Fuel cell automobile, thermal management system thereof and control method of thermal management system

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of vehicles, and discloses a fuel cell vehicle, a thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle and a control method of the thermal management system.The system comprises a first heat exchange loop, a second heat exchange loop and a third heat exchange loop; the first heat exchange loop is used for exchanging heat with a fuel stack and selectively communicates with the first radiator and the second heat exchange loop through a first three-way valve; the second heat exchange loop is provided with a PTC electric heater, and the second heat exchange loop is used for heating the warm air core body; and the third heat exchange loop is used for exchanging heat with the driving motor, selectively communicates with the second radiator through a third three-way valve and selectively communicates with the second heat exchange loop through the third three-way valve. According to the system, the heat of the fuel cell vehicle can be efficiently and comprehensively utilized at low temperature, heat loss is reduced, the energy utilization rate in the low-temperature environment is increased, the comprehensive energy-saving effect is achieved, and the use experience of a user is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of vehicles, in particular to a fuel cell vehicle thermal management system, a control method of the fuel cell vehicle thermal management system and a fuel cell vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] The fuel cell thermal management system is an important part of ensuring the power generation of the fuel cell. In a low-temperature environment, most manufacturers have considered sharing the heat dissipation of the fuel cell with the warm air to reduce energy consumption. However, the heat of the motor, DC (Direct Current), air compressor and other heat dissipation components is still wasted by the fan.

[0003] In the related art, only the heat generating components are connected together through physical structure, without mentioning the specific method of improving heat utilization, without considering the working characteristics of the fuel cell for vehicle, increasing energy consumption, reducing energy utilization in low-temperature environment and reducing user experience. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application aims to at least solve one of the technical problems in the related art. To this end, the first object of the present application is to provide a fuel cell vehicle thermal management system, which can solve the problem of efficient comprehensive utilization of heat of the fuel cell vehicle in low-temperature environment, reduce heat dissipation by coordinating the heat demand of the fuel cell, motor and other heat generating components and the passenger cabin heating, improve the energy utilization in low-temperature environment, achieve the effect of comprehensive energy saving and improve the user experience.

[0005] The second object of the present application is to provide a control method of the fuel cell vehicle thermal management system.

[0006] The third object of the present application is to provide a fuel cell vehicle.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present application provides a fuel cell vehicle thermal management system, comprising: a first heat exchange circuit, a second heat exchange circuit and a third heat exchange circuit; the first heat exchange circuit is used for heat exchange with a fuel cell stack, and the first heat exchange circuit is selectively communicated with a first radiator and the second heat exchange circuit through a first three-way valve; the second heat exchange circuit is provided with a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) electric heater, and the second heat exchange circuit is used for heating a warm air core; the third heat exchange circuit is used for heat exchange with a drive motor, and the third heat exchange circuit is selectively communicated with a second radiator and the second heat exchange circuit through a third three-way valve.

[0008] In addition, the thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle according to the above embodiments of the present invention may also have the following additional technical features: According to some embodiments of the present invention, a first temperature sensor is provided in the first heat exchange circuit, and the first temperature sensor is used to detect the first temperature of the condensate in the first heat exchange circuit.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a second temperature sensor is provided in the third heat exchange circuit, and the second temperature sensor is used to detect the second temperature of the condensate in the third heat exchange circuit.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a first heat exchange circuit is provided with a first circulating water pump, which is used to control the condensate to circulate in the first heat exchange circuit; a second heat exchange circuit is provided with a second circulating water pump, which is used to control the condensate to circulate in the second heat exchange circuit; and a third heat exchange circuit is provided with a third circulating water pump, which is used to control the condensate to circulate in the third heat exchange circuit.

[0011] The thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first heat exchange circuit, a second heat exchange circuit, and a third heat exchange circuit; the first heat exchange circuit is used for heat exchange with the fuel cell stack, and is selectively connected to a first radiator and the second heat exchange circuit via a first three-way valve; the second heat exchange circuit is equipped with a PTC electric heater and is used to heat the heater core; the third heat exchange circuit is used for heat exchange with the drive motor, and is selectively connected to a second radiator and the second heat exchange circuit via a third three-way valve. Therefore, this system can solve the problem of efficient and comprehensive utilization of heat in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures. By comprehensively coordinating the heat demands of the fuel cell, motor, and other heat-generating components, as well as the heating needs of the passenger compartment, it reduces heat loss, improves energy utilization efficiency in low-temperature environments, achieves comprehensive energy-saving effects, and enhances the user experience.

