Patent Publication Number: US-2021178860-A1

Title: Vehicle air conditioning apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioning apparatus applicable to a vehicle equipped with a component which needs to adjust its temperature in use, for example, a battery for supplying electric power to an electric motor to drive the vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, this sort of vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes, for example, a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and expansion valves, and is configured to cool, heat, and dehumidify a vehicle compartment by supplying the vehicle compartment with the air having been subjected to a heat exchange with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger. 
     In addition, as a vehicle equipped with this vehicle air conditioning apparatus, there has been known an electric car and a hybrid car including a component which needs to adjust its temperature in use, for example, a battery for supplying electric power to an electric motor as a drive source. 
     Therefore, the component equipped in the vehicle, which needs to adjust its temperature, is connected to a heat medium circuit to heat a heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit by a heat medium heater, so that the component is heated by the heated heat medium (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         PTL1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-12286 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The above-described vehicle needs a plurality of heat sources, for example, a heat medium heater used for a heating operation of the vehicle air conditioning apparatus and also used in the heat medium circuit. Therefore, the vehicle needs a large space to install the plurality of heat sources, and increases the manufacturing cost due to an increase in the number of parts. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vehicle air conditioning apparatus capable of saving the installation space of the components equipped in the vehicle and reducing the manufacturing cost, by sharing the heat source in the vehicle. 
     Solution to Problem 
     To achieve the object, according to the invention, the vehicle air conditioning apparatus is configured to adjust a temperature and a humidity of air in a vehicle compartment and includes a heat medium circuit to which a heat medium heater configured to heat a heat medium and a component of a vehicle are connected to allow the component to be heated by the heat medium flowing therethrough. A heat medium heat releasing unit is connected to the heat medium circuit. The heat medium heat releasing unit is provided downstream of the heat medium heater and upstream of the component in a heat medium flow direction, and configured to release the heat from the heat medium to the air to be supplied to the vehicle compartment. 
     By this means, the air to be supplied to the vehicle compartment is heated by the heat medium which has been heated by the heat medium heater configured to heat the components of the vehicle, and therefore it is possible to use the heat medium heater as a heat source for the heating operation. 
     Advantageous Effect 
     According to the vehicle air conditioning apparatus of the invention, the heat medium heater can be used as a heat source for the heating operation. Therefore, it is possible to perform the heating operation and heat the components by one heater. Consequently, it is possible to save the installation space of the components in the vehicle, and reduce the manufacturing cost. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates the configuration of a vehicle air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates the vehicle air conditioning apparatus for a battery cooling operation and a heating assistive operation; and 
         FIG. 3  schematically illustrates the vehicle air conditioning apparatus for a battery heating and heating assistive operation. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  illustrate an embodiment of the invention. 
     A vehicle air conditioning apparatus  1  according to the invention is applicable to a vehicle such as an electric car and a hybrid car, which can be driven by the driving force of an electric motor. 
     The vehicle includes an electric motor for driving the vehicle, and a traction battery B as a component for supplying electric power to the electric motor. The battery B generates heat when being used. In addition, the battery B is required to be used at temperatures in a predetermined range to exert a predetermined performance. Accordingly, the battery B needs to be cooled and heated depending on the outside air temperature and the usage condition. It is preferred that the battery B is used at temperatures, for example, in a range of 10 to 30 degrees Celsius. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , this vehicle air conditioning apparatus  1  includes: an air conditioning unit  10  provided in the vehicle compartment of the vehicle; a refrigerant circuit  20  provided across the vehicle compartment and the outside of the vehicle compartment; and a heat medium circuit  30  that allows a heat medium for absorbing the heat released from the battery B and heating the battery B to flow therethrough. 
     The air conditioning unit  10  includes an air flow passage  11  that allows the air supplied to the vehicle compartment to flow therethrough. An outdoor air inlet  11   a  and an indoor air inlet  11   b  are provided in one end side of the air flow passage  11 . The outdoor air inlet  11   a  is configured to allow the air outside the vehicle compartment to flow into the air flow passage  11 , and the indoor air inlet  11   b  is configured to allow the air in the vehicle compartment to flow into the air flow passage  11 . Meanwhile, a foot outlet, a vent outlet and a defroster outlet (not shown) are provided in the other end side of the air flow passage  11 . The foot outlet is configured to allow the air flowing through the air flow passage  11  to blow to the feet of the passengers. The vent outlet is configured to allow the air flowing through the air flow passage  11  to blow to the upper bodies of the passengers. The defroster outlet is configured to allow the air flowing through the air flow passage  11  to blow to the surface of the front window in the vehicle compartment. 
