Vehicle air conditioning system

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor driven by the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the engine operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water on the evaporator is increased;
• when the engine stops, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from the condensed water on the evaporator;
• the control unit includes cooling degree detecting means for detecting cooling degree of the evaporator;
• and
• the control unit controls temperature of air to be blown into the passenger compartment based on the cooling degree of the evaporator, during the cold-releasing mode.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor driven by the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the engine operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water on the evaporator is increased;
• when the engine stops, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from the condensed water on the evaporator;
• the control unit includes cooling degree detecting means for detecting cooling degree of the evaporator;
• and
• the cooling degree detecting means is a temperature sensor disposed to detect temperature of refrigerant of the evaporator.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor driven by the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the engine operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water on the evaporator is increased;
• when the engine stops, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from the condensed water on the evaporator;
• the control unit includes cooling degree detecting means for detecting actual cooling degree of the evaporator, and first cooling degree calculating means for calculating cooling degree of the evaporator by a first predetermined time constant relative to a variation in the actual cooling degree of the evaporator during the cold-storing mode, and second cooling degree calculating means for calculating the cooling degree of the evaporator by a second predetermined time constant relative to a variation in the actual cooling degree of the evaporator during the cold-releasing mode, the first predetermined time constant being larger than the second predetermined time constant;
• during the cold-storing mode, the control unit controls cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator based on the cooling degree calculated by the first cooling degree calculating means;
• and
• during the cold-releasing mode, the control unit controls temperature of air blown into the passenger compartment based on the cooling degree calculated by the second cooling degree calculating means.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an air-conditioning case for forming an air passage through which air flows into the passenger compartment;
• an evaporator for cooling air in the air passage, the evaporator being disposed in the air-conditioning case to form a bypass passage through which air bypasses the evaporator;
• a bypass door for adjusting an opening degree of the bypass passage;
• a compressor for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water on the evaporator is increased;
• and
• during the cold-storing mode, the control unit adjusts temperature of air blown into the passenger compartment by adjusting the opening degree of the bypass passage by the bypass door.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode in which cold quantity stored in condensed water on the evaporator is increased;
• the control unit includes prohibiting determining means for determining a prohibiting condition of the cold-storing mode;
• when the prohibiting condition of the cold-storing mode is determined while the compressor operates, the control unit stops the cold-storing mode;
• and
• when the vehicle is traveling at a speed higher than a predetermined speed, the prohibiting condition of the cold-storing mode is determined by the control unit.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment and an engine, the system comprising:

