Coolant recycling recovery device and control method
By designing a coolant recycling and recovery device and utilizing conductivity monitoring and purification technologies, the problem of coolant waste after hydrogen fuel cell engine testing was solved, achieving coolant recycling and cost savings.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BEIJING SINOHYTEC
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-02
AI Technical Summary
The waste of coolant after testing hydrogen fuel cell engines in existing technologies leads to energy loss and increased costs for enterprises.
A coolant recycling and recovery device was designed, including components such as a coolant recovery tank, a level gauge, a filter, a deionization tank, a conductivity meter, and a solenoid valve. By monitoring the conductivity of the coolant, the coolant can be recycled, unqualified liquid can be purified and filtered again, and qualified liquid can be used for testing.
This enables the recycling of coolant, saves energy, and reduces enterprise costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN115275258B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of new energy technology, and in particular relates to a coolant recycling and recovery device and control method. Background Technology
[0002] As the decarbonization of the energy system intensifies, hydrogen energy, with its wide availability, cleanliness, and controllability, is gradually becoming one of the important energy carriers for global low-carbon development. Actively promoting the research and industrialization of advanced hydrogen energy technologies has become crucial. Hydrogen fuel cells offer advantages such as high conversion efficiency, pollution-free byproducts, and rapid refueling, making them a truly clean energy source. However, due to the operating characteristics of hydrogen fuel cell engines, heat is generated alongside electricity. Therefore, during research and development testing or factory testing, a test bench is needed to provide coolant to the fuel cell stack. After each engine test, all the coolant in the engine needs to be drained, and new coolant needs to be added before testing the next engine, resulting in significant coolant waste. This not only leads to energy loss but also increases enterprise costs. Summary of the Invention
[0003] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a coolant recycling and recovery device and control method, which at least partially solves the problem of coolant waste in the prior art.
[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a coolant recycling and recovery device, comprising: a coolant recovery tank, a level gauge, a first filter, a first deionization tank, a first conductivity meter, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a second deionization tank, a second conductivity meter, and a test bench tank;
[0005] One inlet of the coolant recovery tank is connected to the drain outlet of the fuel cell engine via a connecting pipe. A level gauge is installed on the coolant recovery tank. The first filter, the first deionizer, and the first conductivity meter are sequentially installed on the connecting pipe at the outlet of the coolant recovery tank. The first solenoid valve is installed on the connecting pipe to the test bench tank. The second solenoid valve, the second deionizer, and the second conductivity meter are sequentially installed on the connecting pipe at the other inlet of the coolant recovery tank.
[0006] The coolant in the coolant recovery tank is divided into two streams after passing through the first filter, the first deionizer, and the first conductivity meter. One stream flows into the test bench water tank through the first solenoid valve, and the other stream flows into the coolant recovery tank through the second solenoid valve, the second deionizer, and the second conductivity meter.
[0007] Optionally, a water pump may be installed on the connecting pipe to the outlet of the coolant recovery tank.
[0008] Optionally, the water pump is a 24V DC electric centrifugal impeller self-priming water pump with a power of 120W.
[0009] Optionally, it also includes a host computer, wherein the first conductivity meter, the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, the second conductivity meter, and the water pump are all electrically connected to the host computer, and the host computer controls the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, and the water pump based on the signal received from the first conductivity meter.
[0010] Optionally, the test platform water tank includes a first test platform water tank and a second test platform water tank, the first test platform water tank and the second test platform water tank have different capacities, a third solenoid valve is provided at the inlet of the first test platform water tank, and a fourth solenoid valve is provided at the inlet of the second test platform water tank.
[0011] Optionally, a second filter is provided between the second deionization tank and the second solenoid valve.
[0012] Optionally, the connecting pipe is made of stainless steel.
[0013] Optionally, the deionization tank contains ion exchange resin, and the coolant includes deionized water or antifreeze.
[0014] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure also provide a control method for a coolant recycling and recovery device, applied to any of the coolant recycling and recovery devices described in the first aspect, comprising:
[0015] When the level gauge reaches the set value, the coolant in the coolant recovery tank flows through the first filter, the first deion tank, and the first conductivity meter. When the conductivity of the first conductivity meter is greater than the set value, the first solenoid valve is closed and the second solenoid valve is opened. The coolant then flows back to the coolant recovery tank through the second deion tank and the second conductivity meter. The second deion tank is used to purify and filter the coolant.
