A locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system and locomotive
By adopting a thermal management unit and control device in the locomotive hydrogen fuel cell system, the heat exchange system of the hydrogen fuel cell stack and the air compressor is modularly integrated, solving the problem of large space occupation in multi-stack hydrogen fuel cell systems and achieving efficient temperature control and power conversion.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DATONG ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE OF NCR
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
Smart Images

Figure CN117543043B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention generally relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more specifically, to a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system and a locomotive. Background Technology
[0002] In order to adapt to the concept of green development, a wave of green and low-carbon development has swept through the transportation industry. Due to the characteristics of hydrogen fuel cells, such as high efficiency, zero emissions, quiet operation, rapid start-up, and low operating temperature, fuel cell hybrid power systems with hydrogen fuel cells as the core are widely used in rail transit vehicles, especially locomotives and rolling stock.
[0003] Currently, existing single-stack hydrogen fuel cell systems are insufficient to meet the high power demands of rail vehicles. Multiple hydrogen fuel cells are typically combined to create multi-stack systems, thereby achieving greater power output. However, each hydrogen fuel cell requires a cooling system and corresponding control devices to maximize energy conversion, which necessitates significant space allocation and greatly complicates the layout of the locomotive equipment. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system and locomotive provided by this invention have good heat exchange effect and high space utilization.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a thermal management system for a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell is provided, comprising a thermal management body, a control device, and multiple heat exchange systems. The thermal management body includes a thermal management housing and a partition, the partition dividing the inner cavity of the thermal management housing into multiple receiving cavities. The multiple heat exchange systems are correspondingly disposed within the multiple receiving cavities for heat exchange corresponding to multiple hydrogen fuel cells. Each heat exchange system includes a main heat exchange system and an auxiliary heat exchange system. The main heat exchange system is used for heat exchange of the fuel cell stack of the hydrogen fuel cell, and the auxiliary heat exchange system is used for heat exchange of the air compressor of the hydrogen fuel cell. The control device is electrically connected to the multiple main heat exchange systems and the multiple auxiliary heat exchange systems corresponding to the multiple heat exchange systems.
[0006] In some embodiments, the main heat exchange system includes: a high-temperature heat exchanger, a first main cooling pipe, and a second main cooling pipe. One end of the first main cooling pipe is connected to the outlet of the battery stack, and the other end is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger. The high-temperature heat exchanger is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange medium in the first main cooling pipe. One end of the second main cooling pipe is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the battery stack.
[0007] In some embodiments, the main heat exchange system further includes: a heat exchange branch and an electric heater, one end of the heat exchange branch being connected to the first main cooling pipe and the other end being connected to the second main cooling pipe; the electric heater is disposed in the heat exchange branch for heating the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange branch; wherein, the control device is electrically connected to the electric heater.
[0008] In some embodiments, the main heat exchange system further includes: an electrically operated three-way valve having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet; the inlet is connected to the outlet of the battery stack; the first outlet is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger; and the second outlet is connected to the electric heater; wherein the control device is electrically connected to the electrically operated three-way valve.
[0009] In some embodiments, the valve opening of the electric three-way valve is adjustable.
[0010] In some embodiments, the main heat exchange system further includes: a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed in the first main cooling pipe and is used to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the first main cooling pipe; the second temperature sensor is disposed in the second main cooling pipe and is used to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the second main cooling pipe; wherein the control device is electrically connected to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor respectively.
[0011] In some embodiments, the main heat exchange system further includes: a high-temperature expansion tank, a first main replenishment pipeline, a second main replenishment pipeline, a third main replenishment pipeline, and a deionizer. The high-temperature expansion tank is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger. One end of the first main replenishment pipeline is connected to the outlet of the battery stack, and the other end is connected to the high-temperature expansion tank. One end of the second main replenishment pipeline is connected to the high-temperature expansion tank, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the battery stack. One end of the third main replenishment pipeline is connected to the high-temperature expansion tank, and the other end is connected to the outlet of the high-temperature heat exchanger. The deionizer is disposed in at least one of the first main replenishment pipeline and the second main replenishment pipeline.
[0012] In some embodiments, the auxiliary heat exchange system includes: a cryogenic heat exchanger, a first auxiliary cooling pipe, and a second auxiliary cooling pipe. One end of the first auxiliary cooling pipe is connected to the outlet of the air compressor, and the other end is connected to the cryogenic heat exchanger. The cryogenic heat exchanger is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange medium in the first auxiliary cooling pipe. One end of the second auxiliary cooling pipe is connected to the cryogenic heat exchanger, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the air compressor.
