JP7694152B2 - Temperature control device, test device, and temperature control method - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a temperature control device, a test device, and a temperature control method.

In product development, the test subject is placed in an environment with specific temperature conditions, for example, low temperature conditions, and the product characteristics are tested. In addition, for example, when operating a device that is highly affected by temperature fluctuations, the device itself is operated in an environment with specific temperature conditions. To achieve an environment with specific temperature conditions, a temperature adjustment device is used.

Patent Document 1 discloses a temperature control device that passes a temperature control medium cooled through a cooling coil of a refrigeration cycle through a temperature-controllable heater to adjust the temperature to a predetermined level, and discloses a micro-temperature control device that is composed of two heaters with different capabilities. Patent Document 1 discloses that at least the heater with the smaller capability of the two heaters can be temperature-controlled.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-202742

When a test subject placed in an environment with specific temperature conditions generates heat due to a load, if the load on the test subject fluctuates, the heat generation state of the test subject may fluctuate, causing the temperature of the environment in which the test subject is placed to fluctuate.

This disclosure provides a temperature control device that improves temperature tracking in response to load fluctuations of the test subject.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a temperature control device is provided that supplies gas, the temperature of which is adjusted to a set temperature, to a thermostatic chamber in which a test subject is placed and recovers the gas from the thermostatic chamber, the temperature control device including a base heater that heats the recovered gas, a cooling coil that cools the gas heated by the base heater, and a temperature control heater that adjusts the gas cooled by the cooling coil to the set temperature.

The temperature control device disclosed herein can improve temperature tracking in response to load fluctuations of the test subject.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a temperature adjustment device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of a test apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of an example of a test apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the measurement results of temperature fluctuations when an example of a test apparatus according to this embodiment is operated. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of a first modified example of the test device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of a system configuration of a second modified example of the test device according to the present embodiment.

Each embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that, in the description of the specification and drawings relating to each embodiment, components having substantially the same or corresponding functional configurations may be given the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description. Also, to facilitate understanding, the scale of each part in the drawings may differ from the actual scale.

In directions such as parallel, right-angled, orthogonal, horizontal, vertical, up-down, left-right, and the like, deviations are permitted to the extent that they do not impair the effects of the embodiment. The shape of the corners is not limited to right angles, and may be rounded in a bow shape. Parallel, right-angled, orthogonal, horizontal, and vertical may include approximately parallel, approximately right-angled, approximately orthogonal, approximately horizontal, and approximately vertical.

<Temperature control device 1>
1 is a perspective view of a temperature control device 1, which is an example of a temperature control device according to the present embodiment. The temperature control device 1 supplies air whose temperature has been adjusted to a set temperature (set temperature Tset) to a thermostatic chamber 2, which will be described later. The temperature control device 1 then collects air discharged from the thermostatic chamber 2. The temperature control device 1 then adjusts the temperature of the air collected from the thermostatic chamber 2 and supplies the air to the thermostatic chamber 2.

The temperature control device 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. On its side, the temperature control device 1 has an air supply port 1a for supplying air to the thermostatic chamber 2, and a return air port 1b for collecting air from the thermostatic chamber 2.

<Testing Apparatus 20>
Next, a description will be given of a test device 20 using the temperature adjustment device 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the test device 20, which is an example of the test device according to the present embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the system configuration of the test device 20, which is an example of the test device according to the present embodiment.

The test device 20 is a device that tests a test subject by operating it in an environment with set temperature conditions. The test device 20 includes a temperature control device 1 and a thermostatic chamber 2. The test device 20 includes an air supply duct 4u and a return air duct 4d that connect the temperature control device 1 and the thermostatic chamber 2 and allow air to flow.

The temperature control device 1 supplies temperature-adjusted air to the thermostatic chamber 2 through the air supply duct 4u connected to the air supply port 1a. The temperature control device 1 also collects air discharged from the thermostatic chamber 2 through the air return duct 4d connected to the air return port 1b. The temperature control device 1 circulates air between the thermostatic chamber 2 and itself.

The test subject T is placed inside the thermostatic chamber 2. The thermostatic chamber 2 holds the test subject T inside while insulating it from the outside of the thermostatic chamber 2. The test subject T generates heat in response to, for example, a load connected to the test subject T.