[0016] When the conductivity of the first conductivity meter is not greater than the set value, the first solenoid valve is opened and the second solenoid valve is closed, and the coolant flows into the water tank of the test bench.
[0017] Optionally, the setting value is 3 μs / cm.
[0018] This invention provides a coolant recycling and recovery device and control method. The coolant recycling and recovery device comprises a coolant recovery tank, a level gauge, a first filter, a first deionization tank, a first conductivity meter, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a second deionization tank, and a second conductivity meter. The first conductivity meter monitors the conductivity of the coolant. Coolant meeting the requirements is discharged into a test tank for testing, while coolant failing the requirements is re-purified and filtered in the second deionization tank before flowing back into the coolant recovery tank. This recycling of coolant avoids waste, thereby saving energy and reducing costs. Attached Figure Description
[0019] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals generally denote like parts.
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the coolant recycling and recovery device provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;
[0021] Figure 2 A flowchart of the control method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;
[0022] Wherein: 1-Coolant recovery tank, 2-Level gauge, 3-First filter, 4-First deionization tank, 5-First conductivity meter, 6-Water pump, 7-First solenoid valve, 8-Second solenoid valve, 9-Second deionization tank, 10-Second conductivity meter, 11-Third solenoid valve, 12-Fourth solenoid valve. Detailed Implementation
[0023] The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024] It should be understood that the following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this disclosure from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this disclosure, and not all of them. This disclosure can also be implemented or applied through other different specific implementation methods, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. Based on the embodiments in this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.
[0025] It should be noted that various aspects of embodiments within the scope of the appended claims are described below. It will be apparent that the aspects described herein can be embodied in a wide variety of forms, and any particular structure and / or function described herein is merely illustrative. Based on this disclosure, those skilled in the art will understand that one aspect described herein can be implemented independently of any other aspect, and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, any number of aspects set forth herein can be used to implement the device and / or practice the method. Additionally, this device and / or method can be implemented using structures and / or functionalities other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein.
[0026] It should also be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of this disclosure. The illustrations only show the components related to this disclosure and are not drawn according to the number, shape and size of the components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.
[0027] Furthermore, specific details are provided in the following description to facilitate a thorough understanding of the examples. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the described aspects can be practiced without these specific details.
[0028] Proton exchange membrane hydrogen fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as fuel cell): A power generation device that uses a proton exchange membrane as the ion conducting medium to directly convert the chemical energy in hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, heat energy and other reaction products through electrochemical reactions.
[0029] Hydrogen fuel cell engine: An integrated device that converts the chemical energy in hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, including a fuel cell stack, hydrogen supply and circulation system, air supply system, water and heat management system, electronic control system, and data acquisition system.
[0030] Coolant: Circulates in the engine water tank, serving to prevent freezing and boiling, and protecting the engine's normal operation. It includes deionized water and antifreeze.
[0031] Antifreeze: Cools engine components and prevents the engine from overheating.
[0032] Deionized water: Pure water after impurities in ionic form have been removed.
[0033] Recycling: The process of recovering and reusing the useful parts of used products or waste.
[0034] Deionizer: A device containing ion exchange resin that removes calcium and magnesium ions from water through ion exchange, thereby reducing water hardness.
[0035] Recycling tank: A device for collecting deionized water.
[0036] Hydrogen fuel cell system test bench: Test equipment for testing the factory performance of hydrogen fuel cell engines.
[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment discloses a coolant recycling and recovery device, including: a coolant recovery tank, a level gauge, a first filter, a first deionization tank, a first conductivity meter, a first solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a second deionization tank, a second conductivity meter, and a test platform tank;
[0038] One inlet of the coolant recovery tank is connected to the drain outlet of the fuel cell engine via a connecting pipe. A level gauge is installed on the coolant recovery tank. The first filter, the first deionizer, and the first conductivity meter are sequentially installed on the connecting pipe at the outlet of the coolant recovery tank. The first solenoid valve is installed on the connecting pipe to the test bench tank. The second solenoid valve, the second deionizer, and the second conductivity meter are sequentially installed on the connecting pipe at the other inlet of the coolant recovery tank.
