TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT DEVICE

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2024/000217, filed on Jan. 10, 2024, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-004271, filed on Jan. 16, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a temperature management device that manages a temperature of a heat source by controlling a cooling fluid.

BACKGROUND ART

Taking an internal combustion engine as an example of a heat source, Patent Literature 1 describes a configuration in which a first pump is provided in a first circulation passage through which cooling water sent out from the internal combustion engine is supplied to a radiator and then returned to the internal combustion engine, and a second pump is provided in a second circulation passage through which cooling water sent out from the internal combustion engine is supplied to a heater core and then merged with the first circulation passage to return to the internal combustion engine.

This Patent Literature 1 describes a control mode in which a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of cooling water in the internal combustion engine is provided, and the first pump is controlled on the basis of a detection result of the temperature sensor.

Patent Literature 2 discloses a control mode in which feedback control for controlling a flow rate of a water pump is performed on the basis of a difference between a water temperature of cooling water and a target water temperature, and feedforward control for determining a flow rate of the water pump according to an engine speed and an engine load is performed when an absolute value of the difference between the water temperature of the cooling water and the target water temperature is larger than a predetermined value.

CITATIONS LIST

Patent Literature

• • Patent Literature 1: JP 2011-169237 A
  • Patent Literature 2: JP 2012-102639 A

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Technical Problems

In Patent Literature 1, the first pump is provided in the first circulation passage, and the second pump is provided in the second circulation passage. Feedback control is performed such that a rotation speed of the first pump is decreased to reduce an amount of water flowing to a radiator when the water temperature of cooling water is lower than the predetermined value, and the rotation speed of the first pump is raised to increase an amount of water to be supplied to the radiator when the water temperature of the cooling water is higher than the predetermined value.

In this Patent Literature 1, when the cooling water is supplied to the heater core of the second circulation passage by driving of the second pump at a time of a low load, the first pump is slightly rotated to eliminate an inconvenience that the cooling water from the second circulation passage flows to the radiator.

Note that, in this Patent Literature 1, in a case where in-vehicle heating is not performed in a state where an engine load is high, when the cooling water is supplied to the radiator by driving of the first pump, it is possible to perform control to drive the second pump to prevent backflow of the cooling water toward the heater core. Thus, in Patent Literature 1, the flow of cooling water can be controlled through the driving mode of the first pump and the second pump, without using a thermostat.

A temperature management device described in Patent Literature 1 includes the temperature sensor that detects a temperature of cooling water inside the engine, and a temperature management device described in Patent Literature 2 includes a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of cooling water flowing through a cooling water passage on a cylinder head side. Since the sensors described in these literatures are located away from the radiator, there is a concern about a decrease in responsiveness at a time of controlling the temperature of the engine.

In particular, the sensors described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 have a structure that detects a temperature when a large amount of cooling water comes into contact with the sensors. Therefore, when the amount of cooling water flowing to the engine is small, there is a concern that detection of a temperature change of the cooling water becomes inaccurate. Furthermore, in Patent Literature 2, since it is necessary to acquire a temperature of the cooling water for switching between the feedback control and the feedforward control, it has been considered that switching of the control becomes inappropriate due to inaccuracy of a detection temperature.

For this reason, there is a demand for a temperature management device that can appropriately manage a temperature of a heat source while effectively using a radiator that takes heat of a cooling fluid.

Solutions to Problems

A characteristic configuration of a temperature management device according to the present disclosure is in including: a cooling flow path through which a cooling fluid sent out from a heat source is supplied in order of a radiator and a first pump and returned to the heat source; a bypass flow path that includes a second pump so as to cause a cooling fluid on an upstream side of the radiator in the cooling flow path to merge at a downstream side of the first pump; a first sensor flow path including a narrow tube in which a part of a cooling fluid sent out by the first pump is sent out; a second sensor flow path including a narrow tube in which a part of a cooling fluid sent out by the second pump is sent out; a merging path sensor configured to detect a temperature of a cooling fluid flowing in a merging path in which the first sensor flow path and the second sensor flow path merge; and a controller configured to simultaneously drive the first pump and the second pump, and separately control driving forces of the first pump and the second pump on the basis of a detection temperature detected by the merging path sensor.

According to this configuration, a part of a cooling fluid flowing in the cooling flow path by driving of the first pump flows to the first sensor flow path, and a part of a cooling fluid flowing in the bypass flow path by driving of the second pump flows to the second sensor flow path. In this way, the cooling fluid having flowed through the first sensor flow path and the cooling fluid having flowed through the second sensor flow path merge at a merging position, and a temperature of a cooling fluid mixed by merging is detected by the merging path sensor.

