Thermal management system of hydrogen fuel power station
The integrated design of the hydrogen fuel cell power plant thermal management system solves the problems of complex installation, frequent maintenance, and insufficient temperature control of traditional systems, achieving efficient and stable temperature control and environmental adaptability, thereby improving power generation efficiency and equipment lifespan.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422348529.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-09-25
AI Technical Summary
Traditional hydrogen fuel cell power plant thermal management systems suffer from problems such as complex installation, frequent maintenance, large space occupation, and insufficient temperature control accuracy, which affect system stability and economy.
A thermal management system for a hydrogen fuel cell power plant was designed, including a cooling water circulation circuit, a dust prevention device, and a pressure regulation circuit. Through integrated design and sensor monitoring, efficient temperature control and environmental protection are achieved. A dust cover is used in conjunction with a displacement actuator to automatically block dust and moisture. An expansion tank is used to stabilize the system pressure. A fan is installed to optimize heat dissipation. Combined with a PLC controller, the system is automated.
It achieves efficient temperature control within a limited space, ensuring that the system operates within the optimal temperature range, extending equipment life, improving power generation efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and enhancing system stability and reliability.
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Figure CN223552551U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of hydrogen fuel power generation technology, and in particular to a thermal management system for a hydrogen fuel power plant. Background Technology
[0002] Hydrogen energy, as an important secondary energy source, plays an increasingly important role in electricity production due to its zero emissions and high energy conversion efficiency. Hydrogen fuel cell power generation technology, with its unique environmental advantages and high energy conversion efficiency, is becoming a key component of the future energy system.
[0003] Hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems are extremely sensitive to ambient temperature during operation. Even slight temperature fluctuations can significantly reduce the power generation efficiency of the hydrogen fuel cell stack, affecting the stability and economics of the entire power plant. However, traditional thermal management systems often suffer from problems such as complex installation, frequent maintenance, large space requirements, and insufficient temperature control accuracy. These issues severely restrict the promotion and application of hydrogen fuel cell power plants.
[0004] Therefore, designing a compact, easy-to-maintain, and precisely temperature-controlled thermal management system within a limited space has become a pressing challenge in the current technological field. Utility Model Content
[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, this application provides a thermal management system for a hydrogen fuel power plant. The system has the following characteristics: reasonable structural layout, reducing the impact on the overall height of the system; integrated dustproof design, reducing the impact of the external environment on heat dissipation performance; and efficient temperature control capability, ensuring stable circulating cooling water temperature, thereby ensuring that the system always operates efficiently within the optimal temperature range.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the first aspect of this application provides a thermal management system for a hydrogen fuel cell power plant, comprising:
[0007] The cooling circulating water circuit includes a fuel cell unit, a water pump, a radiator, and a water collection tank; the water outlet pipes of the fuel cell unit are connected in parallel and then connected to the water pump; the water pump is connected to the radiator through a first manifold; the radiator is connected to the inlet of the water collection tank through a second manifold; and the outlet of the water collection tank is connected to the parallel water inlet pipes of the fuel cell unit.
[0008] A dustproof device includes a bracket, a support, a dust cover, and a displacement actuator; the dust cover is connected to the bracket via a first hinge component, one end of the displacement actuator is connected to the dust cover via a second hinge component, and the other end is fixedly connected to the support via a third hinge component;
[0009] The dustproof device and the radiator are supporting components, both located on the top of the container power station.
[0010] In this way, through the cooling circulating water circuit, the waste heat generated by the gas-fired power unit can be efficiently transported to the radiator for heat dissipation by the water pump. Then the cooled water is returned to the water collection tank for reuse, forming a closed and efficient cooling system. This helps to maintain the gas-fired power unit within the optimal operating temperature range, improve power generation efficiency and extend system life.
[0011] Furthermore, the use of dustproof devices, especially the combination of dust cover and displacement actuator, enables automatic closing under non-operational or severe weather conditions (such as sandstorms and heavy rain), effectively blocking dust and moisture from entering the system, protecting the radiator from pollution and corrosion, and ensuring stable operation of the system in various environments.
[0012] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, it also includes:
[0013] The pressure regulating circuit includes an expansion tank and an overflow pipe; the expansion tank is connected to the water collection tank via a water pipe and is located on the top of the water collection tank; the expansion tank and the overflow pipe are fixedly connected by clamps.
[0014] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the expansion tank is installed vertically above the radiator.
[0015] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the radiator is horizontally mounted on top of the containerized power station.
[0016] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the radiator is equipped with a motor-driven fan, the fan being designed to blow air upwards.