[0039] The coolant in the coolant recovery tank is divided into two streams after passing through the first filter, the first deionizer, and the first conductivity meter. One stream flows into the test bench water tank through the first solenoid valve, and the other stream flows into the coolant recovery tank through the second solenoid valve, the second deionizer, and the second conductivity meter.
[0040] The second conductivity meter is used to monitor the conductivity of the coolant after purification and filtration in the second deionization tank. If the conductivity of the second conductivity meter does not meet the set conditions, the device can be controlled to continue circulating and filtering the coolant again until the set conditions are met.
[0041] The level gauge can display the liquid level outside the coolant recovery tank.
[0042] Optionally, a water pump may be installed on the connecting pipe to the outlet of the coolant recovery tank.
[0043] Optionally, the water pump is a 24V DC electric centrifugal impeller self-priming water pump with a power of 120W.
[0044] Optionally, it also includes a host computer, wherein the first conductivity meter, the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, the second conductivity meter, and the water pump are all electrically connected to the host computer, and the host computer controls the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, and the water pump based on the signal received from the first conductivity meter.
[0045] Optionally, the test platform water tank includes a first test platform water tank and a second test platform water tank, which have different capacities. A third solenoid valve is installed at the inlet of the first test platform water tank, and a fourth solenoid valve is installed at the inlet of the second test platform water tank. The first and second test platform water tanks have different capacities; the first test platform water tank can be either large or small. When the first test platform water tank has a large capacity, the second test platform water tank has a small capacity. Conversely, when the first test platform water tank has a small capacity, the second test platform water tank has a large capacity.
[0046] Optionally, a second filter is provided between the second deionization tank and the second solenoid valve.
[0047] Optionally, the connecting pipe is made of stainless steel.
[0048] Optionally, the deionization tank contains ion exchange resin, and the coolant includes deionized water or antifreeze.
[0049] Ion exchange resins are used to remove calcium and magnesium ions from water, soften the water, and reduce its conductivity. Coolants include, but are not limited to, deionized water and antifreeze, and may also include other coolants of similar properties.
[0050] In a specific example, the water pump outlet pipeline is divided into two paths. One path connects to the second solenoid valve, the second deionizer, and the second conductivity meter in sequence before returning to the coolant recovery tank. The other path enters the test bench water tank through the first solenoid valve.
[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, when the hydrogen fuel cell engine drains water, the drain valve is opened, and the coolant recovery tank level is observed. When the level gauge shows that it has reached the upper limit, the water pump is started. When the first conductivity meter shows conductivity > 3 μS / cm, the second solenoid valve is opened, and the coolant is purified and filtered again by the ion exchange resin in the second deion tank before returning to the coolant recovery tank. When the conductivity meter shows conductivity ≤ 3 μS / cm, the first solenoid valve is opened, and the coolant flows through the pipeline into the test bench water tank for reuse. By controlling the third and fourth solenoid valves, the coolant can flow into the first test bench water tank and the second test bench water tank respectively.
[0052] The coolant recycling and recovery device control method disclosed in this embodiment is applied to the coolant recycling and recovery device of this embodiment, including:
[0053] When the level gauge reaches the set value, the coolant in the coolant recovery tank flows through the first filter, the first deion tank, and the first conductivity meter. When the conductivity of the first conductivity meter is greater than the set value, the first solenoid valve is closed and the second solenoid valve is opened. The coolant then flows back to the coolant recovery tank through the second deion tank and the second conductivity meter. The second deion tank is used to purify and filter the coolant.
[0054] When the conductivity of the first conductivity meter is not greater than the set value, the first solenoid valve is opened and the second solenoid valve is closed, allowing coolant to flow into the test bench water tank. Optionally, the set value is 3 μS / cm.
[0055] The basic principles of this disclosure have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the advantages, benefits, and effects mentioned in this disclosure are merely examples and not limitations, and should not be considered as essential features of each embodiment of this disclosure. Furthermore, the specific details disclosed above are for illustrative and facilitative purposes only, and are not limitations. These details do not limit the scope of this disclosure to the necessity of employing the aforementioned specific details for implementation.
