Cathode closed type air-cooled fuel cell and thermal management method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a cathode closed type air-cooled fuel cell and a thermal management method thereof. The fuel cell comprises a reactor core, a fan cover, a fan and a heater, the reactor core is provided with a heat management runner; the opening direction of the heat management runner is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the reactor core; the fan cover comprises an open fan cover and a closed fan cover which are arranged on the side face of an opening of the heat management flow channel and the opposite side face of the opening of the heat management flow channel respectively. A plurality of openings are formed in the open type fan cover, and at least comprise the openings in the two ends of the open type fan cover and the opening in the middle of the open type fan cover; the fans open the openings at the two ends of the fan cover; the air supply direction of the fan is parallel to the opening direction of the heat management flow channel, and the rotating direction of fan blades of the fan is adjustable so that the air blowing mode and the air suction mode can be switched. The heater is arranged between the fan and the corresponding opening of the open type fan cover. According to the invention, the problem of non-uniform temperature distribution of a traditional air-cooled fuel cell under the working conditions of preheating and stable operation is solved, and the power generation performance and the operation reliability of the fuel cell are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and in particular to a cathode closed-circuit air-cooled fuel cell and its thermal management method. Background Technology

[0002] Fuel cells are considered a highly efficient energy conversion technology that can directly convert the chemical energy stored in fuels (such as hydrogen) into electrical and thermal energy through electrochemical reactions. Compared with traditional technologies such as internal combustion engines, they have significant advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, low noise, and zero emissions, and have broad application prospects in portable power supplies, backup power supplies, and transportation.

[0003] To reduce size, mass, and complexity, small fuel cells typically employ air cooling for thermal management, directly cooling the fuel cell stack (core) with ambient air. However, existing air-cooled fuel cell thermal management schemes have significant drawbacks: Traditional air-cooled fuel cells are preheated using heating elements attached to the stack surface, which conduct heat to the stack. During stable operation, a fan provides indiscriminate cooling to the thermal management channels at different locations. However, due to unavoidable environmental heat loss, the heat dissipation near the endplates (i.e., the two sides of the stack) is much greater than that in the center. As the operating temperature of the fuel cell increases and the number of cells increases, the traditional air-cooled fuel cell thermal management method causes a large amount of heat to concentrate in the center of the stack, resulting in a "high in the middle and low on the sides" temperature distribution, which affects its power generation performance and operational reliability.

[0004] The statements herein provide only background information in relation to this invention and do not necessarily constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem of uneven temperature distribution in the preheating and stable operation conditions of traditional air-cooled fuel cells, so as to improve the power generation performance and operational reliability of fuel cells.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a cathode closed-loop air-cooled fuel cell, comprising a core, a shroud, a fan, and a heater; The core is provided with thermal management channels; the opening direction of the thermal management channels is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the core. The air hood includes an open air hood and a closed air hood, which are respectively disposed on the side of the opening of the heat management flow channel and the opposite side thereof; the open air hood has a plurality of openings, including at least the openings located at both ends of the open air hood and the opening located in the middle of the open air hood. The fan is located at the openings at both ends of the open shroud; the airflow direction of the fan is parallel to the opening direction of the heat management channel, and the rotation direction of the fan blades is adjustable to switch between blowing mode and suction mode. The heater is located between the fan and the corresponding opening of the open shroud.

[0007] Optionally, the thermal management channels are uniformly divided into four groups of thermal management channels along the stacking direction of the core, namely, the first thermal management channel, the second thermal management channel, the third thermal management channel and the fourth thermal management channel.

[0008] Optionally, the open shroud is provided with a first opening, a second opening and a third opening in sequence along the stacking direction of the core; the first opening and the third opening are located at both ends of the open shroud; the second opening is located between the first opening and the third opening. The first opening of the open shroud corresponds to the position of the first heat management channel; the second opening corresponds to the positions of the second and third heat management channels; and the third opening corresponds to the position of the fourth heat management channel.

[0009] Optionally, the first opening and the third opening have the same width, and the width of the second opening is 1.5 to 2.5 times the width of the first opening.

[0010] Optionally, the enclosed shroud is provided with a baffle facing the inner wall of the reactor core, the baffle separating the regions corresponding to the first and second thermal management channels from the regions corresponding to the third and fourth thermal management channels.

[0011] Optionally, the operating conditions of the cathode closed-circuit air-cooled fuel cell include a preheating condition and a stable operating condition, wherein the fan blades rotate in opposite directions during the preheating condition and the stable operating condition.