A temperature of a cooling medium detected by the merging path sensor reflects a temperature of a cooling medium flowing through the cooling flow path and a temperature of a cooling medium having flowed through the bypass flow path, and the cooling medium has a small flow rate. Therefore, the merging path sensor can also detect a slight temperature change. As described above, the merging path sensor detects a temperature change of the cooling fluid with a short time lag, and enables control with good responsiveness, which is different from, for example, a sensor that detects a temperature inside the heat source or a temperature of a cooling fluid immediately after being sent out from the heat source. The controller separately controls a driving force of the first pump and a driving force of the second pump on the basis of a detection temperature detected by the merging path sensor. Therefore, for example, in a case of achieving a temperature increase of the heat source, a rapid temperature increase is achieved by setting the driving forces of the first pump and the second pump to be low. In addition, for example, in a case where the temperature of the heat source needs to be decreased, a rapid temperature decrease is achieved by controlling the driving force of the first pump to be high. Therefore, the temperature management device has been configured in which a temperature of the heat source can be appropriately managed while the radiator that takes heat of the cooling fluid is effectively used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a flow path of a cooling unit.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of temperature management control.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a warm-up routine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a temperature maintenance routine.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a flow path of a cooling unit of another embodiment (a).

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating a flow path of a cooling unit of another embodiment (b).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

Basic Configuration

A cooling unit 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 and a control unit 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 constitute a temperature management device A that maintains a temperature of an engine 1 (an example of a heat source) at a target value. This temperature management device A is provided in a vehicle such as an automobile.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cooling unit 10 performs circulation of supplying cooling water (an example of a cooling fluid) sent out from the engine 1 to a radiator 2 and returning the cooling water to the engine 1 after heat of the cooling water is dissipated. The control unit 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 maintains the engine 1 at a predetermined temperature by controlling a flow rate of the cooling water.

Note that, the temperature management device A uses, as the cooling fluid, cooling water such as a long life coolant (LLC) containing ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or the like, insulating oil such as paraffin-based oil, or a refrigerant such as hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) or hydrofluoroolefin (HFO).

Cooling Unit

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cooling unit 10 includes a cooling flow path L1 to which cooling water (an example of a cooling fluid) sent out from the engine 1 as a heat source is supplied, and a bypass flow path L2 partially parallel to the cooling flow path L1.

The cooling flow path L1 supplies the cooling water sent out from a discharge port 1a of the engine 1 to the radiator 2 and an electric first pump P1 in this order, and returns the cooling water to a suction port 1b of the engine 1. The bypass flow path L2 supplies a cooling fluid on an upstream side of the radiator 2 to a heater core 3 and a second pump P2 in this order, and merges the cooling fluid with the cooling flow path L1 on a downstream side of the first pump P1.

The first pump P1 is driven by a first pump motor P1m. To the radiator 2, cooling air of a radiator fan 2f driven by a radiator fan motor 2m is supplied.

The second pump P2 is driven by a second pump motor P2m. The heater core 3 supplies hot air heated by a heater fan 3f driven by a heater fan motor 3m into the vehicle.

The cooling unit 10 includes an outlet sensor Sa and a merging path sensor Sb. The outlet sensor Sa detects a water temperature (an example of a temperature) of the cooling water, disposed near the discharge port 1a. The merging path sensor Sb detects a temperature after the cooling water having flowed through the cooling flow path L1 and the cooling water having flowed through the bypass flow path L2 are mixed.

In particular, the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 are configured as a single unit in which the second pump P2 is disposed on an upper side and the first pump P1 is disposed on a lower side.

Merging Path Sensor

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cooling unit 10 includes a first sensor flow path 4 including a narrow tube so as to send out a part of cooling water sent out by the first pump P1, a second sensor flow path 5 including a narrow tube so as to send out a part of cooling water sent out by the second pump P2, and a merging path 6 in which the cooling water flowing through the first sensor flow path 4 and the cooling water flowing through the second sensor flow path 5 merge and flow.

The narrow tubes included in the first sensor flow path 4 and the second sensor flow path 5 are formed to have equal inner diameters. The merging path 6 is connected to a suction side of the second pump P2 in the bypass flow path L2, and the merging path sensor Sb is provided at a position in contact with the cooling water flowing through the merging path 6.