[0012] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in related technologies. Therefore, a second objective of this invention is to propose a control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle, which can solve the problem of efficient and comprehensive utilization of heat in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures. By comprehensively coordinating the heat demands of heat-generating components such as the fuel cell and motor, as well as passenger compartment heating, heat loss is reduced, energy utilization efficiency in low-temperature environments is improved, achieving comprehensive energy-saving effects and enhancing the user experience.

[0013] To achieve the above objectives, a second aspect of the present invention provides a control method for a thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle, applied to the aforementioned thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle. The method includes: in response to the fuel cell vehicle starting in a low-temperature environment, controlling the operation of a first circulating water pump, a second circulating water pump, and a third circulating water pump; controlling the first end of a first three-way valve to connect with the third end; controlling the second end of a second three-way valve to connect with the third end; and controlling the first end of a third three-way valve to connect with the third end, so that the first heat exchange circuit, the second heat exchange circuit, and the third heat exchange circuit are connected, and the condensate does not pass through the first radiator and the second radiator.

[0014] In addition, the control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to the above embodiments of the present invention may also have the following additional technical features: According to some embodiments of the present invention, the above method further includes: determining whether it is necessary to heat the heating core; in response to the need to heat the heating core, controlling the first end of the first three-way valve to connect with the third end, controlling the first end of the second three-way valve to connect with the second end, and controlling the first end of the third three-way valve to connect with the third end, so that the third heat exchange circuit is connected to the second heat exchange circuit.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the above method further includes: acquiring a second temperature detected by a second temperature sensor, determining whether the second temperature is not less than a preset required temperature; and controlling the PTC electric heater to be turned off in response to the second temperature being not less than the preset required temperature.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the above method further includes: in response to the second temperature being less than a preset required temperature, acquiring a first temperature detected by a first temperature sensor, and determining whether the first temperature is not less than the preset required temperature; in response to the first temperature being not less than the preset required temperature, controlling the PTC electric heater to be turned off, controlling the first end of the first three-way valve to be connected to the third end, controlling the second end of the second three-way valve to be connected to the third end, and controlling the first end of the third three-way valve to be connected to the third end.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: in response to a first temperature being less than a preset required temperature, calculating the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell and the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater; determining whether the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater is greater than the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell; and in response to the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater being greater than the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell, controlling the start of the PTC electric heater.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle includes: in response to the fuel cell vehicle starting in a low-temperature environment, controlling the operation of a first circulating water pump, a second circulating water pump, and a third circulating water pump; controlling the first end and the third end of a first three-way valve to be connected; controlling the second end and the third end of a second three-way valve to be connected; and controlling the first end and the third end of a third three-way valve to be connected, so that the first heat exchange circuit, the second heat exchange circuit, and the third heat exchange circuit are connected, and condensate does not pass through the first radiator and the second radiator. Therefore, this method can solve the problem of efficient and comprehensive utilization of heat in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures. By comprehensively coordinating the heat demands of heat-generating components such as the fuel cell and motor, and the heating needs of the passenger compartment, heat loss is reduced, energy utilization efficiency in low-temperature environments is improved, and comprehensive energy-saving effects are achieved, thereby improving the user experience.

[0019] To achieve the above objectives, a third aspect of the present invention provides a fuel cell vehicle, which includes the aforementioned thermal management system and a controller. The controller is used to control the thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle according to the aforementioned control method for the thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle.

[0020] The fuel cell vehicle according to embodiments of the present invention can solve the problem of efficient and comprehensive utilization of heat in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures, reduce heat loss, improve energy utilization in low-temperature environments, achieve comprehensive energy saving, and improve user experience.

