Thermal management control method, system and device

Abstract

The present application discloses a thermal management control method, system and device, and the method is as follows: if the battery stack is started at low temperature, the coolant is controlled to switch between a first flow direction and a second flow direction, the first flow direction and the second flow direction are opposite in the battery stack, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator. When the battery stack is started at low temperature, by controlling the coolant to switch between the first flow direction and the second flow direction, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator, the flow direction of the coolant in the battery stack is continuously changed, and the coolant inside the battery stack can be more evenly distributed and the temperature of the battery stack is increased, thereby achieving rapid and uniform heating of the internal cavity of the battery stack and improving the low-temperature working performance of the battery stack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of fuel cells, and in particular to a thermal management control method, system, and device. Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell is a power generation device that converts the chemical energy present in a fuel and an oxidant directly into electricity. In a hydrogen fuel cell system, hydrogen and oxygen undergo an electrochemical reaction to produce electricity and water. However, water freezes below 0°C, clogging the fuel cell stack's catalysts and gas diffusion layer. Consequently, the stack cannot perform its electrochemical reaction properly, preventing the hydrogen fuel cell from starting.

[0003] The fuel cell system meets thermal management requirements by coordinating the cooling system components to maintain the stack temperature within the operating range. The cooling system primarily consists of a water pump, radiator, thermostat, intercooler, and deionizer. The water pump provides the power for coolant circulation; the radiator cools the coolant temperature by exchanging heat with the surrounding air; the thermostat distributes the flow rate between the large and small loops to control the cooling system temperature; the intercooler cools the compressed air temperature by exchanging heat between the coolant and the air; and the deionizer contains ion exchange resin, which absorbs ions in the coolant to maintain low conductivity.

[0004] In the prior art, the coolant is heated by adding an electric heater to the cooling system or by burning residual fuel. In the above prior art, external preheating is used to quickly heat the stack, but there is a disadvantage of uneven stack temperature.

[0005] Therefore, under the premise of rapidly heating the fuel cell stack, how to uniformly heat the fuel cell stack is a technical problem that those skilled in the art currently need to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present application provides a thermal management control method, system and device to achieve the purpose of rapidly and evenly heating the fuel cell stack.

[0007] To solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a thermal management control method, comprising:

[0008] If the fuel cell stack is started at a low temperature, the coolant is controlled to switch between a first flow direction and a second flow direction. The first flow direction and the second flow direction are opposite in the fuel cell stack, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator.

[0009] Optionally, the method further comprises:

[0010] If the temperature of the coolant is not higher than the first threshold, controlling the coolant to maintain the second flow direction;

[0011] If the temperature of the coolant is higher than the first threshold, the coolant is controlled to maintain a third flow direction, and the third flow direction flows through the radiator.

[0012] Optionally, low temperature startup includes:

[0013] Starts up in the temperature range of -40 to -30°C.

[0014] The present application also provides a thermal management control system, which is used to execute the above-mentioned thermal management control method. The thermal management control system includes a fuel cell stack, a water pump, a radiator, and a thermal management control device, wherein the water pump is used to deliver coolant to the radiator and the fuel cell stack;

[0015] The thermal management control device is used to control the coolant to switch between a first flow direction and a second flow direction. The first flow direction and the second flow direction are opposite in the fuel cell stack, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator.

[0016] Optionally, the thermal management control system further includes an intercooler, and when the coolant flows in the first direction, the coolant flows back to the water pump through the intercooler.

[0017] Optionally, the thermal management control system further includes a deionizer, and when the coolant flows in the first direction, the coolant flows back to the water pump through the intercooler and the deionizer.

[0018] Optionally, the thermal management control device further controls the coolant to maintain a third flow direction, where the third flow direction flows through the radiator.

[0019] Optionally, the thermal management control device includes:

[0020] The valve body includes six channels;

[0021] The valve core is rotatably connected to the valve body. The valve core is provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel. When the valve core rotates relative to the valve body, the first flow channel connects two adjacent channels on the valve body, and the second flow channel connects another two adjacent channels on the valve body.