[0013] In some embodiments, the auxiliary heat exchange system further includes: a water pump and a third temperature sensor, wherein the water pump is disposed in at least one of the first auxiliary cooling pipeline and the second auxiliary cooling pipeline; the third temperature sensor is disposed in at least one of the first auxiliary cooling pipeline and the second auxiliary cooling pipeline for detecting the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary cooling pipeline; wherein the control device is electrically connected to the water pump and the third temperature sensor.
[0014] In some embodiments, the auxiliary heat exchange system further includes: a low-temperature expansion tank, a first auxiliary replenishment pipeline, and a second auxiliary replenishment pipeline, wherein one end of the first auxiliary replenishment pipeline is connected to the low-temperature expansion tank and the other end is connected to the air compressor; one end of the second auxiliary replenishment pipeline is connected to the low-temperature expansion tank and the other end is connected to the low-temperature heat exchanger.
[0015] In some embodiments, the heat exchange system further includes a cooling fan, which is correspondingly arranged with the high-temperature heat exchanger and the low-temperature heat exchanger to provide cold air to the high-temperature heat exchanger and the low-temperature heat exchanger; wherein the control device is electrically connected to the cooling fan.
[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention also provides a locomotive, including a plurality of hydrogen fuel cells and the above-described locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system, wherein the locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system is used to exchange heat for the plurality of hydrogen fuel cells.
[0017] One embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages or beneficial effects:
[0018] The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system and locomotive provided in this embodiment of the invention use a partition to divide the inner cavity of the thermal management box into multiple accommodating chambers. These chambers accommodate multiple heat exchange systems. Because each chamber is independent, the heat exchange systems are isolated from each other and do not interfere with each other. Furthermore, the thermal management box and partitions integrate the multiple heat exchange systems, employing a modular design to save space. The main heat exchange system and auxiliary heat exchange system can respectively exchange heat for the hydrogen fuel cell stack and air compressor, ensuring the temperature of the hydrogen fuel cell remains within a reasonable range and maximizing energy conversion. A single control device can simultaneously control multiple heat exchange systems, thereby achieving heat exchange for multiple hydrogen fuel cells. This meets the high power requirements of the locomotive while reducing the spatial complexity of the control device's placement. Attached Figure Description
[0019] To better understand the present invention, reference may be made to the embodiments shown in the following drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and related elements may be omitted to emphasize and clearly illustrate the technical features of the invention. Furthermore, related elements or components may have different arrangements as known in the art. Additionally, in the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar components in various figures. The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020] in:
[0021] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the thermal management body in a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the control device in a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows:
[0025] 100. Hydrogen fuel cell; 101. Battery stack; 102. Air compressor;
[0026] 1. Thermal management unit; 2. Heat exchange system; 3. Control device;
[0027] 11. Thermal management enclosure; 12. Partition;
[0028] 20. Main heat exchange system; 22. Auxiliary heat exchange system; 23. Cooling fan;
[0029] 201. High-temperature heat exchanger; 202. First main cooling pipe; 203. Second main cooling pipe; 204. Heat exchange branch; 205. Electric heater; 206. Electric three-way valve; 207. First temperature sensor; 208. Second temperature sensor; 209. High-temperature expansion tank; 210. First main makeup pipe; 211. Second main makeup pipe; 212. Third main makeup pipe; 213. Deionizer;
[0030] 221. Low-temperature heat exchanger; 222. First auxiliary cooling pipeline; 223. Second auxiliary cooling pipeline; 224. Water pump; 225. Third temperature sensor; 226. Low-temperature expansion tank; 227. First auxiliary replenishment pipeline; 228. Second auxiliary replenishment pipeline. Detailed Implementation
[0031] The technical solutions of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various modifications and changes can be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0032] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "multiple" refers to two or more; and the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In particular, references to "the / described" object or "an" object are also intended to indicate one of a possible plurality of such objects.
[0033] Unless otherwise specified or stated, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an integral connection, an electrical connection, or a signal connection; "connection" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.