[0021] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 A flowchart of a control method for a thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 3 A flowchart of a control method for a thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to other embodiments of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a block diagram of a fuel cell vehicle according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100 - Thermal management system for fuel cell vehicle; 10 - First heat exchange loop; 20 - Second heat exchange loop; 30 - Third heat exchange loop; 40 - Fuel stack; 11 - First three-way valve; 12 - First radiator; 13 - First temperature sensor; 14 - First circulating water pump; 15 - Third temperature sensor; 16 - Fourth temperature sensor; 17 - First pressure sensor; 18 - Second pressure sensor; 19 - Intercooler; 21 - PTC electric heater; 22 - Heater core; 23 - Second circulating water pump; 24 - Second three-way valve; 31 - Drive motor; 32 - Third three-way valve; 3 3-Second radiator, 34-Second temperature sensor, 35-Third circulating water pump, 36-Air compressor, 37-DC-DC converter, 11-1-First end of the first three-way valve, 11-2-Second end of the first three-way valve, 11-3-Third end of the first three-way valve, 24-1-First end of the second three-way valve, 24-2-Second end of the second three-way valve, 24-3-Third end of the second three-way valve, 32-1-First end of the third three-way valve, 32-2-Second end of the third three-way valve, 32-3-Third end of the third three-way valve, 400-Fuel cell vehicle, 200-Controller. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0025] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this invention should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in the embodiments of this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word covers the element or object listed after the word and its equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0026] As mentioned in the background section, the fuel cell thermal management system is an important component to ensure fuel cell power generation. In low-temperature environments, most manufacturers have considered using the heating air and fuel cell heat dissipation to reduce energy consumption. However, the heat from heat dissipation components such as motors, DC drives, and air compressors is still wasted through fans.

[0027] In the process of realizing this invention, the applicant discovered that in related technologies, the various heat-generating components are simply connected together by physical structures without mentioning specific methods to improve heat utilization, without considering the working characteristics of automotive fuel cells, thus increasing energy consumption, reducing energy utilization in low-temperature environments, and lowering user experience.

[0028] Therefore, this invention can solve the problem of efficient and comprehensive utilization of heat in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures. By comprehensively coordinating the heat demand of fuel cells, motors and other heat-generating components and passenger compartment heating, it reduces heat loss, improves energy utilization in low-temperature environments, achieves comprehensive energy-saving effects, and enhances the user experience.

[0029] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrates the thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle, the control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle, and the fuel cell vehicle itself, as proposed in embodiments of the present invention.

[0030] refer to Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the thermal management system 100 of the fuel cell vehicle of the present invention may include a first heat exchange circuit 10, a second heat exchange circuit 20 and a third heat exchange circuit 30.

[0032] Furthermore, the first heat exchange circuit 10 can exchange heat with the fuel cell stack 40. The first heat exchange circuit 10 is selectively connected to the first radiator 12 and the second heat exchange circuit 20 through the first three-way valve 11. For example, in a high-temperature environment, the first heat exchange circuit 10 is connected to the first radiator 12 through the first three-way valve 11; in a low-temperature environment, when the fuel cell stack 40 has more heat, the first heat exchange circuit 10 is connected to the second heat exchange circuit 20 through the first three-way valve 11 to heat the crew compartment and reduce energy consumption.

[0033] Specifically, the first heat exchange circuit 10 is equipped with a first temperature sensor 13, which can detect the first temperature of the condensate in the first heat exchange circuit 10.

[0034] Specifically, the first heat exchange circuit 10 is equipped with a first circulating water pump 14, which can control the condensate to circulate in the first heat exchange circuit 10.

[0035] Specifically, the first heat exchange circuit 10 is also equipped with a third temperature sensor 15, a fourth temperature sensor 16, a first pressure sensor 17, a second pressure sensor 18, and an intercooler 19. The third temperature sensor 15 can detect the temperature at the outlet of the first radiator 12 in the first heat exchange circuit 10; the fourth temperature sensor 16 can detect the temperature at the outlet of the fuel cell stack 40 in the first heat exchange circuit 10; the first pressure sensor 17 can detect the first pressure of the condensate in the first heat exchange circuit 10; the second pressure sensor 18 can detect the pressure at the outlet of the fuel cell stack 40 in the first heat exchange circuit 10; and the intercooler 19 can reduce the temperature of the air entering the fuel cell stack 40 to ensure that the fuel cell stack 40 operates efficiently and stably at the most suitable temperature.