[0022] Optionally, the six channels include a first channel, a second channel, a third channel, a fourth channel, a fifth channel and a sixth channel, and the first channel, the second channel, the third channel, the fourth channel, the fifth channel and the sixth channel are arranged sequentially on the valve body.

[0023] Optionally, the thermal management control device further includes a seventh channel, an eighth channel and a ninth channel, the sixth channel is connected to the seventh channel, the eighth channel and the ninth channel respectively, and the seventh channel is connected to the fourth channel.

[0024] Optionally, the valve core rotates between a first angle and a second angle relative to the valve body, the first angle being that the first flow channel connects the first channel and the second channel, and the second flow channel connects the third channel and the fourth channel, and the second angle being that the first flow channel connects the first channel and the sixth channel, and the second flow channel connects the second channel and the third channel.

[0025] Optionally, the valve core is a cylindrical or spherical structure.

[0026] Optionally, the first channel, the second channel, the third channel, the fourth channel, the fifth channel and the sixth channel are evenly distributed on the valve body.

[0027] The present application also provides a thermal management control device, which is the thermal management control device in the above-mentioned thermal management control system.

[0028] Compared with the above-mentioned background technology, the present application provides a thermal management control method, system and device, which adopts a method in which if the fuel cell stack is started at low temperature, the coolant is controlled to switch between the first flow direction and the second flow direction, and the flow directions of the first flow direction and the second flow direction are opposite in the fuel cell stack, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator. When the fuel cell stack is started at low temperature, the coolant is controlled to switch between the first flow direction and the second flow direction, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow flows through the radiator, so that the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell stack is continuously changed, and the coolant inside the fuel cell stack can be more evenly distributed and the temperature of the fuel cell stack is increased, thereby achieving rapid and uniform heating of the internal cavity of the fuel cell stack and improving the low-temperature working performance of the fuel cell stack.

[0029] In addition, as the frequency of the coolant switching between the first flow direction and the second flow direction increases, the coolant outflow in the fuel cell stack decreases, thereby reducing heat loss in the process of the coolant flowing through the pipes and other components, and further achieving rapid and uniform heating of the internal cavity of the fuel cell stack. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 A flow chart of the thermal management control method provided in this application;

[0031] Figure 2 A system schematic diagram of a specific implementation of the thermal management control system provided by this application in the first flow direction;

[0032] Figure 3 A system schematic diagram of a specific implementation of the thermal management control system provided by this application in the second flow direction;

[0033] Figure 4 for Figure 2 The schematic structural diagram of the thermal management control device shown in the first flow direction;

[0034] Figure 5 for Figure 3The schematic structural diagram of the thermal management control device in the second flow direction is shown;

[0035] Figure 6 A system diagram of a specific implementation of the thermal management control system provided by this application in the third direction;

[0036] Figure 7 for Figure 6 The schematic structural diagram of the thermal management control device in the third flow direction is shown;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a system schematic diagram of another specific implementation of the thermal management control system provided by this application in the first flow direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the present application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0039] See also Figure 1 The specific steps of the thermal management control method provided in this application are as follows:

[0040] S101: If the fuel cell stack is started at a low temperature, the first device controls the coolant to switch between a first flow direction and a second flow direction.

[0041] Low temperature starting includes starting in the temperature range of -40 to -30°C.

[0042] The first device includes but is not limited to the thermal management control device in the thermal management control system described below.

[0043] The first flow direction and the second flow direction are opposite to each other in the battery stack, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator.

[0044] In some implementations, if the coolant temperature is not higher than a first threshold (the first threshold can be set based on actual needs, and this application does not limit the specific value of the first threshold), the first device controls the coolant to maintain the second flow direction. If the coolant temperature is higher than the first threshold, the first device controls the coolant to maintain the third flow direction (the third flow direction flows through the radiator). Because the first threshold is the set system operating temperature, when the coolant maintains the second flow direction, it does not flow through the radiator, which can reduce system heat loss and achieve system thermal balance. When the coolant maintains the second flow direction, it flows through the radiator, which can cool the system and ensure that the system temperature does not exceed the system operating temperature.