     Also, an inlet switching damper  13  is provided in the one end side of the air flow passage  11  and configured to be able to open one of the outdoor air inlet  11   a  and the indoor air inlet  11   b  and close the other. The inlet switching damper  13  can switch the mode of the inlets among: an outdoor air supply mode to close the indoor air inlet  11   b  and open the outdoor air inlet  11   a ; an indoor air circulating mode to close the outdoor air inlet  11   a  and open the indoor air inlet  11   b ; and an indoor and outdoor air suction mode to open both the outdoor air inlet  11   a  and the indoor air inlet  11   b  by disposing the inlet switching damper  13  between the outdoor air inlet  11   a  and the indoor air inlet  11   b.    
     An indoor blower  12  such as a sirocco fan is provided in the one end side of the air flow passage  11  and configured to allow the air to flow through the air flow passage  11  from the one end side to the other end side. 
     A heat absorbing unit  14  is provided downstream of the indoor blower  12  in the air flow direction of the air flow passage  11 . The heat absorbing unit  14 , as an indoor heat exchanger, is configured to cool and dehumidify the air flowing through the air flow passage  11 . In addition, a heat releasing unit  15  is provided downstream of the heat absorbing unit  14  in the air flow direction of the air flow passage  11 . The heat releasing unit  15 , as an indoor heat exchanger, is configured to heat the air flowing through the air flow passage  11 . 
     The heat releasing unit  15  is disposed in one side of the orthogonal direction of the air flow passage  11 , and a heat releasing unit bypass flow passage  11   c  is formed in the other side of the orthogonal direction of the air flow passage  11  to bypass the heat releasing unit  15 . In the one side of the orthogonal direction of the air flow passage  11 , a heat medium heat releasing unit  16  is provided between the heat absorbing unit  14  and the heat releasing unit  15  and configured to heat the air to be supplied to the vehicle compartment by a heat exchange between the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30  and the air. 
     An air mix damper  17  is provided between the heat absorbing unit  14  and the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  in the air flow passage  11 , and configured to control the percentage of the air to be heated by the heat releasing unit  15  and the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 , which has passed through the heat absorbing unit  14 . The air mix damper  17  is provided upstream of the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  and the heat releasing unit bypass flow passage  11   c  in the air flow direction, and configured to close the upstream side of one of the heat releasing unit bypass flow passage  11   c  and the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  and open the other in the air flow direction, or open both the heat releasing unit bypass flow passage  11   c  and the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  to adjust the degree of opening of the upstream side of the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  in the air flow direction. The degree of opening of the air mix damper  17  is 0% when the upstream side of the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  in the air flow direction of the air flow passage  11  is closed and the heat releasing unit bypass flow passage  11   c  is open. On the other hand, the degree of opening of the air mix damper  17  is 100% when the upstream side of the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  in the air flow direction of the air flow passage  11  is open and the heat releasing unit bypass flow passage  11   c  is closed. 
     The refrigerant circuit  20  includes: the heat absorbing unit  14 ; the heat releasing unit  15 ; a compressor  21  configured to compress a refrigerant; an outdoor heat exchanger  22  configured to perform a heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air outside the vehicle compartment; a heat medium heat exchanger  23  configured to perform a heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20  and the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30 ; first to third expansion valves  24   a ,  24   b  and  24   c  having degrees of opening which can be adjusted from the full close to the full open; first and second solenoid valves  25   a  and  25   b  configured to open and close the refrigerant flow passage; first and second check valves  26   a  and  26   b  configured to control the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow passage; and an accumulator  27  configured to separate between gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant to prevent the liquid refrigerant from being sucked into the compressor  21 . These components are connected by, for example, an aluminum pipe or a copper pipe. As the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20 , for example, R-134a may be used. 