<Internal configuration of temperature adjustment device 1>
The temperature adjustment device 1 includes a control unit 10, a cooling coil 11, a temperature adjustment heater 12, a temperature sensor 13, a base heater 14, and a blower 15. The temperature adjustment device 1 adjusts the temperature of air A4 supplied from the air supply port 1a so that the air A4 has a set temperature Tset.

The temperature adjustment of air in the temperature adjustment device 1 will be explained according to the air flow. Air A1 flowing into the cooling coil 11 is cooled by the cooling coil 11. The cooling coil 11 adjusts the temperature so that the temperature of air A2 discharged from the cooling coil 11 is lower than the set temperature Tset. The air A2 cooled by the cooling coil 11 is sent to the temperature adjustment heater 12.

Air A2 sent to the temperature adjustment heater 12 is heated by the temperature adjustment heater 12. The temperature of air A2 is lower than the set temperature Tset. The temperature adjustment heater 12 heats air A2 and adjusts the temperature so that the temperature of air A3 becomes the set temperature Tset. The temperature adjustment heater 12 controls the temperature by feeding back the temperature of the temperature sensor 13.

Air A3 heated by the temperature adjustment heater 12 is sent to the temperature sensor 13. The temperature sensor 13 measures the temperature of the sent air A3.

Air A4, the temperature of which is measured by the temperature sensor 13, is supplied from the air supply port 1a through the air supply duct 4u to the thermostatic chamber 2. The air A4 supplied to the thermostatic chamber 2 passes through the inside of the thermostatic chamber 2 and is discharged from the thermostatic chamber 2. The air A5 discharged from the thermostatic chamber 2 is collected at the air return port 1b through the air return duct 4d. The temperature of the air A5 discharged from the thermostatic chamber 2 varies due to heat generation according to the load of the test subject T installed inside the thermostatic chamber 2.

Air A5 collected from return air port 1b is heated by base heater 14. Air A1 heated by base heater 14 is cooled by cooling coil 11.

The blower 15, which is provided between the temperature adjustment heater 12 and the temperature sensor 13, generates a flow of air that flows through the cooling coil 11, the temperature adjustment heater 12, the thermostatic chamber 2, and the base heater 14 in that order.

Next, we will explain each component of the temperature control device 1.

[Cooling coil 11]
The cooling coil 11 cools the flowing air A1. The cooling coil 11 is, for example, an evaporator. The refrigerator 3 supplies refrigerant pressurized or depressurized to a predetermined pressure to the cooling coil 11. The refrigerator 3 supplies the refrigerant to the cooling coil 11 via the piping 5. The refrigerant supplied from the refrigerator 3 evaporates in the cooling coil 11, lowering its temperature. The cooling coil 11 then exchanges heat with the flowing air A1. The cooling coil 11 cools the flowing air A1 by exchanging heat with the flowing air A1, and discharges the air A2.

The cooling coil 11 adjusts the temperature so that the temperature of the air A2 discharged from the cooling coil 11 is lower than the set temperature Tset. Specifically, the control unit 10 sets the temperature of the refrigerant from the refrigerator 3 so that the temperature of the air A2 discharged from the cooling coil 11 is lower than the set temperature Tset.

[Temperature adjustment heater 12]
The temperature adjustment heater 12 heats the air A2 cooled by the cooling coil 11. The temperature adjustment heater 12 is, for example, an electric heater. The temperature adjustment heater 12 is controlled by the control unit 10. The temperature adjustment heater 12 heats the air A2 based on the temperature of the air A3 (air A4) measured by the temperature sensor 13. Specifically, the temperature adjustment heater 12 heats the air A2 so that the temperature of the air A3 (air A4) measured by the temperature sensor 13 becomes the set temperature Tset.

The temperature adjustment heater 12 heats the air A2 to finely adjust the temperature of the air A2, thereby controlling the temperature of the air A3 with higher precision. Specifically, the control unit 10 performs temperature control by feeding back the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 13. For example, the control unit 10 performs PID (Proportional-Integral-Differential) control to control the temperature of the air A3 to the set temperature Tset.

The temperature adjustment heater 12 responds to temperature fluctuations more quickly than the cooling coil 11. The temperature adjustment heater 12 responds quickly to temperature fluctuations, so that the temperature of the air A3 (air A4) can be stably adjusted to the set temperature Tset.

[Temperature sensor 13]
The temperature sensor 13 measures the temperature of the air A3 heated by the temperature adjustment heater 12. The temperature sensor 13 is, for example, a resistance temperature detector, a thermocouple, a thermistor, or the like. The temperature sensor 13 is connected to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 detects the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 13. The control unit 10 controls the temperature adjustment heater 12 using the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 13.

