Thermal management system and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model provides a thermal management system and a vehicle, and relates to the technical field of vehicle thermal management, and the thermal management system comprises a fuel cell cooling liquid circulation loop and a gas storage cylinder internally provided with a heat exchange device, the fuel cell cooling liquid circulation loop comprises a cooling liquid circulation pipeline, the circulating pump, the fuel cell stack and the radiator are connected through a cooling liquid circulating pipeline, the downstream of the radiator is connected with an inlet of the heat exchange device in the flowing direction of cooling liquid in the fuel cell cooling liquid circulating loop, and the upstream of the radiator is connected with an outlet of the heat exchange device. The thermal management system disclosed by the utility model can be used for cooling gas in the gas storage bottle and accurately controlling the temperature of the gas within a safety threshold range, so that sudden pressure increase of compressed gas caused by temperature rise can be avoided, the risks of structural damage, sealing failure and the like of the gas bottle can be effectively reduced, the operation reliability of the system can be improved, and the service life of the system is prolonged. And the safety performance of the vehicle can be ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vehicle thermal management technology, and in particular to a thermal management system. Furthermore, this utility model also relates to vehicles using this thermal management system. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen energy boasts advantages such as being green, renewable, widely available, and having high energy conversion efficiency in hydrogen fuel cells. In recent years, hydrogen energy has experienced rapid development, with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles seeing particularly rapid growth due to their environmental friendliness, quick refueling, and high energy conversion efficiency. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles typically use high-pressure-resistant storage cylinders for hydrogen storage.

[0003] In the current mainstream thermal management system architecture, high-density resistance heating wires or flexible heating films are usually installed on the outer surface of the gas storage cylinder to directly convert electrical energy into heat energy to achieve active heating of the cylinder. This design effectively solves the problem of insufficient gas supply caused by the reduced activity of gas molecules in low-temperature environments, and ensures the basic functional stability of the gas storage system.

[0004] However, when the ambient temperature rises or the thermal management system operates under high load for extended periods, the temperature of the gas inside the gas cylinder will increase along with the ambient temperature, leading to a sharp rise in gas pressure. If this pressure increase exceeds the safety threshold of the gas cylinder, it may cause structural damage or seal failure, thus affecting the reliability of the system and posing a potential threat to vehicle safety. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, the present invention aims to propose a thermal management system to improve the operational reliability of the system, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the vehicle.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0007] A thermal management system includes a fuel cell coolant circulation loop and a gas storage cylinder with an internal heat exchange device.

[0008] The fuel cell coolant circulation loop includes a coolant circulation pipeline, and a circulation pump, fuel cell stack, and radiator connected through the coolant circulation pipeline;

[0009] Along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, the downstream of the radiator is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange device, and the upstream of the radiator is connected to the outlet of the heat exchange device.

[0010] Furthermore, the heat exchange device is connected in parallel to the coolant circulation pipeline upstream of the radiator.

[0011] Furthermore, a first control valve and a second control valve are provided on the coolant circulation pipeline upstream of the radiator. The first control valve and the second control valve are arranged sequentially along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop. The inlet of the heat exchange device can be selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipeline through the first pipeline and the first control valve, and the outlet of the heat exchange device can be selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipeline through the second pipeline and the second control valve.

[0012] Furthermore, a first temperature sensor is provided on the coolant circulation pipeline between the first control valve and the fuel cell stack, the first temperature sensor being used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the fuel cell stack; and / or, a second temperature sensor is provided on the second pipeline, the second temperature sensor being used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the heat exchange device.

[0013] Furthermore, a third control valve is provided on the coolant circulation pipeline downstream of the radiator, and a fourth control valve is provided on the first pipeline. The third control valve can be selectively connected to the fourth control valve through the third pipeline.

[0014] Furthermore, along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, a fifth control valve is provided upstream of the radiator, and a sixth control valve is provided downstream of the radiator; the thermal management system also includes a fourth pipeline connected in parallel with the radiator, and the two ends of the fourth pipeline can be selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipeline through the fifth control valve and the sixth control valve.

[0015] Furthermore, the fuel cell coolant circulation loop also includes a coolant storage tank, which is located on the coolant circulation pipeline between the radiator and the circulation pump.

[0016] Furthermore, along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, a third temperature sensor is provided on the coolant circulation pipeline upstream or downstream of the circulation pump. The third temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing into the fuel cell stack.