[0012] Optionally, the air inlet and outlet of the thermal management channel are located on the same side of the reactor core.

[0013] Accordingly, the present invention also provides a thermal management method for the above-mentioned cathode closed-loop air-cooled fuel cell, comprising: Preheating mode: Control the fan to operate in blowing mode and start the heater so that the heated air flows through the thermal management channel to preheat the reactor core; Stable operating conditions: When the core temperature reaches the preset operating temperature, the fan is switched to suction mode and the heater is turned off, so that air flows through the thermal management channel to cool the core.

[0014] Optionally, in the preheating condition, the airflow path is as follows: air is blown in by the fan, heated by the heater, enters the thermal management channel through the first and third openings, flows through the two sides of the core, merges into the middle region of the core, and is finally discharged through the second opening.

[0015] Optionally, under the stable operating conditions, the airflow path is as follows: air enters the thermal management channel through the second opening, flows through the central region of the reactor core, is then diverted to the two side regions of the reactor core, and is finally drawn out by the fan through the first and third openings.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: This invention can achieve different thermal management requirements of fuel cells under preheating and stable operation conditions by switching the rotation direction of the fan blades. In the preheating condition, air is used as the thermal management medium instead of the traditional direct heat conduction heating method of heating plates. This greatly increases the heat exchange area in the preheating condition, reduces the temperature gradient in the preheating process, and thus improves the temperature uniformity and fuel cell component life.

[0017] Furthermore, the switching of the fan blade rotation direction leads to a change in the flow path of the thermal management air. In preheating mode, hot air first enters the thermal management channels in the two side regions of the core (the first and fourth thermal management channels) and then enters the thermal management channels in the middle region of the core (the second and third thermal management channels), thereby improving the heating effect on the two side regions of the core. In stable operation mode, cold air first enters the thermal management channels in the middle region of the core and then enters the thermal management channels in the two side regions of the core, thereby strengthening the cooling effect on the middle region of the core. This solves the problem of "high temperature in the middle and low temperature on both sides" in the temperature distribution of traditional air-cooled fuel cells, and improves the power generation performance and operational reliability of air-cooled fuel cells. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cathode closed-loop air-cooled fuel cell according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the thermal management airflow path of a cathode closed-loop air-cooled fuel cell under preheating conditions according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the thermal management airflow path of a cathode closed-loop air-cooled fuel cell under stable operating conditions according to the present invention.

[0022] Attached image labels: End plate 10, front end plate 11, rear end plate 12; Collector plate 20, front collector plate 21, rear collector plate 22; Core 30; Wind hood 40, open wind hood 41, closed wind hood 42; first opening 411, second opening 412, third opening 413; Fan 50, first fan 51, second fan 52; Heater 60, first heater 61, second heater 62; Heat management flow channel 70, first heat management flow channel 71, second heat management flow channel 72, third heat management flow channel 73, and fourth heat management flow channel 74. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of the cathode closed-loop air-cooled fuel cell and its thermal management method proposed in this invention. The advantages and features of this invention will become clearer from the following description. It should be noted that the drawings are in a very simplified form and use non-precise proportions, used only to facilitate and clarify the illustration of the embodiments of this invention. Please refer to the drawings to make the objectives, features, and advantages of this invention more apparent and understandable. It should be understood that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc., depicted in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes to aid those skilled in the art and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of this invention. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives achieved by this invention, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this invention.

[0024] The “two sides of the core” mentioned in this article refers to the two end regions of the core, which are close to the front end plate and the rear end plate, respectively, along its stacking direction.

[0025] The “central region of the core” as used herein refers to the central portion of the core located between the two end regions along its stacking direction.

[0026] The “two sides of the thermal management channel” mentioned in this article refers to the side of the reactor core body with the opening of the thermal management channel, and the opposite side directly opposite the side.

[0027] like Figures 1-2As shown, the present invention provides a cathode closed-loop air-cooled fuel cell, comprising an end plate 10, a current collector 20, a core 30, a shroud 40, a fan 50, and a heater 60. The end plate 10 and the current collector 20 are symmetrically installed from the outside to the inside at two ends of the core 30 along the stacking direction. The end plate 10 includes a front end plate 11 and a rear end plate 12, and the current collector 20 includes a front current collector 21 and a rear current collector 22. The front end plate 11 and the front current collector 21 are installed from the outside to the inside at one end of the core 30 along the stacking direction, and the rear end plate 12 and the rear current collector 22 are installed from the outside to the inside at the other end of the core 30 along the stacking direction.

