Combustion suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage, heat management system and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model relates to a combustion suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage, a heat management system and a vehicle. The combustion suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage comprises a gas supply component and a vortex tube. The air supply component is used for supplying compressed air, the air outlet end of the air supply component is connected with an inlet of the vortex tube, the vortex tube is provided with a cold air outlet and a hot air outlet, and the cold air outlet of the vortex tube faces a refrigerant pipeline of the heat management system. According to the combustion suppression system, the periphery of the refrigerant pipeline joint is cooled, meanwhile, leaked refrigerants are blown away, and combustion or explosion of the refrigerants is avoided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of thermal management, in particular to a combustion suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage, a thermal management system and a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the related art, refrigerant leakage is prone to occur at the refrigerant pipeline joint of the thermal management system, and after the leakage of the refrigerant with combustibility, combustion or even explosion is prone to occur, thereby posing a safety risk. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0003] The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a combustion suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage, a thermal management system and a vehicle to solve the problems in the related art described above.

[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, one aspect of the present disclosure provides a combustion suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage, comprising a gas supply component and a vortex tube.

[0005] The gas supply component is used to supply compressed gas, and the gas outlet end of the gas supply component is connected with the inlet of the vortex tube. The vortex tube has a cold gas outlet and a hot gas outlet, and the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube is directed towards the refrigerant pipeline of the thermal management system.

[0006] Optionally, the gas supply component comprises a gas storage tank and a pressure sensor. The gas storage tank is used to store the compressed gas, and the gas storage tank has a gas outlet. The gas outlet of the gas storage tank is connected with the inlet of the vortex tube. The pressure sensor is connected to the gas storage tank, and the pressure sensor is used to detect the pressure of the compressed gas in the gas storage tank.

[0007] Optionally, the gas supply component further comprises an air intake mechanism, and the air intake mechanism comprises a compressor and an air intake filter. The air intake filter is connected with the inlet end of the compressor, and the outlet end of the compressor is connected with the air inlet of the gas storage tank.

[0008] Optionally, the air intake mechanism further comprises a first pipe and a second pipe. The two ends of the first pipe are respectively connected with the gas outlet end of the air intake filter and the inlet end of the compressor. The two ends of the second pipe are respectively connected with the outlet end of the compressor and the air inlet of the gas storage tank.

[0009] Optionally, the gas supply component further comprises a valve. One end of the valve is in communication with the gas outlet of the gas storage tank, and the other end of the valve is in communication with the inlet of the vortex tube. The valve is used to conduct or cut off the communication between the gas outlet of the gas storage tank and the inlet of the vortex tube.

[0010] Optionally, the gas supply component further comprises a third pipe and a fourth pipe, two ends of the third pipe are connected with one end of the valve and the gas outlet of the gas tank respectively, and two ends of the fourth pipe are connected with the other end of the valve and the inlet of the vortex tube respectively.

[0011] Optionally, the fire suppression system further comprises a controller and a refrigerant detection sensor, the refrigerant detection sensor and the gas supply component are connected with the controller, the refrigerant detection sensor is configured to detect the concentration of refrigerant leakage, and the controller is configured to control the gas supply component to deliver compressed gas to the vortex tube and control the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube to flow out cold gas.

[0012] Optionally, the hot gas outlet of the vortex tube is directed away from the refrigerant pipeline of the thermal management system.

[0013] The second aspect of the present disclosure further provides a thermal management system comprising a refrigerant pipeline and the fire suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage described above, and the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube of the fire suppression system is directed towards the refrigerant pipeline.

[0014] The third aspect of the present disclosure further provides a vehicle comprising the fire suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage described above or the thermal management system described above.

[0015] The above technical solution can reduce the temperature of air in the natural environment by the vortex tube, form cold gas, and then flow to the refrigerant pipeline through the cold gas outlet, thereby cooling the surrounding of the refrigerant pipeline joint, blowing away the leaked refrigerant, and avoiding combustion or explosion of the refrigerant.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described in detail in the following specific embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the specification, and are used together with the following specific embodiments to explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation on the present disclosure. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the fire suppression system of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Explanation of Reference Signs

[0020] 1, gas supply component, 11, gas tank, 12, pressure sensor, 13, air inlet mechanism, 131, compressor, 132, air inlet filter, 133, first pipe, 134, second pipe, 14, valve, 15, third pipe, 16, fourth pipe;

[0021] 2, vortex tube;

[0022] 3. Controller;

[0023] 4. Refrigerant piping;

[0024] 5. Refrigerant detection sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0026] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer parts of the relevant components. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0027] In the description of this disclosure, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "setup" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0028] Currently, the refrigerant used in automotive thermal management systems is R134a, which severely damages the atmospheric ozone layer and is being phased out. More environmentally friendly alternatives are now being used. For example, flammable refrigerants are widely used. These refrigerants have good thermal performance, are inexpensive, are compatible with common lubricating oils and mechanical structural materials, and are environmentally friendly, making them a direct replacement. However, safety is a primary concern with flammable refrigerants.