[0017] Furthermore, a gas supply pipeline is provided between the gas storage cylinder and the fuel cell stack. The gas supply pipeline is equipped with a pressure reducing valve and a shut-off valve, which are arranged sequentially along the flow direction of the gas flow in the gas supply pipeline. A fourth temperature sensor is provided on the gas storage cylinder, which is used to detect the temperature of the gas inside the gas storage cylinder.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, this utility model has the following advantages:

[0019] The thermal management system described in this utility model incorporates a heat exchange device within a gas storage cylinder. The downstream of the radiator is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange device, and the upstream of the radiator is connected to the outlet of the heat exchange device. Thus, when the ambient temperature rises significantly or the system operates under high load, the system dynamically adjusts the coolant flow rate. The high-temperature coolant first passes through the radiator for heat dissipation, efficiently transferring heat to the external environment. Then, the cooled, low-temperature coolant exchanges heat with the compressed gas in the gas storage cylinder through the heat exchange device. This helps control the gas temperature within a safe threshold range, preventing a sudden increase in compressed gas pressure due to temperature rise. This effectively reduces the risk of cylinder structural damage and seal failure, improves system reliability, and ultimately ensures vehicle safety.

[0020] Secondly, by connecting the heat exchange device in parallel to the coolant circulation pipeline upstream of the radiator, the heat exchange device of the gas storage cylinder can preferentially contact the high-temperature coolant discharged from the fuel cell stack that has not been cooled by the radiator. This maximizes the utilization of the waste heat generated by the stack and provides efficient heating to the gas storage cylinder directly in a low-temperature environment, thereby avoiding gas liquefaction or sudden pressure drop due to low temperature, which helps to improve the overall energy efficiency of the system.

[0021] By setting the first and second control valves, the flow rate of coolant flowing through the radiator branch and the heat exchanger branch can be controlled separately according to the real-time temperature requirements. This allows for precise distribution of coolant flow, ensuring that both the radiator and the heat exchanger operate under optimal conditions, thus improving the overall system energy efficiency. Furthermore, by adjusting the coolant flow rate through the heat exchanger using the two control valves, the system can quickly respond to changes in the thermal load of the fuel cell stack, avoiding local overheating or overcooling. This enhances the system's adaptability under different operating conditions and optimizes the thermal management efficiency of the gas storage tank.

[0022] By setting up a first temperature sensor, the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the fuel cell stack can be detected, allowing for real-time monitoring of the fuel cell stack's operating temperature and providing a basis for adjusting the first control valve. Simultaneously, by setting up a second temperature sensor, the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the heat exchanger can be detected, enabling the evaluation of the heat exchanger's cooling efficiency. By comparing the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger, it can be determined whether the heat exchange capacity of the medium in the storage tank meets the requirements, thus dynamically adjusting the control strategy. Furthermore, based on the temperature feedback from the first and second temperature sensors, the system can precisely control the proportion of coolant flowing through the radiator and heat exchanger, avoiding over-cooling or over-heating and reducing energy waste.

[0023] Furthermore, by setting up a third and fourth control valve, and connecting them to a third pipeline, the management system can dynamically adjust the flow direction of the coolant according to the actual operating conditions. That is, when the temperature is low, by adjusting the third and fourth control valves, the coolant bypasses the radiator and flows preferentially through the heat exchange device of the gas storage tank, using the waste heat of the fuel cell to quickly heat the gas in the gas storage tank, thus avoiding the pressure drop in the gas storage tank caused by the low temperature. When the temperature is high, by adjusting the third and fourth control valves, the coolant is fully cooled by the radiator and then enters the heat exchange device through the third pipeline to exchange heat with the gas in the gas storage tank, preventing the gas storage tank from overheating.

[0024] The fifth and sixth control valves, along with the parallel fourth pipeline, allow for switching of the coolant between the radiator's main circuit and bypass circuit. When the fuel cell stack temperature is low, adjusting the fifth and sixth control valves allows the coolant to bypass the radiator and circulate directly through the fourth pipeline, reducing heat loss and improving the fuel cell stack's cold-start performance. When the fuel cell stack temperature is high, adjusting the fifth and sixth control valves ensures the coolant flows through the radiator for sufficient heat dissipation, ensuring the fuel cell stack operates within a suitable temperature range.

[0025] Coolant may expand and contract due to temperature fluctuations within the radiator. The storage tank acts as a buffer to absorb these volume changes, preventing sudden pressure changes from impacting the circulation pump, valves, and piping, thus ensuring stable system operation. Furthermore, placing the coolant storage tank upstream of the circulation pump ensures stable coolant pressure at the pump inlet, reduces the risk of cavitation, extends the pump's lifespan, and maintains a constant flow rate.