• an air-conditioning case for forming an air passage through which air flows into the passenger compartment;
• an evaporator for cooling air in the air passage, the evaporator being disposed in the air-conditioning case;
• a compressor for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• a heating heat exchanger for heating air in the air passage, the heating heat exchanger being disposed in the air-conditioning case on a downstream air side of the evaporator;
• a temperature adjustment unit for adjusting temperature of air to be blown into the passenger compartment at a target temperature;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit sets a cold-storing mode where cold stored in condensed water on the evaporator is increased;
• when the compressor is forcibly stopped based on a request from the engine, the control unit sets a cold-releasing mode where air passing through the evaporator is cooled by cold released from condensed water of the evaporator;
• and
• the control unit includes correction means for correcting the target temperature of air blown into the passenger compartment to a low temperature side based on an increase of humidity of the passenger compartment.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• a refrigerant cycle having an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment, and a compressor driven by the engine for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• the control unit includes
• cooling degree detecting means for detecting cooling degree of the evaporator,
• compressor operation control means for controlling operation of the compressor based on the cooling degree detected by the cooling degree detecting means, and
• estimating means for estimating a next cooling degree of the evaporator after the compressor is forcibly stopped based on the request of the engine, during the compressor operating;
• and
• during the compressor operating, the control unit controls cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator based on the next cooling degree estimated from the estimating means.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• a refrigerant cycle having an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment, and a compressor driven by the engine for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• an air-conditioning case for forming an air passage and for accommodating the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• during a predetermined time after the refrigerant cycle starts, the control unit sets an outside air main mode where only outside air is introduced or outside air is mainly introduced into the air-conditioning case;
• and
• during a forcibly stopping mode of the compressor, where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine, the control unit sets an inside air main mode where only inside air is introduced or inside air is mainly introduced into the air-conditioning case.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• a refrigerant cycle having an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment, and a compressor driven by the engine for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• an air-conditioning case for forming an air passage and for accommodating the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• the control unit includes inside/outside air introducing control means for setting an outside air main mode where only outside air is introduced or outside air is mainly introduced into the air-conditioning case during a predetermined time after the refrigerant cycle starts, and air flow control means for setting a first target air flow blown into the evaporator during a forcibly stopping mode of the compressor, where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine;
• and
• the first target air flow is equal to or smaller than a second target air flow blown into the evaporator at an immediately before the forcibly stopping mode of the compressor.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• a refrigerant cycle having an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment, and a compressor driven by a driving unit including the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• during a forcibly stopping mode where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from condensed water of the evaporator;
• the control unit includes first estimating means for estimating cold quantity stored in the condensed water of the evaporator during the compressor operating and second estimating means for estimating a stop possible time of the compressor based on the cold quantity estimated by the first estimating means;
• and
• in the forcibly stopping mode of the compressor, the compressor is stopped during the stop possible time, and control unit outputs a signal for requesting operation of the compressor to the driving unit after the stop possible time passes.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor driven by a driving unit including the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• during a forcibly stopping mode where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from condensed water of the evaporator;
• the control unit includes first estimating means for estimating a drying-finishing time of the condensed water of the evaporator in the forcibly stopping mode, during the compressor operating, and second estimating means for estimating a stop possible time of the compressor based on the drying finishing time;
• and
• in the forcibly stopping mode of the compressor, the compressor is stopped during the stop possible time, and the control unit outputs a signal for requesting operation of the compressor to the driving unit after the stop possible time passes.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor driven by a driving unit including the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• during a forcibly stopping mode where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from condensed water of the evaporator;
• the control unit includes first estimating means for estimating an operation time for which cooling degree of the evaporator is changed to a predetermined level in the forcibly stopping mode, during the compressor operating, and second estimating means for estimating a stop possible time of the compressor based on the operation time;
• and
• in the forcibly stopping mode, the compressor is stopped during the stop possible time, and the control unit outputs a signal for requesting restarting of the compressor to the driving unit after the stop possible time passes.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• a refrigerant cycle having an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment, and a compressor driven by a driving unit including the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• during a forcibly stopping mode where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from condensed water of the evaporator;
• the control unit includes cooling degree calculating means for calculating a limit value of cooling degree of the evaporator in forcibly stopping mode, during the compressor operating;
• only when cooling degree of the evaporator is lower than the limit value during the forcibly stopping mode, the compressor is stopped;
• when the cooling degree of the evaporator is higher than the limit value during the forcibly stopping mode, the control unit outputs a signal for requesting operation of the compressor to the driving unit.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor driven by a driving unit including the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• during a forcibly stopping mode where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from condensed water of the evaporator;
• the control unit includes dehumidification determining means for determining whether or not it is necessary to dehumidify air in the passenger compartment;
• and
• even during the forcibly stopping mode of the compressor, when the dehumidification determining means determines that it is necessary to dehumidify air in the passenger compartment, the control unit outputs a signal for requesting operation of the compressor to the driving unit.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor driven by a driving unit including the engine, for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• during a forcibly stopping mode where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from condensed water of the evaporator;
• the control unit includes vehicle stop determining means for estimating and determining whether or not the vehicle is to be stopped;
• and
• when the vehicle stop determining means determines that vehicle is to be stopped during the cold-storing mode, the control unit performs a forcibly operation mode where operation of the compressor is forcibly performed so that cooling degree of the evaporator is increased.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine and a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an air-conditioning case for forming an air passage through which air flows into the passenger compartment;
• an evaporator for cooling air in the air passage, the evaporator being disposed in the air-conditioning case to form a bypass passage through which air bypasses the evaporator;
• a bypass door for adjusting an opening degree of the bypass passage;
• a compressor for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator, the compressor being driven by the engine;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where cold stored in condensed water on the evaporator is increased;
• during a forcibly stopping mode where the compressor is forcibly stopped from a request of the engine, the control unit performs a cold-releasing mode where air is cooled by cold released from condensed water of the evaporator;
• during the cold-storing mode, the bypass door opens the bypass passage;
• and
• when the bypass door opens the bypass passage, the bypass door is operated to close a part of an air passage of the evaporator so than an air flow resistance is increased in the evaporator.

A refrigerant cycle system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air passing therethrough;
• a compressor for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• a pressure-reducing unit for reducing pressure of refrigerant supplying into the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for selectively setting a cooling mode where a cooling temperature of the evaporator is higher than a predetermined temperature, and a cold-storing mode where the cooling temperature of the evaporator is lower than the predetermined temperature, wherein
• during the cold-storing mode, the pressure-reducing unit increases a throttle amount as compared with a cooling mode.

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• an evaporator for cooling air to be blown into the passenger compartment;
• a compressor for compressing and discharging refrigerant having passed through the evaporator;
• and
• a control unit for controlling air-conditioning state of the passenger compartment, wherein:
• when the compressor operates, the control unit performs a cold-storing mode where condensed water of the evaporator is frozen and cold quantity stored in condensed water of the evaporator is increased;
• the control unit includes first time determining means for determining cold-storing possible time, based on cooling degree of the evaporator and air state sucked into the evaporator, for which the cold-storing mode is continuously performed;
• and
• when a time for which the cold-storing mode is performed elapses the cold-storing possible time, the control unit stops the cold-storing mode and performs a defrosting mode for defrosting the evaporator.