Small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for hydrogen energy electric bicycle and heating device thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for hydrogen energy electric bicycle and a heating device thereof, the bottom center of the tank body of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is provided with a columnar containing groove, the heating device comprises a tank body mounting base and a heating assembly arranged on the tank body mounting base, and when the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank body mounting base, the heating assembly is inserted into the containing groove; the heating assembly comprises an electric heating rod and a heat exchange assembly taking electric pile cooling liquid as a heat source; the containing groove for heating is arranged at the bottom of the tank body, the heating of the tank body can be performed from the inside, energy dissipation is small, and the utilization rate is high; the boss of the tank body mounting base can limit and fix the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, and meanwhile, the boss can also block the containing groove to reduce heat dissipation in the containing groove; and since the core heating part of the heat management system is concentrated on the heating device, the volume is small, the solid-state hydrogen storage tank can be fixed, and the application is very suitable for the compact and narrow structure layout of the hydrogen energy electric bicycle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of hydrogen fuel cells, in particular to a small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for hydrogen energy electric bicycles and a heating device thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the gradual maturity of hydrogen fuel cells and their supporting technologies, the industrialization and large-scale application of hydrogen energy has become imminent. Hydrogen fuel cells have natural advantages in power compared to lithium batteries due to their high output power, and have gradually begun to be used in vehicles that require high power output, such as freight vehicles. Freight vehicles have more space and can carry high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage tanks or even cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage tanks, which means that a large storage and management system is needed, making it impossible to use such hydrogen fuel cells in small devices. With the development of solid-state hydrogen storage material technology, which uses solid-state hydrogen storage materials to absorb hydrogen, the application of hydrogen fuel cells in small cars and even electric bicycles has become possible.

[0003] Solid-state hydrogen storage materials generally use hydrogen storage tanks filled with powdered hydrogen storage materials to achieve the purpose of hydrogen storage. When the hydrogen fuel cell stack is running, the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is heated to stabilize the temperature in the hydrogen release range, which allows the solid-state hydrogen storage tank to release hydrogen relatively stably. Since hydrogen release requires heat, a corresponding heat management system is generally provided for the solid-state hydrogen storage tank to allow it to release hydrogen stably. The pipes and electric heating devices of the heat management system require a certain amount of space and consume a certain amount of electricity. Therefore, how to increase the economic efficiency of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank heat management system, improve the overall energy efficiency, and reduce the space occupied by the heat management system is a problem that needs to be solved for the miniaturization of hydrogen fuel cells and their application in electric bicycles.

[0004] Patent CN111430754A discloses a hydrogen fuel cell solid-state hydrogen storage waste heat recovery device, which uses the cathode exhaust gas of the stack to preheat the solid-state hydrogen storage cylinder, solving the problems of complex structure, low waste heat recovery efficiency, and unstable hydrogen release of existing fuel cell systems. Patent CN117096402A discloses a solid-state hydrogen storage fuel cell system that uses the waste heat of the exhaust gas processor to catalyze the combustion of the exhaust hydrogen gas to heat the solid-state hydrogen storage cylinder, maximizing the use of hydrogen chemical energy and thermal energy input into the fuel cell system, reducing the dependence on auxiliary batteries, and improving the overall hydrogen utilization rate.

[0005] The above application scheme guides the waste heat of the stack tail gas to heat the solid-state hydrogen storage tank in the periphery, needs the support of corresponding containing, protection, support and other equipment, causes the heat management system for the solid-state hydrogen storage tank to need larger volume and complex design, is not suitable for being used on the hydrogen energy electric bicycle with smaller containing space;And, in order to improve the stack life of the hydrogen energy electric bicycle, the cooling mode of the stack in the industry is more and more inclined to liquid cooling, which leads to the temperature of the stack tail gas being relatively low, and the heat utilization value of the stack tail gas under the liquid cooling mode is relatively low.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to design a waste heat recovery device more suitable for the hydrogen energy electric bicycle under the liquid cooling mode and a matching small solid-state hydrogen storage tank. SUMMARY

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to provide a small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen energy electric bicycle and a heating device thereof in view of the deficiencies in the prior art.

[0008] To solve the above technical problems, the technical scheme adopted by the present application is as follows: the first aspect of the present application provides a small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen energy electric bicycle, a cylindrical containing groove is arranged at the center of the bottom of the tank body of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, the containing groove is a cylindrical recess arranged along the axis of the tank body of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, and the inner wall of the containing groove has a heat exchange surface for transferring heat to the inside of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank.