[0028] The core 30 is composed of an anode plate, a thermal management plate, a cathode plate, and a membrane electrode (not shown) stacked in a cycle. Thermal management channels 70 are provided between the thermal management plate and the anode plate, and between the thermal management plate and the cathode plate. The opening direction of the thermal management channels 70 is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the core 30. In this embodiment, the thermal management channels 70 are uniformly divided into four groups along the stacking direction of the core 30: a first thermal management channel 71, a second thermal management channel 72, a third thermal management channel 73, and a fourth thermal management channel 74.

[0029] The shroud 40 includes an open shroud 41 and a closed shroud 42, respectively disposed on the side of the opening of the thermal management channel 70 and its opposite side. The coordinated design of the open shroud 41 and the closed shroud 42 ensures that the air inlet and outlet of the thermal management channel 70 are located on the same side of the reactor core 30. The open shroud 41 is fixed to the side of the reactor core where the air inlet and outlet of the thermal management channel 70 are located, and the closed shroud 42 is fixed to the side of the reactor core opposite to the open shroud 41. The open shroud 41 has several openings, including at least openings at both ends and an opening in the middle. In this embodiment, the open shroud 41 has a first opening 411, a second opening 412, and a third opening 413. The first opening 411 and the third opening 413 are located at both ends of the open shroud 41; the second opening 412 is located between the first opening 411 and the third opening 413. In this embodiment, the first opening 411 of the open shroud 41 corresponds to the position of the first heat management channel 71; the second opening 412 corresponds to the positions of the second heat management channel 72 and the third heat management channel 73; and the third opening 413 corresponds to the position of the fourth heat management channel 74.

[0030] In this embodiment, the first opening 411 and the third opening 413 have the same width, and the width of the second opening 412 is 1.5 to 2.5 times the width of the first opening 411. As an example, the width of the second opening 412 is twice the width of the first opening 411.

[0031] In this embodiment, a baffle 421 is provided on the inner wall of the enclosed shroud 42 facing the reactor core 30. The baffle 421 separates the areas corresponding to the first thermal management channel 71 and the second thermal management channel 72 from the areas corresponding to the third thermal management channel 73 and the fourth thermal management channel 74. Through its physical separation, the baffle 421 divides the airflow path within the space formed by the enclosed shroud 42 and the side of the reactor core 30, guiding the airflow direction and ensuring opposite airflow directions in the preheating and stable operation conditions, thereby optimizing the thermal management effect. Specifically, in the preheating condition, the baffle 421 forces the air flowing through the first thermal management channel 71 to turn into the second thermal management channel 72, and the air flowing through the fourth thermal management channel 74 to turn into the third thermal management channel 73; in the stable operation condition, the baffle 421 forces the air flowing through the second thermal management channel 72 to turn into the first thermal management channel 71, and the air flowing through the third thermal management channel 73 to turn into the fourth thermal management channel 74.

[0032] The fans 50 are located at the openings at both ends of the open shroud 41. In this embodiment, there are two fans 50, referred to as the first fan 51 and the second fan 52. The first fan 51 is installed at the first opening 411, and the second fan 52 is installed at the third opening 413. The fans 50 are located on the side of the open shroud 41 away from the core 30. The airflow direction of the fans 50 is parallel to the opening direction of the thermal management channel 70, and the rotation direction of the fan blades is adjustable to switch between blowing and suction modes. The operating conditions of the cathode closed-circuit air-cooled fuel cell include a preheating condition and a stable operating condition. The rotation directions of the fan blades of the fans 50 are opposite in the preheating and stable operating conditions. By switching the direction of the fans 50, an airflow converging from the two sides of the core 30 to the central region can be formed during the preheating condition, and an airflow splitting from the central region of the core 30 to the two sides can be formed during the stable operating condition, thereby optimizing the temperature distribution of the core 30.

[0033] The heater 60 is disposed between the fan 50 and the corresponding opening of the open shroud 41. In this embodiment, there are two heaters 60, referred to as the first heater 61 and the second heater 62. The first heater 61 is installed between the first fan 51 and the first opening 411, and the second heater 62 is installed between the second fan 52 and the third opening 413, for heating the air flowing through the heater 60 in the preheating condition.

[0034] The following provides a more detailed description of the thermal management method for the cathode closed-loop air-cooled fuel cell in this embodiment.

