An on-board hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system and method

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of airborne fuel cell, in particular to an airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system and method. The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system comprises a fuel cell unit, a intercooler, a cooling pump and a radiator. The intercooler comprises a shell, a compressed air flow channel and a first cooling flow channel; the compressed air flow channel and the first cooling flow channel are arranged in the shell; the compressed air flow channel exchanges heat with the first cooling flow channel; the first cooling flow channel has a first outlet; the first outlet is communicated with a cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit; an outlet of the compressed air flow channel is communicated with an air inlet of the fuel cell unit. An outlet of the cooling pump is communicated with an inlet of the first cooling flow channel. A cooling outlet of the fuel cell unit is communicated with an inlet of the radiator, and an outlet of the radiator is communicated with an inlet of the cooling pump. Thus, the problem of large weight of the hydrogen fuel cell thermal management system is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of airborne fuel cell technology, and more specifically, to an airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system and method. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen energy is an important form of clean new energy. Hydrogen fuel cells directly convert the chemical energy of the hydrogen-oxygen reaction into electrical energy, offering advantages such as high efficiency, zero pollution, and low noise. In the future, they can be used as airborne power systems, making them a crucial technology supporting the green development of the aviation industry. Currently, airborne hydrogen fuel cell operation requires a dedicated thermal management system to stabilize the operating temperature. Existing thermal management solutions primarily use single-phase liquid cooling, while also employing an independent intercooler to cool the high-temperature compressed air supplied by the air compressor and preheating the low-temperature hydrogen through electric heating, forming a decentralized heat exchange and temperature control system.

[0003] However, while hydrogen fuel cells are highly efficient, they operate at lower temperatures compared to traditional aircraft propulsion, making it difficult to dissipate the waste heat generated into the environment. Furthermore, the performance of hydrogen fuel cells is highly sensitive to temperature, thus requiring a dedicated thermal management system to dissipate heat and maintain temperature stability during operation. Traditional liquid-cooled thermal management systems are heavy and bulky, resulting in a low power-to-weight ratio, making them unsuitable for aviation systems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the issue of the large weight of thermal management systems for hydrogen fuel cells, this invention provides an airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system and method.

[0005] In a first aspect, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system provided by the present invention includes:

[0006] Fuel cell unit;

[0007] An intercooler includes a housing, a compressed air flow channel, and a first cooling flow channel; the compressed air flow channel and the first cooling flow channel are disposed within the housing; the compressed air flow channel and the first cooling flow channel exchange heat; the first cooling flow channel has a first outlet; the first outlet is connected to the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit; the outlet of the compressed air flow channel is connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell unit.

[0008] A cooling pump, the outlet of which is connected to the inlet of the first cooling channel;

[0009] The radiator has its cooling outlet connected to the inlet of the fuel cell unit, and the outlet of the radiator is connected to the inlet of the cooling pump.

[0010] Optionally, the housing is provided with a preheating heat exchange zone and a phase change heat exchange zone; the first cooling channel includes a first channel and a second channel; the compressed air channel includes a third channel and a fourth channel; the first channel and the third channel are located in the preheating heat exchange zone; the second channel and the fourth channel are located in the phase change heat exchange zone; the first outlet is the outlet of the first channel; the outlet of the second channel is the second outlet; the second outlet is connected to the inlet of the radiator.

[0011] The intercooler also includes a bypass branch, a first regulating valve, and a second regulating valve; one end of the bypass branch is connected to the inlet of the third flow channel, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the fourth flow channel; the first regulating valve is connected to the bypass branch; the inlet of the second flow channel, the outlet of the first flow channel, and the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit are respectively connected to the second regulating valve; the second regulating valve regulates the cooling medium flow rate at the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit and the cooling medium flow rate at the inlet of the second flow channel.

[0012] Optionally, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system further includes a first regulating component; the first regulating component includes a first regulating pipeline and a preheating thermostat; the first regulating pipeline is connected to the outlet of the cooling pump and the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit respectively; the preheating thermostat regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium from the intercooler to the fuel cell unit and the flow rate of the cooling medium from the first regulating pipeline to the fuel cell unit.

[0013] Optionally, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system includes a hydrogen heat exchanger; the hydrogen heat exchanger includes a hydrogen flow channel and a second cooling flow channel;

[0014] The outlet of the hydrogen flow channel is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell unit; the two ends of the second cooling flow channel are respectively connected to the outlet of the radiator and the inlet of the cooling pump; the second cooling flow channel exchanges heat with the hydrogen flow channel.