[0009] Preferably, the depth of the containing groove is not less than 1 / 3 of the height of the tank body of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, and the diameter of the containing groove is not greater than 1 / 2 of the diameter of the tank body of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank.

[0010] Preferably, the inner surface of the containing groove is provided with fins for increasing the heat exchange area.

[0011] The second aspect of the present application provides a heating device for the small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen energy electric bicycle, which comprises a tank body mounting base and a heating assembly arranged on the tank body mounting base, the heating assembly is inserted into the containing groove when the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank body mounting base, and the heating assembly comprises an electric heating rod and a heat exchange assembly taking the stack cooling liquid as a heat source.

[0012] Preferably, the upper part of the tank body mounting base is a boss matched with the inner diameter of the recess, and the lower part is a mounting bottom plate;When the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank body mounting base, the boss forms a blockage to the bottom of the containing groove.

[0013] Preferably, the heat exchange assembly comprises a heat exchange part composed of a spiral pipe or a bent pipe, the inlet end of the heat exchange part is provided with an inlet pipe, and the outlet end is provided with an outlet pipe, the stack cooling liquid flows into the heat exchange part through the inlet pipe, and the waste heat of the stack cooling liquid is conducted to the inside of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank through the heat exchange surface.

[0014] Preferably, the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe are both extended from the tank mounting base; the liquid inlet pipe is in communication with the stack coolant, and the liquid outlet pipe is in communication with other pipelines.

[0015] Preferably, the electric heating rod is arranged outside the heat exchange assembly; when the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank mounting base, the electric heating rod is in contact with or at a distance of less than 5 mm from the inner wall of the containing groove.

[0016] Preferably, the electric heating rod has multiple rods arranged uniformly around the axis of the tank mounting base; if the inner surface of the containing groove is arranged with multiple strip-shaped fins in a radial manner, when the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank mounting base, the electric heating rod is inserted between two adjacent fins.

[0017] Preferably, the boss is provided with a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature in the containing groove.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the present application are:

[0019] 1. The small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for hydrogen energy electric bicycle provided by the present application has a containing groove for heating arranged at the bottom of the tank body, so that the heating of the tank body can be performed from the inside (middle), compared with the ordinary solid-state hydrogen storage tank which can only be heated from the outside, most of the thermal energy absorbed by the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is dissipated, the energy utilization rate is high; and since the solid-state hydrogen storage bottle is heated from the inside, the volume or complexity of the heating (thermal management) system caused by heating from the outside is avoided, which is more suitable for the narrow layout space in the hydrogen energy electric bicycle.

[0020] 2. The arrangement of the containing groove has little effect on the overall structure of the tank body and the filling amount of the solid-state hydrogen storage material; the containing groove is inserted into the middle of the solid-state hydrogen storage material, and the heating starts from the center, so the heating is more uniform, and the hydrogen release response of the solid-state hydrogen storage material is rapid.

[0021] 3. By arranging the heating device matched with the containing groove, using the stack coolant as the heat source, the energy utilization rate of the fuel cell is improved, the electric energy loss for heating the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is reduced, at the same time, the radiator of the thermal management system does not need high heat dissipation power, the overall energy consumption is reduced; the stack coolant can sufficiently transfer the waste heat to the solid-state hydrogen storage tank through the containing groove; at the same time, the electric heating rod is used as an auxiliary to assist the heating of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank in cold weather and at the initial stage of the start of the stack, so as to ensure the stable output of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank.

[0022] 4. The boss of the tank mounting base can limit and fix the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, and also can block the containing groove to reduce the heat dissipation in the containing groove.

[0023] 5. The core heating component of the thermal management system is concentrated on the heating device, which is compact in size and can also fix the solid hydrogen storage tank, making it very suitable for the compact and narrow structural layout of hydrogen-powered electric bicycles. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a small solid hydrogen storage tank and its heating device for hydrogen-powered electric bicycles; the arrows in the diagram indicate the flow direction of the fuel cell coolant.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a small solid hydrogen storage tank for hydrogen-powered electric bicycles, which has a finned containment tank.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Solid hydrogen storage tank; 2. Receiving tank; 201. Heat exchange surface; 202. Fin; 3. Tank mounting base; 301. Boss; 302. Mounting base plate; 4. Heat exchange assembly; 401. Liquid inlet pipe; 402. Heat exchange section; 403. Liquid outlet pipe; 5. Electric heating rod; 6. Temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can implement it based on the description.