[0026] Furthermore, by incorporating a third temperature sensor, the temperature of the coolant entering the fuel cell stack can be monitored to ensure that the coolant reaches its optimal operating temperature before entering the stack, thus preventing performance degradation due to high temperatures or start-up difficulties caused by low temperatures. Simultaneously, based on temperature feedback from the third temperature sensor, the speed of the circulation pump can be adjusted to match the heat dissipation requirements of the fuel cell stack. Specifically, at high temperatures, the circulation pump speed can be increased to enhance coolant flow and improve heat dissipation, while at low temperatures, the circulation pump speed can be decreased to reduce coolant flow and prevent overcooling.

[0027] By using a pressure reducing valve, the high-pressure gas output from the gas storage tank can be stably regulated to the operating pressure required by the fuel cell stack, preventing damage to the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of the fuel cell stack due to pressure fluctuations. By using a shut-off valve, the gas supply can be immediately cut off when an abnormal temperature is detected in the gas storage tank, preventing gas leakage or equipment damage and improving system safety.

[0028] Furthermore, by connecting the pressure reducing valve and the shut-off valve in series, a double safety measure is formed. This ensures that even if the pressure reducing valve fails, the shut-off valve can still prevent high-pressure gas from directly entering the fuel cell stack. Simultaneously, the inclusion of a fourth temperature sensor allows for the detection of the gas temperature within the storage tank, enabling dynamic adjustment of the coolant flow rate through the heat exchanger based on this temperature.

[0029] Another objective of this invention is to provide a vehicle equipped with a thermal management system as described above.

[0030] The vehicle described in this utility model has the same beneficial effects as the thermal management system described above, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this utility model, are used to provide a further understanding of the utility model. The illustrative embodiments of the utility model and their descriptions are used to explain the utility model and do not constitute an undue limitation of the utility model. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the thermal management system described in Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0033] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0034] 1. Coolant circulation piping; 11. First main circulation line; 12. Second main circulation line; 13. Third main circulation line; 14. Fourth main circulation line; 15. First piping; 16. Second piping; 17. Third piping; 18. Fourth piping;

[0035] 2. Gas storage cylinder; 21. Heat exchange device;

[0036] 3. Circulation pump; 4. Fuel cell stack; 5. Radiator; 6. Coolant storage tank;

[0037] 71. First control valve; 72. Second control valve; 73. Third control valve; 74. Fourth control valve; 75. Fifth control valve; 76. Sixth control valve;

[0038] 81. First temperature sensor; 82. Second temperature sensor; 83. Third temperature sensor; 84. Fourth temperature sensor;

[0039] 91. Gas supply pipeline; 92. Pressure reducing valve; 93. Shut-off valve. Detailed Implementation

[0040] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0041] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," and "back," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0042] Furthermore, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "connector" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; 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 utility model in light of the specific circumstances.

[0043] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0044] Example 1

[0045] This embodiment relates to a thermal management system that can cool the gas in the gas storage cylinder, prevent damage to the gas storage cylinder structure caused by the rise in gas pressure, thereby improving the operational reliability of the system and ensuring the safety performance of the vehicle.

[0046] In terms of overall structure, refer to Figure 1 As shown, the thermal management system of this embodiment includes a fuel cell coolant circulation loop and a gas storage cylinder 2 with an internal heat exchange device 21. The fuel cell coolant circulation loop includes a coolant circulation pipeline 1, and a circulation pump 3, a fuel cell stack 4, and a radiator 5 connected through the coolant circulation pipeline 1. Along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, the downstream end of the radiator 5 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange device 21, and the upstream end of the radiator 5 is connected to the outlet of the heat exchange device 21.

[0047] At this time, the heat exchange device 21 is installed in the gas storage bottle 2, and the downstream of the radiator 5 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange device 21, and the upstream of the radiator 5 is connected to the outlet of the heat exchange device 21. Thus, when the ambient temperature rises significantly or the system is in a high-load operation state, the system dynamically adjusts the coolant flow rate so that the high-temperature coolant first passes through the radiator 5 to dissipate heat, and efficiently transfers the heat to the external environment.

[0048] Secondly, the cooled cryogenic coolant is then exchanged with the compressed gas in the gas storage cylinder 2 through the heat exchange device 21, so that the gas temperature is precisely controlled within the safe threshold range. This avoids the sudden increase in compressed gas pressure caused by temperature rise, effectively reduces the risk of gas cylinder structural damage and seal failure, and improves the operational reliability of the system, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the vehicle.