[0015] Optionally, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system further includes a second regulating component; the second regulating component includes a second regulating pipeline and a third regulating valve; the second regulating pipeline is connected to the outlet of the radiator and the inlet of the cooling pump; the third regulating valve regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium from the outlet of the radiator into the second regulating pipeline and the hydrogen heat exchanger, respectively.

[0016] Optionally, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system further includes additional components, including a gas-liquid separator and a preheating thermostat; the outlet of the first cooling channel is connected to the inlet of the gas-liquid separator; the gas-liquid separator has a liquid phase outlet and a gas-liquid two-phase outlet; the preheating thermostat includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and a mixing outlet; the outlet of the cooling pump is also connected to the first inlet, and the liquid phase outlet is connected to the second inlet; the mixing outlet is connected to the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit; and the gas-liquid two-phase outlet is connected to the inlet of the radiator.

[0017] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a two-phase heat exchange method for an airborne hydrogen fuel cell, applied to the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system described in any one of the first aspects, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange method comprising:

[0018] Obtain the operating parameters of the fuel cell unit and the heat dissipation parameters of the compressed air; the operating parameters include at least one of output power and heat generation; the heat dissipation parameters include air flow rate and air temperature;

[0019] The first target flow rate of the cooling medium in the cooling pump is determined based on the operating parameters and the heat dissipation parameters.

[0020] Adjust the speed of the cooling pump according to the first target flow rate;

[0021] The target temperature of the cooling medium in the cooling outlet of the fuel cell unit is determined based on the operating parameters and the heat dissipation parameters.

[0022] Adjust the heat dissipation power of the radiator according to the target temperature.

[0023] Optionally, the two-phase heat exchange method for airborne hydrogen fuel cells also includes:

[0024] The target subcooling of the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit is determined based on the operating parameters.

[0025] Adjust the flow rate of the bypass branch according to the target subcooling;

[0026] Adjust the flow rate of the second channel according to the heat dissipation parameters.

[0027] Optionally, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange method further includes:

[0028] The heat generation variation of the operating parameters of the fuel cell unit within a preset time period is obtained;

[0029] Based on the fact that the change in heat generation is greater than a threshold, the flow rate of the first regulating pipeline is adjusted.

[0030] Optionally, the two-phase heat exchange method for airborne hydrogen fuel cells also includes:

[0031] The flow rate of the bypass branch is adjusted based on the fact that the change in heat production is less than the threshold.

[0032] To address the issue of the large weight of airborne hydrogen fuel cell thermal management systems, this invention offers the following advantages:

[0033] By setting up an airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system comprising a fuel cell unit, an intercooler, a cooling pump, and a radiator, the intercooler utilizes a structure where the intercooler housing houses a compressed air flow channel and a first cooling flow channel, which exchange heat. This is achieved through a connection where the first outlet of the first cooling flow channel connects to the cooling inlet of the hydrogen fuel cell, and the outlet of the compressed air flow channel connects to the air inlet of the fuel cell unit. Furthermore, a piping arrangement connects the cooling pump outlet to the inlet of the first cooling flow channel, the cooling outlet of the hydrogen fuel cell to the inlet of the radiator, and the outlet of the radiator to the inlet of the cooling pump. This allows for simultaneous heat exchange between compressed air and the cooling medium within the intercooler, completing both compressed air cooling and cooling medium preheating. Simultaneously, the cooling pump provides the circulation power for the cooling medium, and the radiator condenses and cools the gas-liquid two-phase cooling medium, restoring it to a liquid state. This brings the cooling medium at the fuel cell unit's cooling inlet closer to its saturation temperature, improving heat dissipation uniformity. Utilizing waste heat from compressed air replaces traditional electric heating preheating, reducing energy consumption and achieving waste heat recovery, while also lowering the temperature of the compressed air entering the fuel cell unit. Ultimately, this solves the problems of traditional airborne hydrogen fuel cell thermal management systems being bulky, heavy, and having a low power-to-weight ratio, making them unsuitable for aviation applications. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system in Example 1;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the intercooler;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system in Example 2;

[0037] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the intercooler;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a two-phase heat exchange method for an airborne hydrogen fuel cell.