[0029] In related technologies, refrigerant leaks are prone to occur at refrigerant pipe joints in thermal management systems. Since flammable refrigerant leaks can easily lead to combustion or even explosion, posing a safety risk. Currently, some solutions employ material isolation to achieve fire prevention, such as installing a protective enclosure with high strength requirements. However, adding a protective enclosure is not space-efficient, and its size is affected by the system's refrigerant charge; a sealed enclosure itself is a risk factor. The sealing and strength of the protective enclosure require additional consideration, resulting in high costs. Alternatively, an explosion-proof device containing a detonator can be installed at each refrigerant pipe joint. However, adding an explosion-proof device to each refrigerant pipe joint is very costly and difficult to repair afterward.

[0030] Therefore, such as Figure 1 As shown, one aspect of this disclosure provides a flame suppression system for flammable refrigerant leakage, including a gas supply component 1 and a vortex tube 2.

[0031] The air supply component 1 is used to supply compressed gas, and the air outlet end of the air supply component 1 is connected with the inlet of the vortex tube 2. The vortex tube 2 has a cold gas outlet and a hot gas outlet, and the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube 2 is directed towards the coolant pipeline 4 of the thermal management system.

[0032] In the above technical solution, the vortex tube 2 is arranged to reduce the temperature of the air in the natural environment, form cold gas, and then flow to the coolant pipeline 4 through the cold gas outlet, so as to cool and lower the temperature of the surrounding of the joint of the coolant pipeline 4, and blow away the leaked coolant to avoid combustion or explosion of the coolant.

[0033] Optionally, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the flame suppression system further comprises a controller 3 and a coolant detection sensor 5, and the coolant detection sensor 5 and the air supply component 1 are both connected with the controller 3. The coolant detection sensor 5 is arranged to be capable of detecting the concentration of the leaked coolant, and the controller 3 is used to control whether the air supply component 1 delivers compressed gas to the vortex tube 2 and whether the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube 2 flows out cold gas. The coolant detection sensor 5 is arranged to detect the concentration of the leaked coolant, so as to determine whether the leaked coolant needs to be blown away. The coolant detection sensor 5 is arranged to detect whether the coolant leaks at the joint of the coolant pipeline 4, so that the controller 3 can control whether the compressed gas in the air supply component 1 flows to the vortex tube 2, that is, the compressed gas is delivered to the vortex tube 2 only when the coolant leaks.

[0034] The controller 3 can control whether the air supply component 1 delivers compressed gas to the vortex tube 2 according to the data detected by the coolant detection sensor 5. It can be understood that the controller 3 is provided with a coolant concentration threshold value. When the coolant detection sensor 5 detects that the concentration of the leaked coolant at the joint of the coolant pipeline 4 is greater than or equal to the coolant concentration threshold value, the controller 3 controls the air supply component 1 to deliver compressed gas to the vortex tube 2, so that the compressed gas is sprayed from the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube 2 to the coolant pipeline 4 after being cooled by the vortex tube 2, the leaked coolant is blown away, and the ambient temperature around the coolant pipeline 4 is lowered. When the coolant detection sensor 5 detects that the concentration of the leaked coolant at the joint of the coolant pipeline 4 is less than the coolant concentration threshold value, the controller 3 controls the air supply component 1 not to deliver compressed gas to the vortex tube 2, and at this time the vortex tube 2 does not work.

[0035] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air supply component 1 comprises a gas tank 11 and a pressure sensor 12, the gas tank 11 is used for storing compressed gas, the gas tank 11 has a gas outlet, the gas outlet of the gas tank 11 is connected with the inlet of the vortex tube 2, the pressure sensor 12 is connected to the gas tank 11, the pressure sensor 12 is used for detecting the pressure of the compressed gas in the gas tank 11, and the pressure sensor 12 is electrically connected with the controller 3. The pressure of the compressed gas stored in the gas tank 11 can be detected through the pressure sensor 12, so that the pressure of the stored compressed gas can be guaranteed, so that the compressed gas can be sprayed out through the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube 2, and the blowing effect on the leaked refrigerant can be guaranteed.