The narrow tube of the first sensor flow path 4 and the narrow tube of the second sensor flow path 5 are smaller than both an inner diameter of a flow path downstream of the first pump P1 in the cooling flow path L1 and an inner diameter of a flow path downstream of the second pump P2 in the bypass flow path L2. Further, in the cooling unit 10, as the second pump P2, a pump having a higher performance of a suction lift than a suction lift of the first pump P1 is used.

As described above, since flow path resistance of the narrow tube is larger than either the cooling flow path L1 or the bypass flow path L2, an amount of cooling water flowing through the narrow tube is determined by a suction force of the second pump P2. Since the narrow tube of the first sensor flow path 4 and the narrow tube of the second sensor flow path 5 have the same inner diameter, cooling water having substantially the same flow rate (flow rate per unit time) flows through the first sensor flow path 4 and the second sensor flow path 5.

As a result, the merging path sensor Sb detects a water temperature of the cooling water containing a trace amount of cooling water from the cooling flow path L1 and a trace amount of cooling water from the bypass flow path L2. As described above, since the second pump P2 is disposed on the upper side and the first pump P1 is disposed on the lower side, a phenomenon that high-temperature cooling water flowing through the bypass flow path L2 and low-temperature cooling water flowing through the cooling flow path L1 are mixed by convection is suppressed, the cooling water from the cooling flow path L1 and the cooling water from the bypass flow path L2 are mixed at the same ratio (1:1 ratio), and the cooling water mixed in this manner comes into contact with the merging path sensor Sb.

Control Unit

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 20 includes a microprocessor, a memory, and the like, and includes a controller 21 that functions as an ECU.

Signals from the outlet sensor Sa, the merging path sensor Sb, an accelerator pedal sensor 26, and an engine load detection unit 27 are input to the controller 21. Further, the controller 21 also outputs control signals to the first pump motor P1m, the second pump motor P2m, the radiator fan motor 2m, and the heater fan motor 3m.

The controller 21 includes a load determination part 22, a control target setting part 23, map data 23a, and a temperature control part 24. The load determination part 22, the control target setting part 23, and the temperature control part 24 are configured by software stored in the memory of the controller 21, but may be partially configured by hardware such as a logic.

The engine load detection unit 27 detects a load acting on the engine 1 on the basis of a shift stage, a value of torque acting on a traveling system, an air amount detected by an air flow sensor, and the like.

Control Unit: Control Mode

The control unit 20 maintains a temperature of the engine 1 at a target value by controlling the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 included in the cooling unit 10, on the basis of detection results of the outlet sensor Sa and the merging path sensor Sb included in the cooling unit 10.

The controller 21 executes temperature management control illustrated in a flowchart of FIG. 3. In this temperature management control, after the engine 1 is started, the controller 21 sets a reference water temperature Tc as a threshold for performing warm-up, and acquires an outlet water temperature Ta detected by the outlet sensor Sa (steps #01, #02).

In the temperature management control, when the outlet water temperature Ta is lower than the reference water temperature Tc (Yes in step #03: Ta≤Tc), a warm-up routine (step #100) is executed. On the other hand, when the outlet water temperature Ta is higher than the reference water temperature Tc (No in step #03), a temperature maintenance routine is executed (step #200).

In addition, in order to increase the temperature inside the automobile, in-vehicle temperature control (step #04) of supplying cooling water sent out from the engine 1 to the heater core 3 is executed.

In the in-vehicle temperature control (step #04), in a situation where a target room temperature is set, a current is supplied to the heater fan motor 3m to drive the heater fan 3f, so that the room temperature is increased. On the other hand, when the in-vehicle temperature control is not required, the heater fan 3f is brought into a stopped state, and a state is maintained in which the cooling water flows through the bypass flow path L2.

Warm-Up Routine

In the warm-up routine (step #100), as illustrated in FIG. 4, the controller 21 drives the first pump P1 with a first driving force and drives the second pump P2 with a second driving force (steps #101, #102). In this warm-up routine, the first driving force is set to a value lower than the second driving force.

Specifically, the controller 21 supplies a current corresponding to the second driving force to the second pump motor P2m so as to supply cooling water of a set amount to the bypass flow path L2. As a result, the second pump P2 is driven, and out of the cooling water sent out from the discharge port 1a, cooling water of a set amount (value of a unit time value) branched from the cooling flow path L1 is supplied to the bypass flow path L2 and returned to the engine 1 from the suction port 1b.