[0017] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first manifold is provided with an inlet water temperature and pressure sensor for detecting the temperature and pressure of the coolant coming out of the fuel cell unit;
[0018] The inlet pipe is equipped with a return water temperature and pressure sensor to detect the temperature and pressure of the coolant before it enters the fuel cell unit.
[0019] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the dust cover is equipped with a rain sensor and a wind speed sensor.
[0020] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the container power station is also equipped with a PLC controller;
[0021] The PLC controller is electrically connected to the inlet water temperature and pressure sensor, the return water temperature and pressure sensor, the rainfall sensor, and the wind speed sensor, respectively.
[0022] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, it also includes a power drive unit electrically connected to the PLC controller;
[0023] The power drive unit is electrically connected to the water pump, the radiator, and the displacement actuator, respectively.
[0024] The power drive unit is also electrically connected to the power supply unit.
[0025] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, it also includes a display unit electrically connected to the PLC controller, the display unit being used to display the operating parameters of the system in real time. Attached Figure Description
[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling water circulation circuit provided in this application;
[0027] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of a hydrogen fuel cell power plant thermal management system provided in this application;
[0028] Figure 3 This application provides an electrical connection diagram of a PLC controller, an inlet water temperature and pressure sensor, an outlet water temperature and pressure sensor, a rain sensor, a wind speed sensor, a power drive unit, a power supply unit, and a display unit.
[0029] It should be understood that the dimensions and shapes of the blocks in the above structural diagrams are for reference only and should not constitute an exclusive interpretation of the embodiments of the present invention. The relative positions and inclusion relationships between the blocks presented in the structural diagrams are only schematic representations of the structural relationships between the blocks, and are not intended to limit the physical connection methods of the embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0030] The technical solutions provided in this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the system architecture and business scenarios provided in the embodiments of this application are mainly for illustrating possible implementations of the technical solutions of this application and should not be construed as the sole limitation on the technical solutions of this application. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions provided in this application are equally applicable to similar technical problems as system architectures evolve and new business scenarios emerge.
[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. In case of any inconsistency, the meaning set forth in this specification or derived from the content described herein shall prevail. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of this application only and is not intended to limit this application. To accurately describe the technical content of this application and to accurately understand the invention, the following explanations or definitions of the terms used in this specification are provided before describing specific embodiments.
[0032] Gas-fired power generation unit: refers to a device that uses hydrogen fuel (through electrochemical reactions, such as in fuel cells) to generate electricity. This type of gas-fired power generation unit produces electricity and water through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, and is a type of clean energy technology.
[0033] This application provides a thermal management system for a hydrogen fuel cell power plant, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes:
[0034] The cooling circulating water circuit includes a gas-fired power unit 1, a water pump 2, a radiator 3, and a water collection tank 4; the water outlet pipes 5 of the gas-fired power unit 1 are connected in parallel to the water pump 2, the water pump 2 is connected to the radiator 3 through a first manifold 6, the radiator 3 is connected to the inlet of the water collection tank 4 through a second manifold 7, and the outlet of the water collection tank 4 is connected to the parallel water inlet pipes 8 of the gas-fired power unit 1.
[0035] A dustproof device includes a bracket 9, a support 10, a dust cover 11, and a displacement actuator 12; the dust cover 11 is connected to the bracket 9 via a first hinge component, one end of the displacement actuator 12 is connected to the dust cover 11 via a second hinge component, and the other end is fixedly connected to the support 10 via a third hinge component.
[0036] The dustproof device and the radiator 3 are supporting components, both located on the top of the container power station 13.
[0037] It is worth noting that the dustproof device is integrated with the radiator 3, providing flexible configuration capabilities to adapt to the application environment of the container power station 13 with different power requirements. Specifically, depending on the actual output power level of the power generation, a single unit can be deployed or multiple units can be installed in parallel, thereby expanding the heat dissipation efficiency as needed and ensuring the high efficiency and reliability of the system's thermal management.
[0038] In this way, through the cooling circulating water circuit, the waste heat generated by the gas-fired power unit 1 can be efficiently transported to the radiator 3 for heat dissipation through the water pump 2. The cooled water is then returned to the water collection tank 4 for reuse, forming a closed and efficient cooling system. This helps to maintain the gas-fired power unit 1 within the optimal operating temperature range, improve power generation efficiency, and extend system life.
[0039] Furthermore, the use of dustproof devices, especially the cooperation between the dust cover 11 and the displacement actuator 12, enables the system to automatically close under non-operational or severe weather conditions (such as sandstorms and heavy rain), effectively blocking dust and moisture from entering the system, protecting the radiator 3 from pollution and corrosion, and ensuring the stable operation of the system in various environments.