[Base heater 14]
The base heater 14 heats the air A5 recovered from the thermostatic chamber 2. The base heater 14 is, for example, an electric heater. The base heater 14, for example, adjusts the temperature difference before and after the cooling coil 11 to a set temperature difference, for example, a temperature difference of about 16° C. The base heater 14 heats the air A5 so that the temperature of the air A1 becomes about 16° C. higher than the temperature of the air A2. The temperature of the air A2 is set to a temperature 1 to 2° C. lower than the set temperature Tset, taking into account that it will be heated by the temperature adjustment heater 12.

For example, the base heater 14 operates at the heater output shown in Table 1 for the set temperature Tset. In Table 1, the base heater output is expressed as a percentage of the maximum output.

As shown in Table 1, the output of the base heater 14 increases as the set temperature Tset increases.

By keeping the temperature difference before and after the cooling coil 11 at about 16°C, the refrigerator 3 operates at a constant load. For example, if the temperature difference is small, the refrigerator 3 may stop operating. When the refrigerator 3 stops operating, the temperature of the air A4 may not stabilize at the set temperature Tset and may fluctuate.

In the temperature control device 1 according to this embodiment, the air A5 collected at the return air port 1b is heated by the base heater 14, generating a temperature difference before and after the cooling coil 11. Therefore, the refrigerator 3 operates at a constant load in order to cool with the cooling coil 11. By operating the refrigerator 3 at a constant load, the temperature of the air A1 discharged from the cooling coil 11 is stably controlled at a temperature lower than the set temperature Tset. Therefore, the temperature of the air A4 supplied from the temperature control device 1 is stabilized at the set temperature Tset.

[Blower 15]
The blower 15 generates an air flow. The blower 15 is, for example, a blower fan, a centrifugal fan, an axial flow fan, etc. The type of the blower 15 is not limited as long as it is a blower that generates an air flow.

[Control unit 10]
The control unit 10 controls the entire temperature adjustment device 1. The control unit 10 is connected to each of the temperature adjustment heater 12, the temperature sensor 13, and the base heater 14. The control unit 10 is also connected to the refrigerator 3. Note that the control unit 10 may be connected to, for example, a blower 15. When the control unit 10 is connected to the blower 15, the control unit 10 may control the start and stop of the operation of the blower 15, or may control the rotation speed of the blower 15.

<Temperature Adjustment Method Using Temperature Adjustment Device 1>
A temperature adjustment method using the temperature adjustment device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The temperature adjustment device 1 heats the collected air A5 with the base heater 14. That is, the temperature adjustment method using the temperature adjustment device 1 includes a step of heating the collected air A5 with the base heater 14.

The temperature control device 1 also cools the air A1 heated by the base heater 14 with the cooling coil 11. That is, the temperature control method in the temperature control device 1 includes a process of cooling the air A1 heated by the base heater 14 with the cooling coil 11.

Furthermore, the temperature control device 1 heats the air A2 cooled by the cooling coil 11 with the temperature control heater 12 to adjust the temperature to the set temperature Tset. In other words, the temperature control method in the temperature control device 1 includes a process of adjusting the air A2 cooled by the cooling coil 11 to the set temperature Tset with the temperature control heater 12.

<Operation of Temperature Regulating Device 1>
FIG. 4 shows the results of measuring the temperature fluctuation when the temperature adjustment device 1 according to this embodiment is operated.

The set temperature Tset was -40°C. A heating element simulating the motor of the electric vehicle under test was placed inside the thermostatic chamber 2, and the test was performed while varying the load.

Line L1 in FIG. 4 is the temperature of the gas supplied from the temperature control device 1, specifically, the measurement result of the air temperature measured by the temperature sensor 13. Line L2 in FIG. 4 is the load output of the test subject.

As shown in FIG. 4, even when the load of the test subject fluctuated, the temperature fluctuation was 1° C. or less, more specifically, 0.5° C. or less. By controlling the temperature with the temperature control device according to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress temperature fluctuations even when the load of the test subject fluctuates.

<Action and Effects>
The temperature adjustment device 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a base heater 14 upstream of the cooling coil 11, so that the temperature can follow the temperature even if the heat generation load of the test subject fluctuates. That is, the temperature adjustment device 1 can improve the temperature followability by providing the base heater 14 upstream of the cooling coil 11. In particular, the temperature followability can be improved at low temperatures of 10° C. or less.