     To be more specific, the input side of the heat releasing unit  15  into which the refrigerant flows is connected to the delivery side of the compressor  21  from which the refrigerant is discharged, thereby to form a refrigerant flow passage  20   a . Meanwhile, the input side of the outdoor heat exchanger  22  into which the refrigerant flows is connected to the output side of the heat releasing unit  15  from which the refrigerant is discharged, thereby to form a refrigerant flow passage  20   b . The first expansion valve  24   a  is provided in the refrigerant flow passage  20   b . The input side of the heat absorbing unit  14  into which the refrigerant flows is connected to the output side of the outdoor heat exchanger  22  from which the refrigerant is discharged, thereby to form a refrigerant flow passage  20   c . The first solenoid valve  26   a  and the second expansion valve  24   b  are provided in the refrigerant flow passage  20   c  in the order from the outdoor heat exchanger  22  side. The suction side of the compressor  21  into which the refrigerant is sucked is connected to the output side of the heat absorbing unit  14  from which the refrigerant is discharged, thereby to form a refrigerant flow passage  20   d . The second check valve  26   b  and the accumulator  27  are provided in the refrigerant flow passage  20   d  in the order from the heat absorbing unit  14  side. A portion of the refrigerant flow passage  20   c  between the first check valve  26   a  and the second expansion valve  24   b  is connected to a portion of the refrigerant flow passage  20   b  between the heat releasing unit  15  and the first expansion valve  24   a , bypassing the outdoor heat exchanger  22 , thereby to form a refrigerant flow passage  20   e . The first solenoid valve  25   a  is provided in the refrigerant flow passage  20   e . The input side of the heat medium heat exchanger  23  into which the refrigerant flows is connected to a portion of the refrigerant flow passage  20   e  downstream of the first solenoid valve  25   a , thereby to form a refrigerant flow passage  20   f . The third expansion valve  24   c  is provided in the refrigerant flow passage  20   f . A portion of the refrigerant flow passage  20   d  between the second check valve  26   b  and the accumulator  27  is connected to the output side of the heat medium heat exchanger  23  from which the refrigerant is discharged, thereby to form a refrigerant flow passage  20   g . A portion of the refrigerant flow passage  20   d  between the heat absorbing unit  14  and the second check valve  26   b  is connected to a portion of the refrigerant flow passage  20   c  between the outdoor heat exchanger  22  and the first check valve  26   a , thereby to form a refrigerant flow passage  20   h . The second solenoid valve  25   b  is provided in the refrigerant flow passage  20   h.    
     The outdoor heat exchanger  22  is a heat exchanger constituted by fins and tubes, and is disposed outside the compartment, for example, in an engine room, in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle which is the air flow direction. An outdoor blower  22   a  is provided in the vicinity of the outdoor heat exchanger  22  to flow the air outside the vehicle compartment in the front-to-back direction when the vehicle is stopped. 
     The heat medium circuit  30  includes: the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 ; the heat medium heat exchanger  23 ; first and second heat medium pumps  31   a  and  31   b  configured to pump the heat medium; a heat medium heater  32  configured to heat the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30 ; first to third heat medium three-way valves  33   a ,  33   b  and  33   c ; and the battery B configured to accumulate electric power and supply the electric power to the electric motor for driving the vehicle. These components are connected by, for example, an aluminum pipe or a copper pipe. As the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30 , antifreeze solution, for example, ethyleneglycol may be used. 
     To be more specific, the input side of the first heat medium three-way valve  33   a  into which the heat medium flows is connected to the delivery side of the first heat medium pump  31   a  from which the heat medium is discharged, thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   a . The heat medium heater  32  is provided in the heat medium flow passage  30   a . The input side of the second heat medium three-way valve  33   b  into which the heat medium flows is connected to one of two heat medium outlets of the first heat medium three-way valve  33   a , thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   b  as a heat releasing unit bypass flow passage. The input side of the battery B into which the heat medium flows is connected to one of two heat medium outlets of the second heat medium three-way valve  33   b , thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   c . A heat medium inlet of the third heat medium three-way valve  33   c  is connected to the output side of the battery B from which the heat medium is discharged, thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   d . The suction side of the first heat medium pump  31   a  into which the heat medium is sucked is connected to one of two heat medium outlets of the third heat medium three-way valve  33   c , thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   e . The input side of the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  into which the heat medium flows is connected to the other heat medium outlet of the first heat medium three-way valve  33   a , thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   f . The heat medium flow passage  30   b  is connected to the output side of the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  from which the heat medium is discharged, thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   g . The heat medium flow passage  30   e  is connected to the other heat medium outlet of the second heat medium three-way valve  33   b , thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   h  as a component bypass flow passage. The suction side of the second heat medium pump  31   b  into which the heat medium is sucked is connected to the other heat medium outlet of the third heat medium three-way valve  33   c , thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   i . The input side of the heat medium heat exchanger  23  into which the heat medium flows is connected to the delivery side of the second heat medium pump  31   b  from which the heat medium is discharged, thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   j . The heat medium flow passage  30   c  is connected to the output side of the heat medium heat exchanger  23  from which the heat medium is discharged, thereby to form a heat medium flow passage  30   k . The first heat medium three-way valve  33   a  switches between the heat medium flow passage  30   b  and the heat medium flow passage  30   f  with which the heat medium flow passage  30   a  communicates. The second heat medium three-way valve  33   b  switches between the heat medium flow passage  30   c  and the heat medium flow passage  30   h  with which the heat medium flow passage  30   b  communicates. The third heat medium three-way valve  33   c  switches between the heat medium flow passage  30   e  and the heat medium flow passage  30   i  with which the heat medium flow passage  30   d  communicates. 