[0034] Furthermore, in the description of this invention, it should be understood that the directional terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," and "outer" described in the exemplary embodiments of this invention are used to describe the angles shown in the accompanying drawings and should not be construed as limiting the exemplary embodiments of this invention. It should also be understood that, in the context of an element or feature being connected to another element (one or more) "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer," it can be directly connected to the other element (one or more) "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer," or indirectly connected to the other element (one or more) "upper," "lower," "inner," or "outer" through an intermediate element.
[0035] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that the invention will be thorough and complete, and the concept of the exemplary embodiments will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore their detailed description will be omitted.
[0036] This embodiment provides a thermal management system for a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell, such as... Figures 1-2As shown, the locomotive's hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system includes a thermal management main body 1, a control device 3, and multiple heat exchange systems 2. The thermal management main body 1 includes a thermal management housing 11 and a partition 12, which divides the inner cavity of the thermal management housing 11 into multiple receiving chambers. Multiple heat exchange systems 2 are correspondingly disposed within the multiple receiving chambers for heat exchange of multiple hydrogen fuel cells 100. Each heat exchange system 2 includes a main heat exchange system 20 and an auxiliary heat exchange system 22. The main heat exchange system 20 is used for heat exchange of the battery stack 101 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100, and the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 is used for heat exchange of the air compressor 102 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100. The control device 3 is electrically connected to the multiple main heat exchange systems 20 and the multiple auxiliary heat exchange systems 22 corresponding to the multiple heat exchange systems 2.
[0037] The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system provided in this embodiment uses a partition 12 to divide the inner cavity of the thermal management box 11 into multiple accommodating chambers. These chambers are used to accommodate multiple heat exchange systems 2. Since each chamber is independent, the multiple heat exchange systems 2 are isolated from each other and do not affect each other. Furthermore, the integration of multiple heat exchange systems 2 is achieved through the thermal management box 11 and the partition 12, and the modular design saves space. The main heat exchange system 20 and the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 can respectively exchange heat with the battery stack 101 and the air compressor 102 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100, ensuring that the temperature of the hydrogen fuel cell 100 is within a reasonable range for maximizing energy conversion. A single control device 3 can simultaneously control multiple heat exchange systems 2, thereby achieving heat exchange for multiple hydrogen fuel cells 100. This not only meets the high power requirements of the locomotive but also reduces the difficulty of arranging the control device 3 in terms of space.
[0038] It should be noted that the battery stack 101 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100 includes a battery stack body and a first liquid cooling pipe. The first liquid cooling pipe contains a heat exchange medium and is connected to the main heat exchange system 20 for heat exchange with the battery stack body. That is, the battery stack 101 itself has a first liquid cooling pipe, which can directly exchange heat with the battery stack body, but the first liquid cooling pipe needs to be externally connected to the main heat exchange system 20.
[0039] It should be noted that the battery stack 101 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100 includes an air compressor 102 body and a second liquid cooling pipe. The second liquid cooling pipe contains a heat exchange medium and is connected to the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 for heat exchange with the air compressor 102 body. That is, the air compressor 102 body itself has a second liquid cooling pipe, which can directly exchange heat with the air compressor 102 body, but the second liquid cooling pipe needs to be externally connected to the main heat exchange system 20.
[0040] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the main heat exchange system 20 includes a high-temperature heat exchanger 201, a first main cooling pipe 202, and a second main cooling pipe 203. One end of the first main cooling pipe 202 is connected to the outlet of the battery stack 101, and the other end is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201. The high-temperature heat exchanger 201 is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange medium in the first main cooling pipe 202. One end of the second main cooling pipe 203 is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the battery stack 101.
[0041] Specifically, the heat exchange medium flowing from the outlet of the first liquid cooling pipe in the battery stack 101 flows to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 through the first main cooling pipe 202. The high-temperature heat exchanger 201 dissipates heat from the heat exchange medium to remove the heat generated by the battery stack body. After being cooled by the high-temperature heat exchanger 201, the heat exchange medium flows back to the inlet of the first liquid cooling pipe in the battery stack 101 through the second main cooling pipe 203, thereby realizing the circulation of the heat exchange medium and reducing the risk of the battery stack body overheating and affecting its performance. The high-temperature heat exchanger 201 exchanges heat with the outside air through the circulation of the internal heat exchange medium to keep the battery stack 101 operating within a suitable temperature range.
[0042] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the main heat exchange system 20 also includes a heat exchange branch 204 and an electric heater 205. One end of the heat exchange branch 204 is connected to the first main cooling pipe 202, and the other end is connected to the second main cooling pipe 203. The electric heater 205 is disposed in the heat exchange branch 204 and is used to heat the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange branch 204.