[0049] In practice, the coolant flowing out of the fuel cell stack 4 flows into the radiator 5 through the coolant circulation pipe 1. After being cooled by the radiator 5, the coolant enters the heat exchange device 21 in the gas storage tank 2 through the coolant circulation pipe 1 again, so that the cooled coolant exchanges heat with the gas in the gas storage tank 2. After the heat exchange is completed, the coolant flows out from the outlet of the heat exchange device 21 and returns to the coolant circulation pipe 1.

[0050] It is worth mentioning that the heat exchange device 21 in this embodiment can be a heat exchanger product well known to those skilled in the art, such as a spiral heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, or a shell-and-tube heat exchanger.

[0051] Furthermore, in order to meet the heating requirements of gas storage cylinder 2, in this embodiment, as follows: Figure 1 As shown, the heat exchange device 21 is connected in parallel to the coolant circulation line 1 upstream of the radiator 5. Here, by connecting the heat exchange device 21 in parallel to the coolant circulation line 1 upstream of the radiator 5, the heat exchange device 21 of the gas storage cylinder 2 can preferentially contact the high-temperature coolant discharged from the fuel cell stack 4 that has not been cooled by the radiator 5. This maximizes the utilization of the waste heat generated by the fuel cell stack 4, providing efficient heating directly to the gas storage cylinder 2 in a low-temperature environment. This avoids gas liquefaction due to low temperature or sudden pressure drop, thereby improving the overall energy efficiency of the system.

[0052] Based on the above overall introduction, in this embodiment, as a preferred implementation, such as Figure 1 As shown, a first control valve 71 and a second control valve 72 are provided on the coolant circulation pipe 1 upstream of the radiator 5. The first control valve 71 and the second control valve 72 are arranged sequentially along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop. Meanwhile, the inlet of the heat exchange device 21 is selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipe 1 via the first pipe 15 and the first control valve 71, and the outlet of the heat exchange device 21 is selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipe 1 via the second pipe 16 and the second control valve 72.

[0053] In this embodiment, the inlet of the heat exchange device 21 is connected to the first control valve 71 through the first pipeline 15, and the outlet of the heat exchange device 21 is connected to the second control valve 72 through the second pipeline 16. Thus, by controlling the first control valve 71 and the second control valve 72, the coolant flowing from the fuel cell stack 4 into the coolant circulation pipeline 1 can enter the heat exchange device 21 through the first pipeline 15, and can flow out of the heat exchange device 21 and back to the coolant circulation pipeline 1 through the second control valve 72. Alternatively, it can flow directly backward along the coolant circulation pipeline 1 without going through the first pipeline 15, but instead passing through the first control valve 71 and the second control valve 72.

[0054] Therefore, by setting the first control valve 71 and the second control valve 72, the flow rate of coolant flowing through the radiator 5 branch and the heat exchanger 21 branch can be controlled according to the real-time temperature requirements, thereby achieving precise distribution of coolant flow rate, ensuring that the radiator 5 and the heat exchanger 21 can operate under optimal conditions, and improving the overall system energy efficiency.

[0055] Furthermore, by adjusting the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the heat exchanger 21 through two control valves, the system can quickly respond to changes in the thermal load of the fuel cell stack 4, avoid local overheating or overcooling, thereby improving the system's adaptability under different operating conditions and optimizing the thermal management efficiency of the gas storage tank 2.

[0056] It should be noted that, in order to clearly describe the structure of the coolant circulation pipeline 1, in this embodiment the coolant circulation pipeline 1 is divided into a first circulation main pipeline 11, a second circulation main pipeline 12, a third circulation main pipeline 13 and a fourth circulation main pipeline 14. The first circulation main pipeline 11 is connected between the fuel cell stack 4 and the radiator 5, the second circulation main pipeline 12 is connected between the radiator 5 and the coolant storage tank 6, the third circulation main pipeline 13 is connected between the coolant storage tank 6 and the circulation pump 3, and the fourth circulation main pipeline 14 is connected between the circulation pump 3 and the fuel cell stack 4.

[0057] Furthermore, the first control valve 71, the second control valve 72, and the third control valve 73, the fourth control valve 74, the fifth control valve 75, and the sixth control valve 76 described below in this embodiment can all be electric three-way directional valves well known to those skilled in the art.

