Air-conditioning control apparatus

Abstract

An air-conditioning control apparatus performs detailed determination of the operating conditions of an air-conditioning apparatus, and performs efficient air-conditioning control such that power distribution is changed based on the detailed determination, in order to improve the comfort of occupants under a limitation on air-conditioning, thereby balancing ensuring the range with ensuring the comfort of the occupants. The air-conditioning control apparatus calculates usable power amounts for a cooling unit and a heating unit, and drives the cooling unit and the heating unit based on drive limit values. It allocates power amounts calculated for the condition of the battery and the vehicle drive, that can be allocated to the air-conditioning equipment, to the cooling unit and the heating unit according to an air-conditioning state that is set automatically or manually, thereby enabling necessary heating and cooling to be used to its full extent even during limitations on air-conditioning.

1 . An air-conditioning control apparatus for a vehicle comprising an air-conditioning apparatus driven by using power that can be supplied to an on-board battery or power supplied from the battery, in which
 the air-conditioning apparatus includes at least a cooling unit driven by power when a cooling system operates, and a heating unit driven by power when a heating system operates, wherein   the air-conditioning control apparatus executes control for limiting power to be supplied to the air-conditioning apparatus at least when the state of charge of the battery is low,   in this control for restricting power, the air-conditioning control apparatus:   calculates a usable power amount for air-conditioning;   calculates a usage proportion of the cooling unit, and calculates a usable power amount for the cooling unit based on the usable power amount for air-conditioning and the usage proportion of the cooling unit;   calculates a usage proportion of the heating unit, and calculates a usable power amount for the heating unit based on the usable power amount for air-conditioning and the usage proportion of the heating unit;   calculates a target cooling power amount;   sets a difference between the usable power amount for the cooling unit and the target cooling power amount as a power difference of the cooling unit, and designates the target cooling power amount as a driving limit value for cooling, to drive the cooling unit, when the target cooling power amount is less than the usable power amount for the cooling unit;   sets the power difference of the cooling unit to zero, and designates a sum of the usable power amount for the cooling unit and a power difference of the heating unit as the driving limit value for cooling, to drive the cooling unit, when the target cooling power amount exceeds the usable power amount for the cooling unit;   calculates a target heating power amount;   sets a difference between the usable power amount for the heating unit and the target heating power amount as the power difference of the heating unit, and designates the target heating power amount as a driving limit value for heating, to drive the heating unit, when the target heating power amount is less than the usable power amount for the heating unit; and   sets the power difference of the heating unit to zero, and designates a sum of the usable power amount for the heating unit and the power difference of the cooling unit as the driving limit value for heating, to drive the heating unit, when the target heating power amount exceeds the usable power amount for the heating unit.   
     
     
         2 . An air-conditioning control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the usage proportion of the cooling unit is set based on a target air outlet temperature or a physical amount corresponding thereto and an air outlet mode, and the usage proportion of the heating unit is set to a difference obtained by subtracting the usage proportion of the cooling unit from “1” as a whole. 
     
     
         3 . An air-conditioning control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein, in an air outlet mode including a defroster, the usage proportion of the cooling unit is set to be larger than in other air outlet modes.