[0045] In other implementations, a cycle is defined as switching from the first flow direction to the second flow direction and then from the second flow direction to the third flow direction. If the fuel cell stack is started at a low temperature, the first device controls the coolant to complete a cycle every 10 seconds until the temperature of the coolant in the fuel cell stack reaches a second threshold value (the second threshold value can be set according to actual needs, and this application does not limit the specific value of the second threshold value). As the frequency of the coolant switching between the first flow direction and the second flow direction increases, the outflow of coolant in the fuel cell stack decreases, thereby reducing heat loss in the process of the coolant flowing through the pipes and other components, and further achieving rapid and uniform heating of the internal cavity of the fuel cell stack.

[0046] In the above-mentioned thermal management control method, by controlling the coolant to switch between the first flow direction and the second flow direction when the fuel cell stack is started at low temperature, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator, the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell stack is constantly changing, and the coolant inside the fuel cell stack can be more evenly distributed and the temperature of the fuel cell stack can be increased, thereby achieving rapid and uniform heating of the internal cavity of the fuel cell stack and improving the low-temperature working performance of the fuel cell stack.

[0047] See Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 2 This is a system diagram of a specific implementation of the thermal management control system provided by this application in the first flow direction. Figure 3 This is a system diagram of a specific implementation of the thermal management control system provided by this application in the second flow direction.

[0048] The thermal management control system provided in this application is used to execute the above-mentioned thermal management control method. The thermal management control system includes a fuel cell stack 1, a water pump 2, a radiator 3 and a thermal management control device 4.

[0049] The water pump 2 is used to deliver coolant to the radiator 3 and the fuel cell stack 1. The thermal management control device 4 is used to control the coolant to switch between a first flow direction and a second flow direction. The first flow direction and the second flow direction are opposite in the fuel cell stack 1, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator 3. Optionally, the thermal management control device 4 is also used to control the coolant to maintain a third flow direction, which flows through the radiator 3.

[0050] See Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 4 for Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the structure of the thermal management control device 4 in the first flow direction is shown. Figure 5 for Figure 3 The heat management control device 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the heat management control device 4 in the second flow direction. The heat management control device 4 may include: a valve body and a valve core 410.

[0051] The valve body includes six channels, which may include a first channel 41, a second channel 42, a third channel 43, a fourth channel 44, a fifth channel 45 and a sixth channel 46, and the first channel 41, the second channel 42, the third channel 43, the fourth channel 44, the fifth channel 45 and the sixth channel 46 are arranged in sequence on the valve body.

[0052] The valve core 410 is rotatably connected to the valve body. The valve core 410 is provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel. When the valve core 410 rotates relative to the valve body, the first flow channel connects two adjacent channels on the valve body, and the second flow channel connects another two adjacent channels on the valve body.

[0053] The valve core 410 can be cylindrical or spherical and can rotate within the thermal management control device 4 and stop at any position on the circumference. The first flow channel and the second flow channel can be circular to reduce the flow resistance of the coolant within the thermal management control device 4.

[0054] Furthermore, the thermal management control device 4 may further include a seventh channel 47 , an eighth channel 48 and a ninth channel 49 , the sixth channel 46 is connected to the seventh channel 47 , the eighth channel 48 and the ninth channel 49 respectively, and the seventh channel 47 is connected to the fourth channel 44 .

[0055] The connection relationship between each device in the thermal management control system is as follows:

[0056] The fuel cell stack 1 includes a first interface 11 and a second interface 12 . The first interface 11 is connected to the second channel 42 , and the second interface 12 is connected to the ninth channel 49 .

[0057] The inlet 21 of the water pump 2 is communicated with the first channel 41 .