[0056] In this disclosure, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. The block diagrams of devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems involved in this disclosure are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that they must be connected, arranged, or configured in the manner shown in the block diagrams. As those skilled in the art will recognize, these devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems can be connected, arranged, and configured in any manner. Words such as "comprising," "including," "having," etc., are open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to," and are used interchangeably with them. The terms "or" and "and" as used herein refer to the terms "and / or," and are used interchangeably with them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term "such as" as used herein refers to the phrase "such as but not limited to," and is used interchangeably with it.
[0057] Additionally, as used herein, the "or" used in a list of items beginning with "at least one" indicates a separate list, such that a list of, for example, "at least one of A, B, or C" means A or B or C, or AB or AC or BC, or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, the word "exemplary" does not imply that the described example is preferred or better than other examples.
[0058] It should also be noted that in the systems and methods of this disclosure, the components or steps can be decomposed and / or recombined. These decompositions and / or recombinations should be considered as equivalent solutions to this disclosure.
[0059] Various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made to the technology described herein without departing from the teachings defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the scope of the claims of this disclosure is not limited to the specific aspects of the processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, and actions described above. Currently existing or later-developed processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, or actions that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding aspects described herein can be utilized. Therefore, the appended claims include such processes, machines, manufactures, events, means, methods, or actions within their scope.
[0060] The above description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but rather to be carried out within the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
[0061] The above description has been given for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, this description is not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure to the forms disclosed herein. Although numerous exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize certain variations, modifications, alterations, additions, and sub-combinations therein.
Claims
1. A coolant recycling and recovery device, characterized in that, include: Coolant recovery tank, level gauge, first filter, first deionization tank, first conductivity meter, first solenoid valve, second solenoid valve, second deionization tank, second conductivity meter and test bench water tank; One inlet of the coolant recovery tank is connected to the drain outlet of the fuel cell engine via a connecting pipe. A level gauge is installed on the coolant recovery tank. The first filter, the first deionizer, and the first conductivity meter are sequentially installed on the connecting pipe at the outlet of the coolant recovery tank. The first solenoid valve is installed on the connecting pipe to the test bench tank. The second solenoid valve, the second deionizer, and the second conductivity meter are sequentially installed on the connecting pipe at the other inlet of the coolant recovery tank. The coolant in the coolant recovery tank is divided into two paths after passing through the first filter, the first deionizer and the first conductivity meter. One path flows into the test bench water tank through the first solenoid valve, and the other path flows into the coolant recovery tank through the second solenoid valve, the second deionizer and the second conductivity meter in sequence. A water pump is installed on the connecting pipe at the outlet of the coolant recovery tank; The coolant recycling and recovery device also includes a host computer. The first conductivity meter, the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, the second conductivity meter, and the water pump are all electrically connected to the host computer. The host computer controls the first solenoid valve, the second solenoid valve, and the water pump based on the signal received from the first conductivity meter. The test bench water tank includes a first test bench water tank and a second test bench water tank. The first test bench water tank and the second test bench water tank have different capacities. A third solenoid valve is installed at the inlet of the first test bench water tank, and a fourth solenoid valve is installed at the inlet of the second test bench water tank. The host computer is configured to execute the following control methods: When the level gauge reaches the set value, the coolant in the coolant recovery tank flows through the first filter, the first deion tank, and the first conductivity meter. When the conductivity of the first conductivity meter is greater than the set value, the first solenoid valve is closed and the second solenoid valve is opened. The coolant then flows back to the coolant recovery tank through the second deion tank and the second conductivity meter. The second deion tank is used to purify and filter the coolant. When the conductivity of the first conductivity meter is not greater than the set value, the first solenoid valve is opened and the second solenoid valve is closed, and the coolant flows into the water tank of the test bench. A second filter is provided between the second deionization tank and the second solenoid valve.
2. The coolant recycling and recovery device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water pump is a 24V DC electric centrifugal impeller self-priming water pump with a power of 120W.
3. The coolant recycling and recovery device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting pipes are made of stainless steel.
4. The coolant recycling and recovery device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second deionization tank contains ion exchange resin, and the coolant includes deionized water or antifreeze.
5. The coolant recycling and recovery device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The set value is 3µs / cm.