[0035] like Figure 3As shown, in the preheating condition, the heater 60 is turned on, and the fan 50 is adjusted to blowing mode, so that the heated air flows through the thermal management channel 70 to preheat the reactor core 30. In the preheating condition, the first opening 411 and the third opening 413 of the open shroud 41 are air inlets, and the second opening 42 is an air outlet. The ambient air is divided into two streams and enters the thermal management channel 70 of the reactor core 30 to preheat the reactor core 30.

[0036] Specifically, the first stream of air flows through the first heater 61 under the action of the first fan 51, and is heated to 120°C. It then enters the first heat management channel 71 through the first opening 411 of the open shroud 41, heating the reactor core 30 in that area. After exiting the first heat management channel 71, the air enters the closed shroud 42. Under the action of the baffle 421 in the center of the closed shroud 42, the air enters the second heat management channel 72, continuing to heat the reactor core 30 in that area. Finally, it flows out from the second opening 412 of the open shroud 41. Preheating ends when the temperatures of both the first heat management channel 71 and the second heat management channel 72 reach 120°C.

[0037] Similarly, the second stream of air flows through the second heater 62 under the action of the second fan 52, and is heated to 120°C. It then enters the fourth thermal management channel 74 through the third opening 413 of the open shroud 41, heating the core 30 in that area. After exiting the fourth thermal management channel 74, the air enters the closed shroud 42. Under the action of the baffle 421 in the center of the closed shroud 42, the air enters the third thermal management channel 73, continuing to heat the core 30 in that area. Finally, it flows out from the second opening 412 of the open shroud 41. Preheating ends when the temperatures of both the fourth thermal management channel 74 and the third thermal management channel 73 reach 120°C.

[0038] During preheating, the reactor core 30 continuously absorbs heat from the hot air. Therefore, after passing through heater 60, the air temperature gradually decreases as it travels along the path, resulting in a decreasing heating temperature difference. The heat absorption rates of the first and fourth heat management channels 71 and 74, located on either side of the reactor core 30, will be higher than those of the second and third heat management channels 72 and 73, located in the middle of the reactor core 30. If the hot air first flows through the areas on either side of the reactor core 30 (first and fourth heat management channels 71 and 74), where environmental heat loss is greater, it can preferentially heat these areas at a higher temperature, effectively compensating for environmental heat loss. In contrast, heat tends to accumulate in the middle region of the reactor core 30 (second and third heat management channels 72 and 73), making it less sensitive to heating temperature; therefore, lower-temperature hot air can be used for preheating. In this embodiment, the hot air in the preheating process flows through the two sides first and then through the middle region. This allows the two sides of the core 30, which are easier to dissipate heat, to be preferentially heated by the higher-temperature hot air, effectively compensating for the environmental heat loss in the two sides and thus reducing the temperature gradient inside the core 30 in the preheating process.

[0039] like Figure 4 As shown, under stable operating conditions, heater 60 is turned off, and fan 50 is adjusted to suction mode, allowing air to flow through the thermal management channel 70 to cool the reactor core 30. Under stable operating conditions, the first opening 411 and the third opening 413 of the open shroud 41 are air outlets, and the second opening 412 is an air inlet. Ambient air is divided into two streams and enters the thermal management channel 70 of the reactor core 30 to cool the reactor core 30.

[0040] Specifically, the first stream of air, driven by the first fan 51, enters the second heat management channel 72 through the second opening 412 of the open shroud 41, cooling the reactor core 30 in that area. After exiting the second heat management channel 72, it enters the closed shroud 42. Under the action of the baffle 421 in the center of the closed shroud 42, the air enters the first heat management channel 71, continuing to cool the reactor core 30 in that area, and finally exits from the first opening 411 of the open shroud 41. By adjusting the rotation speed of the first fan 51, the temperature of the first heat management channel 71 and the second heat management channel 72 is maintained at 160°C.

[0041] Similarly, the second stream of air, driven by the second fan 52, enters the third thermal management channel 73 through the second opening 412 of the open shroud 41, cooling the reactor core 30 in that area. After exiting the third thermal management channel 73, it enters the closed shroud 42. Under the action of the baffle 421 in the center of the closed shroud 42, the air enters the fourth thermal management channel 74, continuing to cool the reactor core 30 in that area, and finally exits from the third opening 413 of the open shroud 41. By adjusting the speed of the second fan 52, the temperature of the third thermal management channel 73 and the fourth thermal management channel 74 is maintained at 160°C.