[0039] Reference numerals: 10, fuel cell unit; 20, intercooler; 21, compressed air channel; 211, third channel; 212, fourth channel; 22, first cooling channel; 221, first channel; 222, second channel; 23, bypass branch; 24, first regulating valve; 25, second regulating valve; 26, first delivery channel; 27, second delivery channel; 30, cooling pump; 40, radiator; 50, first regulating assembly; 51, first regulating pipeline; 52, preheating thermostat; 60, hydrogen heat exchanger; 70, second regulating assembly; 71, second regulating pipeline; 72, third regulating valve; 81, gas-liquid separator; 82, first sensor; 83, second sensor; 84, third sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed only to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and thus implement the present disclosure, and are not intended to imply any limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

[0041] As used herein, the term "comprising" and its variations are to be interpreted as open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" is to be interpreted as "at least partially based on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" are to be interpreted as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" is to be interpreted as "at least one other embodiment". The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "vertical", "horizontal", "lateral", "longitudinal", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation or being constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientations or positional relationships; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. In addition, the terms "installed", "set up", "equipped with", "connected", and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are mainly used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (the specific types and structures may be the same or different), and are not used to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0042] The fuel cell unit serves as an onboard power system, directly converting chemical energy into electrical energy through a hydrogen-oxygen reaction. Its operating performance is highly sensitive to temperature, and its low operating temperature makes it difficult to dissipate waste heat into the environment, requiring a dedicated thermal management system to maintain temperature stability. The intercooler cools the high-temperature compressed air supplied by the air compressor. Its casing contains a compressed air flow channel and a first cooling flow channel, which exchange heat. The compressed air flow channel outlet is connected to the fuel cell unit's air inlet to provide compressed air at a suitable temperature, and the first cooling flow channel outlet is connected to the fuel cell unit's cooling inlet for heat exchange. The cooling pump powers the cooling medium in the intercooler's first cooling flow channel, and its outlet is connected to the first cooling flow channel inlet. The radiator cools the high-temperature cooling medium discharged from the fuel cell unit. Its inlet is connected to the fuel cell unit's cooling outlet, and its outlet is connected to the cooling pump inlet, enabling cooling medium circulation. Current airborne hydrogen fuel cell thermal management mainly relies on single-phase liquid cooling and adopts a decentralized heat exchange and temperature control system. The overall weight and volume of the components in the traditional liquid-cooled thermal management system are relatively large, resulting in a low power-to-weight ratio, making it unsuitable for aviation systems and unable to meet the temperature stability requirements of the fuel cell unit.

[0043] Example 1:

[0044] This embodiment proposes an airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system includes a fuel cell unit 10, an intercooler 20, a cooling pump 30, and a radiator 40.

[0045] The intercooler 20 includes a housing, a compressed air flow channel 21, and a first cooling flow channel 22. The compressed air flow channel 21 and the first cooling flow channel 22 are disposed within the housing; heat exchange occurs between the compressed air flow channel 21 and the first cooling flow channel 22 within the housing. The compressed air flow channel 21 is used to transport compressed air; the first cooling flow channel 22 is used to transport the cooling medium. The first cooling flow channel 22 has a first outlet. The heat dissipation channel in the fuel cell unit 10 has a cooling inlet and a cooling outlet. The first outlet is connected to the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10; the outlet of the compressed air flow channel 21 is connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell unit 10. The compressed air, as the oxidant of the fuel cell unit 10, can participate in the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell unit 10. The compressed air flow channel 21 and the first cooling flow channel 22 within the intercooler 20 can directly exchange heat, simultaneously completing compressed air cooling and cooling medium preheating. This allows the cooling medium to approach its saturation temperature, improving the uniformity of heat dissipation. Furthermore, this method of using the waste heat of compressed air to preheat the cooling medium, replacing the traditional electric heating preheating method, avoids the energy consumption of the traditional preheating process, realizes waste heat recovery and utilization, and significantly improves the system's energy utilization efficiency. Moreover, the cooled compressed air is more suitable for entering the battery to participate in the reaction, minimizing the risk of high-temperature air damaging the fuel cell unit 10.

[0046] The outlet of the cooling pump 30 is connected to the inlet of the first cooling channel 22, providing circulation power for the cooling medium. The cooling outlet of the fuel cell unit 10 is connected to the inlet of the radiator 40, and the outlet of the radiator 40 is connected to the inlet of the cooling pump 30. The radiator 40 can condense and cool the gas-liquid two-phase cooling medium discharged from the fuel cell unit 10, restoring the cooling medium to a liquid state, thus achieving a closed-loop circulation.