[0036] Furthermore, the second heat exchange circuit 20 is equipped with a PTC electric heater 21, which can heat the heating core 22. When the temperature of the passenger compartment is low, the PTC electric heater 21 can be turned on to heat the heating core 22; when the temperature of the passenger compartment is high, the PTC electric heater 21 can be turned off to stop heating the heating core 22.

[0037] Specifically, the second heat exchange circuit 20 is equipped with a second circulating water pump 23, which can control the condensate to circulate in the second heat exchange circuit 20.

[0038] Furthermore, the third heat exchange circuit 30 can exchange heat with the drive motor 31. The third heat exchange circuit 30 is selectively connected to the second radiator 33 through the third three-way valve 32, and the third heat exchange circuit 30 is selectively connected to the second heat exchange circuit 20 through the third three-way valve 32. For example, in a high-temperature environment, the third heat exchange circuit 30 is connected to the second radiator 33 through the third three-way valve 32; in a low-temperature environment, when the drive motor 31 has a lot of heat, the third heat exchange circuit 30 is connected to the second heat exchange circuit 20 through the third three-way valve 32 to warm the passenger compartment and reduce energy consumption.

[0039] Specifically, the third heat exchange circuit 30 is equipped with a second temperature sensor 34, which can detect the second temperature of the condensate in the third heat exchange circuit 30.

[0040] Specifically, the third heat exchange circuit 30 is equipped with a third circulating water pump 35, which can control the condensate to circulate in the third heat exchange circuit 30.

[0041] Specifically, the third heat exchange circuit 30 is also equipped with an air compressor 36 and a DC-DC converter 37. The DC-DC converter 37 can adjust and match the voltage; the air compressor 36 can provide sufficient pressure and sufficient amount of oxygen to the fuel stack 40 to maintain efficient electrochemical reaction.

[0042] In summary, the thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first heat exchange circuit, a second heat exchange circuit, and a third heat exchange circuit; the first heat exchange circuit is used for heat exchange with the fuel cell stack, and is selectively connected to a first radiator and the second heat exchange circuit via a first three-way valve; the second heat exchange circuit is equipped with a PTC electric heater and is used to heat the heater core; the third heat exchange circuit is used for heat exchange with the drive motor, and is selectively connected to the second radiator via a third three-way valve, and is also selectively connected to the second heat exchange circuit via a third three-way valve. Therefore, this system can solve the problem of efficient and comprehensive utilization of heat in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures. By comprehensively coordinating the heat demands of the fuel cell, motor, and other heat-generating components, as well as the heating needs of the passenger compartment, it reduces heat loss, improves energy utilization efficiency in low-temperature environments, achieves comprehensive energy-saving effects, and enhances the user experience.

[0043] refer to Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a control method for a thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, the control method of the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the following steps: S201, in response to the start-up of the fuel cell vehicle 400 in a low-temperature environment, controls the operation of the first circulating water pump 14, the second circulating water pump 23 and the third circulating water pump 35, controls the first end 11-1 and the third end 11-3 of the first three-way valve to be connected, controls the second end 24-2 and the third end 24-3 of the second three-way valve to be connected, and controls the first end 32-1 and the third end 32-3 of the third three-way valve to be connected, so that the first heat exchange circuit 10, the second heat exchange circuit 20 and the third heat exchange circuit 30 are connected, and the condensate does not pass through the first radiator 12 and the second radiator 33.