     The vehicle air conditioning apparatus  1  with the above-described configuration adjusts the temperature and the humidity of the air in the vehicle compartment, by using the air conditioning unit  10  and the refrigerant circuit  20 . 
     For example, for the cooling operation to reduce the temperature of the vehicle compartment, the indoor blower  12  is actuated and the degree of opening of the air mix damper  17  is set to 0% in the air conditioning unit  10 . In addition, the compressor  21  is actuated while the first expansion valve  24   a  is fully open, the second expansion valve  24   b  is open at a predetermined degree of opening, the third expansion valve  24   c  is fully closed, the first solenoid valve  25   a  is closed, and the second solenoid valve  25   b  is closed in the refrigerant circuit  20 . 
     By this means, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor  21  flows through the refrigerant circuit  20  in the order of the refrigerant flow passage  20   a , the heat releasing unit  15 , the refrigerant flow passage  20   b , the outdoor heat exchanger  22 , the refrigerant flow passage  20   c , the heat absorbing unit  14 , and the refrigerant flow passages  20   d , and is sucked into the compressor  21 , as indicated by solid arrows in  FIG. 1 . 
     The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20  does not release the heat in the heat releasing unit  15  because the degree of opening of the air mix damper  17  is 0%, but releases the heat in the outdoor heat exchanger  22  and absorbs the heat in the heat absorbing unit  14 . 
     The air flowing through the air flow passage  11  is subjected to a heat exchange with the refrigerant absorbing the heat in the heat absorbing unit  14 , and therefore is cooled, and then blows to the vehicle compartment. 
     In addition, for example, for the cooling and dehumidifying operation to reduce the temperature and the humidity of the vehicle compartment, the degree of opening of the air mix damper  17  of the air conditioning unit  10  is set to a value greater than 0% in the refrigerant flow passage in the refrigerant circuit  20  for the cooling operation. 
     By this means, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20  releases the heat in the heat releasing unit  15  and the outdoor heat exchanger  22 , and absorbs the heat in the heat absorbing unit  14 . 
     The air flowing through the air flow passage  11  is dehumidified and cooled by the heat exchange with the refrigerant absorbing the heat in the heat absorbing unit  14 , and heated to the target air-blowing temperature in the heat releasing unit  15 , and then blows to the vehicle compartment. 
     Moreover, for example, for the heating and dehumidifying operation to reduce the humidity and increase the temperature of the vehicle compartment, the degree of opening of the first expansion valve  24   a  is set to a predetermined value smaller than the full open in the refrigerant flow passage in the refrigerant circuit  20  for the cooling operation. In addition, the degree of opening of the air mix damper  17  of the air conditioning unit  10  is set to a value greater than 0%. 
     By this means, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20  releases the heat in the heat releasing unit  15 , and absorbs the heat in the outdoor heat exchanger  22  and the heat absorbing unit  14 . 
     The air flowing through the air flow passage  11  of the air conditioning unit  10  is dehumidified and cooled by the heat exchange with the refrigerant absorbing the heat in the heat absorbing unit  14 , and heated to the target air-blowing temperature in the heat releasing unit  15 , and then blows to the vehicle compartment. 
