A thermos kettle and a fuel cell vehicle thermal management system

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of thermal management of electric vehicles, and specifically to an insulated water bottle and a thermal management system for fuel cell vehicles; the invention comprises an insulated water bottle and an insulated water bottle circuit, a fuel cell thermal management circuit and a power battery thermal management circuit that are optionally connected to the insulated water bottle; the insulated water bottle circuit comprises a water tank, a first water pump, a fuel cell, a first temperature sensor, a PTC heater and a insulated water bottle that are connected in sequence; the fuel cell thermal management circuit comprises a water tank, a first water pump, a fuel cell, a second temperature sensor, a radiator, a insulated water bottle, a second water pump and a third water pump that are connected in sequence; the power battery thermal management circuit comprises a water tank, a first water pump, a power battery, a first temperature sensor, a radiator, a third water pump, a insulated water bottle and a second water pump that are connected in sequence; the present invention can store part of the waste heat of the fuel cell stack through the insulated water bottle, thereby overcoming the cold start problem of the fuel cell vehicle and meeting the heating requirements of the power battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of thermal management of electric vehicles, in particular to a thermal management technology for fuel cell vehicles, and in particular to a thermos kettle and a thermal management system for fuel cell vehicles. Background Art

[0002] Fuel cell vehicles, as zero-pollution vehicles, have garnered attention from various countries and major automakers. Fuel cell vehicles convert chemical energy into electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, simultaneously generating water and heat. Like traditional engines, fuel cell stacks generate significant heat, which is then dissipated outside the vehicle through a thermal management system. This results in energy waste, leading to a fuel cell stack thermal efficiency of only 40%-50%. Research is developing thermal management systems that utilize waste heat from the stack to heat other parts of the fuel cell vehicle, thereby reducing energy waste. For example, waste heat from the stack can be used to heat the passenger compartment or the power battery. While these efforts can reduce energy waste, some heat will still be lost. While fuel cell vehicle thermal efficiency cannot reach 100%, new components and systems can be designed to further improve energy utilization and reduce energy waste.

[0003] When a fuel cell vehicle is started at low ambient temperatures, the fuel cell stack cannot quickly reach its optimal operating temperature, resulting in lower thermal efficiency. Existing research has explored using waste heat from other heat sources in the thermal management system (such as the power battery) to preheat the fuel cell stack. The drawback of this design is that it slows stack preheating, requiring the power battery to generate waste heat before using it to preheat the stack. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a thermos kettle and a fuel cell vehicle thermal management system, the purpose of which is to solve multiple problems in the above existing technologies.

[0005] The present invention is achieved in that:

[0006] In a first aspect, an insulated kettle comprises a kettle body, and a cooling liquid inlet and outlet channel arranged in the kettle body and connected to the outside world, a sealing portion is provided between the cooling liquid inlet and outlet channel and the kettle body, an air channel is opened through the sealing portion, and a closed valve port is provided in the air channel extending deep into the kettle body end.

[0007] In a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, a dustproof net is provided on the end side of the air passage extending to the outside.

[0008] In a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, a depth sensor is provided inside the kettle body.

[0009] In the second aspect, a fuel cell vehicle thermal management system comprises the thermos kettle described in any one of the above items, and a thermos kettle circuit, a fuel cell stack thermal management circuit and a power battery thermal management circuit that are optionally connected to the thermos kettle; the thermos kettle circuit comprises a water tank, a first water pump, a fuel cell stack, a second temperature sensor, a PTC heater and a thermos kettle connected in sequence; the fuel cell stack thermal management circuit comprises a water tank, a first water pump, a fuel cell stack, a second temperature sensor, a radiator, a thermos kettle, a second water pump and a third water pump connected in sequence; the power battery thermal management circuit comprises a water tank, a first water pump, a power battery, a first temperature sensor, a radiator, a third water pump, a thermos kettle and a second water pump connected in sequence.

[0010] In a first possible implementation of the second aspect, the fuel cell thermal management circuit includes a first fuel cell thermal management branch and a second fuel cell thermal management branch connected in parallel with the first fuel cell thermal management branch. The first fuel cell thermal management branch and the second fuel cell thermal management branch are connected through a second three-way valve, and the conduction of the second three-way valve is controlled based on the real-time temperature obtained by the second temperature sensor.

[0011] In combination with the first feasible manner of the second aspect, in a second feasible manner, the first branch of the thermal management of the fuel cell stack includes a water tank, a first water pump, a fuel cell stack, a second temperature sensor, a radiator, and a third water pump, which are connected in sequence to form a loop.

[0012] In combination with the second feasible method of the second aspect, in a third feasible method, the second branch of the thermal management of the fuel cell stack includes a PTC heater, a first two-way valve, a thermos kettle, a second two-way valve and a second water pump connected in sequence; the PTC heater is connected to the second three-way valve, and the second water pump is connected to the fuel cell stack through the first three-way valve.