[0045] Specifically, when the fuel cell vehicle 400 starts in a low-temperature environment, the first circulating water pump 14, the second circulating water pump 23, and the third circulating water pump 35 are controlled to operate, allowing condensate to circulate in the first heat exchange circuit 10, the second heat exchange circuit 20, and the third heat exchange circuit 30 respectively. The first end 11-1 of the first three-way valve is connected to the third end 11-3, the second end 24-2 of the second three-way valve is connected to the third end 24-3, and the first end 32-1 of the third three-way valve is connected to the third end 32-3, connecting the three heat exchange circuits in series to form independent circulation paths. This prevents condensate from passing through the first radiator 12 and the second radiator 33, further preventing condensate from entering the radiators and causing icing. This solves the problem of efficient and comprehensive heat utilization in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures. By comprehensively coordinating the heat demands of the fuel cell, motor, and other heat-generating components, as well as the heating needs of the passenger compartment, heat loss is reduced, energy utilization in low-temperature environments is improved, achieving comprehensive energy-saving effects and enhancing the user experience.

[0046] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: determining whether it is necessary to heat the heater core 22; in response to the need to heat the heater core 22, controlling the first end 11-1 of the first three-way valve to connect with the third end 11-3, controlling the first end 24-1 of the second three-way valve to connect with the second end 24-2, and controlling the first end 32-1 of the third three-way valve to connect with the third end 32-3, so that the third heat exchange circuit 30 is connected to the second heat exchange circuit 20.

[0047] Specifically, it is determined whether heating of the heater core 22 is necessary. If heating of the heater core 22 is necessary, it indicates that the temperature of the passenger compartment is low and needs to be increased. At this time, the first end 11-1 of the first three-way valve is connected to the third end 11-3, and the first end 24-1 of the second three-way valve is connected to the second end 24-2, so that the heat of the first heat exchange circuit 10 cannot be provided to the second heat exchange circuit 20 through the first three-way valve 11, further preventing the heat of the first heat exchange circuit 10 from being lost through the radiator fan. The first end 32-1 of the third three-way valve is connected to the third end 32-3, so that the third heat exchange circuit 30 is connected to the second heat exchange circuit 20, allowing the heat of the third heat exchange circuit 30 to be provided to the second heat exchange circuit 20 through the third three-way valve 32, further preventing the heat of the third heat exchange circuit 30 from being lost through the radiator fan. When the heat generated by the third heat exchange circuit 30 can meet the heating needs of the passenger compartment, the waste heat generated by the third heat exchange circuit 30 during operation can be provided to the second heat exchange circuit 20.

[0048] When heating the heater core 22 is not required, it indicates that the temperature of the passenger compartment may be high and there is no need to increase the temperature of the passenger compartment. At this time, the first end 11-1 and the third end 11-3 of the first three-way valve are connected, the first end 24-1, the second end 24-2 and the third end 24-3 of the second three-way valve are connected, and the first end 32-1 and the third end 32-3 of the third three-way valve are connected, so that the first heat exchange circuit 10 is connected to the second heat exchange circuit 20, and the third heat exchange circuit 30 is connected to the second heat exchange circuit 20, so that the temperature of the third heat exchange circuit 30, the second heat exchange circuit 20 and the first heat exchange circuit 10 are basically balanced, thereby reducing heat loss.

[0049] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: acquiring a second temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 34, determining whether the second temperature is not less than a preset required temperature; and controlling the PTC electric heater 21 to be turned off in response to the second temperature being not less than the preset required temperature. The preset required temperature can be calibrated according to actual conditions.

[0050] Specifically, the second temperature of the condensate in the third heat exchange circuit 30 can be detected by the second temperature sensor 34. The second temperature is compared with the preset required temperature to determine whether the second temperature is not less than the preset required temperature. When the second temperature is not less than the preset required temperature, it can be indicated that the temperature of the condensate in the third heat exchange circuit 30 is high. The heating needs of the crew cabin can be supported by using motor heat dissipation. At this time, the PTC electric heater 21 is turned off to reduce energy consumption.

[0051] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: in response to the second temperature being less than a preset required temperature, acquiring the first temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 13, and determining whether the first temperature is not less than the preset required temperature; in response to the first temperature being not less than the preset required temperature, controlling the PTC electric heater 21 to be turned off, controlling the first end 11-1 of the first three-way valve to be connected to the third end 11-3, controlling the second end 24-2 of the second three-way valve to be connected to the third end 24-3, and controlling the first end 32-1 of the third three-way valve to be connected to the third end 32-3.