[0058] The radiator 3 includes a third interface 31 and a fourth interface 32 . The third interface 31 of the radiator 3 is in communication with the third channel 43 and the outlet 22 of the water pump 2 . The fourth interface 32 of the radiator 3 is in communication with the fifth channel 45 .

[0059] Thermal management control device 4 can rotate valve core 410 relative to valve body between a first angle and a second angle. At the first angle, the first flow channel connects first channel 41 and second channel 42, and the second flow channel connects third channel 43 and fourth channel 44. At the second angle, the first flow channel connects first channel 41 and sixth channel 46, and the second flow channel connects second channel 42 and third channel 43, thereby controlling the coolant to switch between the first and second flow directions. As the coolant oscillates within the internal cavity of fuel cell stack 1, it accelerates the uniform distribution of temperature, enabling rapid and uniform temperature rise within the internal cavity of fuel cell stack 1, thereby improving the low-temperature performance of fuel cell stack 1.

[0060] The thermal management control device 4 can also control the coolant to maintain the second flow direction by rotating the valve core 410 relative to the valve body to a second angle and maintaining the second angle unchanged.

[0061] See Figure 6 and Figure 7 , Figure 6 This is a system diagram of a specific implementation of the thermal management control system provided by this application in the third direction. Figure 7 for Figure 6 The thermal management control device 4 is shown as a schematic diagram of the structure in the third flow direction. The thermal management control device 4 can also rotate the valve core 410 relative to the valve body to a third angle and maintain the third angle unchanged. At the third angle, the first flow channel connects to the fifth channel 45 and the sixth channel 46, and the second flow channel connects to the first channel 41 and the second channel 42, thereby controlling the coolant to maintain the third flow direction.

[0062] Furthermore, when the coolant is in the third flow direction, the flow rate of the coolant can be controlled by adjusting the rotation speed of the water pump 2, which helps to more accurately control the temperature of the coolant.

[0063] By switching the first flow direction, the second flow direction and the third flow direction through the thermal management control system, connectivity between different channels can be achieved without changing the pipeline connection. It can replace the electronic thermostat to achieve the adjustment of large and small cycles, thereby improving the integration of the cooling system. It also improves the reliability and service life of the fuel cell stack by achieving rapid and uniform heating of the fuel cell stack. At the same time, the fuel cell stack can start quickly at low temperatures, reducing the cold start time.

[0064] Specifically, the first channel 41, the second channel 42, the third channel 43, the fourth channel 44, the fifth channel 45, and the sixth channel 46 can be evenly distributed on the valve body, and the difference between the first angle and the second angle, the difference between the second angle and the third angle, and the difference between the third angle and the first angle are each 60°. The distribution of the first channel 41, the second channel 42, the third channel 43, the fourth channel 44, the fifth channel 45, and the sixth channel 46 can also be set differently according to actual needs. Accordingly, the angular difference between the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle will also vary depending on the specific distribution of the six channels.

[0065] See Figure 8 , Figure 8 This is a system schematic diagram of another specific implementation of the thermal management control system provided by this application in the first flow direction.

[0066] The thermal management control system provided in this application is further provided with a liquid storage tank 5 , an intercooler 6 and a deionizer 7 on the basis of the above specific embodiments.

[0067] Liquid reservoir 5 can be connected to radiator 3 to reduce coolant loss. When the thermal management control system is in the third flow direction, coolant flows through radiator 3. At this time, the coolant temperature is high and the volume is increased. The coolant or steam in radiator 3 enters liquid reservoir 5 through the steam connecting pipe (not shown). When the coolant temperature drops, the pressure in radiator 3 decreases, and the coolant flows back to radiator 3 through the steam connecting pipe.

[0068] The inlet of the intercooler 6 can communicate with the eighth channel 48, and the outlet of the intercooler 6 can communicate with the first channel 41 and the inlet 21 of the water pump 2. The coolant then flows through the intercooler 6 in the first, second, or third directions and returns to the water pump 2. The coolant exchanges heat with the air in the intercooler 6, reducing the temperature of the compressed air and increasing the temperature of the coolant, further achieving rapid and uniform heating of the fuel cell stack.