     Meanwhile, for example, for the heating operation to increase the temperature of the vehicle compartment, the indoor blower  12  is actuated, and the degree of opening of the air mix damper  17  is set to a value greater than 0% in the air conditioning unit  10 . In addition, the compressor  21  is actuated while the first expansion valve  24   a  is open at a predetermined degree of opening smaller than the full open, the second expansion valve  24   b  and the third expansion valve  24   c  are fully closed, the first solenoid valve  25   a  is closed, and the second solenoid valve  25   b  is open in the refrigerant circuit  20 . 
     By this means, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor  21  flows through the refrigerant circuit  20  in the order of the refrigerant flow passage  20   a , the heat releasing unit  15 , the refrigerant flow passage  20   b , the outdoor heat exchanger  22 , part of the refrigerant flow passage  20   c , the refrigerant flow passage  20   h , and part of the refrigerant flow passage  20   d , and is sucked into the compressor  21 , as indicated by dashed arrows in  FIG. 1 . 
     The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20  releases the heat in the heat releasing unit  15 , and absorbs the heat in the outdoor heat exchanger  22 . 
     The air flowing through the air flow passage  11  of the air conditioning unit  10  is not subjected to a heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat absorbing unit  14 , but is subjected to a heat exchange with the refrigerant releasing the heat in the heat releasing unit  15  and therefore heated, and then blows to the vehicle compartment. 
     In addition, there is a case where the battery B needs to be heated, for example, a case where the vehicle is started to be driven under the condition of a low temperature. In the case where the battery B needs to be heated, the vehicle air conditioning apparatus  1  performs a battery heating operation. 
     For the battery heating operation, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve  33   a  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   b ; the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve  33   b  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   c ; the flow path of the third heat medium three-way valve  33   c  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   e ; the second heat medium pump  31   b  is not actuated; and the first heat medium pump  31   a  and the heat medium heater  32  are actuated in the heat medium circuit  30 . 
     By this means, the heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump  31   a  flows through the heat medium circuit  30  in the order of the heat medium flow passage  30   a , the heat medium heater  32 , the heat medium flow passages  30   b  and  30   c , the battery B, and the heat medium flow passages  30   d  and  30   e , and is sucked into the first heat medium pump  31   a , as indicated by solid arrows in  FIG. 1 . 
     The heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30  is heated by the heat medium heater  32 . The battery B is heated by the heat medium which has been heated by the heat medium heater  32 . 
     Meanwhile, there is a case where the battery B needs to be cooled because the battery B releases heat during the driving of the vehicle. In the case where the battery B needs to be cooled while the temperature and the humidity of the vehicle compartment are adjusted using the air conditioning unit  10  and the refrigerant circuit  20 , the vehicle air conditioning apparatus  1  performs a battery cooling operation to cool the battery B. 
     For the battery cooling operation, the third expansion valve  24   c  is set to a predetermined degree of opening in the refrigerant circuit  20  for the operations except for the heating operation; and the third expansion valve  24   c  is set to a predetermined degree of opening, and the first solenoid valve  25   a  is open in the refrigerant circuit  20  for the heating operation. In addition, for the battery cooling operation, the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve  33   b  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   h ; the flow path of the third heat medium three-way valve  33   c  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   i ; and the second heat medium pump  31   b  is actuated in the heat medium circuit  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in the refrigerant circuit  20 , the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant flow passage  20   f , flows into the heat medium heat exchanger  23 , absorbs the heat in the heat medium heat exchanger  23 , flows through the refrigerant flow passage  20   g , flows into and together in the heat medium flow passage  20   d , and then is sucked into the compressor  21 . 
     Meanwhile, the heat medium discharged from the second heat medium pump  31   b  flows through the heat medium circuit  30  in the order of the heat medium flow passage  30   j , the heat medium heat exchanger  23 , the heat medium flow passages  30   k  and  30   c , the battery B, and the heat medium heat passages  30   d  and  30   i  as a first circulating flow path, and then is sucked into the second heat medium pump  31   b , as indicated by dashed arrows in  FIG. 2 . The heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30  is heated by the heat released from the battery B, and cooled by a heat exchange with the refrigerant absorbing the heat in the heat medium heat exchanger  23 . 
     The battery B is cooled by the heat medium having been subjected to the heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat medium heat exchanger  23 . 
