Vehicle air conditioner

Abstract

A vehicle air conditioner includes a heat storage unit having a heat storage medium, a first heat exchanger for heat exchange with air that is sent out of the vehicle, a second heat exchanger for heat exchange with air that is sent to the vehicle compartment, and a peltier device. The heat storage unit has a first inlet port and a first outlet port through which heat exchange medium flows in and out of the heat storage unit where heat is exchanged between the heat storage medium and the heat exchange medium. The peltier device is operable to provide one of positive heat and negative heat to the heat exchange medium flowing through the heat storage unit and also to provide the other of the positive heat and the negative heat directly or indirectly to the first heat exchanger.

1 . A vehicle air conditioner, comprising:
 a heat storage unit having a heat storage medium thermally insulated from the outside, the heat storage unit having a first inlet port and a first outlet port through which heat exchange medium flows in and out of the heat storage unit where heat is exchanged between the heat storage medium and the heat exchange medium;   a first pipe connected to the first outlet port and the first inlet port;   a first heat exchanger for heat exchange with air that is sent out of the vehicle;   a second heat exchanger for heat exchange with air that is sent to the vehicle compartment, the second heat exchanger having a second inlet port and a second outlet port through which the heat exchange medium flows in and out of the second heat exchanger;   a first valve and a second valve respectively provided on the first pipe;   a second pipe connecting the second outlet port to the first valve;   a third pipe connecting the second inlet port to the second valve;   a peltier device operable to provide one of positive heat and negative heat to the heat exchange medium flowing in the first pipe and also to provide the other of the positive heat and the negative heat directly or indirectly to the first heat exchanger;   a first pump for delivering the heat exchange medium in the first pipe; and   a controller for controlling the operation of the peltier device, the first valve and the second valve,   wherein when the air conditioner is not in use the first and second valves are operated so that the first outlet port is connected to the first inlet port, the first outlet port is disconnected from the second inlet port, and the second outlet port is disconnected from the first inlet port,   wherein when the air conditioner is in use the first and second valves are operated so that the first outlet port is connected to the second inlet port, the second outlet port is connected to the first inlet port, and the first pipe between the first outlet port and the first inlet port is disconnected.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the peltier device is provided outside the heat storage unit. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger has a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port connected to each other by a delivery pipe through which heat exchange medium is delivered by a second pump, the peltier device is operable to provide the other of the positive heat and the negative heat to the first heat exchanger through the heat exchange medium flowing in the delivery pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle air conditioner according to  claim 3 , wherein one side of the peltier device is in contact with the first pipe and the other side of the peltier device is in contact with the delivery pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat storage unit includes a housing thermally insulating the heat storage medium from the outside and having a capability for storing heat exchange medium that is delivered to and from the second heat exchanger, a heat storage tank mounted in the housing and holding therein the heat storage medium, a jacket integrally provided with the heat storage tank and having a flow passage connected to the first pipe, and a heat transfer member mounted to the jacket and in contact with the heat storage medium, the heat transfer member being brought into contact with the heat exchange medium flowing through the flow passage. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle air conditioner according to  claim 5 , further comprising a third valve provided at the upstream end of the first pipe and a fourth valve at the downstream end of the first pipe as viewed in flow direction of the heat exchange medium, wherein the flow passage has a third outlet port connected to the third valve and a third inlet port connected to the fourth valve, when the air conditioner is not in use the third and fourth valves are operated so that the third outlet port and the third inlet port are respectively connected to the first pipe, the first outlet port is disconnected from the third outlet port and the first inlet port is disconnected from the third inlet port, when the air conditioner is in use the third and fourth valves are operated so that the first outlet port is connected to the second inlet port, the second outlet port is connected to the first inlet port, and the third outlet port and the third inlet port are disconnected from the first pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle air conditioner according to  claim 5 , wherein the heat storage tank has plural recesses each of which holds therein the heat storage medium, the heat transfer member extending from the jacket into the respective recesses. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat storage unit has a heat exchange pipe extending through the heat storage medium and connected to the first outlet port and the first inlet port, and a reservoir tank connected to the heat exchange pipe through a valve and having a capability for storing heat exchange medium, when the air conditioner is not in use the valve is operated by the controller so that heat exchange medium flows out of the heat exchange pipe into the reservoir tank. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle air conditioner according to  claim 8 , wherein when the air conditioner is not in use the heat exchange pipe is connected to a circulator for replacement of heat exchange medium existing in the heat exchange pipe.