heated. This thermoelement is referred to as a
Peltier element.
[0028] The cooling core 14 is an auxiliary evaporator which
secondarily cools nitrogen gas that has been primarily cooled by
the nitrogen evaporator 17.
[0029] The HVAC unit 12 has an inlet port 12a into which the
outside air is drawn, and an outlet port 12b which discharges air
into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The blower 11, the
cooling core 14 and the Peltier module 13 are installed in the HVAC
unit 12 such that they are arranged from the inlet port 12a to the
outlet port 12b in the sequence of either the blower 11, the
cooling core 14 and the Peltier module 13 or of the blower 11, the
Peltier module 13 and the cooling core 14.
[0030] The main cooling water line 19 is a closed circuit line
which circulates through the nitrogen evaporator 17, the Peltier
module 13 and the water pump 18. The nitrogen evaporator 17 is
disposed ahead of the Peltier module 13, and the water pump 18 is
disposed behind the Peltier module 13.
[0031] Liquid nitrogen that is supplied from the nitrogen tank 15
into the nitrogen evaporator 17 is phase-transformed into nitrogen
gas by being subjected to a primary heat absorption process while
passing through the nitrogen evaporator 17. At this time, cooling
water of the main cooling water line 19 that is passing through the
nitrogen evaporator 17 is cooled.
[0032] Nitrogen gas in the nitrogen line 16 that has passed the
nitrogen evaporator 17 undergoes a second heat absorption process
while passing through the cooling core 14. During this process,
outside air that has passed through the blower 11 is primarily
cooled.
[0033] Cooling water of the main cooling water line 19 that has
been cooled by the nitrogen evaporator 17 is heated while passing
through the Peltier module 13. Simultaneously, outside air that has
been primarily cooled by passing through the cooling core 14 is
secondarily cooled while passing through the Peltier module 13 and
then is discharged into the passenger compartment by the outlet
port 12b.
[0034] Cooling water of the main cooling water line 19 that has
been heated when passing through the Peltier module 13 circulates
along the closed circuit path in which it is cooled when passing
through the nitrogen evaporator 17.
[0035] The air conditioning apparatus according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention further includes a nitrogen
valve 21, an auxiliary cooling water line 22, an external cooler 23
or a battery cooling line 24, a cooling water valve 25 and a
controller 26. The nitrogen valve 21 is provided on the nitrogen
line 16 between the nitrogen tank 15 and the nitrogen evaporator 17
to control the flow rate of nitrogen supplied to the nitrogen
evaporator 17. The auxiliary cooling water line 22 is a closed
circuit line and is connected to the main cooling water line 19
between the water pump 18 and the nitrogen evaporator 17. The
external cooler 23 or the battery cooling line 24 is connected to
the auxiliary cooling water line 22. The cooling water valve 25 is
provided on the auxiliary cooling water line 22 to control the
circulation of cooling water along the auxiliary cooling water line
22. The controller 26 controls the operation of the nitrogen valve
21, the cooling water valve 25 and the Peltier module 13.
[0036] In heating mode, the Peltier module 13 cools the cooling
water and simultaneously heats the air. Therefore, cooling water of
the main cooling water line 19 that has passed through the Peltier
module 13 is in a cooled state.
[0037] Cooling water that has been put in the cooled state is
supplied into the auxiliary cooling water line 22 rather than
directly circulating through the main cooling water line 19. Then,
the cooling water is supplied to a radiator which is the external
cooler 23 and is used to cool cooling water that is supplied to a
water jacket of an engine. In the case of an EV (Electric Vehicle)
or HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), the cooling water of the
auxiliary cooling water line 22 may be supplied into the battery
cooling line 24 and used to cool a battery module whose heat has
increased to a high temperature.
[0038] Cooling water that is heated while passing through the
external cooler 23 or the battery cooling line 24 is supplied to
the Peltier module 13 via the auxiliary cooling water line 22 and
the main cooling water line 19. The cooling water that is re-cooled
while passing through the Peltier module 13 re-circulates along the
closed path.
[0039] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
external cooler 23 and the battery cooling line 24 may be connected
to the auxiliary cooling water line 22 in parallel.
[0040] Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the air
conditioning apparatus of the present invention will be
explained.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates cooling mode. In this mode, the cooling
water valve 25 is turned off so that the main cooling water line 19
is not connected to the auxiliary cooling water line 22.
[0042] In the initial stages of cooling mode, it is not easy to
rapidly cool heated air in the passenger compartment using only the
cooling operation of the Peltier module 13. Therefore, cooling
water which is at a low-temperature is required to rapidly cool air
which is discharged into the passenger compartment.