In the warm-up routine (step #100), the controller 21 supplies a current corresponding to the first driving force to the first pump motor P1m. As a result, the first pump P1 is driven, and a small amount of cooling water is discharged from the first pump P1. As a result, an inconvenience that the cooling fluid flows backward in the cooling flow path L1 due to a discharge pressure of the second pump P2 is suppressed.

For example, when only the second pump P2 is driven, the cooling water in the cooling flow path L1 flows backward by the discharge pressure of the second pump P2, and the cooling water flows from a branch point to a starting end portion (an upper end in FIG. 1) of the bypass flow path L2, which leads to an extension of the time required for warm-up. In order to solve this inconvenience and allows the cooling water to flow in the cooling flow path L1 to the merging path sensor Sb, the first pump P1 is driven by the first driving force which is a driving force lower than the second driving force.

Further, a part of cooling water is supplied to the first sensor flow path 4 by driving of the first pump P1. Similarly, a part of cooling water in the bypass flow path L2 is supplied to the second sensor flow path 5 by driving of the second pump P2.

Temperature Maintenance Routine

In the temperature maintenance routine (step #200), as illustrated in FIG. 5, the controller 21 acquires the outlet water temperature Ta detected by the outlet sensor Sa, a signal detected by the accelerator pedal sensor 26, and a load acting on the engine 1. On the basis of these, the control target setting part 23 sets a target water temperature Tx (steps #201 to #203).

In step #203, the load determination part 22 quantifies a load on the basis of an engine load, and the control target setting part 23 refers to the map data 23a to set the target water temperature Tx on the basis of the engine load thus quantified and the outlet water temperature Ta.

Next, in the temperature maintenance routine, the controller 21 acquires a merged water temperature Tb detected by the merging path sensor Sb, and the temperature control part 24 controls the driving force of the first pump P1 and the driving force of the second pump P2 by using control such as PID control so that a deviation between the target water temperature Tx and the merged water temperature Tb converges (steps #204, #205).

Since the temperature of the engine 1 increases as the engine 1 operates, control for taking the temperature of the engine 1 via the cooling water is the basis of the temperature maintenance routine. Therefore, in this temperature maintenance routine, drive amounts of the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 are set separately such that an amount of cooling water supplied to the cooling flow path L1 per unit time is larger than an amount of cooling water supplied to the bypass flow path L2 per unit time.

Modification of Temperature Management Control

In this modification, for example, when an increase in load acting on the engine 1 is expected on the basis of signals from the accelerator pedal sensor 26 and the engine load detection unit 27 (when the load determination part 22 can assume an increase in load), it is conceivable to set the target water temperature Tx on the basis of, for example, dedicated map data in consideration of the increase in load even before the outlet water temperature Ta and the reference water temperature Tc change (increase).

In the control of this modification, for example, after the control target setting part 23 sets the target water temperature Tx on the basis of the dedicated map data, similarly to the temperature maintenance routine (step #200) described above, it is possible to execute the control mode of reducing the deviation between the target water temperature Tx and the merged water temperature Tb detected by the merging path sensor Sb, and it is possible to suppress overheating of the engine 1 by this control.

Operation and Effect of Embodiment

In the temperature management device A, the cooling water from the cooling flow path L1 is branched into the first sensor flow path 4 including the narrow tube, the cooling water flowing through the bypass flow path L2 is branched into the second sensor flow path 5 including the narrow tube, the cooling water of these is mixed in the merging path 6 at a rate of ½ each, and the water temperature of the cooling water in the merging path 6 is detected by the merging path sensor Sb.

Since the flow rate of the cooling water flowing through the merging path 6 is small, even a slight temperature change can be detected by the merging path sensor Sb. In addition, since the merging path sensor Sb is located downstream of the radiator 2 and the heater core 3 that affect the water temperature, the merging path sensor Sb detects the water temperature changed by passing through the radiator 2 and the heater core 3 with a short time lag, and enables control with good responsiveness.

Furthermore, in the warm-up routine (step #100), backflow of the cooling fluid in the cooling flow path L1 is not caused by the discharge pressure of the second pump P2, and a small amount of cooling water is discharged. As a result, the cooling water having flowed through the radiator 2 does not flow to the bypass flow path L2 during warm-up, so that efficient warm-up can be performed. In addition, when air conditioning in the vehicle is performed during warm-up, the temperature of the heater core 3 does not decrease.

Since the temperature management device A does not include a thermostat in the cooling flow path L1, it is possible to increase the flow rate of the cooling water flowing through the second pump P2 when it is determined that the load on the engine 1 has increased even during execution of the warm-up routine, and it is possible to suppress a temperature increase of the engine 1 by supplying the cooling water to the radiator 2.