[0058] In the specific structure, the first control valve 71 and the second control valve 72 are arranged sequentially on the first circulation main 11 along the flow direction of the coolant. The first control valve 71 includes port a connected to the outlet of the fuel cell stack 4, port b connected to the inlet of the heat exchange device 21, and port c connected to the second control valve 72. The second control valve 72 includes port a connected to port c of the first control valve 71, port b connected to the outlet of the heat exchange device 21, and port c connected to the inlet of the radiator 5. The first pipeline 15 is located between port b of the first control valve 71 and the inlet of the heat exchange device 21, and the second pipeline 16 is located between port b of the second control valve 72 and the outlet of the heat exchange device 21.

[0059] Specifically, when it is necessary to heat up the gas storage cylinder 2, ports a and b of the first control valve 71 can be opened and port c can be closed, so that the high-temperature coolant discharged from the fuel cell stack 4 flows into the first pipeline 15 through the first circulation main 11 and the first control valve, and enters the heat exchange device 21 through the first pipeline 15 to heat the gas in the gas storage cylinder 2.

[0060] Secondly, when it is necessary to cool down the gas storage cylinder 2, the a and c ports of the first control valve 71 can be opened and the b port closed, and the b port of the second control valve 72 can be closed, so that the high-temperature coolant discharged from the fuel cell stack 4 flows into the radiator 5 through the first circulation main line 11. After the high-temperature coolant is cooled by the radiator 5, it flows out of the radiator 5 and flows into the heat exchange device 21 through the first pipeline 15 to exchange heat with the gas in the gas storage cylinder 2. After the heat exchange is completed, the b port of the second control valve 72 is opened, so that the coolant returns to the first circulation main line 11 through the second pipeline 16.

[0061] In addition, in order to monitor the temperature of the coolant emitted from fuel cell stack 4 in real time, this embodiment continues to refer to... Figure 1 As shown, a first temperature sensor 81 is provided on the coolant circulation pipeline 1 between the first control valve 71 and the fuel cell stack 4. The first temperature sensor 81 is used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the fuel cell stack 4.

[0062] The advantage of this setup is that the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the fuel cell stack 4 can be detected by the first temperature sensor 81, thereby allowing real-time monitoring of the operating temperature of the fuel cell stack 4 and providing a basis for adjusting the first control valve 71.

[0063] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the coolant circulation pipeline 1 between the first control valve 71 and the fuel cell stack 4 can specifically be a part of the first circulation main pipeline 11, and the first circulation main pipeline 11 also includes the coolant circulation pipeline 1 between the first control valve 71 and the second control valve 72, and the coolant circulation pipeline 1 between the second control valve 72 and the radiator 5.

[0064] Meanwhile, a second temperature sensor 82 is provided on the second pipeline 16 in this embodiment. The second temperature sensor 82 is used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the heat exchanger 21. Thus, by setting the second temperature sensor 82, the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the heat exchanger 21 can be detected, thereby evaluating the cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger 21. By comparing the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger 21, it can be determined whether the heat exchange capacity of the medium in the gas storage cylinder 2 meets the requirements, thereby dynamically adjusting the control strategy.

[0065] Furthermore, based on the temperature feedback from the first temperature sensor 81 and the second temperature sensor 82, the thermal management system of this embodiment can accurately control the ratio of coolant flowing through the radiator 5 and the heat exchange device 21, avoiding overcooling or overheating and reducing energy waste.

[0066] In addition, to facilitate heating or cooling of the gas storage cylinder 2, in this embodiment, reference is made to... Figure 1 As shown, a third control valve 73 is provided on the coolant circulation pipe 1 downstream of the radiator 5, and a fourth control valve 74 is provided on the first pipe 15. The third control valve 73 can be selectively connected to the fourth control valve 74 through the third pipe 17.

[0067] In this embodiment, a third pipeline 17 is connected between the third control valve 73 and the fourth control valve 74. That is, one end of the third pipeline 17 is connected to one interface of the third control valve 73, and the other end of the third pipeline 17 is connected to another interface of the fourth control valve 74.

[0068] Here, by setting the third control valve 73 and the fourth control valve 74, and connecting them in conjunction with the third pipeline 17, the system can dynamically adjust the flow direction of the coolant according to the actual working conditions. That is, when the temperature is low, by adjusting the third control valve 73 and the fourth control valve 74, the coolant is directed to flow through the heat exchange device 21 of the gas storage tank 2 instead of the radiator 5, so as to quickly heat the gas in the gas storage tank 2 using the waste heat of the fuel cell, thus avoiding the pressure drop in the gas storage tank 2 caused by the low temperature. When the temperature is high, by adjusting the third control valve 73 and the fourth control valve 74, the coolant is cooled down by the radiator 5 and then enters the heat exchange device 21 through the third pipeline 17 to exchange heat with the gas in the gas storage tank 2, thus preventing the gas storage tank 2 from overheating.