[0069] The inlet of the deionizer 7 can be connected to the outlet of the intercooler 6, and the outlet of the deionizer 7 can be connected to the first channel 41. The coolant then flows in the first, second, or third direction through the intercooler 6 and the deionizer 7 back to the water pump 2. The coolant passes through the deionizer 7, where ions in the coolant are adsorbed, thereby maintaining a low electrical conductivity of the coolant.

[0070] It should be noted that the above description of the second flow direction and the third flow direction of the thermal management control system provided by the present application will not be repeated, and the details can be referred to the above embodiments.

[0071] The present application also discloses a thermal management control device, which is the thermal management control device in the thermal management control system mentioned above. Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 7 , I will not go into details here.

[0072] The various embodiments herein are described in a progressive, parallel, or progressive and parallel manner. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments, and the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0073] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, etc., are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that an article or device comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such article or device. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the article or device comprising the aforementioned elements.

[0074] The above is a detailed introduction to the thermal management control method, system and device provided by the present application. This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present application. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and core ideas of the present application. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, without departing from the principles of the present application, several improvements and modifications can be made to the present application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A thermal management control system, characterized in that: The thermal management control system includes a fuel cell stack, a water pump, a radiator, and a thermal management control device, wherein the water pump is used to deliver coolant to the radiator and the fuel cell stack; the thermal management control device includes a valve body, the valve body includes six channels, and the six channels include a first channel, a second channel, a third channel, a fourth channel, a fifth channel, and a sixth channel, and the first channel, the second channel, the third channel, the fourth channel, the fifth channel, and the sixth channel are arranged in sequence on the valve body; The thermal management control device is used to control the coolant to switch between a first flow direction and a second flow direction, wherein the first flow direction and the second flow direction have opposite flow directions within the fuel cell stack, and neither the first flow direction nor the second flow direction flows through the radiator; The thermal management control device is further configured to control the coolant to maintain the second flow direction if the temperature of the coolant is not higher than a first threshold; and to control the coolant to maintain a third flow direction if the temperature of the coolant is higher than the first threshold, wherein the third flow direction flows through the radiator; switching the coolant from the first flow direction to the second flow direction and then from the second flow direction to the third flow direction constitutes a cycle, and the cycle is repeated until the temperature of the coolant in the fuel cell stack reaches a second threshold; The thermal management control device includes a valve core, which is rotatably connected to the valve body, and the valve core is provided with a first flow channel and a second flow channel. When the valve core rotates relative to the valve body, the first flow channel connects two adjacent channels on the valve body, and the second flow channel connects the other two adjacent channels on the valve body; the valve core rotates between a first angle and a second angle relative to the valve body, the first angle being that the first flow channel connects the first channel and the second channel, and the second flow channel connects the third channel and the fourth channel, and the second angle being that the first flow channel connects the first channel and the sixth channel, and the second flow channel connects the second channel and the third channel; the valve core rotates to a third angle relative to the valve body and maintains the third angle unchanged, the third angle being that the first flow channel connects the fifth channel and the sixth channel, and the second flow channel connects the first channel and the second channel, so as to control the coolant to maintain the third flow direction.

2. The thermal management control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermal management control system further includes an intercooler. When the coolant is in the first flow direction, the coolant flows back to the water pump through the intercooler.

3. The thermal management control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The thermal management control system further includes a deionizer. When the coolant is in the first flow direction, the coolant flows back to the water pump through the intercooler and the deionizer.

4. The thermal management control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermal management control device further includes a seventh channel, an eighth channel, and a ninth channel. The sixth channel is connected to the seventh channel, the eighth channel, and the ninth channel respectively. The seventh channel is connected to the fourth channel.

5. The thermal management control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve core is a cylindrical or spherical structure.

6. The thermal management control system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first channel, the second channel, the third channel, the fourth channel, the fifth channel and the sixth channel are evenly distributed on the valve body.

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