[0040] In some embodiments, it also includes:
[0041] The pressure regulating circuit includes an expansion tank 14 and an overflow pipe 15; the expansion tank 14 is connected to the water collection tank 4 via a water pipe and is located on the top of the water collection tank 4; the expansion tank 14 and the overflow pipe 15 are fixedly connected by a clamp.
[0042] Thus, by connecting the overflow pipe 15 to the expansion tank 14, coolant can be automatically drawn in according to changes in the internal pressure of the system. When the internal pressure of the system rises abnormally, the excess coolant can be safely discharged through the overflow pipe 15, avoiding damage to the system caused by high pressure, maintaining the stability of the internal pressure of the cooling system, and ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the entire hydrogen fuel cell power plant thermal management system.
[0043] In some embodiments, the expansion tank 14 is installed at a position higher than the radiator 3 in the vertical direction.
[0044] During the operation of the cooling water circulation system, the coolant expands due to heat. If the expansion tank 14 is positioned below the level of the radiator 3, the expanding coolant will have difficulty flowing smoothly into the expansion tank 14, leading to an abnormal increase in system pressure. By placing the expansion tank 14 above the radiator 3, once the coolant expands due to increased temperature, the excess coolant will naturally flow into the expansion tank 14, preventing excessive system pressure. Similarly, when the system cools down, the coolant in the expansion tank 14 can flow back into the system by gravity, replenishing the gap caused by the reduction in coolant volume, thereby maintaining the stable operation and pressure balance of the cooling system. Therefore, this design helps ensure the long-term stable operation of the cooling water circulation system.
[0045] In some embodiments, the radiator 3 is horizontally mounted on top of the containerized power station 13. This close mounting of the radiator 3 to the top minimizes the vertical space occupied by the system, thus reducing the overall height of the containerized power station 13.
[0046] In some embodiments, a motor-driven fan is installed on the radiator 3, and the fan's airflow direction is designed to be upward.
[0047] In this way, the fan blows air upwards, which is consistent with the natural direction of hot airflow. This accelerates the discharge of hot air from the surface of the radiator 3, improves heat dissipation efficiency through natural convection, and reduces heat accumulation. Upward airflow also prevents dust from the ground from being directly drawn into the fan and deposited on the heat sink, thereby reducing the need for cleaning and maintenance of the radiator 3 and extending the service life of the equipment. In addition, due to the rising nature of hot air, when the fan blows air upwards, it is actually assisting rather than resisting the force of natural convection. This means that the fan may not need to operate at maximum power to achieve the same heat dissipation effect, thus effectively reducing the fan's power consumption and the overall energy consumption of the system. This has a positive significance for energy conservation, emission reduction, and lower operating costs.
[0048] In some embodiments, the first manifold 6 is provided with an inlet water temperature and pressure sensor 16 for detecting the temperature and pressure of the coolant coming out of the fuel cell 1;
[0049] The water inlet pipe 8 is equipped with a return water temperature and pressure sensor 17, which is used to detect the temperature and pressure of the coolant before it enters the fuel cell unit 1.
[0050] In some embodiments, the dust cover 11 is provided with a rain sensor and a wind speed sensor.
[0051] In some embodiments, the container power station 13 is also equipped with a PLC controller 18;
[0052] The PLC controller 18 is electrically connected to the inlet water temperature and pressure sensor 16, the return water temperature and pressure sensor 17, the rainfall sensor, and the wind speed sensor, respectively.
[0053] In some embodiments, a power drive unit electrically connected to the PLC controller 18 is also included;
[0054] The power drive unit is electrically connected to the water pump 2, the radiator 3, and the displacement actuator 12 respectively;
[0055] The power drive unit is also electrically connected to the power supply unit.
[0056] In some embodiments, a display unit electrically connected to the PLC controller 18 is further included, the display unit being used to display the operating parameters of the system in real time.
[0057] In summary, such as Figure 3As shown, each sensor is connected to the PLC controller 18. The PLC controller 18 is also connected to the display unit, the power supply unit is connected to the power drive unit, and the power drive unit is electrically connected to the water pump 2, the radiator 3, and the displacement actuator 12.