[0069] It is worth mentioning that the coolant circulation pipe 1 downstream of the radiator 5 can specifically be the second main circulation pipe 12. Furthermore, in the specific structure, the third control valve 73 includes port a connected to the outlet of the radiator 5, port b connected to the fourth control valve 74, and port c connected to the inlet of the coolant storage tank 6. The fourth control valve 74 includes port a connected to port b of the first control valve 71, port b connected to port b of the third control valve 73, and port c connected to the inlet of the heat exchange device 21. The third pipe 17 is connected between port b of the third control valve 73 and port b of the fourth control valve 74.

[0070] In practice, the c port of the third control valve 73 can be closed, so that the high-temperature coolant is cooled in the radiator 5 and then flows out of the radiator 5, flows into the first pipeline 15 through the third pipeline 17, and then flows into the heat exchange device 21 through the first pipeline 15 to exchange heat with the gas in the gas storage bottle 2, thereby cooling the gas storage bottle 2. After the heat exchange is completed, the coolant is returned to the first circulation main pipeline 11 through the second pipeline 16.

[0071] In addition, in this embodiment, as an exemplary structure, such as Figure 1 As shown, along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, a fifth control valve 75 is provided upstream of the radiator 5, and a sixth control valve 76 is provided downstream of the radiator 5. Simultaneously, the thermal management system also includes a fourth pipeline 18 connected in parallel with the radiator 5. The two ends of the fourth pipeline 18 can be selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipeline 1 via the fifth control valve 75 and the sixth control valve 76.

[0072] In this embodiment, the two ends of the fourth pipeline 18 are connected to the fifth control valve 75 and the sixth control valve 76 respectively. That is, one end of the fourth pipeline 18 is connected to one interface of the fifth control valve 75, and the other end of the fourth pipeline 18 is connected to the other interface of the sixth control valve 76.

[0073] Here, the switching between the main and bypass lines of the radiator 5 can be achieved through the fifth control valve 75, the sixth control valve 76, and the parallel fourth pipeline 18. When the temperature of the fuel cell stack 4 is low, by adjusting the fifth control valve 75 and the sixth control valve 76, the coolant bypasses the radiator 5 and circulates directly through the fourth pipeline 18, reducing heat loss and improving the cold start performance of the fuel cell stack 4. When the temperature of the fuel cell stack 4 is high, by adjusting the fifth control valve 75 and the sixth control valve 76, the coolant flows through the radiator 5 to dissipate heat sufficiently, ensuring that the fuel cell stack 4 operates within a suitable temperature range.

[0074] In the specific structure, the fifth control valve 75 is set on the first circulation main line 11 and located between the second control valve 72 and the radiator 5. The fifth control valve 75 includes an a port that communicates with the c port of the second control valve 72, a b port that communicates with the sixth control valve 76, and a c port that communicates with the inlet of the radiator 5.

[0075] The sixth control valve 76 is located on the second main circulation path 12, between the third control valve 73 and the coolant storage tank 6. The sixth control valve 76 includes an a port connected to the c port of the third control valve 73, a b port connected to the b port of the fifth control valve 75, and a c port connected to the inlet of the coolant storage tank 6. Meanwhile, the two ends of the fourth pipeline 18 in this embodiment are connected to the b ports of the fifth control valve 75 and the sixth control valve 76, respectively.

[0076] Specifically, when it is necessary to cool down the fuel cell stack 4, the b port of the fifth control valve 75 is closed, allowing the coolant in the first circulation main 11 to flow into the radiator 5 for heat dissipation and cooling. Then, it returns to the fuel cell stack 4 through the circulation pump 3 to achieve cooling of the fuel cell stack 4 and ensure that the fuel cell stack 4 operates within a suitable temperature range.

[0077] When the temperature of the fuel cell stack 4 decreases, the c port of the fifth control valve 75 is closed, allowing the coolant in the first circulation main 11 to flow into the fourth pipeline 18. This bypasses the radiator 5, allowing the coolant to directly enter the circulation pump 3 through the third circulation main 13 and then enter the fuel cell stack 4 through the fourth circulation main 14, thereby reducing the heat loss of the coolant and improving the cold start performance of the fuel cell stack 4.