[0043] Specifically, when the ambient temperature is low, the heat exchange medium flows out from the outlet of the first liquid cooling pipe in the battery stack 101 and flows to the electric heater 205 through the heat exchange branch 204. The electric heater 205 heats the heat exchange medium, and the heat exchange medium heated by the electric heater 205 flows back to the inlet of the first liquid cooling pipe in the battery stack 101 through the heat exchange branch 204, thereby realizing the circulation of the heat exchange medium and preventing the risk of the battery stack body temperature being too low and affecting its performance.
[0044] The control device 3 is electrically connected to the electric heater 205. The electric heater 205 can be turned on and off by the control device 3. It is easy to operate and has good reliability.
[0045] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the main heat exchange system 20 also includes an electric three-way valve 206. The electric three-way valve 206 is installed in the first main cooling pipe 202. The electric three-way valve 206 has an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet. The inlet is connected to the outlet of the battery stack 101, the first outlet is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201, and the second outlet is connected to the electric heater 205.
[0046] Specifically, the inlet of the electric three-way valve 206 can receive the heat exchange medium flowing out from the outlet of the first liquid cooling pipe in the battery stack 101. Since the first outlet and the second outlet are respectively connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 and the electric heater 205, the heat exchange medium can be dissipated through the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 to achieve the heat dissipation process, and the heat exchange medium can also be heated through the electric heater 205 to achieve the heating process. Using the electric three-way valve 206, the heat dissipation process and the heating process can be switched freely, and the heating process and the heat dissipation process can be made independent of each other without interference or influence.
[0047] The control device 3 is electrically connected to the electric three-way valve 206. The control device 3 can control the connection between the liquid inlet and one of the first liquid outlet and the second liquid outlet to realize the switching between the heat dissipation process and the heating process. It is easy to operate and has good reliability.
[0048] In one embodiment, the valve opening of the electric three-way valve 206 is adjustable. The valve opening of the electric three-way valve 206 is controlled by the control device 3, thereby controlling the flow rate of the heat exchange medium entering the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 or the electric heater 205, so as to improve the accuracy of the heat exchange medium temperature control and thus ensure the accuracy of the battery stack 101 temperature control.
[0049] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the main heat exchange system 20 also includes a first temperature sensor 207, which is installed in the first main cooling pipe 202 to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium inside the first main cooling pipe 202. By using the first temperature sensor 207 to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium inside the first main cooling pipe 202, the outlet temperature of the battery stack 101 is monitored. The control device 3 is electrically connected to the first temperature sensor 207, which transmits the outlet temperature signal of the battery stack 101 to the control device 3. Based on the current outlet temperature of the main heat exchange system 20, the control device 3 determines whether to activate the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 for cooling or the electric heater 205 for heating, and whether to open or adjust the opening degree of the electric three-way valve 206.
[0050] In one embodiment, the main heat exchange system 20 further includes a second temperature sensor 208, which is disposed in the second main cooling pipe 203 and used to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the second main cooling pipe 203. By using the second temperature sensor 208 to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the second main cooling pipe 203, the inlet temperature of the battery stack 101 is monitored. The control device 3 is electrically connected to the second temperature sensor 208, which transmits the inlet temperature signal of the battery stack 101 to the control device 3. The control device 3 then controls the high-temperature heat exchanger 201, the electric three-way valve 206, the electric heater 205, etc.
[0051] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the main heat exchange system 20 also includes a high-temperature expansion tank 209, a first main replenishment pipe 210, and a second main replenishment pipe 211. The high-temperature expansion tank 209 is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201. One end of the first main replenishment pipe 210 is connected to the outlet of the battery stack 101, and the other end is connected to the high-temperature expansion tank 209. One end of the second main replenishment pipe 211 is connected to the high-temperature expansion tank 209, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the battery stack 101.
[0052] The high-temperature expansion tank 209 is used to contain or store the heat exchange medium. The high-temperature expansion tank 209 replenishes the heat exchange medium to the inlet of the battery stack 101 through the second main replenishment pipeline 211. The heat exchange medium in the battery stack 101 can be returned to the high-temperature expansion tank 209 through the first main replenishment pipeline 210 to replenish and adjust the expansion and contraction of the heat exchange medium in the battery stack 101.
[0053] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the main heat exchange system 20 also includes a third main supplementary pipeline 212, one end of which is connected to the high-temperature expansion tank 209, and the other end is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201.