[0047] This embodiment establishes an onboard hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system comprising a fuel cell unit 10, an intercooler 20, a cooling pump 30, and a radiator 40. Utilizing the structure of the intercooler 20's housing, which houses a compressed air channel 21 and a first cooling channel 22 for heat exchange, and with the first outlet of the first cooling channel 22 connected to the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10, and the outlet of the compressed air channel 21 connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell unit 10, and further aided by a piping arrangement where the outlet of the cooling pump 30 is connected to the inlet of the first cooling channel 22, the cooling outlet of the fuel cell unit 10 is connected to the inlet of the radiator 40, and the outlet of the radiator 40 is connected to the inlet of the cooling pump 30, simultaneous heat exchange between compressed air and the cooling medium can be achieved within the intercooler 20. This completes the cooling of the compressed air and the preheating of the cooling medium. Simultaneously, the cooling pump 30 provides the circulation power for the cooling medium, and the radiator 40 condenses and cools the gas-liquid two-phase cooling medium, restoring it to a liquid state. This allows the cooling medium at the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10 to approach its saturation temperature, improving heat dissipation uniformity. It also utilizes compressed air waste heat instead of traditional electric heating preheating, reducing energy consumption and achieving waste heat recovery, while simultaneously lowering the temperature of the compressed air entering the fuel cell unit 10. Ultimately, this solves the problems of traditional airborne hydrogen fuel cell thermal management systems being bulky, heavy, and having a low power-to-weight ratio, making them unsuitable for aviation applications.

[0048] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, the housing is provided with a preheating heat exchange zone and a phase change heat exchange zone; the first cooling channel 22 includes a first channel 221 and a second channel 222; the compressed air channel 21 includes a third channel 211 and a fourth channel 212; the first channel 221 and the third channel 211 are located in the preheating heat exchange zone for heat exchange; the second channel 222 and the fourth channel 212 are located in the phase change heat exchange zone for heat exchange; the first outlet is the outlet of the first channel 221; the outlet of the second channel 222 is the second outlet; the second outlet is connected to the inlet of the radiator 40. In this way, the gas-liquid two-phase mixed cooling medium with a higher temperature at the second outlet is directly supplied to the radiator 40 without passing through the fuel cell unit 10, and mixes with the gas-liquid two-phase mixed cooling medium with a higher temperature after passing through the fuel cell unit 10 and is cooled and liquefied.

[0049] The intercooler 20 also includes a bypass branch 23, a first regulating valve 24, and a second regulating valve 25. One end of the bypass branch 23 is connected to the inlet of the third flow channel 211, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the fourth flow channel 212. The first regulating valve 24 is connected to the bypass branch 23. The inlet of the second flow channel 222, the outlet of the first flow channel 221, and the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10 are respectively connected to the second regulating valve 25. The second regulating valve 25 regulates the cooling medium flow rate at the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10 and the cooling medium flow rate at the inlet of the second flow channel 222.

[0050] By controlling the air flow rate in the bypass branch 23 through the first regulating valve 24, the heat exchange in the preheating heat exchange zone can be precisely controlled, thereby stably controlling the preheating temperature of the cooling medium entering the fuel cell unit 10. This ensures that the cooling medium entering the battery remains in a liquid state close to the saturation temperature, thus ensuring that the cooling medium becomes a two-phase mixed state after entering the fuel cell unit 10, ensuring more uniform cooling of all parts of the fuel cell unit 10.

[0051] Furthermore, based on the heat generation parameters of the fuel cell unit 10 and the heat dissipation parameters of the compressed air, the heat generation requirements of the fuel cell unit 10 and the compressed air can be determined. The flow rate of the cooling medium entering the fuel cell unit 10 and the inlet of the second flow channel 222 can be controlled via the second regulating valve 25, thereby ensuring that the compressed air is cooled to the target temperature and minimizing damage to the fuel cell unit 10 from high-temperature air. Simultaneously, it ensures that the temperature of the fuel cell unit 10 remains within a suitable range, guaranteeing the stability of its operation.

[0052] This embodiment separates the preheating heat exchange zone and the phase change heat exchange zone in the intercooler 20, distinguishing between the liquid phase flow and the two-phase flow of the cooling medium. A portion of the cooling medium is led out from the first outlet to the phase change heat exchange zone through the second regulating valve 25, so that the cooling medium is in liquid state at all flow control positions. This avoids the problem of the two-phase medium being difficult to control precisely, and the control is more stable.