     During the heating operation under the condition of a low temperature, there is a case where the temperature of the vehicle compartment cannot be a preset temperature because the amount of the heat released from the heat releasing unit  15  is insufficient. In the case where the amount of the heat released from the heat releasing unit  15  is insufficient while the heating operation is performed using the air conditioning unit  10  and the refrigerant circuit  20 , the vehicle air conditioning apparatus  1  performs a heating assistive operation to assist the heating operation. 
     For the heating assistive operation, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve  33   a  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   f ; the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve  33   b  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   h ; and the first heat medium pump  31   a  and the heat medium heater  32  are actuated in the heat medium circuit  30 . 
     The heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump  31   a  flows through the heat medium circuit  30  in the order of the heat medium flow passage  30   a , the heat medium heater  32 , the heat medium flow passage  30   f , the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 , and the heat medium flow passages  30   g ,  30   b ,  30   h , and  30   e  as a second circulating flow path, and then is sucked into the first heat medium pump  31   a , as indicated by solid arrows in  FIG. 2 . 
     The heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30  is heated by the heat medium heater  32 . The heat medium heated by the heat medium heater  32  does not flow through the battery B side, and releases the heat in the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 . 
     The air flowing through the air flow passage  11  of the air conditioning unit  10  is heated by a heat exchange with the heat medium releasing the heat in the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 , and heated to the target air-blowing temperature in the heat releasing unit  15 , and then blows to the vehicle compartment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first circulating flow path for the battery cooling operation and the second circulating flow path for the heating assistive operation can be set at the same time in the heat medium circuit  30  to flow the heat medium therethrough, respectively. Alternatively, in the heat medium circuit  30 , one of the first heat medium pump  31   a  and the second heat medium pump  31   b  is actuated to allow the heat medium to flow through one of the first circulating flow path and the second circulating flow path. 
     Moreover, in a case where the battery B needs to be heated and the amount of the heat released from the heat releasing unit  15  is insufficient while the heating operation is performed using the air conditioning unit  10  and the refrigerant circuit  20 , the vehicle air conditioning apparatus  1  performs a battery heating and heating assistive operation to heat the battery B and assist the heating operation. 
     For the battery heating and heating assistive operation, the flow path of the first heat medium three-way valve  33   a  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   f ; the flow path of the second heat medium three-way valve  33   b  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   c ; and the flow path of the third heat medium three-way valve  33   c  is set to the heat medium flow passage  30   e  in the heat medium circuit  30 . In addition, for the battery heating and heating assistive operation, the second heat medium pup  31   b  is not actuated, but the first heat medium pump  31   a  and the heat medium heater  32  are actuated. 
     The heat medium discharged from the first heat medium pump  31   a  flows through the heat medium circuit  30  in the order of the heat medium flow passage  30   a , the heat medium heater  32 , the heat medium flow passage  30   f , the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 , the heat medium flow passages  30   g ,  30   b , and  30   c , the battery B, and the heat medium flow passages  30   d , and  30   e , and is sucked into the first heat medium pump  31   a , as indicated by solid lines in  FIG. 3 . 
     The heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30  is heated by the heat medium heater  32 . The heat medium heated by the heat medium heater  32  releases the heat in the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 , and then releases the heat in the battery B. The temperature of the heat medium required to heat the battery B is lower than the temperature of the heat medium required in the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 . Therefore, the battery B is supplied with the heat medium which has already released the heat in the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 . 
     The air flowing through the air flow passage  11  of the air conditioning unit  10  is heated by a heat exchange with the heat medium releasing the heat in the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 , and heated to the target air-blowing temperature in the heat releasing unit  15 , and then blows to the vehicle compartment. 
     Furthermore, during the heating operation, when the compressor  21  is stopped due to malfunction and so forth, and therefore to stop the refrigerant from flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20 , a preliminary heating operation is performed using the heat medium circuit  30 . For the preliminarily heating operation, the heat medium heated by the heat medium heater  32  does not flow through the battery B side, and releases the heat in the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 , in the same way as the heating assistive operation. 
     In this way, the vehicle air conditioning apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the heat medium circuit  30  to which the heat medium heater  32  configured to heat the heat medium and the battery B are connected to allow the battery B to be heated by the heat medium flowing therethrough. The heat medium heat releasing unit  16  is connected to the heat medium circuit  30 , which is provided downstream of the heat medium heater  32  and upstream of the battery B in the heat medium flow direction, and configured to release the heat from the heat medium to the air to be supplied to the vehicle compartment. 