[0054] The high-temperature expansion tank 209 replenishes the heat exchange medium to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 through the third main replenishment pipeline 212, which is used to replenish and adjust the expansion and contraction of the heat exchange medium in the high-temperature heat exchanger 201.
[0055] Understandably, the high-temperature expansion tank 209 is located at the highest point of the main heat exchange system 20, which further improves the timeliness and effectiveness of replenishing the heat exchange medium for the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 and the battery stack 101.
[0056] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the main heat exchange system 20 also includes a deionizer 213, which is disposed in at least one of the first main replenishment pipeline 210 and the second main replenishment pipeline 211. The deionizer 213 removes conductive ions from the heat exchange medium, preventing these ions from affecting the battery stack 101.
[0057] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 includes a cryogenic heat exchanger 221, a first auxiliary cooling pipe 222, and a second auxiliary cooling pipe 223. One end of the first auxiliary cooling pipe 222 is connected to the outlet of the air compressor 102, and the other end is connected to the cryogenic heat exchanger 221. The cryogenic heat exchanger 221 is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange medium in the first auxiliary cooling pipe 222. One end of the second auxiliary cooling pipe 223 is connected to the cryogenic heat exchanger 221, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the air compressor 102.
[0058] The heat exchange medium flowing from the outlet of the second liquid cooling pipe in the air compressor 102 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100 flows to the cryogenic heat exchanger 221 through the first auxiliary cooling pipe 222. The cryogenic heat exchanger 221 dissipates heat from the heat exchange medium to remove the heat generated by the air compressor 102. After heat exchange in the cryogenic heat exchanger 221, the heat exchange medium flows back to the inlet of the second liquid cooling pipe in the battery stack 101 through the second auxiliary cooling pipe 223, thereby realizing the circulation of the heat exchange medium and reducing the risk of the air compressor 102 overheating and affecting its performance. The cryogenic heat exchanger 221 exchanges heat with the outside air through the circulation of the internal heat exchange medium, so that the air compressor 102 operates within a suitable temperature range.
[0059] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 also includes a water pump 224, which is installed in at least one of the first auxiliary cooling pipe 222 and the second auxiliary cooling pipe 223. The control device 3 is electrically connected to the water pump 224, which is a drive structure for driving the flow of the heat exchange medium, providing power for the circulation of the heat exchange medium, and ensuring the circulation of the heat exchange medium between the air compressor 102, the first auxiliary cooling pipe 222, the cryogenic heat exchanger 221, and the second auxiliary cooling pipe 223.
[0060] It is understandable that water pumps 224 can also be installed on the first main cooling pipe 202 and the second main cooling pipe 203 in the main heat exchange system 20 to ensure the circulation of the heat exchange medium in the main heat exchange system 20.
[0061] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 also includes a third temperature sensor 225, which is disposed in at least one of the first auxiliary cooling pipe 222 and the second auxiliary cooling pipe 223, and is used to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary cooling pipe.
[0062] The temperature of the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary cooling pipeline is detected by the third temperature sensor 225, that is, the inlet or outlet temperature of the air compressor 102 is monitored. The control device 3 is electrically connected to the third temperature sensor 225. The third temperature sensor 225 transmits the inlet or outlet temperature signal of the air compressor 102 to the control device 3. Based on the current inlet or outlet temperature of the auxiliary heat exchange system 22, the control device 3 judges and decides whether to turn on the low temperature heat exchanger 221 for cooling.
[0063] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 also includes a low-temperature expansion tank 226 and a first auxiliary replenishment pipeline 227. One end of the first auxiliary replenishment pipeline 227 is connected to the low-temperature expansion tank 226, and the other end is connected to the air compressor 102.
[0064] The low-temperature expansion tank 226 is used to contain or store the heat exchange medium. The low-temperature expansion tank 226 replenishes the heat exchange medium to the inlet of the air compressor 102 through the first auxiliary replenishment pipeline 227, and is used to replenish and adjust the expansion and contraction of the heat exchange medium in the air compressor 102.
[0065] Understandably, the low-temperature expansion tank 226 is located at the highest point of the auxiliary heat exchange system 22, which further improves the timeliness and effectiveness of replenishing the heat exchange medium for the low-temperature heat exchanger 221 and the air compressor 102.
[0066] In one embodiment, the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 further includes a second auxiliary supplementary pipeline 228, one end of which is connected to the low-temperature expansion tank 226 and the other end of which is connected to the low-temperature heat exchanger 221.