[0078] Specifically, in this embodiment, as a preferred implementation, such as Figure 1 As shown, the fuel cell coolant circulation loop also includes a coolant storage tank 6, which is located on the coolant circulation pipeline 1 between the radiator 5 and the circulation pump 3.

[0079] Here, the coolant in radiator 5 may expand and contract due to temperature fluctuations. The storage tank, acting as a buffer, can absorb volume changes, preventing sudden pressure changes from impacting the circulation pump 3, valves, and pipelines, thus ensuring stable system operation. Simultaneously, placing the coolant storage tank 6 upstream of the circulation pump 3 ensures stable coolant pressure at the pump inlet, reduces the risk of cavitation, extends the service life of the circulation pump 3, and maintains a constant flow rate.

[0080] In the specific structure, port c of the sixth control valve 76 is connected to the inlet of the coolant storage tank 6, and the outlet of the coolant storage tank 6 is connected to the inlet of the circulation pump 3. Thus, when high-temperature coolant flows into the coolant storage tank 6, the coolant storage tank 6 can absorb the expanded coolant, thereby preventing the system pressure from being too high. Alternatively, when low-temperature coolant flows into the coolant storage tank 6, the coolant storage tank 6 can replenish the contracted coolant, thereby preventing the formation of cavities.

[0081] Furthermore, in order to detect the temperature of the coolant entering the fuel cell stack 4, in this embodiment, such as... Figure 1 As shown, along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, a third temperature sensor 83 is provided on the coolant circulation pipe 1 upstream of the circulation pump 3. The third temperature sensor 83 is used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing into the fuel cell stack 4.

[0082] Here, the temperature of the coolant entering the fuel cell stack 4 can be detected by the third temperature sensor 83 to ensure that the coolant reaches the optimal operating temperature before entering the fuel cell stack 4, thus avoiding performance degradation of the stack caused by high temperature or start-up difficulties caused by low temperature.

[0083] At the same time, it can also adjust the speed of the circulation pump 3 according to the temperature feedback of the third temperature sensor 83 to match the heat dissipation requirements of the fuel cell stack 4. That is, when the temperature is high, the speed of the circulation pump 3 is increased to increase the coolant flow and enhance heat dissipation, and when the temperature is low, the speed of the circulation pump 3 is reduced to decrease the coolant flow and avoid overcooling.

[0084] In the specific structure, the third temperature sensor 83 can be set on the coolant circulation pipe 1 upstream of the circulation pump 3 (i.e., the third circulation main pipe 13). Of course, in addition to being set on the coolant circulation pipe 1 upstream of the circulation pump 3, the third temperature sensor 83 can also be set on the coolant circulation pipe 1 downstream of the circulation pump 3 (i.e., the fourth circulation pipe).

[0085] In addition, in this embodiment, as a preferred implementation, such as Figure 1 As shown, a gas supply pipeline 91 is provided between the gas storage cylinder 2 and the fuel cell stack 4. A pressure reducing valve 92 and a shut-off valve 93 are provided on the gas supply pipeline 91. The pressure reducing valve 92 and the shut-off valve 93 are arranged sequentially along the flow direction of the gas flow in the gas supply pipeline 91.

[0086] Here, the pressure reducing valve 92 can stably regulate the high-pressure gas output from the gas storage cylinder 2 to the working pressure required by the fuel cell stack 4, avoiding damage to the membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell stack 4 due to pressure fluctuations. The shut-off valve 93 can immediately cut off the gas supply when an abnormal temperature is detected in the gas storage cylinder 2, preventing gas leakage or equipment damage and improving system safety.

[0087] Furthermore, the pressure reducing valve 92 and the shut-off valve 93 are arranged in series to form a double protection. Thus, even if the pressure reducing valve 92 fails, the shut-off valve 93 can still prevent high-pressure gas from directly entering the fuel cell stack 4. It should be noted that the pressure reducing valve 92 and the shut-off valve 93 in this embodiment can be set with reference to the prior art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0088] The gas storage cylinder 2 is equipped with a fourth temperature sensor 84, which is used to detect the temperature of the gas inside the gas storage cylinder 2. Therefore, by setting up the fourth temperature sensor 84, the temperature of the gas inside the gas storage cylinder 2 can be detected, and the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the heat exchange device 21 can be dynamically adjusted according to the gas temperature inside the gas storage cylinder 2.