[0052] Specifically, when the second temperature is lower than the preset required temperature, the first temperature sensor 13 detects the first temperature of the condensate in the first heat exchange circuit 10, compares the first temperature with the preset required temperature, and determines whether the first temperature is not lower than the preset required temperature. When the first temperature is not lower than the preset required temperature, it indicates that the temperature of the condensate in the first heat exchange circuit 10 is high, and the heating needs of the crew compartment can be supported by using the fuel stack 40 for heat dissipation. At this time, the PTC electric heater 21 is turned off to reduce energy consumption. The first end 11-1 of the first three-way valve is connected to the third end 11-3, the second end 24-2 of the second three-way valve is connected to the third end 24-3, and the first end 32-1 of the third three-way valve is connected to the third end 32-3, so that the condensate of the second heat exchange circuit 20 passes through the first heat exchange circuit 10.

[0053] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method further includes: in response to a first temperature being less than a preset required temperature, calculating the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell and the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater 21; determining whether the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater 21 is greater than the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell; and in response to the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater 21 being greater than the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell, controlling the start of the PTC electric heater 21.

[0054] Specifically, when the first temperature is lower than the preset required temperature, the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell and the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater 21 are calculated and compared. It is then determined whether the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater 21 is greater than that of the fuel cell. If the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater 21 is greater than that of the fuel cell, the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell needs to be increased until the first temperature meets the preset required temperature. Alternatively, the PTC electric heater 21 can be activated to support the heating needs of the passenger compartment.

[0055] In some embodiments, when the fuel cell vehicle 400 starts in a low-temperature environment, if the heat generated in the third heat exchange circuit 30 is relatively large, and there is still residual heat even when the PTC electric heater 21 in the second heat exchange circuit 20 is not activated, the residual heat can be used to maintain the temperature of the first heat exchange circuit 10 through the second three-way valve 24. Similarly, if the heat generated in the first heat exchange circuit 10 is relatively large, and there is still residual heat even when the PTC electric heater 21 in the second heat exchange circuit 20 is not activated, the residual heat can be used to maintain the temperature of the third heat exchange circuit 30 through the third three-way valve 32, that is, controlling the first end 11-1 of the first three-way valve to connect with the third end 11-3, controlling the second end 24-2 of the second three-way valve to connect with the third end 24-3, and controlling the first end 32-1 of the third three-way valve to connect with the third end 32-3.

[0056] When the fuel cell vehicle 400 starts in a low-temperature environment, based on the above-mentioned heat balance control, if a certain heat exchange circuit exceeds the preset required temperature, if the second temperature reaches the upper limit of the allowable temperature of the third heat exchange circuit 30, the opening of the third three-way valve 32 is adjusted to ensure that the preset required temperature is not exceeded; if the first temperature reaches the upper limit of the allowable temperature of the first heat exchange circuit 10, the opening of the first three-way valve 11 is adjusted to ensure that the preset required temperature is not exceeded.

[0057] A more economical approach should be adopted: to prevent heat loss through the radiator fan, the power of the fuel cell should be limited, prioritizing the motor's support for the vehicle's power to avoid exceeding the preset temperature requirements; the upper limit of the fuel cell's power should be calculated based on heat generation and dissipation, and updated in real time.

[0058] In some embodiments, when the fuel cell vehicle 400 is started in a high-temperature environment, the second three-way valve 24 controls the cooling water to pass only through the second heat exchange circuit 20, and controls the second circulating water pump 23 and PTC electric heater 21 to shut down; the third three-way valve 32 controls the cooling water to pass only through the second radiator 33; the first three-way valve 11 controls the amount of cooling water flowing through the first radiator 12 according to the temperature requirements of the fuel cell stack 40.

[0059] As a specific example, such as Figure 3 As shown, the control method of the thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle of the present invention may include the following steps: S301, when a fuel cell vehicle starts up in a low-temperature environment.

[0060] S302 controls the operation of the first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump, and the third circulating water pump, controls the first end of the first three-way valve to connect with the third end, controls the second end of the second three-way valve to connect with the third end, and controls the first end of the third three-way valve to connect with the third end, so that the first heat exchange circuit, the second heat exchange circuit, and the third heat exchange circuit are connected, and the condensate does not pass through the first radiator and the second radiator.