[0036] It can be understood that when the pressure sensor 12 detects that the pressure of the compressed gas in the gas tank 11 is less than a set pressure threshold, air can be supplemented to the gas tank 11, and when the pressure sensor 12 detects that the pressure of the compressed gas in the gas tank 11 is greater than the set pressure threshold, the air supplement to the gas tank 11 can be stopped. It should be noted that the pressure threshold can be one or two, when it is two, it includes a first pressure threshold and a second pressure threshold, the first pressure threshold is less than the second pressure threshold, when the pressure of the compressed gas is less than the first pressure threshold, air is supplemented, and when the pressure of the compressed gas is greater than the second pressure threshold, air supplement is stopped.

[0037] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air supply component 1 further comprises an air inlet mechanism 13, the air inlet mechanism 13 comprises a compressor 131 and an air inlet filter 132, the air inlet filter 132 is connected with the inlet end of the compressor 131, the outlet end of the compressor 131 is connected with the air inlet of the gas tank 11, and the compressor 131 is electrically connected with the controller 3. The compressor 131 can supplement compressed gas to the gas tank 11, and the air inlet filter 132 can filter the air entering the compressor 131 to avoid garbage or large particles entering the compressor 131, thereby affecting the safety of the related structure.

[0038] The controller 3 can control the opening or closing of the compressor 131, which is convenient for control. In some examples, the controller 3 can control the opening or closing of the compressor 131 according to the pressure of the compressed gas in the gas tank 11 detected by the pressure sensor 12, for example, when the pressure of the compressed gas is less than the first pressure threshold, the controller 3 controls the compressor 131 to be opened, at this time, the ambient air is absorbed by the compressor 131 and compressed, and then delivered to the gas tank 11. When the pressure of the compressed gas is greater than the second pressure threshold, the controller 3 controls the compressor 131 to be closed.

[0039] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air intake component further comprises a first pipe 133 and a second pipe 134, two ends of the first pipe 133 are connected with the air outlet end of the air intake filter 132 and the inlet end of the compressor 131 respectively, and two ends of the second pipe 134 are connected with the outlet end of the compressor 131 and the air inlet of the gas storage tank 11 respectively. The first pipe 133 and the second pipe 134 are arranged to facilitate air flow, so that the air intake filter 132 and the compressor 131 can be arranged at a suitable position as needed, for example, can be arranged at a front cabin position of the vehicle.

[0040] In some examples, one end of the first pipe 133 is detachably connected with the air outlet end of the air intake filter 132, so that the air intake filter 132 can be detached for maintenance.

[0041] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air supply component 1 further comprises a valve 14, one end of the valve 14 is in communication with the air outlet of the gas storage tank 11, and the other end of the valve 14 is in communication with the inlet of the vortex tube 2, the valve 14 is used to connect or cut off the air outlet of the gas storage tank 11 and the inlet of the vortex tube 2, and the valve 14 is electrically connected with the controller 3, and the controller 3 can control the opening or closing of the valve 14. The valve 14 can be a switch valve or a flow regulating valve.

[0042] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the air supply component 1 can be a part of an air suspension system equipped on the vehicle, and the air suspension system supplies compressed gas to the vortex tube 2, that is, part of the structure of the air suspension system is multiplexed, which can reduce the number of parts and reduce the cost. Of course, in other embodiments, the air supply component 1 can be a compressor 131, which directly supplies compressed gas to the vortex tube 2 through the compressor 131.

[0043] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air supply component 1 further comprises a third pipe 15 and a fourth pipe 16, two ends of the third pipe 15 are connected with one end of the valve 14 and the air outlet of the gas storage tank 11 respectively, and two ends of the fourth pipe 16 are connected with the other end of the valve 14 and the inlet of the vortex tube 2 respectively. The third pipe 15 and the fourth pipe 16 are arranged to facilitate air flow, so that the gas storage tank 11 and the valve 14 can be arranged at a suitable position as needed, for example, can be arranged at a front cabin position of the vehicle. The vortex tube 2 is arranged on one side of the refrigerant pipeline 4 of the thermal management system and faces the refrigerant pipeline 4. In some examples, the third pipe 15 can be detachably connected with one end of the valve 14 and the air outlet of the gas storage tank 11, and the fourth pipe 16 can be detachably connected with the other end of the valve 14 and the inlet of the vortex tube 2, so that the gas storage tank 11, the valve 14 and the vortex tube 2 can be detached for maintenance.