The temperature control device 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a base heater 14 upstream of the cooling coil 11, which allows the refrigerator 3 to operate efficiently and stabilizes the cooling capacity of the cooling coil 11.

For example, with conventional temperature control devices, the temperature could be controlled to the set temperature at the start of the test, but once the test started and the heat generation load of the test subject fluctuated, the air temperature would fluctuate in conjunction with the heat generation of the test subject.

The temperature control device 1 according to this embodiment can improve temperature tracking, making it possible to stabilize the temperature regardless of the heat generation load of the test subject.

The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The above embodiments may be omitted, substituted, or modified in various ways without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

For example, the temperature control device may be equipped with a precooler to supply additional air to the circulating air. The temperature control device may also be equipped with a dehumidifier to further adsorb and dehumidify the air that has been cooled and dehumidified by the precooler.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the system configuration of a test device 21, which is a first modified example of the test device 20 according to this embodiment. In the temperature adjustment device 101, external process air Ap is supplied to the circulating air. The temperature adjustment device 101 further includes a precooler 18 and a dehumidifier 19 in addition to the temperature adjustment device 1. The external process air Ap is supplied to the circulating air by a blower provided in at least one of the precooler 18 and the dehumidifier 19.

The precooler 18 cools the process air Ap (external air) from the outside to a predetermined temperature. The precooler 18 is equipped with a cooling coil 18a. The temperature adjustment device 101 branches the refrigerant from the refrigerator 3 and flows it into a branch pipe 5a that branches off from the pipe 5. The refrigerant is supplied to the cooling coil 18a via the branch pipe 5a. The cooling coil 18a of the precooler 18 cools and dehumidifies the process air Ap from the outside.

The dehumidifier 19 dehumidifies the cooled process air Ap. The dehumidifier 19 is equipped with a dehumidifying section 19a that dehumidifies the process air Ap cooled by the precooler 18. The dehumidifying section 19a adsorbs and dehumidifies the process air Ap cooled and dehumidified by the precooler 18, and supplies new air An to the air A5. Note that the dehumidifying section 19a may be an adsorption type dehumidifier, or a membrane type or refrigeration type dehumidifier may be used depending on the temperature conditions, etc. Furthermore, the dehumidifying section 19a may be a combination of adsorption type, membrane type, refrigeration type, etc.

In addition, when an adsorption type dehumidifier is used, a heater may be provided. An adsorption type dehumidifier dehumidifies by adsorbing moisture onto a dehumidifying rotor. The moisture adsorbed onto the dehumidifying rotor eventually becomes saturated, reducing the rotor's adsorption capacity. Therefore, the adsorbed moisture is heated and evaporated by a heater, regenerating the rotor's adsorption capacity.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the system configuration of a test apparatus 22, which is a second modified example of the test apparatus 20 according to this embodiment. In the temperature adjustment device 201, external process air Ap is supplied to the circulating air. The temperature adjustment device 201 further includes a precooler 180 and a dehumidifier 190 in addition to the temperature adjustment device 1. The precooler 180 includes a blower 182. The blower 182 supplies the external process air Ap to the circulating air.

The precooler 180 cools the process air Ap from the outside to a predetermined temperature. The precooler 180 is equipped with a cooling coil 181. The temperature adjustment device 201 flows a refrigerant from the refrigerator 3a through the pipe 5b. The refrigerant is supplied to the cooling coil 181 via the pipe 5b. The cooling coil 181 of the precooler 180 cools and dehumidifies the process air Ap from the outside.

The dehumidifier 190 dehumidifies the cooled process air Ap. The dehumidifier 190 is an adsorption type dehumidification device. The dehumidifier 190 includes a dehumidification rotor 191 that dehumidifies the process air Ap that has been cooled by the precooler 180. The dehumidification rotor 191 adsorbs and dehumidifies the process air Ap that has been cooled and dehumidified by the precooler 180, and supplies new air An to the air A5. The dehumidifier 190 also includes a heater 192 that heats the regeneration air Arc and a blower 193 that blows the regeneration air Arc for regeneration of the dehumidification rotor 191. The dehumidification capacity of the dehumidification rotor 191 is regenerated by drying the dehumidification rotor 191 with the regeneration air Arc.