     By this means, it is possible to use the heat medium heater  32  as a heat source for the heating operation, and therefore to perform the heating operation and heat the battery B by using one heater. Consequently, it is possible to save the installation space of the components of the vehicle, and reduce the manufacturing cost. 
     In addition, the heat medium circuit  30  includes the heat medium flow passage  30   h  as a component bypass flow passage to flow the heat medium therethrough, bypassing the battery B. 
     By this means, it is possible to heat the air flowing through the air flow passage  11  without heating the battery B, and therefore to prevent problems caused by excessively heating the battery B. 
     In addition, the heat medium circuit  30  includes the heat medium flow passage  30   b  as a heat releasing unit bypass flow passage to flow the heat medium, bypassing the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 . 
     By this means, it is possible to heat the battery B without releasing the heat from the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the output of the heat medium heater  32  when the amount of the heat released from the heat releasing unit  15  is not insufficient, and consequently to save the energy consumption. 
     Moreover, the heat medium heat exchanger  23  configured to cool the heat medium by a heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20  is connected to the heat medium circuit  30 . 
     By this means, it is possible to heat and cool the battery B by the one heat medium circuit  30 . Consequently, it is possible to save the installation space of the components of the vehicle, and reduce the manufacturing cost. 
     Moreover, the first circulating flow path to circulate the heat medium between the battery B and the heat medium heat exchanger  23  and the second circulating flow path to circulate the heat medium between the heat medium heater  32  and the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  can be set at the same time in the heat medium circuit  30 . 
     By this means, it is possible to heat the air to be supplied to the vehicle compartment and cool the battery B at the same time in the heat medium circuit  30 . Consequently, it is possible to improve the comfort of the passengers while maintaining the performance of the vehicle. 
     Moreover, the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  is provided upstream of the heat releasing unit  15  in the air flow passage  11 . 
     By this means, the air having a relatively low temperature before being heated in the heat releasing unit  15  can be heated by the heat medium. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need of a high-power heat medium heater to heat the heat medium to a high temperature, and consequently to reduce the manufacturing cost. 
     Furthermore, the preliminarily heating function is provided to heat the air to be supplied to the vehicle compartment by flowing the heat medium heated by the heat medium heater  32  through the heat medium heat releasing unit  16  while stopping the refrigerant from flowing in the refrigerant circuit  20 . 
     By this means, even when the compressor  21  is stopped due to malfunction and so forth to stop the refrigerant from flowing through the refrigerant circuit  20 , it is possible to continue to heat the vehicle compartment by the heat medium heater  32 . Consequently, it is possible to avoid such a situation that the vehicle compartment cannot be heated under the condition of a low temperature. 
     Here, with the above-described embodiment, the battery B is illustrated as a component of the vehicle which needs to adjust the temperature, but this is by no means limiting. As components of the vehicle which need to adjust the temperature, for example, a power supply device such as a converter, an electronic part, and an electric motor may be applicable. In addition, a plurality of components of the vehicle may be connected to each other in parallel to adjust the temperatures, respectively. 
     Moreover, with the above-described embodiment, the antifreeze solution is used as the heat medium flowing through the heat medium circuit  30 , but this is by no means limiting. For example, water and oil may be used as the heat medium as long as it can be subjected to a heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat medium heat exchanger  23 , and also can be subjected to a heat exchange with the air in the heat medium heat releasing unit  16 . 
     Furthermore, with the above-described embodiment, the insufficient amount of the heat of the heating operation using the air conditioning unit  10  and the refrigerant circuit  20  is compensated by the heat medium heater connected to the heat medium circuit  30 , but this is by no means limiting. For example, the heat medium circuit  30  according to the embodiment may be applied to a cooling only vehicle air conditioning apparatus, and the heat medium heater may be used as a heat source for the heating operation. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  vehicle air conditioning apparatus,  10  air conditioning unit,  11  air flow passage,  14  heat absorbing unit,  15  heat releasing unit,  16  heat medium heat releasing unit,  20  refrigerant circuit,  21  compressor,  22  outdoor heat exchanger,  23  heat medium heat exchanger,  30  heat medium circuit,  32  heat medium heater, B battery.