[0053] Furthermore, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system also includes a first regulating component 50; the first regulating component 50 includes a first regulating pipe 51 and a preheating thermostat 52. The first regulating pipe 51 is connected to the outlet of the cooling pump 30 and the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10, respectively. The preheating thermostat 52 regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium from the intercooler 20 to the fuel cell unit 10 and the flow rate of the cooling medium from the first regulating pipe 51 to the fuel cell unit 10. Because the cooling medium from the cooling pump 30 to the intercooler 20 has a large resistance, the flow rate is small. When the heat generation of the fuel cell unit 10 tends to stabilize or a small-amplitude heat fluctuation occurs, this embodiment adjusts the subcooling of the cooling medium at the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10 by the compressed air flow rate of the bypass branch 23, so as to meet the precise small-amplitude adjustment of the heat dissipation of the fuel cell unit 10, and can achieve that the cooling medium entering the fuel cell unit 10 is close to the saturation temperature. After the cooling medium enters the fuel cell unit 10, the heat exchange becomes a two-phase mixed state, ensuring uniform heat dissipation of the fuel cell unit 10.

[0054] When the heat output of the fuel cell unit 10 fluctuates significantly, the flow rate of the first regulating pipe 51 with low flow resistance of the cooling medium can be adjusted by the preheating thermostat 52. This can quickly regulate the flow of the cooling medium into the fuel cell unit 10 to achieve instantaneous cooling, instantly meet the large heat dissipation demand of the fuel cell unit 10, and avoid the temperature of the fuel cell unit 10 from exceeding the limit as much as possible. This can adapt to the characteristics of large fluctuations in the output power and high response requirements of the fuel cell unit 10.

[0055] Furthermore, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system includes a hydrogen heat exchanger 60. The hydrogen heat exchanger 60 includes a hydrogen flow channel and a second cooling flow channel. The outlet of the hydrogen flow channel is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell unit 10. The two ends of the second cooling flow channel are connected to the outlet of the radiator 40 and the inlet of the cooling pump 30, respectively. The second cooling flow channel exchanges heat with the hydrogen flow channel.

[0056] The hydrogen flow channel outlet is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell unit 10, and can be used as the reaction fuel for the fuel cell unit 10. At the same time, this second cooling flow channel is connected in series between the outlet of the radiator 40 and the inlet of the cooling pump 30. By utilizing the low-temperature hydrogen in the hydrogen flow channel to exchange heat with the cooling medium, the cooling medium is further cooled in depth on the basis of the radiator 40, which increases the subcooling degree of the cooling medium. This ensures that the medium flowing back to the cooling pump 30 is a stable liquid state, and avoids the entry of gaseous medium into the pump body to prevent cavitation, thus ensuring the long-term reliable operation of the airborne system.

[0057] Furthermore, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system also includes a second regulating component 70; the second regulating component 70 includes a second regulating pipe 71 and a third regulating valve 72. The second regulating pipe 71 is connected to the outlet of the radiator 40 and the inlet of the cooling pump 30, respectively. The third regulating valve 72 regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium flowing from the outlet of the radiator 40 into the second regulating pipe 71 and the hydrogen heat exchanger 60, respectively. When the output power and heat generation of the fuel cell unit 10 fluctuate rapidly, the flow rate of the second regulating pipe 71 can be quickly adjusted to reduce the backflow resistance of the cooling medium from the radiator 40 to the cooling pump 30, improve the system temperature control response speed, reduce energy consumption, and better suit the characteristics of large output power fluctuations and high response requirements of the fuel cell unit 10.

[0058] Example 2:

[0059] Example 2 provides another airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system. The difference between Example 2 and Example 1 is that the structure of the intercooler 20 is different, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the intercooler 20 in Embodiment 2 includes a first conveying channel 26 and a second conveying channel 27; the first conveying channel 26 is used to convey compressed air; the second conveying channel 27 is used to convey cooling medium. Figure 3 As shown, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system in Embodiment 2 also includes additional components, including a gas-liquid separator 81 and a preheating thermostat 52. The outlet of the second conveying channel 27 is the first outlet; the first outlet is connected to the cooling inlet of the gas-liquid separator 81. That is, the structure of the intercooler 20 in Embodiment 2 has been simplified. The outlet of the second conveying channel 27 is connected to the inlet of the gas-liquid separator 81. The gas-liquid separator 81 has a liquid phase outlet and a gas-liquid two-phase outlet. The preheating thermostat 52 includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and a mixing outlet. The outlet of the cooling pump 30 is also connected to the first inlet, and the liquid phase outlet is connected to the second inlet. The mixing outlet is connected to the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10.