[0061] S303, Determine whether the heater core needs to be heated. If yes, proceed to step S304; if no, proceed to step S312.

[0062] S304, control the first end of the first three-way valve to connect with the third end, control the first end of the second three-way valve to connect with the second end, and control the first end of the third three-way valve to connect with the third end, so that the third heat exchange circuit is connected to the second heat exchange circuit.

[0063] S305, determine whether the second temperature is not less than the preset required temperature. If yes, proceed to step S306; if no, proceed to step S307.

[0064] S306 controls the shutdown of the PTC electric heater, using motor cooling to support the heating needs of the crew cabin.

[0065] S307, Determine whether the first temperature is not less than the preset required temperature. If yes, proceed to step S308; if no, proceed to step S309.

[0066] S308 controls the shutdown of the PTC electric heater, connects the first and third ends of the first three-way valve, connects the second and third ends of the second three-way valve, and connects the first and third ends of the third three-way valve, using fuel stack heat dissipation to support the heating needs of the crew compartment.

[0067] S309, calculate the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell and the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater.

[0068] S310, determine whether the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater is greater than the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell. If so, proceed to step S311.

[0069] S311 improves the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell until the first temperature meets the preset required temperature, or controls the start of the PTC electric heater to support the heating needs of the passenger compartment.

[0070] S312, controls the first end of the first three-way valve to be connected to the third end, controls the first end, the second end and the third end of the second three-way valve to be connected, and controls the first end and the third end of the third three-way valve to be connected.

[0071] Therefore, the present invention can use the heat dissipation circuit of the motor (third heat exchange circuit 30) to heat the passenger compartment (second heat exchange circuit 20) when there is a lot of heat; and use the heat from the fuel cell (first heat exchange circuit 10) to heat the passenger compartment (second heat exchange circuit 20) when there is a lot of heat; when both the heat dissipation circuit of the motor and the heat from the fuel cell are high, the fuel cell can calculate the heat generation and heat dissipation to determine the upper limit of power generation without exceeding the preset required temperature, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption of the machine by limiting the power and achieving a comprehensive energy-saving effect.

[0072] In summary, the control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: in response to the start-up of the fuel cell vehicle in a low-temperature environment, controlling the operation of a first circulating water pump, a second circulating water pump, and a third circulating water pump; controlling the first end and the third end of a first three-way valve to be connected; controlling the second end and the third end of a second three-way valve to be connected; and controlling the first end and the third end of a third three-way valve to be connected, so that the first heat exchange circuit, the second heat exchange circuit, and the third heat exchange circuit are connected, and the condensate does not pass through the first radiator and the second radiator. Therefore, this method can solve the problem of efficient and comprehensive utilization of heat in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures. By comprehensively coordinating the heat demands of heat-generating components such as the fuel cell and motor, and the heating needs of the passenger compartment, heat loss is reduced, energy utilization efficiency in low-temperature environments is improved, and comprehensive energy-saving effects are achieved, thereby enhancing the user experience.

[0073] It should be noted that the above description describes some embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps described in the claims may be performed in a different order than that shown in the above embodiments and still achieve the desired results. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require a specific or sequential order to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0074] Based on the same inventive concept, and corresponding to the methods of any of the above embodiments, the present invention also provides a fuel cell vehicle. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the fuel cell vehicle 400 includes the aforementioned thermal management system 100 and controller 200. The controller 200 is used to control the thermal management system 100 of the fuel cell vehicle according to the aforementioned control method of the thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle.

[0075] The fuel cell vehicle according to embodiments of the present invention can solve the problem of efficient and comprehensive utilization of heat in fuel cell vehicles at low temperatures, reduce heat loss, improve energy utilization in low-temperature environments, achieve comprehensive energy saving, and improve user experience.

[0076] Furthermore, although the operations of the method of the present invention are described in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this does not require or imply that these operations must be performed in that specific order, or that all of the operations shown must be performed to achieve the desired result. Rather, the steps depicted in the flowchart may be performed in a different order. Additionally or alternatively, certain steps may be omitted, multiple steps may be combined into one step, and / or one step may be broken down into multiple steps.