[0089] In this embodiment, the thermal management system, when in use, allows the coolant discharged from the fuel cell stack 4 to enter the radiator 5 for sufficient heat dissipation by adjusting the first control valve 71, the second control valve 72, the third control valve 73, the fourth control valve 74 and the fifth control valve 75. Subsequently, the low-temperature coolant enters the first pipe 15 through the third pipe 17 and the fourth control valve 74, and then enters the heat exchange device 21 through the first pipe 15, so that the low-temperature coolant exchanges heat with the gas in the gas storage cylinder 2 through the heat exchange device 21.

[0090] After heat exchange is completed, the coolant returns to the first circulation main circuit 11 through the second pipeline 16 and the second control valve 72. This allows the gas temperature inside the cylinder to be precisely controlled within a safe threshold range, thereby avoiding a sudden increase in compressed gas pressure due to temperature rise. This effectively reduces the risk of cylinder structural damage and seal failure, thereby improving the system's operational reliability and ensuring the vehicle's safety performance.

[0091] Example 2

[0092] This embodiment relates to a vehicle equipped with the thermal management system described in Embodiment 1.

[0093] The vehicle in this embodiment, by setting the thermal management system in Embodiment 1, can cool the gas in the gas storage cylinder 2 and precisely control the gas temperature in the cylinder within a safe threshold range to avoid a sudden increase in compressed gas pressure due to temperature rise. This can effectively reduce the risk of gas cylinder structural damage and sealing failure, thereby improving the operational reliability of the system and ensuring the safety performance of the vehicle.

[0094] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model shall be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A thermal management system, characterized in that: it comprises a fuel cell coolant circulation loop, and a gas storage cylinder (2) internally provided with a heat exchange device (21); the fuel cell coolant circulation loop comprises a coolant circulation pipeline (1), and a circulation pump (3), a fuel cell stack (4) and a radiator (5) connected by the coolant circulation pipeline (1); downstream of the radiator (5) along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, an inlet of the heat exchange device (21) is connected, and upstream of the radiator (5) along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, an outlet of the heat exchange device (21) is connected. 2.The thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: the heat exchange device (21) is connected in parallel to the coolant circulation pipeline (1) upstream of the radiator (5). 3.The thermal management system according to claim 2, characterized in that: a first control valve (71) and a second control valve (72) are arranged on the coolant circulation pipeline (1) upstream of the radiator (5) in sequence along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop; an inlet of the heat exchange device (21) is selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipeline (1) through a first pipeline (15) and the first control valve (71), and an outlet of the heat exchange device (21) is selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipeline (1) through a second pipeline (16) and the second control valve (72). 4.The thermal management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: a first temperature sensor (81) is arranged on the coolant circulation pipeline (1) between the first control valve (71) and the fuel cell stack (4), and is used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the fuel cell stack (4); and / or, a second temperature sensor (82) is arranged on the second pipeline (16), and is used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the heat exchange device (21). 5.The thermal management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: a third control valve (73) is arranged on the coolant circulation pipeline (1) downstream of the radiator (5), a fourth control valve (74) is arranged on the first pipeline (15), and the third control valve (73) is selectively connected to the fourth control valve (74) through a third pipeline (17). 6.The thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: a fifth control valve (75) is arranged upstream of the radiator (5) along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, and a sixth control valve (76) is arranged downstream of the radiator (5) along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop; the thermal management system further comprises a fourth pipeline (18) arranged in parallel to the radiator (5), and both ends of the fourth pipeline (18) are selectively connected to the coolant circulation pipeline (1) through the fifth control valve (75) and the sixth control valve (76).

7. The thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: the fuel cell coolant circulation loop further comprises a coolant storage tank (6) located on the coolant circulation line (1) between the radiator (5) and the circulation pump (3).

8. The thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: a third temperature sensor (83) is arranged on the coolant circulation line (1) upstream or downstream of the circulation pump (3) along the flow direction of the coolant in the fuel cell coolant circulation loop, and is used to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing into the fuel cell stack (4).

9. The thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: a gas supply line (91) is arranged between the gas cylinder (2) and the fuel cell stack (4), a pressure reducing valve (92) and a shut-off valve (93) are arranged on the gas supply line (91) in sequence along the flow direction of the gas flow in the gas supply line (91); a fourth temperature sensor (84) is arranged on the gas cylinder (2) and is used to detect the temperature of the gas in the gas cylinder (2).

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: the vehicle is provided with the thermal management system according to any one of claims 1-9.

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