[0028] It should be understood that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” and “including” as used herein do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or combinations thereof.

[0029] like Figures 1-2 As shown, a small solid hydrogen storage tank for hydrogen-powered electric bicycles is provided. The solid hydrogen storage tank 1 has a cylindrical receiving groove 2 at the center of its bottom. The receiving groove 2 is a cylindrical groove arranged along the axis of the solid hydrogen storage tank body. The inner wall of the receiving groove 2 has a heat exchange surface 201 for transferring heat to the solid hydrogen storage tank. The solid hydrogen storage tank body with the receiving groove 2 can be manufactured by stamping, casting, welding, or other methods.

[0030] The depth of the receiving groove 2 is not less than 1 / 3 of the height of the solid hydrogen storage tank; the diameter of the receiving groove 2 is not greater than 1 / 2 of the diameter of the solid hydrogen storage tank. A greater depth of the receiving groove 2 allows it to be inserted deeper into the solid hydrogen storage material, resulting in more uniform heating of the material. A larger diameter of the receiving groove 2 has a greater impact on the internal volume of the solid hydrogen storage tank; therefore, a diameter of approximately 1 / 3 of the diameter of the solid hydrogen storage tank is preferable.

[0031] The inner surface of the receiving tank 2 is provided with fins 202 for increasing the heat exchange surface area 201. The fins 202 may be annular fins arranged vertically along the inner wall of the receiving tank 2, or strip fins arranged around the axis of the solid hydrogen storage tank.

[0032] A heating device for the small solid-state hydrogen storage tank of the hydrogen-powered electric bicycle, suitable for the heat management system of the liquid cooling mode, comprising a tank body mounting base 3 and a heating assembly arranged on the tank body mounting base 3, when the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank body mounting base 3, the heating assembly is inserted into the containing groove 2; the heating assembly comprises an electric heating rod 5 and a heat exchange assembly 4 taking the electric pile cooling liquid as the heat source.

[0033] The upper part of the tank body mounting base 3 is a boss 301 matched with the inner diameter of the groove, and the lower part is a mounting plate 302; when the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank body mounting base 3, the boss 301 forms a blockage to the bottom of the containing groove 2. The boss 301 serves as a fixing base for the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, and can also block or seal the containing groove 2, so that the containing groove 2 and the tank body mounting base 3 form a relatively closed space, reducing the heat dissipation in the containing groove 2.

[0034] The heat exchange assembly 4 comprises a heat exchange part 402 composed of a spiral pipe or a bent pipe, the inlet end of the heat exchange part is provided with an inlet pipe 401, and the outlet end is provided with an outlet pipe 403; the electric pile cooling liquid flows into the heat exchange part through the inlet pipe, and the waste heat of the electric pile cooling liquid is conducted to the solid-state hydrogen storage tank through the heat exchange surface 201. According to the layout design needs, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe can pass through the tank body mounting base 3 downward, or grooves can be processed on the mounting plate of the tank body mounting base 3 to accommodate the part of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe laid on the mounting plate, preventing the bottom of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank from pressing the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are both extended from the tank body mounting base 3; the inlet pipe is in communication with the electric pile cooling liquid, and the outlet pipe is in communication with other pipelines; the electric pile cooling liquid flows out of the heat exchange assembly and then enters the radiator for further cooling.

[0035] The electric heating rod 5 is arranged outside the heat exchange assembly 4; when the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank body mounting base 3, the electric heating rod 5 is in contact with or less than 5mm away from the inner wall of the containing groove 2; the smaller the distance between the electric heating rod 5 and the containing groove 2, the higher the heating conduction efficiency and the response hydrogen release speed of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank.

[0036] The electric heating rod 5 has multiple (such as Figure 2 If the inner surface of the containing groove 2 is arranged with multiple strip fins in a radial manner, when the solid-state hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank body mounting base 3, the electric heating rod 5 is inserted between the adjacent two fins to increase the heat exchange efficiency.