[0077] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this invention should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in the embodiments of this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word covers the element or object listed after the word and its equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0078] While the spirit and principles of the invention have been described with reference to several specific embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed specific embodiments, and the division of aspects does not imply that features in these aspects cannot be combined for benefit; such division is merely for ease of description. The invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the appended claims is to be interpreted in the broadest sense, thereby encompassing all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle, characterized in that, It includes a first heat exchange circuit (10), a second heat exchange circuit (20) and a third heat exchange circuit (30); The first heat exchange circuit (10) is used to exchange heat with the fuel stack (40), and the first heat exchange circuit (10) is selectively connected to the first radiator (12) and the second heat exchange circuit (20) through the first three-way valve (11); The second heat exchange circuit (20) is equipped with a PTC electric heater (21), and the second heat exchange circuit (20) is used to heat the warm air core (22); The third heat exchange circuit (30) is used to exchange heat with the drive motor (31). The third heat exchange circuit (30) is selectively connected to the second radiator (33) through the third three-way valve (32). The third heat exchange circuit (30) is selectively connected to the second heat exchange circuit (20) through the third three-way valve (32).

2. The thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat exchange circuit (10) is provided with a first temperature sensor (13), which is used to detect the first temperature of the condensate in the first heat exchange circuit (10).

3. The thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The third heat exchange circuit (30) is equipped with a second temperature sensor (34), which is used to detect the second temperature of the condensate in the third heat exchange circuit (30).

4. The thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat exchange circuit (10) is equipped with a first circulating water pump (14), which is used to control the condensate to circulate in the first heat exchange circuit (10). The second heat exchange circuit (20) is equipped with a second circulating water pump (23), which is used to control the condensate to circulate in the second heat exchange circuit (20). The third heat exchange circuit (30) is equipped with a third circulating water pump (35), which is used to control the condensate to circulate in the third heat exchange circuit (30).

5. A control method for a thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle, characterized in that, The method, applied to the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle as described in any one of claims 1-4, comprises: In response to the start-up of the fuel cell vehicle in a low-temperature environment, the operation of the first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump and the third circulating water pump are controlled, the first end of the first three-way valve is connected to the third end, the second end of the second three-way valve is connected to the third end, and the first end of the third three-way valve is connected to the third end, so that the first heat exchange circuit, the second heat exchange circuit and the third heat exchange circuit are connected, and the condensate does not pass through the first radiator and the second radiator.

6. The control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determine whether the heater core needs to be heated; In response to the need to heat the warm air core, the first end of the first three-way valve is connected to the third end, the first end of the second three-way valve is connected to the second end, and the first end of the third three-way valve is connected to the third end, so that the third heat exchange circuit is connected to the second heat exchange circuit.

7. The control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Acquire the second temperature detected by the second temperature sensor, and determine whether the second temperature is not less than the preset required temperature; In response to the second temperature being not less than the preset required temperature, the PTC electric heater is controlled to be turned off.

8. The control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to the second temperature being less than the preset required temperature, a first temperature detected by a first temperature sensor is obtained, and it is determined whether the first temperature is not less than the preset required temperature. In response to the first temperature being not less than the preset required temperature, the PTC electric heater is turned off, the first end of the first three-way valve is connected to the third end, the second end of the second three-way valve is connected to the third end, and the first end of the third three-way valve is connected to the third end.

9. The control method for the thermal management system of a fuel cell vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to the first temperature being lower than the preset required temperature, the overall heat exchange efficiency of the fuel cell and the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater are calculated. Determine whether the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater is greater than that of the fuel cell; In response to the fact that the overall heat exchange efficiency of the PTC electric heater is greater than that of the fuel cell, the PTC electric heater is controlled to start.

10. A fuel cell vehicle, characterized in that, The fuel cell vehicle includes a thermal management system and a controller as described in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the controller is used to control the thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle according to the control method of the thermal management system of the fuel cell vehicle as described in any one of claims 5-9.

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