[0013] In a fourth achievable manner of the second aspect, the power battery thermal management circuit includes a first power battery thermal management branch and a second power battery thermal management branch connected in parallel with the first power battery thermal management branch. The first power battery thermal management branch and the second power battery thermal management branch are connected through a first three-way valve and a second three-way valve. The conductance of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve is controlled based on the first temperature sensor.

[0014] In combination with the fourth achievable manner of the second aspect, in a fifth achievable manner, the first branch of the power battery thermal management includes a water tank, a power battery, a first temperature sensor, a radiator, and a third water pump that are connected in sequence to form a loop.

[0015] In combination with the fifth achievable method of the second aspect, in a sixth achievable method, the second branch of the power battery thermal management includes a PTC heater, a first two-way valve, a thermos, a second two-way valve and a second water pump connected in sequence; the PTC heater is connected to the second three-way valve, and the second water pump is connected to the power battery through the first three-way valve.

[0016] The technical solution provided in the embodiments of this application utilizes a thermos to store some of the waste heat from the fuel cell stack, overcoming the cold start problem of fuel cell vehicles and meeting the heating requirements of the power battery. This improves fuel cell efficiency, effectively utilizes waste heat, and further reduces energy waste generated by the fuel cell. This solves the cold start difficulty of fuel cell vehicles; effectively utilizes waste heat from the stack by storing it, further improving the energy utilization rate of the fuel cell stack; and the thermos and thermal management system are simple in structure and highly operable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0018] The methods, systems, and / or programs in the accompanying drawings will be further described according to exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. These exemplary embodiments are non-limiting exemplary embodiments, wherein example numerals represent similar structures in the various views of the drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a system structure diagram of a fuel cell vehicle thermal management system provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of a thermos kettle provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of the thermos kettle provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] icon:

[0023] 100-Thermostatic kettle;

[0024] 110 - kettle body; 120 - coolant inlet and outlet channels; 130 - sealing portion; 140 - air channel; 150 - dustproof net; 160 - depth sensor; 141 - closed valve port. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention generally described and shown in the drawings herein can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined or explained in subsequent drawings.

[0027] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" and the like indicate positions or locations based on the positions shown in the accompanying drawings, or the positions or locations in which the inventive product is typically placed when in use. These terms are intended solely to facilitate the description of the present invention and to simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used solely to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0028] In the description of the present invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "disposed," "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they may refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they may refer to internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0029] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of example in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present application can be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, systems, compositions, and / or circuits have been described at a relatively high level, without detail, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present application.

[0030] See also Figure 1In this embodiment, a fuel cell vehicle thermal management system is provided for storing waste heat in the fuel cell stack, and realizing targeted utilization of the waste heat by invisible conduction of the waste heat according to the configured multiple circuits.

[0031] In this embodiment, the device for storing waste heat is a thermos kettle, which is connected to the battery stack via a pipe to store waste heat from the battery stack. The multiple circuits include a thermos kettle circuit, a battery stack thermal management circuit, and a power thermal management circuit. The thermos kettle circuit recovers and stores waste heat from the battery stack, the battery stack thermal management circuit uses coolant to exchange heat between the battery stack and the radiator, and the power battery thermal management circuit uses coolant to exchange heat between the power battery and the radiator.

[0032] Among them, the thermos kettle circuit includes a water tank, a first water pump, a fuel cell stack, a first temperature sensor, a PTC heater and a thermos kettle which are connected in sequence.

[0033] The thermal management circuit for the fuel cell stack includes a water tank, a first water pump, a fuel cell stack, a second temperature sensor, a radiator, a thermos, a second water pump, and a third water pump, all connected in sequence. The thermal management circuit for the fuel cell stack includes a first thermal management branch and a second thermal management branch connected in parallel with the first thermal management branch. The first and second thermal management branches are connected via a second three-way valve, the conduction of which is controlled based on the real-time temperature acquired by the second temperature sensor. The first thermal management branch includes a water tank, a first water pump, a fuel cell stack, a temperature sensor, a radiator, and a third water pump, all connected in sequence to form a loop. The second thermal management branch includes a PTC heater, a first two-way valve, a thermos, a second two-way valve, and a second water pump, all connected in sequence. The PTC heater is connected to the second three-way valve, and the second water pump is connected to the fuel cell stack via the first three-way valve.

