Air-conditioning apparatus for vehicle use

Abstract

An air-conditioning apparatus for vehicle use which can obtain sufficient heater capacity even in a cold-climate region, can utilize an existing heater unit, can combine a combustion type heater with a simple assembly operation, and can utilize exhaust heat of a motor for travel use of an automobile for heating a passenger compartment. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle connecting a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant/water heat exchanger, a first pressure-reducer, and an exterior heat exchanger in an annular configuration. Further, a hot-water cycle connects the refrigerant/water heat exchanger, a hot-water heater core, an exhaust-heat cooler, and a water pump in an annular configuration and connects a combustion type heater in parallel with the refrigerant/water heat exchanger. Accordingly, during heat-pump hot-water heating, hot water, with a temperature raised by refrigerant condensation by the refrigerant/water heat exchanger, circulates in the hot-water heater core so as to obtain a required heater capacity. During combustion heater hot-water heating, hot water, with a temperature raised by combustion fuel in the combustion type heater, circulates in the hot-water heater core so as to obtain sufficient heating capacity even in a cold-climate region.