[0067] The low-temperature expansion tank 226 replenishes the heat exchange medium to the low-temperature heat exchanger 221 through the second auxiliary replenishment pipeline 228, which is used to replenish and adjust the expansion and contraction of the heat exchange medium in the high-temperature heat exchanger 201.
[0068] In one embodiment, the thermal management system of the vehicle's hydrogen fuel cell further includes a cooling fan 23, which is correspondingly arranged with the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 and the low-temperature heat exchanger 221 to provide cold air to the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 and the low-temperature heat exchanger 221; wherein, the control device 3 is electrically connected to the cooling fan 23.
[0069] The cooling fan 23 is located at the air inlet of the heat exchange system 2 to provide the cold air required for heat exchange between the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 and the low-temperature heat exchanger 221. The cooling fan 23 can be installed between the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 and the low-temperature heat exchanger 221, so that the cooling and heat dissipation needs of the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 and the low-temperature heat exchanger 221 can be met by using one cooling fan 23.
[0070] The cooling fan 23 can be an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, or other magnetic fans.
[0071] The working process of the locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system provided in this embodiment is as follows:
[0072] After the first temperature sensor 207 and the second temperature sensor 208 detect the inlet and outlet temperatures of the battery stack 101, they transmit the temperature signals to the control device 3.
[0073] When the outside temperature is low in winter, the first temperature sensor 207 and the second temperature sensor 208 detect that the inlet and outlet temperatures of the battery stack 101 are low. The control device 3 then shuts off the cooling fan 23 and closes the first outlet of the electric three-way valve 206. The electric heater 205 is then turned on, meaning the heat exchange medium of the main heat exchange system 20 does not pass through the high-temperature heat exchanger 201 and the cooling fan 23. Once the temperature of the battery stack 101 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100 rises to a certain level, the electric heater 205 is turned off, the cooling fan 23 starts at a low frequency, and the electric three-way valve 206 gradually opens. After the electric three-way valve 206 is fully open, the frequency of the cooling fan 23 is adjusted according to the inlet and outlet temperatures of the battery stack 101.
[0074] When the outside temperature is high in summer, the first temperature sensor 207 and the second temperature sensor 208 detect that the inlet and outlet temperatures of the battery stack 101 are relatively high. The control device 3 controls the second outlet of the electric three-way valve 206 to close and the electric heater 205 to shut down. After the electric three-way valve 206 is fully opened, the frequency of the cooling fan 23 is adjusted according to the inlet and outlet temperatures of the battery stack 101.
[0075] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the control device 3 is an integrated structure, which includes a controller, a frequency converter, a frequency converter fan, a circuit breaker, a contactor, a relay, and an electrical connector. The control device 3 can be arranged in the locomotive's mechanical compartment.
[0076] The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system provided by this invention has a built-in heat exchange medium heating function, integrates the main heat exchange system 20 and auxiliary heat exchange system 22 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100, and can control the frequency of the cooling fan 23, the flow regulation of the electric three-way valve 206 and the power control of the electric heater 205. It can simultaneously achieve precise temperature control of multiple hydrogen fuel cells 100, solve the problem of insufficient power of a single hydrogen fuel cell 100, and realize the integration and miniaturization of the hydrogen fuel cell 100 thermal management system.
[0077] This embodiment also provides a locomotive, which includes a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system. A partition 12 divides the inner cavity of the thermal management housing 11 into multiple accommodating chambers, each accommodating a different heat exchange system 2. Since each chamber is independent, the multiple heat exchange systems 2 are isolated from each other and do not interfere with each other. Furthermore, the thermal management housing 11 and partition 12 integrate the multiple heat exchange systems 2, employing a modular design to save space. The main heat exchange system 20 and the auxiliary heat exchange system 22 can respectively exchange heat with the battery stack 101 and the air compressor 102 of the hydrogen fuel cell 100, ensuring that the temperature of the hydrogen fuel cell 100 is within a reasonable range for maximizing energy conversion. A single control device 3 can simultaneously control multiple heat exchange systems 2, thereby achieving heat exchange for multiple hydrogen fuel cells 100. This meets the high power requirements of the locomotive while reducing the spatial complexity of arranging the control device 3.
[0078] It should be noted that the locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system shown in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification is merely one example of the application of the principles of the invention. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the principles of the invention are not limited to any details or components of the apparatus shown in the drawings or described in the specification.