[0034] The power battery thermal management circuit includes a first power battery thermal management branch and a second power battery thermal management branch connected in parallel with the first power battery thermal management branch. The first power battery thermal management branch and the second power battery thermal management branch are connected via a first three-way valve and a second three-way valve. The conductance of the first and second three-way valves is controlled based on the first temperature sensor. Specifically, the first power battery thermal management branch includes a water tank, a power battery, a temperature sensor, a radiator, and a third water pump, which are connected in sequence to form a loop. Specifically, the second power battery thermal management branch includes a PTC heater, a first two-way valve, a thermos, a second two-way valve, and a second water pump, which are connected in sequence. The PTC heater is connected to the second three-way valve, and the second water pump is connected to the power battery via the first three-way valve.

[0035] In this example, see Figure 2 and Figure 3 The thermal insulation kettle includes a kettle body and a cooling liquid inlet and outlet channel arranged in the kettle body and connected to the outside world. A sealing portion is provided between the cooling liquid inlet and outlet channel and the kettle body, an air channel is opened through the sealing portion, and a closed valve port is provided in the air channel extending deep into the kettle body end.

[0036] Specifically, in order to prevent external pollution particles from entering the thermos kettle, a dustproof net is provided at the end side where the air passage extends to the outside. In this embodiment, a depth sensor is provided in the kettle body.

[0037] In this embodiment, the thermos is made of vacuum-proof stainless steel, and the sealing portion is made of a highly insulating rubber material. The opening and closing of the valve is controlled by the flow of air. If no air is flowing through the channel, the valve remains closed. A depth sensor is installed inside the thermos to monitor the coolant level within the kettle. The thermos is designed to insulate the high-temperature coolant flowing from the fuel cell stack. The material, dimensions, geometry, and other parameters of the thermos and its various components can be adjusted based on actual conditions. In this embodiment, since there is only one coolant channel when coolant enters the thermos, air pressure forces the existing air inside to escape. Therefore, air channels are designed on both sides of the coolant channel in the lid. This allows air to escape simultaneously with the coolant entering the thermos. Similarly, since there is only one coolant channel when coolant is discharged, air pressure forces air to enter the thermos. Therefore, air channels are designed to allow air to enter the thermos as coolant is discharged. The water depth sensor in the bottle monitors whether the coolant level has reached the set value. During normal operation of the battery stack, the coolant is continuously added until the set level is reached. The dust screen is used to prevent dust and debris from entering the air passage.

[0038] As described above, the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A fuel cell vehicle thermal management system, characterized in that: It includes a thermos kettle, and a thermos kettle circuit, a stack thermal management circuit and a power battery thermal management circuit that are optionally connected to the thermos kettle; the thermos kettle includes a kettle body, and a coolant inlet and outlet channel arranged in the kettle body and connected to the outside world, a sealing portion is provided between the coolant inlet and outlet channel and the kettle body, an air channel is opened through the sealing portion, and a closed valve port is provided in the air channel deep into the kettle body end; the thermos kettle circuit includes a water tank, a first water pump, a stack, a second temperature sensor, a PTC heater and a thermos kettle that are connected in sequence, the stack thermal management circuit includes a water tank, a first water pump, a stack, a second temperature sensor, a radiator, a thermos kettle, a second water pump and a third water pump that are connected in sequence, the power battery thermal management circuit includes a water tank, a first water pump, a power battery, a first temperature sensor, a radiator, a third water pump, a thermos kettle and a second water pump that are connected in sequence; the stack thermal management circuit It includes a first branch of thermal management of the battery stack and a second branch of thermal management of the battery stack connected in parallel with the first branch of thermal management of the battery stack, the first branch of thermal management of the battery stack and the second branch of thermal management of the battery stack are connected through a second three-way valve, and the conduction of the second three-way valve is controlled based on the real-time temperature obtained by the second temperature sensor; the second branch of thermal management of the battery stack includes a PTC heater, a first two-way valve, a thermos kettle, a second two-way valve and a second water pump connected in sequence; the PTC heater is connected to the second three-way valve, and the second water pump is connected to the battery stack through the first three-way valve; the power battery thermal management circuit includes a first branch of thermal management of the power battery and a second branch of thermal management of the power battery connected in parallel with the first branch of thermal management of the power battery, the first branch of thermal management of the power battery and the second branch of thermal management of the power battery are connected through a first three-way valve and a second three-way valve, and the conduction of the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve is controlled based on the first temperature sensor.

2. The fuel cell vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first branch of the stack thermal management includes a water tank, a first water pump, a stack, a second temperature sensor, a radiator, and a third water pump, which are connected in sequence to form a loop.

3. The fuel cell vehicle thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first branch of the power battery thermal management includes a water tank, a power battery, a first temperature sensor, a radiator, and a third water pump that are connected in sequence to form a loop.

4. The fuel cell vehicle thermal management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second branch of the power battery thermal management includes a PTC heater, a first two-way valve, a thermos, a second two-way valve and a second water pump connected in sequence; the PTC heater is connected to the second three-way valve, and the second water pump is connected to the power battery through the first three-way valve.

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