[0060] The gas-liquid two-phase outlet is connected to the inlet of the radiator 40. The preheating thermostat 52 adjusts the subcooling of the cooling medium at the mixed outlet by regulating the flow ratio of the first inlet and the second inlet, thereby adjusting the subcooling of the cooling medium entering the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10. In this way, considering the heat exchange requirements of the fuel cell unit 10, the intercooler 20, and the hydrogen heat exchanger 60, the preheating thermostat 52 preheats the cooling medium entering the fuel cell unit 10, fully utilizing the heat of the compressed air, avoiding the power consumption of electric heating, improving system efficiency, and reducing the load on the radiator 40. Furthermore, the cooling medium output from the mixed outlet enters the fuel cell unit 10 as a liquid cooling medium at near-saturation temperature, utilizing phase change heat dissipation; this ensures uniform heat dissipation at all locations of the fuel cell. Simultaneously, the cooling medium output from the gas-liquid two-phase outlet directly enters the radiator 40 for condensation and liquefaction, minimizing the risk of cavitation caused by the two-phase medium flowing back to the pump body.

[0061] The first regulating pipeline 51 is connected to the outlet of the cooling pump 30 and the first inlet of the preheating thermostat 52. Since the cooling medium must pass through the intercooler 20 for preheating and the gas-liquid separator 81 before being discharged from the first outlet, changes in the flow rate of the coolant supplied from the first outlet will cause a delay when facing changes in the heat dissipation requirements of the fuel cell unit 10, potentially failing to instantaneously meet the heat dissipation needs of the fuel cell unit 10. This new pipeline directly supplies the cooling medium to the fuel cell unit 10, eliminating the heat exchange delay caused by the intercooler 20, thus instantly improving heat dissipation capacity and minimizing the risk of the fuel cell unit 10's temperature exceeding its limits. This allows it to adapt to the characteristics of the fuel cell unit 10, such as large power fluctuations and high response requirements.

[0062] The location of the hydrogen heat exchanger 60 in Embodiment 2 differs from that in Embodiment 1. The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system includes the hydrogen heat exchanger 60. The hydrogen heat exchanger 60 includes a hydrogen flow channel and a second cooling flow channel. The outlet of the hydrogen flow channel is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell unit 10. The two ends of the second cooling flow channel are connected to the outlet of the cooling pump 30 and the inlet of the intercooler 20, respectively. The second cooling flow channel exchanges heat with the hydrogen flow channel.

[0063] In this embodiment, the hydrogen heat exchanger 60 is located at the inlet of the intercooler 20. Compared to placing the hydrogen heat exchanger 60 at the inlet of the cooling pump 30, in this embodiment, the hydrogen heat exchanger 60 is connected in parallel with the first regulating pipeline. The hydrogen heat exchanger 60 only cools the cooling medium entering the intercooler 20, resulting in higher heat exchange efficiency between the hydrogen heat exchanger 60 and the cooling medium entering the intercooler 20, and lower overall loop resistance.

[0064] The hydrogen heat exchanger 60 is positioned between the cooling pump 30 and the intercooler 20, which reduces the temperature of the cooling medium entering the intercooler 20, thereby increasing the liquid phase ratio of the cooling medium discharged from the intercooler 20 and reducing the difficulty of gas separation by the gas-liquid separator 81. This improves the flow control accuracy of the second inlet of the preheating thermostat 52.

[0065] In other embodiments, the additional components also include a first sensor 82, a second sensor 83, and a third sensor 84. The first sensor 82 is disposed at the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10; the second sensor 83 is disposed at the cooling outlet of the fuel cell unit 10; and the third sensor 84 is disposed at the inlet of the cooling pump 30. The first sensor 82 measures the temperature of the cooling medium entering the fuel cell unit 10; the second sensor 83 measures the temperature of the cooling medium discharged from the fuel cell unit 10; and the third sensor 84 measures the temperature of the cooling medium entering the cooling pump 30.

[0066] Example 3:

[0067] This embodiment proposes a two-phase heat exchange method for airborne hydrogen fuel cells, applicable to any of the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange systems in Embodiment 1. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the two-phase heat exchange method for an airborne hydrogen fuel cell includes steps S10, S20, S30, S40, and S50. Steps S10, S20, S30, S40, and S50 are executed sequentially.