In the temperature maintenance routine (step #200), since the target water temperature Tx is set on the basis of a detection result of the outlet sensor Sa and a load acting on the engine 1, temperature management reflecting the engine load is enabled as compared with, for example, a control mode in which the target water temperature Tx is set on the basis of only the detection result of the outlet sensor Sa.

In addition, since the temperature maintenance routine (step #200) is a control mode of feeding back the water temperature detected by the merging path sensor Sb instead of feeding back the water temperature detected by the outlet sensor Sa, it is possible to perform control with good responsiveness in which the water temperature of the cooling water having passed through the radiator 2 and the water temperature of the cooling water having passed through the heater core 3 are appropriately reflected.

Another Embodiment

The aspects of the present disclosure may be configured as follows in addition to the above-described embodiment (those having the same functions as those of the embodiment are denoted by the same numbers and reference numerals as those of the embodiment).

(a) As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the cooling unit 10, in the cooling flow path L1 downstream of the first pump P1, the second sensor flow path 5 including the narrow tube is formed so as to send out a part of cooling water at a position downstream of a merging position of the cooling water sent out from the first pump P1 and the cooling water sent out from the second pump P2.

In this another embodiment (a), disposition of the first sensor flow path 4 including the narrow tube, the merging path 6, and the merging path sensor Sb is not different from that of the embodiment. Even in the configuration of this another embodiment (a), the water temperature of the merging path 6 can be detected similarly to the embodiment.

(b) As illustrated in FIG. 7, an end portion on the downstream side of the merging path 6 is connected to a suction side of the first pump P1. In this another embodiment (b), disposition of the first sensor flow path 4 including the narrow tube and the second sensor flow path 5 including the narrow tube is not different from that of the embodiment. Even in the configuration of this another embodiment (b), the water temperature of the merging path 6 can be detected by the merging path sensor Sb similarly to the embodiment.

(c) The heat source is not limited to the engine 1 provided in the vehicle, and may be, for example, a secondary battery provided in an EV car (electric vehicle) or a fuel cell provided in an FCV car (fuel cell vehicle).

As described above, by performing the temperature management on the battery as the heat source, the most efficient discharge is enabled in the secondary battery of the EV car, and the most efficient power generation is enabled in the FCV car.

(d) In the temperature maintenance routine, the control mode is not limited to the PID control, and feedback control in a mode different from the embodiment can be executed.

Note that the configuration disclosed in the above embodiment (including another embodiment, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as there is no contradiction. Further, the embodiment disclosed in the present specification is an example, and the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the purpose of the present disclosure.

Outline of Above Embodiment

Hereinafter, an outline of the temperature management device A described above will be described.

(1) A characteristic configuration of the temperature management device A is in including: the cooling flow path L1 through which a cooling fluid sent out from the heat source (engine 1) is supplied in order of the radiator 2 and the first pump P1 and returned to the heat source (engine 1); the bypass flow path L2 including the second pump P2 so as to cause a cooling fluid on an upstream side of the radiator 2 in the cooling flow path L1 to merge at a downstream side of the first pump P1; the first sensor flow path 4 including a narrow tube in which a part of a cooling fluid sent out by the first pump P1 is sent out; the second sensor flow path 5 including a narrow tube in which a part of a cooling fluid sent out by the second pump P2 is sent out; the merging path sensor Sb configured to detect a temperature of a cooling fluid flowing in the merging path 6 in which the first sensor flow path 4 and the second sensor flow path 5 merge; and the controller 21 configured to simultaneously drive the first pump P1 and the second pump P2, and separately control driving forces of the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 on the basis of a detection temperature detected by the merging path sensor Sb.

According to this configuration, a part of a cooling fluid flowing through the cooling flow path L1 by driving of the first pump P1 flows to the first sensor flow path 4, and a part of a cooling fluid flowing through the bypass flow path L2 by driving of the second pump P2 flows to the second sensor flow path 5. The cooling fluid having flowed through the first sensor flow path 4 and the cooling fluid having flowed through the second sensor flow path 5 merge at a merging position, and a temperature of the mixed cooling fluid is detected by the merging path sensor Sb.