[0043] To achieve the above purpose, in cooling mode, the nitrogen
valve 21 is turned on so that liquid nitrogen is supplied from the
nitrogen tank 15 into the nitrogen evaporator 17 and is
phase-transformed into nitrogen gas by the primary heat absorption
process while passing through the nitrogen evaporator 17. Cooling
water of the main cooling water line 19 that passes through the
nitrogen evaporator 17 is cooled.
[0044] Nitrogen gas in the nitrogen line 16 that has passed through
the nitrogen evaporator 17 passes through the cooling core 14, thus
undergoing a secondary heat absorption process. During this
process, outside air that has passed through the blower 11 is
primarily cooled.
[0045] Cooling water of the main cooling water line 19 that has
been cooled while passing through the nitrogen evaporator 17 is
heated when passing through the Peltier module 13. Simultaneously,
outside air that has been primarily cooled while passing through
the cooling core 14 is secondarily cooled when passing through the
Peltier module 13 and then discharged into the passenger
compartment by the outlet port 12b.
[0046] Therefore, the air which is discharged into the passenger
compartment is primarily cooled while passing through the cooling
core 14 and is secondarily cooled when passing through the Peltier
module 13. As a result, the temperature of the passenger
compartment can be decreased to a desired level in a short amount
of time.
[0047] If rapid cooling is required, the performance of the cooling
core 14 must be enhanced. For this, the nitrogen valve 21 is
controlled such that the flow rate of nitrogen supplied to the
nitrogen evaporator 17 is increased. On the other hand, in a normal
cooling section, the nitrogen valve 21 is controlled such that the
flow rate of nitrogen is minimized.
[0048] The Peltier module 13 is controlled by selecting a voltage
that can maximize the cooling efficiency of the air conditioning
apparatus. The temperature of the cooling water is controlled by
adjusting the flow rate of nitrogen depending on the target
temperature of air supplied into the passenger compartment.
[0049] Therefore, in an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, cooling is conducted in the optimum efficiency section
of the Peltier module 13, thus minimizing power consumption.
Moreover, a mechanical part such as a compressor which causes high
power loss is not used in an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention so that if the vehicle is an EV or HEV, the gas mileage
can be markedly enhanced.
[0050] Furthermore, the present invention does not use a
refrigerant, thus mitigating the problem of environmental
pollution.
[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates heating mode. In this mode, the nitrogen
valve 21 is turned off so that liquid nitrogen is not supplied from
the nitrogen tank 15 to the nitrogen evaporator 17. The cooling
water valve 25 is turned on so that the main cooling water line 19
is connected to the auxiliary cooling water line 22.
[0052] In heating mode, power is supplied to the Peltier module 13,
so that the generated heat is transferred to air that has passed
through the blower 11, thus heating the air. Simultaneously, the
cooling water of the main cooling water line 19 is cooled. Thus,
cooling water of the main cooling water line 19 that has passed
through the Peltier module 13 is in a cooled state.
[0053] The cooled cooling water is supplied into the auxiliary
cooling water line 22 by the operation of the water pump 18.
Cooling water of the auxiliary cooling water line 22 is supplied to
the radiator that is the external cooler 23, thus additionally
cooling the cooling water that is supplied to the water jacket of
the engine. In the case of an EV or HEV, the cooling water of the
auxiliary cooling water line 22 may be supplied into the battery
cooling line 24 and used to cool a battery module which has been
heated to a high temperature.
[0054] Cooling water that was heated while passing through the
external cooler 23 or the battery cooling line 24 is re-supplied to
the Peltier module 13 through the main cooling water line 19. The
cooling water that is re-cooled while passing through the Peltier
module 13 re-circulates along the above-mentioned closed path.
[0055] The flow rate of cooling water that is supplied to the
auxiliary cooling water line 22 can be controlled by controlling
the cooling water valve 25 in such a way that thermal efficiency
can be increased.
[0056] Therefore, the air conditioning apparatus of the present
invention can heat the passenger compartment without using a PTC
heater which causes high power loss, thereby markedly enhancing the
gas mileage.
[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates humidification mode in which air is
cooled and then heated. In this mode, both the nitrogen valve 21
and the cooling water valve 25 are turned on.
[0058] Thus, a small amount of nitrogen is supplied to the cooling
core 14 so that air is cooled. Thereafter, the air is heated by the
Peltier module 13. Here, the air is humidified by the cooling core
14.
[0059] As described above, an air conditioning apparatus according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured
such that a refrigerant is not required, thus mitigating the
problems of a deterioration in quality and the environmental
pollution that occur in combination with the use of a refrigerant.
Further, the power consumption and power loss when cooling or
heating can be minimized, thereby improving the gas mileage of the
vehicle.
[0060] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in
the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner" and
"outer" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments
with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in
the figures.
[0061] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of
the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, as well as various
alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and
their equivalents.
* * * * *