[0068] Step S10: Obtain the operating parameters of the fuel cell unit 10 and the cooling parameters of the compressed air. The operating parameters include at least one of output power and heat generation; the cooling parameters include air flow rate and air temperature. This real-time acquisition of the heat load of the fuel cell unit 10 and the cooling requirements of the compressed air can provide data for subsequent adjustments.

[0069] Step S20: Determine the first target flow rate of the cooling medium in the cooling pump 30 based on the operating parameters and heat dissipation parameters; thereby ensuring that the cooling medium used for subsequent heat dissipation is preheated to a near-saturated liquid state, while the compressed air can be cooled to a suitable temperature.

[0070] Step S30: Adjust the speed of the cooling pump 30 according to the first target flow rate; thereby ensuring that the first cooling channel 22 continuously obtains a stable liquid cooling medium and maintains continuous and stable preheating heat exchange.

[0071] Step S40: Determine the target temperature of the cooling medium in the cooling outlet of the fuel cell unit 10 based on the operating parameters and heat dissipation parameters; this establishes a temperature control target for the fuel cell unit 10, ensuring that the fuel cell unit 10 is always in the optimal operating temperature range, thereby improving the power generation efficiency and service life of the fuel cell unit 10.

[0072] Step S50: Adjust the heat dissipation power of radiator 40 according to the target temperature. This ensures that the gas-liquid two-phase medium is fully condensed into a liquid state, ensuring that the medium returning to the cooling pump 30 is liquid, and minimizing the occurrence of cavitation.

[0073] Furthermore, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange method also includes steps S60, S70, and S80. Steps S10, S20, S30, S40, S50, S60, S70, and S80 are executed sequentially.

[0074] Step S60: Determine the target subcooling of the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit 10 based on the operating parameters; this will provide data support for subsequent adjustments and ensure that the cooling medium at the first inlet is always maintained in a stable liquid state close to the saturation temperature.

[0075] Step S70: Adjust the flow rate of bypass branch 23 according to the target subcooling; thereby accurately controlling the heat exchange in the preheating heat exchange zone and quickly stabilizing the subcooling of the cooling medium at the first outlet at the target value.

[0076] Step S80: Adjust the flow rate of the second flow channel 222 according to the heat dissipation parameters. This ensures that the compressed air is cooled to the target temperature and minimizes the risk of high-temperature air damaging the fuel cell unit 10.

[0077] Furthermore, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange method also includes steps S91 and S92. Steps S91 and S92 are executed sequentially.

[0078] Step S91: Obtain the heat generation variation of the operating parameters of the fuel cell unit 10 within a preset time period. This allows for the prediction of future short-term heat generation variations, transforming passive adjustment into active sensing, and providing data for subsequent control.

[0079] Step S92: Based on the fact that the change in heat generation exceeds a threshold, adjust the flow rate of the first regulating pipe 51. The first regulating pipe 51 is a pipe that directly delivers the cooling medium. Adjusting the flow rate of the first regulating pipe 51 results in a faster change in heat dissipation efficiency. Thus, when the change in heat generation is large, adjusting the cooling medium delivered by the first regulating pipe 51 can ensure that the fuel cell unit 10 can dissipate heat in a timely manner when the heat generation changes significantly, thereby ensuring the stability of the operation of the fuel cell unit 10.

[0080] Furthermore, the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange method also includes step S93. Steps S91 and S93 are executed sequentially.

[0081] Step S93: Based on the fact that the change in heat generation is less than a threshold, adjust the flow rate of the bypass branch. By adjusting the flow rate of the bypass branch, the subcooling of the cooling medium at the first outlet can be controlled, ensuring that the cooling medium entering the fuel cell unit 10 is close to its saturation temperature. Thus, when the change in heat generation of the fuel cell unit 10 is small, by adjusting the flow rate of the bypass branch 23, it can be ensured that the cooling medium entering the fuel cell unit 10 is in a liquid state and close to its saturation temperature, which can ensure that the operating temperature fluctuation of the fuel cell unit 10 is small and the heat dissipation is relatively uniform.

[0082] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific examples of implementing this disclosure, and in practical applications, various changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system, characterized by, The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system includes: Fuel cell unit; An intercooler includes a housing, a compressed air flow channel, and a first cooling flow channel; the compressed air flow channel and the first cooling flow channel are disposed within the housing; the compressed air flow channel and the first cooling flow channel exchange heat; the first cooling flow channel has a first outlet; the first outlet is connected to the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit; the outlet of the compressed air flow channel is connected to the air inlet of the fuel cell unit. A cooling pump, the outlet of which is connected to the inlet of the first cooling channel; The radiator has its cooling outlet connected to the inlet of the fuel cell unit, and the outlet of the radiator is connected to the inlet of the cooling pump.