[0037] The boss 301 is provided with a temperature sensor 6 for monitoring the temperature in the containing groove 2. Further, the temperature of the electric pile cooling liquid before entering the heat exchange assembly and the temperature of the electric pile cooling liquid after leaving the heat exchange assembly can also be monitored by other temperature sensors. According to the feedback of the temperature sensors, the amount of electric pile cooling liquid is adjusted by the thermal management system so that the temperature in the containing groove 2 is stabilized within a certain range. Due to the small volume and small power of the thermal management system, the selection of solid-state hydrogen storage materials suitable for the working temperature of hydrogen energy electric bicycles is narrow. For example, the charging and discharging hydrogen temperature of the iron-manganese type (AB2) solid-state hydrogen storage material is generally 5-40℃, which can be better applied to the working environment of hydrogen energy electric bicycles without the need for a complex and large thermal management system. By changing the shape of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, the electric pile cooling liquid is used to heat the solid-state hydrogen storage tank from the inside, which not only improves the hydrogen energy utilization efficiency and reduces the power loss of the thermal management system, but also reduces the heat loss during heating in the closed containing groove 2. For example, the electric pile outlet temperature of the small electric pile cooling liquid in the liquid cooling mode is about 70℃, and the inlet temperature needs to be controlled at about 60℃. If the inlet temperature is too high, it will affect the service life or limit the power, and in severe cases, it will also damage the electric pile. If the temperature of the cooling liquid flowing out of the heating device is reduced to about 62℃, then before the cooling liquid circulates into the electric pile for liquid cooling, only the cooling liquid reduced by 62℃ needs to be reduced to 60℃ by the radiator. Compared with reducing the 70℃ cooling liquid to 60℃ by the radiator, the power required by the radiator is much smaller, so a smaller radiator can be used to adapt to the thermal management system of the hydrogen energy electric bicycle.

[0038] More importantly, since the core heating part of the thermal management system is concentrated on the heating device, it is small in size and can also fix the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, which is very suitable for the compact and narrow structure layout of hydrogen energy electric bicycles. In addition, when installing or replacing the solid-state hydrogen storage tank, the containing groove 2 of the solid-state hydrogen storage tank only needs to be aligned with the heating device to be easily loaded.

[0039] Although the embodiments of the present application have been disclosed as above, they are not limited to the application and implementation listed in the specification and embodiments, and can be fully applied to various fields suitable for the present application. For those skilled in the art, other modifications can be easily realized, and therefore the present application is not limited to specific details without departing from the general concept defined by the claims and equivalent scope.

Claims

1. A heating device for a small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen energy electric bicycle, characterized by, The solid hydrogen storage tank has a columnar receiving groove at the center of the bottom of the tank body. The receiving groove is a cylindrical groove arranged along the axis of the solid hydrogen storage tank body. The inner wall of the receiving groove has a heat exchange surface for transferring heat to the solid hydrogen storage tank. The heating device includes a tank mounting base and a heating component mounted on the tank mounting base. When the solid hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank mounting base, the heating component is inserted into the receiving groove. The heating component includes an electric heating rod and a heat exchange component that uses the fuel cell stack coolant as a heat source. The upper part of the tank mounting base is a boss that matches the inner diameter of the groove, and the lower part is a mounting base plate; when the solid hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank mounting base, the boss blocks the bottom of the receiving groove. The heat exchange assembly includes a heat exchange section composed of a spiral tube or a bent tube. The heat exchange section has an inlet pipe at the inlet end and an outlet pipe at the outlet end. The fuel cell coolant flows into the heat exchange section through the inlet pipe and transfers the waste heat of the fuel cell coolant to the solid hydrogen storage tank through the heat exchange surface. Both the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe extend from the tank mounting base; the inlet pipe is connected to the fuel cell stack coolant, and the outlet pipe is connected to other pipelines. The electric heating rod is located on the outside of the heat exchange assembly; when the solid hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank mounting base, the electric heating rod is in contact with the inner wall of the receiving tank or the distance is less than 5mm. The electric heating rod has multiple rods evenly arranged around the axis of the tank mounting base. If the inner surface of the receiving tank is radially arranged with multiple strip fins, when the solid hydrogen storage tank is placed on the tank mounting base, the electric heating rod is inserted between two adjacent fins. The fins are either annular fins arranged vertically along the inner wall of the receiving tank or strip fins arranged around the axis of the solid hydrogen storage tank.

2. The heating device for a small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen electric bicycle according to claim 1, characterized by, The depth of the receiving tank is not less than 1 / 3 of the height of the solid hydrogen storage tank; the diameter of the receiving tank is not greater than 1 / 2 of the diameter of the solid hydrogen storage tank.

3. The heating device for a small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen electric bicycle according to claim 1, characterized by, The inner surface of the receiving tank is provided with fins to increase the heat exchange area.

4. The heating device for a small solid-state hydrogen storage tank for a hydrogen electric bicycle according to claim 1, characterized by, The boss is equipped with a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature inside the containment tank.

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