[0042] Under stable operating conditions, the thermal management air continuously absorbs the heat generated by the reactor core 30. Therefore, the air temperature gradually increases as it flows through the path, and the cooling temperature difference continuously decreases. The cooling rate of the first thermal management channel 71 and the fourth thermal management channel 74, located on both sides of the reactor core 30, will be lower than that of the second thermal management channel 72 and the third thermal management channel 73, located in the central region of the reactor core 30. Because the central region of the reactor core 30 (the second thermal management channel 72 and the third thermal management channel 73) has concentrated heat generation and is prone to forming hot spots, it is a critical area for heat dissipation. This embodiment enhances the heat dissipation effect on the central region by allowing low-temperature cold air to flow preferentially through it. In contrast, the side regions (the first thermal management channel 71 and the fourth thermal management channel 74) have greater environmental heat loss and are easier to dissipate heat themselves; even when cooled by subsequently heated air, they can maintain a suitable temperature. This embodiment enhances heat dissipation in the central region of the reactor core 30 under stable operating conditions, compensating for the difference in heat dissipation between the central region and the two side regions, thereby effectively reducing the temperature gradient inside the reactor core 30 under stable operating conditions.

[0043] In summary, this invention, through the integrated structural design of the core, shroud, fan, and heater, abandons the traditional preheating method that relies on direct conduction from heating elements. Instead, it employs fan-driven air circulation as a unified thermal management medium, significantly increasing the heat exchange area during preheating and effectively reducing the temperature gradient within the core. Furthermore, by adjusting the fan direction, this invention achieves opposite airflow paths for preheating and stable operation. This ensures that hot air preferentially flows through the outer regions of the core during preheating, while cold air preferentially flows through the central region during stable operation. This fundamentally solves the problem of "high temperature in the middle and low temperature on both sides" in traditional air-cooled fuel cells, ultimately improving the power generation performance and operational reliability of the fuel cell.

[0044] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0045] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "height," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0046] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0047] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0048] Although the present invention has been described in detail through the preferred embodiments above, it should be understood that the above description should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention. Various modifications and substitutions to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above description. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell, characterized in that, This includes the reactor core, shroud, fans, and heaters; The core is provided with thermal management channels; the opening direction of the thermal management channels is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the core. The air hood includes an open air hood and a closed air hood, which are respectively disposed on the side of the opening of the heat management flow channel and the opposite side thereof; the open air hood has a plurality of openings, including at least the openings located at both ends of the open air hood and the opening located in the middle of the open air hood. The fan is located at the openings at both ends of the open shroud; the airflow direction of the fan is parallel to the opening direction of the heat management channel, and the rotation direction of the fan blades is adjustable to switch between blowing mode and suction mode. The heater is located between the fan and the corresponding opening of the open shroud.

2. The cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal management channels are uniformly divided into four groups of thermal management channels along the stacking direction of the core, namely the first thermal management channel, the second thermal management channel, the third thermal management channel and the fourth thermal management channel.

3. The cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The open hood is provided with a first opening, a second opening and a third opening in sequence along the stacking direction of the core; the first opening and the third opening are located at both ends of the open hood. The second opening is located between the first opening and the third opening; The first opening of the open shroud corresponds to the position of the first heat management channel; the second opening corresponds to the positions of the second and third heat management channels; and the third opening corresponds to the position of the fourth heat management channel.

4. The cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first opening has the same width as the third opening, and the width of the second opening is 1.5 to 2.5 times the width of the first opening.

5. The cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The enclosed shroud has a baffle on its inner sidewall facing the core, which separates the regions corresponding to the first and second thermal management channels from the regions corresponding to the third and fourth thermal management channels.

6. The cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The operating conditions of the cathode closed-circuit air-cooled fuel cell include a preheating condition and a stable operating condition. The fan blades rotate in opposite directions during the preheating condition and the stable operating condition.

7. The cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet and outlet of the thermal management channel are located on the same side of the reactor core.

8. A thermal management method for a cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, include: Preheating mode: Control the fan to operate in blowing mode and start the heater so that the heated air flows through the thermal management channel to preheat the reactor core; Stable operating conditions: When the core temperature reaches the preset operating temperature, the fan is switched to suction mode and the heater is turned off, so that air flows through the thermal management channel to cool the core.

9. The thermal management method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, In the preheating condition, the airflow path is as follows: air is blown in by the fan, heated by the heater, enters the thermal management channel through the first and third openings, flows through the two sides of the core, merges into the middle region of the core, and is finally discharged through the second opening.

10. The thermal management method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, Under the stable operating conditions, the airflow path is as follows: air enters the thermal management channel through the second opening, flows through the central region of the reactor core, is then diverted to the two side regions of the reactor core, and is finally drawn out by the fan through the first and third openings.

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