2. An airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system as in claim 1, wherein, The housing is provided with a preheating heat exchange zone and a phase change heat exchange zone; the first cooling channel includes a first channel and a second channel; the compressed air channel includes a third channel and a fourth channel; the first channel and the third channel are located in the preheating heat exchange zone; the second channel and the fourth channel are located in the phase change heat exchange zone; the first outlet is the outlet of the first channel; the outlet of the second channel is the second outlet; the second outlet is connected to the inlet of the radiator; The intercooler also includes a bypass branch, a first regulating valve, and a second regulating valve; one end of the bypass branch is connected to the inlet of the third flow channel, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the fourth flow channel; the first regulating valve is connected to the bypass branch; the inlet of the second flow channel, the outlet of the first flow channel, and the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit are respectively connected to the second regulating valve; the second regulating valve regulates the cooling medium flow rate at the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit and the cooling medium flow rate at the inlet of the second flow channel.

3. An airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system as in claim 1, wherein, The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system further includes a first regulating component; the first regulating component includes a first regulating pipeline and a preheating thermostat; the first regulating pipeline is connected to the outlet of the cooling pump and the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit respectively; the preheating thermostat regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium from the intercooler to the fuel cell unit and the flow rate of the cooling medium from the first regulating pipeline to the fuel cell unit.

4. An airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system as in claim 1, wherein, The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system includes a hydrogen heat exchanger; the hydrogen heat exchanger includes a hydrogen flow channel and a second cooling flow channel. The outlet of the hydrogen flow channel is connected to the hydrogen inlet of the fuel cell unit; the two ends of the second cooling flow channel are respectively connected to the outlet of the radiator and the inlet of the cooling pump; the second cooling flow channel exchanges heat with the hydrogen flow channel.

5. The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system further includes a second regulating component; the second regulating component includes a second regulating pipeline and a third regulating valve; the second regulating pipeline is connected to the outlet of the radiator and the inlet of the cooling pump; the third regulating valve regulates the flow rate of the cooling medium from the outlet of the radiator into the second regulating pipeline and the hydrogen heat exchanger, respectively.

6. The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system further includes additional components, including a gas-liquid separator and a preheating thermostat; the outlet of the first cooling channel is connected to the inlet of the gas-liquid separator; the gas-liquid separator has a liquid phase outlet and a gas-liquid two-phase outlet; the preheating thermostat includes a first inlet, a second inlet and a mixing outlet; the outlet of the cooling pump is also connected to the first inlet, the liquid phase outlet is connected to the second inlet; the mixing outlet is connected to the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit; and the gas-liquid two-phase outlet is connected to the inlet of the radiator.

7. A two-phase heat exchange method for an airborne hydrogen fuel cell, applied to the airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, Two-phase heat exchange methods for airborne hydrogen fuel cells include: Obtain the operating parameters of the fuel cell unit and the heat dissipation parameters of the compressed air; the operating parameters include at least one of output power and heat generation; the heat dissipation parameters include air flow rate and air temperature; The first target flow rate of the cooling medium in the cooling pump is determined based on the operating parameters and the heat dissipation parameters. Adjust the speed of the cooling pump according to the first target flow rate; The target temperature of the cooling medium in the cooling outlet of the fuel cell unit is determined based on the operating parameters and the heat dissipation parameters. Adjust the heat dissipation power of the radiator according to the target temperature.

8. The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange method according to claim 7, characterized in that, Two-phase heat exchange methods for airborne hydrogen fuel cells also include: The target subcooling of the cooling inlet of the fuel cell unit is determined based on the operating parameters. Adjust the flow rate of the bypass branch according to the target subcooling; Adjust the flow rate of the second channel according to the heat dissipation parameters.

9. A two-phase heat exchange method for an airborne hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 8, characterized in that, The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange method also includes: The heat generation variation of the operating parameters of the fuel cell unit within a preset time period is obtained; Based on the fact that the change in heat generation is greater than a threshold, the flow rate of the first regulating pipeline is adjusted.

10. A two-phase heat exchange method for an airborne hydrogen fuel cell according to claim 9, characterized in that, The airborne hydrogen fuel cell two-phase heat exchange method also includes: The flow rate of the bypass branch is adjusted based on the fact that the change in heat production is less than the threshold.

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