A temperature of a cooling medium detected by the merging path sensor Sb reflects a temperature of a cooling medium flowing through the cooling flow path L1 and a temperature of a cooling medium having flowed through the bypass flow path L2, and the cooling medium has a small flow rate. Therefore, the merging path sensor Sb can detect a slight temperature change. As described above, the merging path sensor Sb detects a temperature change of the cooling fluid with a short time lag, and enables control with good responsiveness, which is different from, for example, a sensor that detects a temperature inside the heat source (engine 1) or a temperature of a cooling fluid immediately after being sent out from the heat source (engine 1). The controller 21 separately controls a driving force of the first pump P1 and a driving force of the second pump P2 on the basis of a detection temperature detected by the merging path sensor Sb. Therefore, for example, in a case of achieving a temperature increase of the heat source (engine 1), a rapid temperature increase is achieved by setting the driving forces of the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 to be low. In addition, for example, in a case where the temperature of the heat source (engine 1) needs to be decreased, a rapid temperature decrease is achieved by controlling the driving force of the first pump P1 to be high. Therefore, the temperature management device A has been configured in which a temperature of the heat source (engine 1) can be appropriately managed while the radiator 2 that takes heat of a cooling fluid is effectively used.

(2) In the temperature management device A according to (1), the downstream side of the merging path 6 preferably communicates with the suction side of the second pump P2 in the bypass flow path L2.

Accordingly, since a suction force of the second pump P2 acts on the downstream side of the merging path 6, it is possible to reliably allow the cooling fluid to flow to the first sensor flow path 4 and the second sensor flow path 5 regardless of a discharge pressure of the first pump P1 and the discharge pressure of the second pump P2, and to reliably bring the cooling medium mixed by merging into contact with the merging path sensor Sb.

(3) In the temperature management device A according to (1) or (2), the first sensor flow path 4 and the second sensor flow path 5 preferably have equal inner diameters.

In this configuration, the cooling fluid flows in the first sensor flow path 4 and the second sensor flow path 5 by the suction force of the second pump P2, and a flow rate in each flow path is determined by the inner diameter of the narrow tube. For this reason, by making the inner diameters equal, a flow rate of a cooling fluid flowing through the first sensor flow path 4 and a flow rate of a cooling fluid flowing through the second sensor flow path 5 can be made equal. As a result, the detection temperature detected by the merging path sensor Sb can be reflected in the control as a mixture by an equal amount of the cooling fluid from the cooling flow path LI and the cooling medium from the bypass flow path L2.

(4) In the temperature management device A according to any one of (1) to (3), it is preferable that the controller 21 drive the second pump P2 with a set driving force and drive the first pump P1 with a driving force that prevents backflow of a cooling fluid in the cooling flow path L1 due to a discharge pressure of the second pump P2, during warm-up that does not require heat dissipation of a cooling fluid by the radiator 2.

Accordingly, the controller 21 drives the second pump P2 with a predetermined driving force during warm-up, and drives the second pump P2 with a driving force that prevents backflow of a cooling fluid toward the radiator 2 in the cooling flow path L1 due to the discharge pressure of the second pump P2. As a result, the cooling fluid in the cooling flow path L1 is continuously supplied to the first sensor flow path 4 by the first pump P1, and the temperature of the cooling fluid in the cooling flow path L1 can be always reflected on the detection temperature detected by the merging path sensor Sb.

(5) The temperature management device A according to any one of (1) to (4) preferably includes the outlet sensor Sa configured to detect a temperature of a cooling fluid, near the outlet of the heat source (engine 1), and the controller 21 preferably includes: the control target setting part 23 configured to set a target temperature on the basis of a detection result of the outlet sensor Sa; and the temperature control part 24 configured to control the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 to reduce a deviation between the target temperature and a detection temperature detected by the merging path sensor Sb.

Accordingly, the controller 21 sets the target temperature in the control target setting part 23 on the basis of the detection temperature obtained by the outlet sensor Sa. In addition, after the target temperature is set, the controller 21 controls the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 to reduce a deviation between the target temperature and the detection temperature of the merging path sensor Sb in the temperature control part 24. In this control, for example, unlike feedback control in which the first pump P1 and the second pump P2 are controlled to reduce a deviation between the detection temperature of the outlet sensor Sa and the target temperature, control with good responsiveness is enabled.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The aspects of the present disclosure can be used in a temperature management device that manages a temperature of a heat source by controlling a cooling fluid.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

• • 1: Engine (heat source), 2: Radiator, 4: First sensor flow path, 5: Second sensor flow path, 6: Merging path, 21: Controller, 23: Control target setting part, 24: Temperature control part, A: Temperature management device, L1: Cooling flow path, L2: Bypass flow path, P1: First pump, P2: Second pump, Sa: Outlet sensor, and Sb: Merging path sensor