[0044] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hot gas outlet of the vortex tube 2 is directed away from the refrigerant pipeline 4 of the thermal management system. By so arranging, the hot gas outlet of the vortex tube 2 can be prevented from affecting the temperature around the refrigerant pipeline 4.

[0045] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 3 can be electrically connected with or integrated into the control system of the vehicle.

[0046] The second aspect of the present disclosure further provides a thermal management system, comprising the refrigerant pipeline 4 and the above-mentioned flame suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage, wherein the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube 2 of the flame suppression system is directed towards the refrigerant pipeline 4.

[0047] The third aspect of the present disclosure further provides a vehicle, comprising the above-mentioned flame suppression system for combustible refrigerant leakage, or the above-mentioned thermal management system.

[0048] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details in the above-described embodiments. Within the technical concept of the present disclosure, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of the present disclosure, and these simple modifications all belong to the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0049] It should be further noted that, in the above-described specific embodiments, various specific technical features can be combined in any appropriate manner without contradiction, and in order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the present disclosure will not describe various possible combinations again.

[0050] Furthermore, various different embodiments of the present disclosure can also be combined in any appropriate manner, as long as it does not deviate from the idea of the present disclosure, and it should be considered as the disclosed content of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A flame suppression system for flammable refrigerant leaks, comprising: The combustion suppression system comprises a gas supply component and a vortex tube; The gas supply component is configured to supply compressed gas, and an outlet of the gas supply component is connected to an inlet of the vortex tube, the vortex tube has a cold gas outlet and a hot gas outlet, and the cold gas outlet of the vortex tube is directed towards a coolant conduit of the thermal management system.

2. A flame suppression system for flammable coolant leaks according to claim 1, wherein, The gas supply component comprises a gas storage tank and a pressure sensor, the gas storage tank is configured to store the compressed gas, the gas storage tank has a gas outlet, the gas outlet of the gas storage tank is connected to the inlet of the vortex tube, and the pressure sensor is connected to the gas storage tank and is configured to detect a pressure of the compressed gas in the gas storage tank.

3. A flame suppression system for flammable coolant leaks according to claim 2, wherein, The gas supply component further comprises a gas intake mechanism, the gas intake mechanism comprises a compressor and a gas intake filter, the gas intake filter is connected to an inlet end of the compressor, and an outlet end of the compressor is connected to a gas inlet of the gas storage tank.

4. A flame suppression system for flammable coolant leaks according to claim 3, wherein The gas intake mechanism further comprises a first pipe and a second pipe, two ends of the first pipe are respectively connected to a gas outlet end of the gas intake filter and the inlet end of the compressor, and two ends of the second pipe are respectively connected to the outlet end of the compressor and the gas inlet of the gas storage tank.

5. The flame suppression system for flammable refrigerant leaks of claim 2, wherein, The gas supply component further comprises a valve, one end of the valve is in communication with the gas outlet of the gas storage tank, and the other end of the valve is in communication with the inlet of the vortex tube, and the valve is configured to open or block the communication between the gas outlet of the gas storage tank and the inlet of the vortex tube.

6. A flame suppression system for flammable coolant leaks according to claim 5, wherein, The gas supply component further comprises a third pipe and a fourth pipe, two ends of the third pipe are respectively connected to one end of the valve and the gas outlet of the gas storage tank, and two ends of the fourth pipe are respectively connected to the other end of the valve and the inlet of the vortex tube.

7. The flame suppression system for flammable refrigerant leaks of claim 1, wherein, The combustion suppression system further comprises a controller and a coolant detection sensor, the coolant detection sensor and the gas supply component are both connected to the controller, the coolant detection sensor is configured to detect a coolant leakage concentration, and the controller is configured to control the gas supply component to deliver compressed gas to the vortex tube and control the vortex tube to discharge cold gas from the cold gas outlet.

8. The flame suppression system for flammable refrigerant leaks of any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The hot gas outlet of the vortex tube is directed away from the coolant conduit of the thermal management system.

9. A thermal management system, characterized by, The thermal management system comprises a coolant conduit and a combustion suppression system for combustible coolant leakage, the combustion suppression system is as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, and a cold gas outlet of a vortex tube of the combustion suppression system is directed towards the coolant conduit.

10. A vehicle characterized by comprising: The thermal management system comprises a combustion suppression system for combustible coolant leakage, or a thermal management system as claimed in claim 9.

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