[0079] It should be understood that the application of this invention is not limited to the detailed structure and arrangement of the components presented in this specification. The invention can have other embodiments and can be implemented and performed in various ways. The foregoing variations and modifications fall within the scope of this invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more individual features mentioned or apparent in the text and / or drawings. All these different combinations constitute multiple alternative aspects of the invention. The embodiments described in this specification illustrate the best known mode for carrying out the invention and will enable those skilled in the art to utilize the invention.
[0080] Other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and exemplary embodiments are to be considered as exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the appended claims.
[0081] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of protection of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A thermal management system for a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell, characterized in that, include: The thermal management body includes a thermal management box and a partition, wherein the partition divides the inner cavity of the thermal management box into multiple receiving cavities; Multiple heat exchange systems are respectively arranged in multiple accommodating cavities for heat exchange of multiple hydrogen fuel cells. The heat exchange system includes a main heat exchange system and an auxiliary heat exchange system. The main heat exchange system is used for heat exchange of the battery stack of the hydrogen fuel cell, and the auxiliary heat exchange system is used for heat exchange of the air compressor of the hydrogen fuel cell. A control device, which is electrically connected to multiple main heat exchange systems and multiple auxiliary heat exchange systems corresponding to the multiple heat exchange systems; The main heat exchange system includes: High-temperature heat exchangers; The first main cooling pipe has one end connected to the outlet of the battery stack and the other end connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger, which is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange medium in the first main cooling pipe. The second main cooling pipe has one end connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger and the other end connected to the inlet of the battery stack. The main heat exchange system also includes: A high-temperature expansion tank is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger; The first main replenishment pipeline has one end connected to the outlet of the battery stack and the other end connected to the high-temperature expansion tank. The second main replenishment pipeline has one end connected to the high-temperature expansion tank and the other end connected to the inlet of the battery stack. The third main replenishment pipeline has one end connected to the high-temperature expansion tank and the other end connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger. A deionizer is disposed in at least one of the first main replenishment line and the second main replenishment line; The auxiliary heat exchange system includes: Low-temperature heat exchangers; The first auxiliary cooling pipeline has one end connected to the outlet of the air compressor and the other end connected to the low-temperature heat exchanger, which is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchange medium in the first auxiliary cooling pipeline. The second auxiliary cooling pipeline has one end connected to the low-temperature heat exchanger and the other end connected to the inlet of the air compressor. The auxiliary heat exchange system also includes: Low-temperature expansion tank; The first auxiliary replenishment pipeline has one end connected to the low-temperature expansion tank and the other end connected to the air compressor. The second auxiliary replenishment pipeline has one end connected to the low-temperature expansion tank and the other end connected to the low-temperature heat exchanger.
2. The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main heat exchange system also includes: A heat exchange branch, one end of which is connected to the first main cooling pipe and the other end of which is connected to the second main cooling pipe; An electric heater is installed in the heat exchange branch and is used to heat the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange branch; The control device is electrically connected to the electric heater.
3. The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main heat exchange system also includes: An electric three-way valve has an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The inlet is connected to the outlet of the battery stack, the first outlet is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger, and the second outlet is connected to the electric heater. The control device is electrically connected to the electric three-way valve.
4. The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The valve opening of the electric three-way valve is adjustable.
5. The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main heat exchange system also includes: A first temperature sensor is installed in the first main cooling pipe to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the first main cooling pipe. The second temperature sensor is installed in the second main cooling pipe and is used to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the second main cooling pipe. The control device is electrically connected to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, respectively.
6. The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The auxiliary heat exchange system also includes: A water pump is installed in at least one of the first auxiliary cooling pipeline and the second auxiliary cooling pipeline; A third temperature sensor is disposed in at least one of the first auxiliary cooling pipe and the second auxiliary cooling pipe, and is used to detect the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the auxiliary cooling pipe. The control device is electrically connected to the water pump and the third temperature sensor.
7. The locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange system also includes: A cooling fan is provided corresponding to the high-temperature heat exchanger and the low-temperature heat exchanger, and is used to provide cold air to the high-temperature heat exchanger and the low-temperature heat exchanger; The control device is electrically connected to the cooling fan.
8. A locomotive, characterized in that, It includes multiple hydrogen fuel cells and a locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the locomotive hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system is used for heat exchange of the multiple hydrogen fuel cells.