The temperature adjustment device 201 further includes a refrigerant injection unit 105. The refrigerant injection unit 105 injects the refrigerant R2 flowing through the pipe 5b into the refrigerant R1 flowing through the pipe 5. The refrigerant injection unit 105 is, for example, a branch pipe, a branch valve, etc.

When the temperature of the circulating air (e.g., air A5) becomes high (e.g., 50°C or higher), the temperature of the refrigerant R1 flowing through the cooling coil 11, i.e., the refrigerant R1 flowing through the pipe 5, becomes high. If a high-temperature refrigerant (e.g., a refrigerant with a temperature of 30°C or higher) flows through the refrigerator 3a, it can cause the refrigerator to malfunction. Therefore, it is necessary to cool the refrigerant R1 flowing through the cooling coil 11, i.e., the refrigerant R1 flowing through the pipe 5.

At high temperatures, the dehumidification functions of the precooler 180 and dehumidifier 190 are not necessary, but at high temperatures, the refrigerant circuit of the precooler 180 is utilized. Because the cooling coil 181 of the precooler 180 is not exposed to high temperatures, the refrigerant R2 remains at a low temperature. Therefore, the refrigerant R1 returning from the cooling coil 11 to the refrigerator 3a is cooled by injecting the refrigerant R2 flowing through the cooling coil 181 into the refrigerant R1 returning from the cooling coil 11 to the refrigerator 3a.

In addition, the temperature adjustment device 101, which is the first modified example, injects the refrigerant returning from the cooling coil of the precooler to the refrigerator through a branch pipe 5a branching off from the pipe 5 into the refrigerant returning from the cooling coil 11 to the refrigerator.

The temperature control device 201 has a control unit 10a instead of the control unit 10 of the temperature control device 1. In addition to the functions of the control unit 10, the control unit 10a controls the blower 182, the heater 192, and the blower 193.

Furthermore, in order to control the humidity of the circulating air, a humidifier that humidifies the circulating air flow path and a dehumidifier that dehumidifies the circulating air may be provided.

The temperature control device 1 according to this embodiment circulates air, but any gas such as nitrogen gas may be used instead of air.

1, 101, 201 Temperature control device 1a Intake air port 1b Return air port 2 Thermostatic chamber 3, 3a Refrigerator 4d Return air duct 4u Intake air duct 5, 5b Pipe 5a Branch pipe 10, 10a Control unit 11 Cooling coil 12 Temperature control heater 13 Temperature sensor 14 Base heater 15 Blower 18, 180 Precooler 19, 190 Dehumidifier 20, 21 Test device A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 Air L1 Line L2 Line T Test object Tset Set temperature

Claims (7)

A temperature control device that supplies a gas whose temperature is adjusted to a set temperature to a thermostatic chamber in which a test subject is placed, and recovers the gas from the thermostatic chamber,
a base heater for heating the recovered gas;
a cooling coil for cooling the gas heated by the base heater;
a temperature adjustment heater that adjusts the gas cooled by the cooling coil to the set temperature;
Equipped with
Temperature control device. The base heater heats the collected gas so that the temperature difference before and after the cooling coil becomes a set temperature difference.
The temperature control device according to claim 1 . The cooling coil cools the gas heated by the base heater so that the temperature of the gas cooled by the cooling coil becomes lower than the set temperature.
The temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2. The temperature adjusting heater further includes a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the gas heated by the temperature adjusting heater,
The temperature adjustment heater is controlled based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
The temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The gas is air, and a precooler is provided for supplying external air to the gas;
The refrigerant supplied to the precooler from the refrigerator is injected into the refrigerant returning from the cooling coil to the refrigerator.
The temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. a thermostatic chamber in which a test subject is placed;
a temperature control device that supplies a gas whose temperature is adjusted to a set temperature to the thermostatic chamber and recovers the gas from the thermostatic chamber;
Equipped with
The temperature control device is
a base heater for heating the recovered gas;
a cooling coil for cooling the gas heated by the base heater;
a temperature adjustment heater that adjusts the gas cooled by the cooling coil to the set temperature;
Equipped with
Test equipment. A temperature control method for a temperature control device, which supplies a gas whose temperature is adjusted to a set temperature to a thermostatic chamber in which a test object is placed, and recovers the gas from the thermostatic chamber, comprising:
heating the collected gas with a base heater;
cooling the gas heated by the base heater with a cooling coil;
a step of adjusting the gas cooled by the cooling coil to the set temperature by a temperature adjustment heater;
Including,
Temperature adjustment method.

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