[0058] The working principle of a thermal management system for a hydrogen fuel cell power plant will be explained in detail below:
[0059] While generating electricity, the gas-fired power unit 1 also generates a large amount of waste heat. The water pump 2 starts, drawing cooling water from the outlet pipe 5 of the gas-fired power unit 1, collecting it via the first manifold 6, and then sending it to the radiator 3. Here, the outlet pipes 5 of multiple gas-fired power units 1 are connected in parallel to ensure even water distribution. In the radiator 3, the cooling water exchanges heat with the outside air through the heat sink fins, removing heat and lowering the cooling water temperature. The cooled water returns to the water collection tank 4 via the second manifold 7, and is then redistributed from the water collection tank 4 to the inlet pipes 8 of each gas-fired power unit 1, forming a closed loop. Here, the inlet pipes 8 of multiple gas-fired power units 1 are connected in parallel to ensure even water distribution.
[0060] During the above cycle, the expansion tank 14 is connected to the water collection tank 4 through a water pipe and is located at the top of the water collection tank 4. It is used to contain the excess liquid caused by the expansion of the coolant volume due to temperature changes, and at the same time, it releases excess pressure through the overflow pipe 15 to maintain the system pressure balance.
[0061] Furthermore, the dust cover 11 is installed above the radiator 3 and its opening and closing are controlled by the displacement actuator 12. The displacement actuator 12 typically controls the dust cover 11 to close automatically in inclement weather based on environmental monitoring signals (such as rain sensors and wind speed sensors) to protect the radiator 3 from rain and dust.
[0062] The terms "first, second, third, etc." or similar terms such as module A, module B, module C, etc., used in the specification and claims are only used to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of objects. It is understood that a specific order or sequence may be interchanged where permitted so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein.
[0063] The term "comprising" as used in the specification and claims should not be construed as limiting itself to what follows; it does not exclude other elements or steps. Therefore, it should be interpreted as specifying the presence of the mentioned feature, integral, step, or component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the statement "device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to a device consisting solely of components A and B.
[0064] The terms "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" as used in this specification mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, the terms "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but may refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, the particular features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
[0065] Note that the above are merely preferred embodiments and the technical principles employed in this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that this application is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, although this application has been described in detail through the above embodiments, this application is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of this application, all of which fall within the scope of protection of this application.
Claims
1. A thermal management system for a hydrogen fuel cell power plant, characterized in that, include: The cooling circulating water circuit includes a fuel-electric unit (1), a water pump (2), a radiator (3), and a water collection tank (4); the water outlet pipes (5) of the fuel-electric unit (1) are connected in parallel to the water pump (2), the water pump (2) is connected to the radiator (3) through a first manifold (6), the radiator (3) is connected to the inlet of the water collection tank (4) through a second manifold (7), and the outlet of the water collection tank (4) is connected to the parallel water inlet pipes (8) of the fuel-electric unit (1); The dustproof device includes a bracket (9), a support (10), a dust cover (11), and a displacement actuator (12); the dust cover (11) is connected to the bracket (9) through a first hinge component, one end of the displacement actuator (12) is connected to the dust cover (11) through a second hinge component, and the other end is fixedly connected to the support (10) through a third hinge component; The dustproof device and the radiator (3) are supporting components, both located on the top of the container power station (13).
2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The pressure regulating circuit includes an expansion tank (14) and an overflow pipe (15); the expansion tank (14) is connected to the water collection tank (4) through a water pipe and is located on the top of the water collection tank (4); the expansion tank (14) and the overflow pipe (15) are fixedly connected by a clamp.
3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The expansion tank (14) is installed at a position higher than the radiator (3) in the vertical direction.
4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radiator (3) is horizontally mounted on top of the container power station (13).
5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radiator (3) is equipped with a motor-driven fan, and the fan is designed to blow air upwards.
6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first manifold (6) is equipped with an inlet water temperature and pressure sensor (16) for detecting the temperature and pressure of the coolant coming out of the fuel cell (1); The water inlet pipe (8) is equipped with a return water temperature and pressure sensor (17) for detecting the temperature and pressure of the coolant before it enters the fuel cell unit (1).
7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dust cover (11) is equipped with a rain sensor and a wind speed sensor.
8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The container power station (13) is also equipped with a PLC controller (18); The PLC controller (18) is electrically connected to the inlet water temperature and pressure sensor (16), the return water temperature and pressure sensor (17), the rain sensor, and the wind speed sensor, respectively.
9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a power drive unit electrically connected to the PLC controller (18); The power drive unit is electrically connected to the water pump (2), the radiator (3), and the displacement actuator (12), respectively. The power drive unit is also electrically connected to the power supply unit.
10. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a display unit electrically connected to the PLC controller (18), which is used to display the operating parameters of the system in real time.